Andrew (Tony) Pustina

Professor Andrew (Tony) Pustina came to Carthage in 2016 and has been serving as the chair of the Exercise and Sport Science Department since 2023.

He is also the primary advisor for students in the Sports Leadership Master of Education program and also works as a strength and conditioning coach for women’s soccer. He has been coaching soccer and working in the strength and conditioning field since 2008.

Prof. Pustina resides in Mount Pleasant, Wis. with his wife, Samantha, and four children.

Hear from Prof. Pustina: Why exercise and sport science?

“I have always had a curiosity about how the amazing human body works. I enjoy learning about how the body responds to the things that we put in it and the stressors (exercise) we place upon it. How can we maximize performance? How can we promote optimal health and quality of life? These are the things that I explore in the research I conduct and the courses I teach.”

• B.S. — Physical Education-Health Promotion, UW-Platteville
• M.S. — Exercise and Sport Science: Human Performance – Applied Sport Science, UW-La Crosse
• Ph.D. — Sport Physiology and Performance, East Tennessee State University

Certifications

• National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
• United States Weightlifting Association: Level II Weightlifting Coach
• United States Soccer: D License

• EXS3070 Applied Exercise Anatomy and Biomechanics
• EXS4040 Exercise Prescription
• EXS3080 Exercise Physiology
• EXS3210 Advanced Techniques in Training & Conditioning
• EXS4900 Field Placement in Exercise and Sport Science
• EDU5030 Evidence-Based Decision Making
• EDU5210 Advanced Techniques in Training & Conditioning
• EDU5950 Master’s Comprehensive Exam
• EDU5550 Master’s Thesis

Prof. Pustina’s research interests include strength training and monitoring athletes using wearable GPS technology. Currently, women’s soccer, women’s lacrosse, and men’s soccer use this technology.

• 2024 SURE Grant Student Mentor: Xingchen Liu
• 2019 SURE Grant Student Mentor: Benjamin Nolan

• Nolan, B. J. and Pustina, A. A. (2020). An Evaluation of Yolk barbell Squat Variations and Their Influences on Kinetic Variables During A Submaximal 5-Repetition Set. National Strength and Conditioning Association Wisconsin State Clinic Presentation.
• Pustina, A. A. and Nolan, B. J. (2019). An Evaluation of Cambered Barbell Squat Variations and Their Influences on 1RM and Kinetic Variables. 14th Annual Coaches College.
• Robinson, K. J., Johnson, A. A., Neahous, S., Pustina, A. A. (2017). Relationship Between Max Strength and Jump Performance Among Division III College Men’s Volleyball Players. 12th Annual coaching and Sport Science College.
• Pustina, A. A., Johnson, A. A., Rochau, K. G., Robinson, K. J., Molinaro, D. M. (2017). Seasonal Traning Load Differences Among Female Division III Soccer Players. 12th Annual Coaching and Sport Science College.
• Pustina, A. A., Sato, K., Liu, C., Kavanaugh, A. A., Sams, M. L., Liu, J., Stone, M. H. (2017). Establishing a duration standard for the calculation of session rating of perceived exertion in NCAA Division I men’s soccer. Journal of Trainology, 6(1), 26-30.

East Tennessee State University, 2015 10th Annual Coaches College Poster Presentations:

• Andrew A. Pustina, Matt L. Sams, Junshi Liu, Kimitake Sato, Satoshi Mizuguchi. Relationship between subjective and objective indicators of training load in Division I male soccer players during training sessions and competitive matches.
• Sams, M., Pustina, A., Liu, J., Smith, J., Grazer, J., and Mizuguchi, S. The effect of position and team formation on the physical activity profiles of a Division I men’s soccer team.
• Junshi Liu, Caleb Bazyler, Christopher Taber, Andrew Pustina, Satoshi Mizuguchi. Application of principal component analysis in kinetics study for ISO-SQUAT

East Tennessee State University, 2014 9th Annual Coaches College Poster Presentation:

• Junshi Liu, Andrew A. Pustina, Kyle Uptmore, Hugo Santanna, Garett Bingham, Chris Taber, Evan  T. Harvey, Matt L. Sams. A brief review of soccer performance analysis models.

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research Publication:

• Wright, G.A., Pustina, A.A., Mikat, R.P., Kernozek, T.W.  (2012). Predicting lower body power from vertical jump prediction equations for loaded jump squats at different intensities in men and women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 26, 648-655.

ABSTRACTS AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

Lemonia, M. M., Self, E. N., Menconi, D. J., Green, T. J., Pustina, A. A. (2021). The Relationship Between GPS Derived Training Loads and Session RPE in Women’s College Soccer. 15th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

Nolan, B. J. and Pustina, A. A. (2020). An Evaluation of Yolk barbell Squat Variations and Their Influences on Kinetic Variables During A Submaximal 5-Repetition Set. National Strength and Conditioning Association Wisconsin State Clinic Presentation. Carroll University, WI.

