Podcasts about conditioning coach

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to build a career in professional sport?This week on Leave Your Mark, I sit down with strength and conditioning coach Jason Martin as he prepares to begin a new chapter as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs.Jason's path began early, earning his first training certification at just 16 before completing his Physical Education degree at McGill University. His career would eventually take him through CrossFit, professional tennis, Major League Baseball, more than a decade of working with hockey players, and three seasons in player development with the Pittsburgh Penguins.But this conversation is about much more than Jason's résumé.We talk about the influence of mentorship, particularly his relationship with Andy O'Brien, and why experience can't simply be replaced by collecting certifications. Jason shares his thoughts on asking for feedback, recognizing your limitations, building genuine relationships, and allowing a career to develop without trying to engineer every next step.We also dig into one of the most important challenges of working in professional sport: earning the trust of athletes who didn't necessarily choose you to work with them.Jason's philosophy is refreshingly simple. Ask questions. Listen. Understand what the athlete needs. Be good to people. Do quality work. And give trust the time it needs to develop.A great conversation about coaching, mentorship, relationships, experience, and the long game of building a meaningful career in high performance.If you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. You can find all things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/Please take the time to visit and connect with our sponsors, they are an essential part of our success:www.ReconditioningHQ.comwww.FreePainGuide.com 

Eric Ciano  is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now entering his 17th NFL season, he previously spent 15 years with the Buffalo Bills, where he was named the NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2020. He was also while strength and conditioning leadership roles at Georgia Tech, Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech.  0:58 The Hinge Moment That Led to an NFL Strength & Conditioning Career 2:43 Winning a National Championship and Building Championship Culture 3:27 Leadership Lessons from Legendary Strength Coach Johnny Long 4:19 Building Mental Toughness Through Accountability and Standards 5:37 Daily Habits That Create High-Performance Athletes 6:38 How Mental Toughness Is Built Every Single Day 8:03 Building Confidence During an 0–8 NFL Season 9:10 Creating a Winning Team Culture with the Buffalo Bills 10:49 The "13 Seconds" Game and Recovering from Heartbreak 13:47 Leadership, Recognition, and Bringing Out the Best in People 15:33 Using Competition to Build Mental Toughness and Accountability 19:24 Why Talent Without Discipline Never Creates Champions 21:37 Getting Fired After 15 Years in the NFL and Moving Forward 24:21 Mental Toughness When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan 25:54 Leadership Lessons from Nearly Two Decades in the NFL 27:41 Why Passion Still Separates Great Athletes from Good Ones 28:43 What's Wrong with Youth Sports and Athlete Development Today 30:14 Calvin Johnson and the Habits of Elite Performers 33:02 Daily Training, Longevity, and Performing at a High Level 35:08 Purpose, and Life Beyond Football Don't forget you can also follow Dr. Rob Bell on Twitter or Instagram! Follow At: X @drrobbell Instagram @drrobbell 5 Mental Toughness Advantages for Financial Advisors: https://pages.drrobbell.com/ If you enjoyed this episode on Mental Toughness, please subscribe and leave a review! Dr. Rob Bell Exclusive Podcast Sponsor: Morton Brown Family Wealth https://mortonbrownfw.com/  Morton Brown Family Wealth is the Presenting Partner of The Mental Toughness Podcast with Dr. Rob Bell. Sponsorship of this podcast does not imply endorsement of the views, opinions, products, or services expressed by individual guests.

Kevin Maxen, Director of Sports Performance and Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Tufts University, joins Justin Lima on the Cheeky Mid Weeky.Before arriving at Tufts, Maxen spent four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and made stops at Vanderbilt, Baylor, Iowa, Army West Point, the private sector, and high school strength and conditioning.Kevin and Justin discuss what it actually means to be a strength coach, lessons learned from Coach Chris Doyle, moving away from the stereotypical “old-school” strength coach, work-life integration, developing young coaches, and why the profession needs to take itself more seriously.They also dive into the practical challenges of overseeing nearly 950 athletes at Tufts, building trust within a staff, creating systems that can scale, giving coaches autonomy, and adapting training to the individual rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.___CONNECT WITH US:

Lonnie Maddox is the Associate Director of Football Sports Performance at University of North Carolina. Prior to joining North Carolina, he served as an assistant strength coach at Kansas State University, helping the Wildcats to a 9-4 season and a victory in the 2024 Rate Bowl.Before Kansas State, Maddox was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Valdosta State University and Alcorn State University, where he played a key role in multiple conference championships and deep postseason runs. A certified CSCS, RSCC, and USA Weightlifting Level 1 coach, Maddox earned his bachelor's degree from Troy University and his master's degree from Auburn University at Montgomery.$1 Trial Membership to SCN

