Former UMass Lowell Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance Keith Vinci was honored with the title of Master Strength & Conditioning Coach at the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA) National Conference in Orlando, Florida, earlier this summer.
 
Vinci courageously battled Burkitt's Lymphoma twice before succumbing to the disease in November. Prior to his passing, though, with help from the CSCCA, Vinci was able to receive the special distinction himself before the official ceremony. Marcus Williams, who now carries on Vinci's legacy as the River Hawks' current Assistant AD for Sports Performance, and former UMass Lowell Head Sports Performance Coach AJ Whitehead awarded Vinci with his MSCC Certificate and jacket that signified his induction into the 2023 Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Class in his hospital bed surrounded by friends and loved ones.  
 
"The title of Master Strength and Conditioning Coach is something that every strength coach strives to reach, it is the pinnacle of our profession," said Williams. "I know it was something that Keith was very proud of, and I was honored to be there with our staff and many other friends and former colleagues to see Keith receive this prestigious honor. This ensures that Keith's legacy will not only live on at UMass Lowell, but within the Strength and Conditioning profession."
 
During the CSCCA National Conference in May, Vinci was once again honored, this time alongside the 26 other members of the 2023 MSCC Class. The entire UMass Lowell strength & conditioning staff, alongside many former staff members, were in attendance to help honor Keith and his memory.
 
"Attending the CSCCA this year, I wanted to make sure I went to the Master's Dinner for the sole purpose of seeing Keith honored for his accomplishments, as well as being inducted into the new class of Master Strength Coaches," remarked former UMass Lowell Sports Performance Coach Mitch Mussell. "For our field, that is the highest honor we can achieve, and knowing that Keith not only was inducted, but the CSCCA made sure to give him his Master's Jacket before he passed, is truly special. Keith deserved this honor because he was such a fun, loving, and caring leader and friend. He only wanted what was best for his athletes and staff. I feel privileged to have worked with him, even if it was only for a short amount of time. He never failed to check in on me even long after my time was done. Seeing him be honored at the conference was truly special and emotional for me. I was able to sit with my former staff and honor him together. Thank you CSCCA for ensuring he received his jacket before passing. His memory will continue to live on forever."
 
Vinci was an incredible mentor, not only to the student-athletes he worked alongside every day, but to his friends and colleagues as well.
 
"Being a MSCC inductee with Keith was such an honor and was something we had spoken about since I was hired by him in 2014," recalled Whitehead, who is now the Associate Director of Olympic Strength and Conditioning at Wisconsin. "Keith is a part of my strength and conditioning journey, and I will forever be grateful, as he taught me how to meet young student-athletes where they are at and bring them with me."