Dakota Neff joined Northwestern Athletics as Assistant Director of Fitness & Wellness in November of 2023.  

Neff received his undergraduate degree in Health & Human Performance from the University of Louisville, and is finishing his master’s degree in Exercise Science at Northern Kentucky University.  He is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Strength & Conditioning Association and a Precision Nutrition Level 1 coach.  

Neff grew up in rural Central and Western Kentucky, where, at a young age, he recognized the value of maintaining a healthy mind and body. He decided to pursue this passion at his alma mater, the University of Louisville, where he began his career coordinating fitness and wellness services for the university’s Health Promotion office.  He then moved into corporate or workplace wellness, managing fitness centers and developing holistic employee well-being programming for companies like Ernst & Young, the American Hospital Association, Humana, and BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois. 

Neff is excited to bring his passion for movement science, nutrition, recovery, and all things fitness & wellness back to an academic setting. He is looking forward to building a stronger, healthier Wildcat community.