Jonny or as he more commonly know ‘JD’ was educated at Belfast High School, before progressing to the University of Ulster. Graduating in 2003 after completing BSc (Hons) Sport, Exercise & Leisure, returning again to university to graduate from PGCE in Physical Education in 2005.

The former Irish School Boy sprint champion has enjoyed a successful playing career which included provincial honours with Ulster at Senior, Under-21 and school boy level and international honours with Ireland Under-21, Under-19 and Schools, and played his club rugby with Dungannon and Manly RFC (Australia), before a neck injury forced retirement from the game.

As a strength and conditioning coach JD gained experience at the Sydney Academy of Sport before returning home to be accepted onto UK Sports prestigious Fast Track Practitioners Programme. Having worked within a multi sport high performance environment at the Sport Institute Northern Ireland, he joined the Ulster Rugby team as Fitness and Conditioning Coach during the 2006/07 season.