Episode 228: Ben Ashworth chats to Gus Morrison, BSc, MSc, ASCC. Gus earned his Bachelor's degree in physiotherapy from the University of Southampton in 2013, followed by a Master's degree in Sports Medicine at University College London. During this period, he sought mentorship from Ben, focusing on refining his expertise in data-driven shoulder assessments and rehabilitation. Together they published his Master's dissertation in the Journal of Physical Therapy in Sport, exploring the Athletic Shoulder Test's application in amateur rugby players. Alongside this, Gus achieved full accreditation as a Strength and Conditioning Coach through the UKSCA. He went on to establish the Shoulder Assessment Unit at the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, delivering a data-driven assessment service for athletes recovering from shoulder injuries. Recognised for his expertise, he has spoken at webinars and conferences, and recently co-authored a publication with Ben in the Strength and Conditioning Journal on the synergy between testing and training for shoulder injuries. Gus joined Athletic Shoulder in July 2023, where he provides comprehensive testing and rehabilitation services to a diverse clientele of athletes and patients returning to sport and exercise post-injury. Topics Discussed - The Four Buckets: Range, Endurance, Strength and Power - Why Capacity Is the Biggest Driver of Pain - Outcome, Performance and Process Goals in Rehab - Quality Assuring Tests: Spotting Compensation Before You Trust the Number - Motor Learning, Joint Position Sense and the L and Y Holds - RFD and the Athletic Shoulder Test as a Force Transfer Test - From Closed Gym Skills to Chaos: Return to Contact   Where you can find Gus:   •LinkedIn   Sponsors Gameplan is a rehab Project Management & Data Analytics Platform that improves operational & communication efficiency during rehab. Gameplan provides a centralised tool for MDT's to work collaboratively inside a data rich environment VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world's leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.  BTL: BTL Industries develops advanced rehabilitation and performance technologies, including SIS DUO, Shockwave Therapy, High-Intensity Laser, TR-Therapy, Lymphastim and R-FORCE. BTL systems are designed to support recovery, pain management, functional rehabilitation and return-to-play pathways across clinical and elite sport settings. -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

Sam McGriff has been the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Pembroke Hill School since 2013. He came into the field through a nontraditional path, earning his degree at Mizzou on an ROTC scholarship before serving in the Navy, then working as a personal trainer before Pembroke Hill hired him to supervise the weight room after school.McGriff describes those early years plainly. There was no set culture, no established standards, and attendance was entirely voluntary. Rather than trying to overhaul the room on day one, he built trust first, with athletes, then with sport coaches, and let structure follow. Each season he picked one change to implement fully instead of stacking several half-finished ideas on top of each other.That approach produced a record board, then a PR bell that started as a wall-mounted piece of gym equipment and is now a fixture wheeled out for campus-wide events. It produced "fuzz up," Pembroke Hill's plate-return standard, and a color-coded block system (red, white, blue, silver) that gives voluntary lifters something concrete to chase even with zero mandatory attendance. McGriff also built an Exercise Science class into the school day, giving him room to teach nutrition and recovery in real depth instead of squeezing it into the last five minutes of a session.Thirteen years in, McGriff's advice for younger coaches is straightforward: stop chasing the next job before you've proven what you can build at the one you have.Key TakeawaysChange happens one standard at a time. McGriff rolled out a record board, then a PR bell, then the "fuzz up" standard, then a block system, letting each one take hold before introducing the next.Trust comes before culture. He built buy-in with athletes first, then sport coaches, before anything got labeled a rule.The color-coded block system (red, white, blue, silver) gives voluntary lifters a real standard to chase even with zero mandatory attendance.A dedicated Exercise Science class does more for nutrition and recovery education than anything said between sets during a session.Playing the long game means measuring impact by what you build where you are, not by chasing the next job.Quote"If I can't have an impact here, at this level, then how am I going to have an impact at the next level?"- Sam McGriff, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Pembroke Hill SchoolConnect with Sam McGriff:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/coachmcgriff/Pembroke Hill School - https://www.pembrokehill.org/athletics/strength-and-conditioning