Pustina, A. A. and Nolan, B. J. (2019). An Evaluation of Cambered Barbell Squat Variations and Their Influences on 1RM and Kinetic Variables. 14th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

Robinson, K. J., Johnson, A. A., Neahous, S., Pustina, A. A. (2017). Relationship Between Max Strength and Jump Performance Among Division III College Men’s Volleyball Players. 12th Annual coaching and Sport Science College. Johnson City, TN.

Pustina, A. A., Johnson, A. A., Rochau, K. G., Robinson, K. J., Molinaro, D. M. (2017). Seasonal Traning Load Differences Among Female Division III Soccer Players. 12th Annual Coaching and Sport Science College. Johnson City, TN.

Andrew A. Pustina, Matt L. Sams, Junshi Liu, Kimitake Sato, Satoshi Mizuguchi. (2015). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE INDICATORS OF TRAINING LOAD IN DIVISION 1 MALE SOCCER PLAYERS DURING TRAINING SESSIONS AND COMPETITIVE MATCHES. 10th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

Sams, M., Pustina, A., Liu, J., Smith, J., Grazer, J., and Mizuguchi, S. (2015). THE EFFECT OF POSITION AND TEAM FORMATION ON THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROFILES OF A DIVISION I MEN’S SOCCER TEAM. 10th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

Junshi Liu, Caleb Bazyler, Christopher Taber, Andrew Pustina, Satoshi Mizuguchi. (2015). APPLICATION OF PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS IN KINETICS STUDY FOR ISO-SQUAT. 10th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

Junshi Liu, Andrew A. Pustina, Kyle Uptmore, Hugo Santanna, Garett Bingham, Chris Taber, Evan T. Harvey, Matt L. Sams. (2014) A BRIEF REVIEW OF SOCCER PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS MODELS. 9th Annual Coaches College. Johnson City, TN.

UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ABSTRACTS SPONSORED

Bednarz, Samantha. (2022). Post-Traumatic Stress within First Responders. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Willett, Matthew. (2022). The Effect of Electrical Stimulation Treatment on Baseball Pitching Recovery. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Green, Thomas. (2022) Effect of a 6-week Strength Training Program on Speed, Strength, and Power in Collegiate Club Ice Hockey Players. National Council on Undergraduate Research. Online.

Herrmann, Lauren. (2022). The Effects of Unstructured Active Recovery Period on Physical Performance in Women’s College Basketball. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Matarangas, Lemonia. (2022) An Evaluation of The Effectiveness of Physical Therapy Treatments. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Paulusik, Alexandara. (2021) Stress among Yoga and HIIT participants. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Ahmed, Suneed (2019). Comparison Between Body Measurements and Events for Track and Field. Poster presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Gregory, Brandon. (2019). The Effects of Caffeine and Pre-Workout on Athletic Performance Amongst Division III College Football Players. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

DiTomaso, Anna. (2019) A Comparison Between Weekly Volume Load, Position, Body Weight and 1 Repetition Maximum in Division III Football. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Abban, Herman. (2019) Does the Power balance wristband improve flexibility, power, strength, and balance? Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Proksa, Ashley. (2019). Body Composition vs Sprint Performance. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars

Sliwa, Taylor. (2019) Changes in fitness during a group fitness class. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars

West, Austin. (2018). Impact of Spring Break on a Strength Endurance Phase of Resistance Training Among Division III Women’s Soccer Players. Poster Presented at the NSCA Wisconsin Clinic and at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Tilmon, Dezerene. (2018) The Impact of Rest Periods on Repeated Sprint Performance. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Nelson, Kristyn. (2018). Bilateral Strength Asymmetry Following Femoroacetabular Impingement Injury of a Collegiate Football Player. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Arnold, Myeisha. (2018). Athlete Burnout in Female Athletes from Middle School to College. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Rochau, Kyle. (2018). The effects of the Power Clean Exercise on Sprint and Vertical Jump. Poster Presented at the Celebration of Scholars.

Robinson, Kyle. (2018) Relationship Between Max Strength and Jump Performance Among Division III College Men’s Volleyball Players. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Knurek, Emily. (2018). An Analysis of the Prevalence of Distorted Eating Habits Among Athletes and Non-athletes. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Santos, Nicholas. (2017). Effect of Carbohydrate Rinse on Strength and Power Output. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Parat, J.R. (2017). The Use of Chiropractic Care to Improve Low Back Pain. Poster Presented at the Annual Carthage College Celebration of Scholars.

Varnas, Alanna. (2017). Training Volume and Performance Relationships in Female Division III Cross-country Runners. National Conference on Undergraduate Research. University of Memphis, Memphis, TN.