Deborah Zippel

Position: Sports Dietitian

A former collegiate swimmer at Iowa State University, Deborah Zippel is entering her second year as the athletic department’s sports dietitian. Prior to working at South Carolina, Zippel worked in cardiac nutrition counseling for McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence, S.C.

“I have longed to return to the sports nutrition field for years and am passionate about the importance of proper diet and hydration for performance and health,” Zippel said. “Having been a former college athlete, I regret that I had minimal nutrition education during my athletic career therefore I strive to give the USC athletes the most accurate information possible to optimize their performance and to help them stay healthy with their hectic and demanding schedules.

“The athletic department coaches and staff have been extremely supportive of my position and working as a team we are making strides to help our athletes excel in their sport and in the classroom.”

Prior to working in Florence, she has worked in cardiac wellness and sport nutrition for 15 years, including time at the University of Iowa as the sports dietitian. She has also taught sports nutrition at several universities including the University of Iowa and Scared Heart (Conn.).

Lettering in swimming four years, including her senior year where she was the team captain at Iowa State University, Zippel won the Big 8 Academic Athlete Award. Zippel graduated from Dubuque High School in Iowa in 1986.

Zippel, 39, has two kids: Daniel, 9, and Erica, 7.