Photo By Hillary Ehlen
Who is Sami?
Samantha (Sami) Fuhrmann is the first nutritionist at NDSU Athletics. She received her undergraduate degree from Johnson & Wales University (Colorado) in 2012 and her master’s degree in exercise and nutrition at NDSU in 2015.
The Billings, Montana, native spent the last two years in her hometown as an inpatient and eating disorder dietitian for St. Vincent Healthcare and the Rimrock Foundation.
“I learned my love in Tennessee,” Fuhrmann said. She interned in the athletic department as a nutritionist at the University of Tennessee in 2012. “I like that not every day is the same, it varies. You get to meet different athletes and build that relationship with them.”
Furhmann also interned at the University of Oregon over the summer in 2015, after she completed her master’s at NDSU and she assisted with the NDSU football program during the 2014-15 academic year.
What Does A Nutritionist Do?
Fuhrmann has been brought in to manage the Gate City Bank Fueling Station inside the weight room at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex. She will be the face of nutrition for NDSU Athletics. She’s hoping she can assist Bison athletes on their diets and answer any nutritional questions.
“I want to make it a really awesome experience for the athletes, coaches and staff,” Fuhrmann said. “They’ve never had a fueling station before. They never had a dietitian, so one of my biggest goals is to help make this program the best it can be.”
Fuhrmann started Sept. 5 and hopes to meet with every head coach at NDSU to prioritize what each team needs from a nutrition standpoint.
Why Does NDSU Need a Nutritionist?
Before Fuhrmann was hired, NDSU assistant coaches and strength and conditioning staff members were responsible for going to Costco once a week to stock the fueling station. Now with Fuhrmann on board, she can manage the station and be the face of nutrition for athletes.
As a nutritionist, Fuhrmann will also collaborate with coaches to create meal plans for student-athletes on the road. Weight loss is common during the season for many athletes and proper nutrition on the road will help combat that trend, said Fuhrmann.
Education is another important aspect of the job for Fuhrmann. The NDSU football team is given the nutrition talk about once a year. With a full-time nutritionist on board, they can receive tips and advice throughout the entire season.
QualifIcations
- Associate’s degree in culinary arts
- Bachelor’s degree in nutrition
- Member of the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association
- Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition
Director of Athletics Matt Larsen says
“We spend an incredible amount of time and resources in developing our student-athlete’s bodies and in the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. With the hiring of a nutritionist, we now can educate our student-athletes and coaches on the correct dietary needs throughout the year to maintain all the training they do in the weight room. Proper nutrition and eating habits are lessons that they can utilize the rest of their lives. Sami Furhmann brings a strong background and understanding of sports nutrition and is very familiar with our athletics program. Her expertise and approach will be extremely beneficial to our student-athletes.”
What the Athletes Are Saying
“It’ll be nice because she’ll have suggestions on what to do. If you don’t know what to do or eat, she’ll make sure you’re being healthy and putting on good weight instead of putting on bad weight.” – Josh Babicz, Football player
