Jeff Ruiz, PhD, DPT, SCS, OCS, CSCS, CPSS, is a sports physical therapist and performance specialist with over a decade of experience across the NBA, NFL, and NCAA Division I levels. He currently serves as Senior Director of Rehabilitation and Assistant Strength Coach for the Miami Heat, where he leads sports science integrated return-to-performance and reconditioning strategies. Dr. Ruiz holds a PhD in Kinesiology and dual board certifications in orthopaedics and sports physical therapy. His clinical and academic background is anchored in physical therapy, applied sports science, biomechanics, and strength and conditioning. He has held leadership roles with the Washington Commanders and the University of Miami, bridging the gap between rehabilitation and high-performance programming. With a substantial focus in force plate analysis, workload monitoring, and data-informed reconditioning, Dr. Ruiz collaborates across disciplines to build robust athlete management strategies through a passion for data analysis. He has contributed to research on flywheel training, neuromuscular profiling, and knee biomechanics, with publications in various peer-reviewed journals. He also holds faculty appointments and lectures on strength and conditioning, running biomechanics, and sports considerations of the spine at his alma mater, University of Miami. As a clinician, coach, and educator, Dr. Ruiz blends evidence-based rehabilitation with performance optimization, helping athletes’ transition safely and effectively back to elite competition. He is a husband and a father of two boys, Julian and Logan.
