MEADVILLE, Pa. -- After a year as Allegheny College's assistant peak performance coach, Toby Cline has been promoted to head coach ahead of the 2026-27 academic year, Director of Athletics and Recreation Bill Ross announced Monday.

Cline will now oversee Allegheny's peak performance program, providing leadership for the development and implementation of a comprehensive training program for all varsity athletics teams. His responsibilities include the day-to-day operations of the varsity weight room, developing team-specific strength and conditioning plans, and maintaining the student-athlete nutrition station.

"I am thankful for the opportunity to continue working with our student-athletes and to take on a greater role in building something special within Allegheny athletics," Cline said. "I'm excited to continue creating an environment built on discipline, accountability, teamwork, development, and a winning mindset. My goal is to build upon the great atmosphere that already exists, continuing to raise the standard for peak performance, and building a strong relationship with the student-athletes."

In his first season with the Gators, Cline worked directly with the cross country/track and field, golf, swimming and diving, men's basketball, men's soccer, and women's lacrosse teams. A former PennWest Edinboro student-athlete, Cline previously served as a strength and conditioning intern at Mercyhurst University and Erie Sports Now Fitness and Performance Center. He graduated from PennWest Edinboro in 2025 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science.

"Promoting Toby to head peak performance coach was an easy decision," Ross said. "We are blessed to have a candidate of his caliber within our ranks to lead the charge, guaranteeing a smooth transition as we elevate our standards and build on our foundation."

Joining Cline on the peak performance staff this year will be assistant coach Zach Weakland. In addition to experience as a competitive powerlifter, Weakland previously worked at the Division I and II levels as a strength and conditioning coach. At his alma mater, Slippery Rock University, he served as a student assistant coach for the men's basketball program. He then spent the 2025-26 academic year as a graduate assistant at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP), working alongside the men's basketball, men's golf, women's lacrosse, and women's tennis teams. Most recently, Weakland interned with the football program at Syracuse University.

"I am very excited to be able to take this next step in my journey at Allegheny College," Weakland said. "I cannot wait to start working alongside Coach Cline and these great student-athletes."

As a competitive lifter, Weakland qualified for USA Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals four years in a row. He won a Pennsylvania State Championship in the 220-pound weight class in 2022 and placed first in the 198-pound weight class at the 2024 Pittsburgh Collegiate Cup.

A Patton, Pennsylvania, native, Weakland graduated from Slippery Rock in 2025 with a degree in exercise science before earning his master's in sports science at IUP in 2026. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).