LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University Athletics has announced the hiring of Brett Ritter as Director of Sports Medicine, Tyler Thomas as Director of Performance Nutrition and Tim Lowe as Assistant Athletics Director for Equipment Services as the department continues to strengthen its support services for student-athletes entering the 2026-27 academic year and transition into the Pac-12 Conference.

Ritter and Thomas will work within Utah State's Health, Wellness and Performance unit, while Lowe will oversee the department's equipment services operations.

"We are excited to welcome Brett and Tyler to these important leadership roles within our health, wellness and performance model," said Utah State Senior Associate Athletics Director for Health, Wellness and Performance Trevor Short. "Their experience, expertise and commitment to student-athlete development will be instrumental as we continue to build a world-class high-performance environment at Utah State."

"Tim brings an outstanding combination of experience, leadership and a commitment to serving student-athletes that makes him an excellent addition to our athletics department," said Utah State Deputy Athletics Director/Chief Strategy Office Emily Fulton. "His experience and leadership within the equipment field will provide tremendous value as we continue to evolve and modernize our services for our student-athletes."

Ritter has served as an associate athletic trainer for Utah State men's basketball for the past three seasons, helping the Aggies make three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances. Prior to joining Utah State in 2023, he spent 14 years at Montana State, working with the men's basketball, football and skiing programs. He began his career as a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech.

A Board of Certification Certified Athletic Trainer, Ritter is also licensed in Utah and holds certifications in CPR/AED, First Aid and corrective exercise. He earned his bachelor's degree in sport and exercise science from Northern Colorado in 2008 and his master's degree in kinesiology from Louisiana Tech in 2010.

"Utah State Sports Medicine has a long tradition of providing high-quality healthcare for Aggie student-athletes, and I am excited to continue being a part of that tradition as we transition into the Pac-12 Conference," said Ritter. "I want to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Cameron Walker, Deputy Athletic Director Ike Ukaegbu and Trevor Short for their confidence in me and for this incredible opportunity."

Thomas returns to Utah State after spending the past three years as the Director of Performance Nutrition for Football at Washington State. He previously served as a performance dietitian for several of the Cougars' Olympic sports and was a sports nutrition graduate assistant at Utah State during the 2022-23 academic year.

Thomas also gained experience as a Sports Nutrition Fellow at Drexel University, working with professional athletes with the Philadelphia Flyers, and as a nutrition assistant at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Wyoming. A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, he is also a Certified Dietitian in Utah and is currently pursuing a master's degree in sport nutrition at Utah State. Thomas earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Montana State-Northern in 2009 before completing a second bachelor's degree in dietetics from Northern Colorado in 2017.

"I would like to thank Utah State Athletics and the hiring committee for entrusting me to grow and lead the performance nutrition program," said Thomas. "My family and I are excited to be back in Logan, and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth and success of Utah State Athletics."

Lowe joins Utah State after five years at Notre Dame, where he served as head equipment manager for two years before spending his final three years as Associate Director of Olympic Sports Equipment and Apparel. He previously served as head equipment manager at South Dakota State and began his collegiate career at Drake.

An active member of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, Lowe has been an AEMA Certified Athletic Equipment Manager since 2016 and has served on several AEMA committees, including the Program Committee and Certification Steering Committee. He has also presented at national industry conferences on topics including technology and innovation in athletic equipment operations.

"I'm incredibly excited and honored to begin this next chapter at Utah State," said Lowe. "I'm looking forward to joining the Aggie family, building relationships and helping support our student-athletes and teams. Go Aggies!"

Lowe earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Wayne State in 2014.