Staff Directory
- Title:
- Associate Football Strength and Conditioning Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 419-372-8968
C.J. McFarland joined the BGSU sports performance staff in February 2025 as the associate football strength and conditioning coach. He comes to BGSUÂ after spending two years at Temple as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the football program. While at Temple he worked under current BGSU head football strength and conditioning coach Chris Fenelon.
McFarland spent the 2021-22 seasons with LSU’s football program after spending six years at Onnit Gym in Austin, Texas, where he served as the head strength and conditioning coach.
While at Onnit he trained athletes of all levels. He is mostly recognized for his time spent training NFL athletes, including: Earl Thomas, Davon House, Jordan Hicks, Alex Okafor, Caden Sterns, Jermaine Eluemunor, Durham Smythe, Cole Beasley and Baker Mayfield.
In his first off-season training Mayfield, he helped him drop eight percent body fat, add four pounds of muscle, and significantly increase strength and power metrics overall. This transformation allowed Mayfield to have one of his most dominant professional seasons, leading the Browns to their first playoff victory in almost two decades.
McFarland did an internship with Texas State's football program (2017-2018). He also spent time coaching in the NFL during training camp and pre-season internships with the Cincinnati Bengals (2018) and Carolina Panthers (2019).
McFarland is certified through the National Strength & Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach. He also holds the FRC master specialist and Body Tempering certifications.
McFarland was raised by former Marine Corps Drill Instructors Mac and Jane McFarland in South Texas. He lives with his wife Megan and two dogs, Tuxedo and Stormy.