Meagan Vota is a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. She is currently in her second season in this role which happens to be her first experience in professional baseball. Previously, she spent 2.5 years at IMG Academy, specializing in long-term athletic development for their 11 baseball teams from middle school through post-graduate levels. Meagan holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Louisville (2016 - 2022) and is certified through the NSCA (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting (L1). With experience ranging from youth and private sector to collegiate and professional sports, she is passionate about helping athletes maximize their performance while developing confidence, discipline, and leadership skills that extend into everyday life.Topics covered in this episode:-Coaching at IMG Academy-Finding success and advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"That's why I love Spring Training so much and having everyone around you for a few months, you just get that social aspect a little bit more" (8:03)-"I think at the end of the day I'm probably meant for youth athletics a little bit more than I am pro ball, but I am, again, loving where I'm at right now" (13:29)-"I think you can be great at your job and still leave it at the field" (26:25)If you would like to learn more from Meagan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meagan_vota

Ryan Horn - Head Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach at Indiana - joins us for the 162nd episode of MTN. On this episode of the show, Ryan talks us through some of context behind the many stops in his career; including some of the wildest stories that he's encountered along the way. We dive into the evolution of CBB player that he's seen since he started way back at VCU, and we go over his 'System's Check' Protocol. This was a wide ranging conversation that had some vulnerability, transparency, and high-level education.Make sure to follow Ryan on social media @ryanhorn45Find and follow us on social media @mtn_perform and check back each Wednesday for a new episodeIf you enjoy this podcast - head over to https://mtninsider.netlify.app/ to dive into the MTN Insider which is a deep dive into every episode. Research, 'Fact Checks', and much much more.Huge shoutout to our newest partner: Hytro. Hytro is the answer for performance BFR in our space and we are thrilled to have them partner with MTN. Find out more about Hytro and everything they have to offer ⁠right here: https://hytro.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=paid-media&utm_campaign=partner&utm_content=podcast&utm_term=foundationalA huge Thank You to our sponsor, Hawkin Dynamics: Hawkin is the world leader in force measuring, and continues to put forth the tools for high-performance practitioners to be exactly that, high performers. If you haven't yet checked out Hawkins - head over to their website at: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ and check out everything they have to offerMake sure to check out our sponsor, Samson Equipment: Samson is a leader in manufacturing elite weight room equipment (and have been for nearly 50 years). Founded by Dave and Linda Schroeder, Samson is weight room equipment made by coaches for coaches. Check them out at samsonequipment.com for more informationShoutout to our sponsor, 1080 Motion. The 1080 Sprint is the single best piece of training equipment in the world & has continually changed the game for training speed, strength, and power. Go to 1080motion.com to learn more

Most strength coaches get weeks to settle into a new job. Kevin Rodriguez got four days.Kevin Rodriguez's path to Siena wasn't a straight line, but it was fast at the end. After building the strength program from scratch at Delta State and spending four years at UT-Chattanooga working with men's basketball, women's golf, and beach volleyball, Rodriguez accepted the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach job at Siena and was on campus within four days. He credits a mix of prayer, self-reflection, and honest conversations with mentors, including former UT-Chattanooga head coach Dan Earl, for helping him make the call.Once he arrived, Rodriguez treated the first weeks like an audit. He got every player's phone number from the director of operations and texted personal introductions before he'd even found a place to live. From there, he assessed the weight room, met the training staff, and ran team lifts built less around programming and more around establishing standards, energy, and trust. Rodriguez calls it going back to the same intangibles he built at Chattanooga. The location changes. The standard doesn't.Rodriguez also gets specific about how he manages pressure and emotion, both his own and his athletes'. A habit he picked up as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State, rehearsing team talks and workout explanations out loud in the car, is still part of his routine before every big moment, podcasts included. He also leans on a mantra passed down from a football coach at Delta State: take it personal, but don't be sensitive. It's the same approach he brings to coaching players through emotional moments on the court, treating them like adults instead of problems to manage.The conversation closes on expectations. Rodriguez inherited a Siena program that won its conference last season, the same situation he faced walking into UT-Chattanooga the year after a conference championship run. He talks through UT-Chattanooga's NIT championship season, a run built on patience through a rocky start, and the lesson he's carrying to Siena: enjoy the big moments, because not every coach gets one.Key Takeaways- Getting player phone numbers and sending personal introductions before arriving on campus builds trust before day one.- Rehearsing high-pressure conversations out loud, a habit from his graduate assistant days at Mississippi State, keeps him composed in team talks and media moments alike.- Take it personal, but don't be sensitive: a mantra that turns criticism into fuel instead of self-doubt.- Treating athletes like adults defuses conflict faster than trying to manage or control it.- Winning the NIT at UT-Chattanooga taught him to sit in a big moment instead of rushing back to work.Quote"Take it personal, but don't be sensitive."— Kevin Rodriguez, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Siena College

Steve and Kenny are joined by Pittsburgh Penguins Strength and Conditioning coach Sean Young to discuss joining the Pens, his experience at the Olympics and representing Canada multiple times this year alone.

