Stacey Torman is a pioneering icon in collegiate athletic performance, dedicating over 35 years of transformative leadership, mentorship, and elite training to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is widely recognized across the country as a foundational pillar of her profession. Torman's career is defined by breaking barriers—culminating in her monumental selection for the 2025 CSCCa Legends in the Field award, the highest honor bestowed upon strength and conditioning coaches who have fundamentally shaped the industry.

The Architect of UAB Olympic Sports
Torman’s legacy at UAB began in 1988. She arrived in Birmingham as a Graduate Assistant, pulling double duty as a strength coach and assistant volleyball coach while earning her Master's degree in Exercise Physiology. In 1990, she transitioned to a full-time role and immediately became the ultimate catalyst for the department. With the backing of university leadership, she took on the monumental task of coordinating and creating the comprehensive strength and conditioning frameworks for all 9 original Olympic sports.
When UAB rapidly expanded its athletic department between 1996 and 2000 by adding softball, women’s soccer, and synchronized swimming, Torman built these cutting-edge athletic performance programs from the ground up. During this pivotal era of growth, she successfully structured these new programs with the invaluable help of a dedicated crew of amazing Graduate Assistants who worked alongside her to establish a lasting standard of excellence. Over her 35-year tenure, she has engineered the physical preparation for 16 of UAB’s 18 sports teams, leaving a permanent mark on generations of student-athletes.
As the longtime Director of Athletic Performance for Olympic Sports, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the athletic performance facility, while directly spearheading the development of men's soccer and women's beach volleyball. Her coaching resume boasts an astonishing collection of team and individual triumphs:

17 NCAA post-season appearances across her sports, including 8 distinct NCAA Tournament runs with Men's Soccer (highlighted by the historic 1994 breakthrough, the legendary 1999 Elite Eight run, the 2001 Sweet Sixteen, and consecutive appearances in 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2012)
11 additional post-season tournament runs in other sports
20 Conference Championships
17 All-Americans
Over 50 soccer athletes coached who have successfully advanced to the professional ranks, including consecutive first-round Major League Soccer (MLS) draft selections and elite top-10 national draft picks

A National Trailblazer and Industry Leader
Beyond the borders of Birmingham, Torman is a powerhouse in national athletic organizations. She was an early member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa). In May 2004, she made history by becoming the first female ever to be named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC)—the absolute pinnacle of professional distinction.
Her structural leadership quickly led to her election to the CSCCa Board of Directors in 2005. In 2016, her peers elected her as the Vice President of the CSCCa. Today, she continues to steer the future of the profession as a Special Advisor to the Board of Directors, ensuring that the next generation of coaches upholds the rigorous standards she helped establish.

Professional Foundations

Legends in the Field Inductee – CSCCa (2025)
Vice President & Special Advisor – CSCCa Board of Directors
Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) – CSCCa (First female recipient, 2004)
Blaze Leadership Academy Alumna – Selected for the 2015-16 cohort
UAB Staff Council Co-Founder – Spearheaded the launch of the university-wide staff leadership council

The Ultimate Mentor and Culture Builder
While her trophy case is packed, Torman's true passion lies in building up people. Her holistic approach focuses on stimulating deep Blazer pride and helping student-athletes push past their perceived physical and mental limits.
Simultaneously, she operates a coaching tree that feeds the entire industry. Carrying forward the tradition of mentorship that defined her early expansion years, she passionately mentors staff and interns, preparing them directly for the CSCCa and CSCS professional credentialing exams. By providing raw, practical experience in program architecture, physiological execution, and navigating professional demands, she ensures her staff leaves UAB ready to command weight rooms nationwide.

Athletic Excellence & Family Legacy
Torman's coaching philosophy is backed by her own elite athletic background. She was a three-year letter-winner and an All-Southwest Conference volleyball player for Texas A&M University, leading the Aggies to three consecutive NCAA postseason appearances before graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Technology in 1987. Her competitive drive spans multiple disciplines, including titles as a Southern Naturals Bodybuilding Champion, a USA Volleyball Open Nationals Indoor Bronze Medalist, a Jose Cuervo Beach Volleyball Champion, and a completed Mercedes Half Marathon.

Athletic excellence is truly a Torman family tradition. Her son, Seth Torman, grew up watching his mother rule the UAB weight rooms and went on to carve out his own legacy as a standout, four-year letterwinner as goalkeeper for the UAB Men's Soccer team. Following his collegiate career, Seth advanced to the professional ranks, officially signing a multi-year deal with his hometown club, Birmingham Legion FC, in 2023. He then moved to NISA’s Los Angeles Force for a breakout 2024 campaign, anchoring the net to win the 2024 NISA Championship while sweeping the league's top individual honors, including the prestigious Golden Glove award, Save of the Year, and a spot on the NISA Best XI First Team. Building on that elite momentum, Seth signed with Greenville Triumph SC in early 2025 and is currently in his second impactful season as a goalkeeper in USL League One. This exceptional soccer lineage brings the family story full circle, as Seth's father, Harvey Torman, was also a standout soccer player for the UAB men's soccer team during his own collegiate career.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics

2025 Men's Soccer Roster

David Zenzen

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