The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Director of Basketball Health & Performance
First Season at Texas
Cory Schlesinger begins his first season as Assistant Coach, Director of Basketball Health and Performance for the Men’s Basketball program at The University of Texas. Schlesinger brings 14 years of sports performance coaching experience to the Texas staff, including four at the NBA level and 10 in collegiate athletics.
Prior to coming to Austin, Schlesinger served for four years (2019-23) as Director, Performance/Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. His primary responsibilities during his time in Phoenix included the design and implementation of the Suns’ individualized strength and conditioning programming with the purpose of optimizing overall athletic performance.
In his four seasons in Phoenix, the Suns posted an overall record of 194-115 (.628), won one Western Conference Finals championship, two Pacific Division titles and advanced to the NBA Playoffs three times, including a run to the 2021 NBA Finals. Inheriting a team that had a 19-63 mark in the 2018-19 season, Schlesinger helped the Suns make a 15-win improvement (34-39) in his first year (2019-20) despite a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his second season in Phoenix (2020-21), the Suns registered a 51-21 record, won the Pacific Division and earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix topped the Los Angeles Lakers, the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference playoffs before falling to the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2021 NBA Finals.
The Suns returned in 2021-22 and recorded a 64-18 mark in the regular season, won the Pacific Division and claimed the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. Phoenix advanced to the Western Conference semifinals in the 2022 NBA Playoffs. Last year (2022-23), the Suns posted a 45-37 record and earn the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference before falling to the eventual NBA Champion Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference semifinals. Schlesinger worked with two players in Phoenix who earned NBA All-Star Game selections, including Devin Booker (2020, 2021 and 2022) and former Longhorn legend Kevin Durant (2023).
Schlesinger worked for three years (2016-19) as a Sports Performance Coach at Stanford University. During his second season at Stanford (2017-18), the Cardinal posted a 19-16 overall record and advanced to the NIT Second Round. Stanford finished third in the Pac-12 (11-7), marking its best finish and most conference wins in 10 years. The Cardinal recorded its highest scoring average (75.9 ppg) in 16 years, best field goal percentage (.461) in 14 seasons and collected the fourth-most single-season rebounds (1,368) in program history while leading the Pac-12 in rebounding average (39.1 rpg). During his time at Stanford, Schlesinger also worked with the Men’s Golf program and helped the Cardinal claim the 2019 NCAA Championship.
Schlesinger served for three years (2013-16) as the Assistant Director of Sports Enhancement at UAB (University of Alabama at Birmingham), where he worked the with the Men’s Basketball and Men’s Golf teams. The Blazers tallied a 64-36 (.640) overall record during his three seasons in Birmingham. During the 2014-15 season, UAB posted a 20-16 mark, won the Conference USA postseason tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Round of 32 after a 60-59 upset of No. 3 seed Iowa State in the first round. The Blazers went 26-7 in 2015-16, won the C-USA regular-season championship with a 16-2 mark and advanced to the NIT First Round.
Prior to his time at UAB, Schlesinger served for two years (2011-13) as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Santa Clara University. He worked directly with the men’s and women’s basketball programs. He also spent time as a coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and was a sports nutritionist for the San Jose Earthquakes (MLS).
Schlesinger spent two seasons (2009-11) as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Campbell University. While at Campbell, he worked directly with volleyball, men’s soccer, swimming and diving, golf and tennis and assisted with football. Schlesinger completed his Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Exercise Science while at Campbell in 2011.
A native of Hillsville, Va., Schlesinger was a four-year point guard (2005-09) at Berea College (Berea, Ky.). During his time as an undergraduate, he served internships with the strength and conditioning programs at Wake Forest University (2007) and the University of North Carolina (2008-09). Schlesinger earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education with a concentration in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine from Berea in 2009.
Schlesinger is a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Outside of coaching, Schlesinger is an innovator and entrepreneur. He founded NOT DONE YET Performance, where in collaboration with his wife (Dr. Shirine Gharib), Schlesinger plans on re-shaping fitness and high performance with one-of-a-kind strength equipment in addition to providing world-class consultation with high-end clientele.
Schlesinger’s Coaching Experience
|
Years |
Organization |
Position/Title |
|
2023- |
Texas |
Assistant Coach, Director of Basketball Health and Performance |
|
2019-23 |
Phoenix Suns |
Director, Performance/Head Strength and Conditioning Coach |
|
2016-19 |
Stanford |
Sports Performance Coach |
|
2013-16 |
UAB |
Assistant Director of Sports Enhancement |
|
2011-13 |
Santa Clara |
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach |
|
2011 |
US Olympic Training Center |
Coach |
|
2009-11 |
Campbell |
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach |
