GETTING STRONGER everyday.

West Virginia University athletes are doing just that thanks to a Wheeling Park High graduate.

Chris Dunaway is a strength coach for the Mountaineers. He landed in Morgantown in August after serving as strength and conditioning coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is in charge of WVU’s baseball and women track performers.

The obvious question is why leave a great city and one of professional sports premier franchises to return to college?

“Frankly, my wife and kids are everything to me. A lot of people couldn’t understand why I would leave the L.A. Dodgers. But it is all about family,” Dunaway said. “Coming back to WVU was a great opportunity. Getting to work for my alma mater and be with my family is the ideal situation.

“I am working with athletes in two sports that I am very passionate about,” he continued. “I hope to help the WVU baseball team become Big 12 champs. It is really cool coming back.”

Dunaway worked for the Dodgers for two seasons. He was the team’s assistant strength coach while also overseeing the Dodgers’ minor league training program.

“When I took the job, I didn’t realize how rich a culture the franchise had. I was blown away at the stadium and some of the people involved with the franchise,” Dunaway said. “I traveled with the Dodgers, staying at the best hotels and eating great meals. It was first-class in all respects. Even on the road, we played in front of packed houses because we were the Dodgers. It was an amazing experience.

“But all that glamour does have its downside. It’s a nomadic life for a family,” he added. “You put in 96-hour work weeks and the travel can wear on you. I had two days off in the entire month of May.”

Dunaway, 41, brought an impressive resume in athletic training to WVU. He was the minor league strength and conditioning coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2003-09. During that time, Dunaway also served in that capacity for the 2006 Future Games held in Pittsburgh.

The former Wheeling Park and WVU thinclad cut his teeth in the profession with the Baltimore Orioles’ organization, working from 1996-2002, first as an intern before advancing to assistant minor league coordinator.

While with the Orioles, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physiology from WVU. He gained his master’s degree in 2006 in kinesiology in 2006 from the University of Texas-Tyler.

Before heading West, Dunaway returned to his roots, teaching and coaching at his alma mater. He taught anatomy and physiology at Park from 2010-13, while also serving as strength and conditioning coach for the Patriots’ football and soccer teams. In that span, he worked as an adjunct professor, teaching exercise physiology.

“My schedule at WVU is still in the formative stages with the onset of fall baseball,” Dunaway said. “Right now, I get Saturdays off, I am home every night with my family, and I get to see my boy play soccer on Sundays.”

Dunaway and his wife, Dawn, have two children, Luke (10) and Julia (8). Dawn is also a Wheeling Park High and WVU grad.

BUBBA’S BITS

WITHOUT A doubt, PNC Park has few, if any, peers as a baseball facility. Shawn Rine, Seth Staskey and this scribe attended Pirates’ media day activities Tuesday prior to the Buccos’ rainout with the Cardinals. There is no better view than that from the PNC press box, even during a monsoon as was the case during our visit. Speaking of the Pirates, look for our special playoff section in Wednesday’s edition.

MICHAEL VICK had the tough assignment of filling in under center for injured Ben Roethlisberger. Vick had a short week to prepare, facing the rival Ravens on Thursday. Vick performed well enough for the Steelers to win. A potential Antonio Brown TD reception and an inept kicker sealed Pittsburgh’s fate.

JOEY GALLOWAY starred on the gridiron at Bellaire High, Ohio State and the NFL. He is now doing the same with ESPN. The former wide-receiving great is sensational as a college football analyst.

JOHN MAGISTRO’S Westerville Central Warhawks improved to 6-0 on the strength of a 14-9 win over Hilliard Bradley Friday night. Next up for Magistro’s charges is a home game with Westerville North.

Kapral may be reached at bkapral@timesleaderonline.com