Dr. Thierfelder has been serving as the 20th President of Belmont Abbey College since 2004. Under his leadership, enrollment has consistently reflected strong growth, 30 facilities have been built or refurbished including expansion of the college’s footprint of our main campus to incorporate the historical Sacred Heart College facilities, and the College has gained national recognition for its Catholic and Benedictine mission and identity. In addition, Dr. Thierfelder has championed college affordability by reducing tuition 33% and the college now offers a four-year tuition guarantee to every incoming student.

Prior to his appointment as President of Belmont Abbey College, Dr. Thierfelder successfully lead and transitioned fitness legend, York Barbell Company, from a manufacturer to a solutions-based partner providing sales, marketing, product development and logistical services to mass merchants and major sporting goods retailers throughout the United States and Europe.

Dr. Thierfelder was also a principal in Joyner Sports Medicine Institute, a physical therapy corporation he helped conceptualize, found, and develop. He was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the company to NovaCare and subsequently served as the National Director of Sports Science.

Dr. Thierfelder has also served as Executive Director of the Player Management Group, a sports representation company that provided contract negotiation, financial management, legal, career planning and sports medicine services to professional athletes. He has helped thousands of athletes, including many at the Olympic and professional levels, achieve dramatic improvements in their athletic performances.

Dr. Thierfelder received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Sports Psychology and Human Movement from Boston University. He is a licensed psychologist, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, and a past member of the United States Olympic Committee’s Sport Psychology Registry. He is a former NCAA Division I Coach, National Champion, and a two-time All-American from the University of Maryland. Dr. Thierfelder is an inductee of the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame, which includes world-class athletes, coaches, and team owners, such as George “Papa Bear” Halas, Vince Lombardi, Wellington Mara and Brian Piccolo.

Dr. Thierfelder has also led the fight for religious freedom and has testified before the United States Congress in matters related to religious liberty. He is the author of Less Than A Minute To Go: The Secret to World-Class Performance in Sport, Business and Everyday Life with Foreword by Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Dr. Thierfelder was born and raised in New York City. He is a Knight of Malta and currently lives just outside of Charlotte, NC with his wife, Mary, and their ten children.