LOWELL, Mass. – UMass Lowell Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance Keith Vinci has announced the addition of Richard Meldrum to his staff as a sports performance coach.

Meldrum will work with the River Hawk women's lacrosse, women's soccer, and men's and women's track and field/cross country teams.

"We are excited that Rick has chosen to join the River Hawk family, as he will be a great addition to the sports performance department," said Vinci. "He brings forth a wealth of knowledge in the field along with years of leadership experience from the Army."

Meldrum comes to the River Hawks from University of Hawaii in Honolulu, where he spent the last two years as a professional strength and conditioning intern. While at Hawaii, he was responsible for both the sailing and cheerleading teams, and assisted with the football, women's basketball, water polo, track & field, and swim teams.

"I am incredibly excited to be brought onboard the UMass Lowell sports performance team in the midst of this exhilarating transition to Division I," said Meldrum. "I'm looking forward to helping the teams here reach the highest levels possible. Everyone here is incredibly warm and welcoming. I've never lived, or even visited New England before, and am looking forward to experiencing the different seasons again and the wonderful winter time here, I hear it's amazing."

Meldrum is also the President of Oahu Barbell Club, where he coached multiple weightlifters to numerous state records and national championships. He also competed at the 2014 University National Weightlifting Championships.

Before graduating from the University of Hawaii in 2015, Meldrum spent two years in the Hawaii National Guard & five years in the US Army as a Paratrooper Infantryman, deploying twice to Iraq with the 82nd Airborne Division.