Q Willey is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach who joins me to discuss barbell training, back pain, injury risk, metabolic health, rehabilitation, and the way strength training is often portrayed online.Q joins me to discuss:• Why no existing studies show that squats or deadlifts cause back pain• Whether barbell lifts are inherently riskier than other forms of exercise• How the loadability of barbells can get some lifters into trouble• Why training systems matter more than individual exercises• Load management, fatigue, and individual capacity• Why pain can feel random even when contributing factors exist• How sensational injury stories shape public perceptions of lifting• The self-driving-car metaphor for anecdotes about barbell injuries• Why lifting is often demonized more than other physical activities• What imaging can and cannot tell us about back pain• Spine surgery, structural findings, and pain• The value of physical therapy beyond simply “fixing” injuries• The relationship between metabolic health, obesity, pain, and rehabilitation outcomes• How to discuss body weight respectfully in a clinical setting• GLP-1 medications and a physical therapist's professional scope• And much moreFollow Q on Instagram:@coach_q_physioCHAPTERS00:19 Meet Coach Q01:08 Do Squats Hurt Your Back?02:48 Load Management Basics06:57 Why Pain Can Feel Random10:45 Sensational Stories About Injury Risk13:24 Spine Surgery and Medical Imaging17:43 Why Lifting Gets Demonized20:21 Barbells Versus Training Systems30:37 The Value of Physical Therapy Beyond Fixes37:22 Metabolic Health and Pain42:38 Discussing Body Weight Respectfully51:33 GLP-1 Medications and Professional Scope55:33 Where to Find Q56:54 Final Thanks and Wrap-UpSUPPORT THE SHOWIf this episode helped you think differently about barbells, injury risk, pain, or rehabilitation:• Subscribe and check out more episodes• Share the episode on social media and tag @andrewcoatesfitness• Send it to someone who is afraid that squats or deadlifts will automatically damage their backFOLLOW ANDREW COATESInstagram: @andrewcoatesfitnesshttps://www.andrewcoatesfitness.comPARTNERS AND RESOURCESRP STRENGTH APPUse code COATESRP:https://www.rpstrength.com/coatesJUST BITE ME MEALSUse code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off:https://justbitememeals.comMACROSFIRST — FREE PREMIUM TRIAL• Download MacrosFirst• Begin setting up your account• When asked, “How did you hear about us?” enter: ANDREWKNKG BAGS — 15% OFFhttps://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676VERSA GRIPPShttps://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoatesTRAINHEROIC — FREE 90-DAY TRIAL• Visit: https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfree• Reply to the email you receive or email trials@trainheroic.com• Let them know Andrew sent youL1 BIOMECHANICS AND ASSESSMENT COURSEUse code COATES:https://pro.activelifeprofessional.com/assessmentworkshopevents

Tim Teefy is the Assistant AD for Olympic Sports Performance at Temple University. Teefy joined the Temple athletics program in 2015 as the head Olympic strength & conditioning coach before being promoted to director of Olympic sports performance in 2016 and later in 2018 to his current position at Assistant AD for Olympic Sports Performance. Currently oversees training for the women's basketball team while overseeing the 19 Olympic varsity sports and a staff of seven. Prior to joining the Owls, Teefy spent three years as the head strength & conditioning coach at Villanova University where he was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the strength and conditioning department for 19 Division 1 varsity teams, working specifically with men's and women's lacrosse, baseball, field hockey and men's and women's soccer. He held a similar position as head strength and conditioning coach at High Point University for three years before joining the Wildcats. Teefy also gained experience on the strength staff at George Mason University and Georgetown University in addition to being an adjunct faculty member while at George Mason. Coach Teefy is a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association earning the highest honor in the profession in 2020. He is an avid lifter and still heavily involved in strength and endurance training. Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Plates and Pancakes, Steven sits down with Riley Edgerton, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Munster High School, for an in-depth conversation about building a successful high school strength and conditioning program from the ground up.Riley explains how he developed a comprehensive strength and conditioning manual, established a point-based grading system for athletes, and built a program that now serves hundreds of students. He shares his philosophy of “do it right, do it fast, then do it heavy” and explains how he uses that principle to teach movement, develop athleticism, and establish high standards in the weight room.The conversation also dives into Riley's approach to youth athletic development, including summer camps and the Futures Program for middle school athletes. Riley discusses teaching fundamental movement patterns before progressing to more complex exercises, including his unique “sandwich method” for teaching the power clean.Steven and Riley also explore velocity-based training (VBT), auto-regulation, APRE, sprint mechanics, resisted sprinting, and the importance of using technology as a coaching tool rather than a replacement for the coach's eye.Beyond programming, Riley shares how he is building the Mustang Mentality at Munster High School—developing leadership, accountability, work ethic, and a culture that extends beyond the weight room. They discuss athlete-driven leadership, incentives, competition, and how external rewards can eventually develop into internal motivation.This episode is a deep look at what it takes to build a sustainable high school strength and conditioning system—from program design and exercise selection to coaching, youth development, leadership, culture, and long-term athletic development.Topics Covered:* Building a high school strength & conditioning program from scratch* Creating a strength & conditioning manual* Point-based athlete grading systems* Youth athletic development* Futures Programs and summer camps* “Do it right, do it fast, then do it heavy”* Teaching the power clean* Riley's “sandwich method”* Velocity-Based Training (VBT)* APRE and auto-regulation* Sprint mechanics and resisted sprinting* Athlete-driven leadership* Building a championship weight-room culture* External vs. internal motivation* Mustang Mentality* Testing and performance metrics* Long-term athletic development* Coaching hundreds of athletes effectivelyhttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to prepare one of the nation's top softball programs to compete for a national championship?In this episode of Plates and Pancakes, Steven Thompson sits down with Michelle Diltz, Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Alabama, to discuss how she develops powerful, explosive female athletes using a conjugate-based training system. Michelle oversees Alabama Softball, Women's Golf, and Cheer & Dance, sharing how she balances the unique demands of multiple sports while building athletes who are stronger, faster, more resilient, and ready to perform.The conversation explores the Conjugate Method, max effort, dynamic effort, and repeated effort training, why back squats remain a cornerstone for softball performance, monitoring pitcher readiness with jump testing and grip strength, and how isometric and eccentric training improve force absorption while reducing injury risk. Michelle also explains how she individualizes programming for injured athletes, collaborates with athletic trainers and dietitians, and manages training across multiple Division I programs.Whether you're a strength coach, softball coach, athlete, or sports performance professional, this episode delivers practical insights you can apply immediately to your own athletes.In This Episode:Conjugate Method for collegiate athleticsStrength training for softballSpeed and power developmentFemale athlete performanceBack squat programmingMax effort & dynamic effort trainingCountermovement jump testingGrip strength monitoringPitcher workload managementSprint mechanicsIsometric & eccentric trainingInjury preventionOlympic lifting for cheer & danceNCAA strength & conditioningUniversity of Alabama SoftballCoaching leadership and athlete developmentIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Plates and Pancakes, leave a 5-star review, and share it with another coach, athlete, or parent looking to improve athletic performance.Keywords: Strength and Conditioning, Softball Strength Training, Conjugate Method, Sports Performance, Female Athlete Training, Alabama Softball, NCAA Softball, Explosive Power, Speed Training, Athlete Development, College Strength Coach, Pitching Performance, Olympic Lifting, Injury Prevention, Sports Science, Plates and Pancakes Podcast.https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Ryan Horn has spent 20 years building strength programs, and almost none of that time has looked stable from the outside. Horn's path runs through Robert Morris, Virginia Commonwealth (where he became the school's first full-time strength coach), Tulsa, and seven years at Wake Forest under Danny Manning. After being let go from Wake Forest following COVID, Horn spent two years outside college athletics entirely, training soldiers with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Savannah, Georgia. From there it was Wichita State, Drake, a return home to West Virginia, and now Indiana.Horn and host Connor Agnew dig into what that kind of instability actually teaches a coach. Horn's answer keeps coming back to one idea: stop chasing permanence and start chasing presence. Roles end. Jobs change. What matters is whether you were fully in it while you had it. He connects this directly to mentorship, arguing that a good mentor's job gets harder, not easier, because they take the time to teach instead of just execute. And he's candid about the trap of comparing career timelines on social media, pointing out that the context and luck behind someone else's fast rise almost never makes it into the post.The conversation closes on family. Horn's son is now an Olympic weightlifter who interns under him at Indiana, and Horn talks openly about what it's meant to coach alongside his own kid, and about how losing both his parents in recent years reshaped how he thinks about time with the athletes and people in front of him right now.KEY TAKEAWAYS- Seek presence and impact in a role, not permanence. Every job has an expiration date, and treating it otherwise costs you the time you actually have in it.- A real mentor's job gets harder, not easier, because they take the time to teach instead of just execute.- Comparing your career timeline to someone else's on social media ignores the context and luck behind their path.- Avoid becoming the coach who dismisses a new idea because "we did that 20 years ago." Curiosity is the job, not a phase of it.- Losing both parents reshaped how Horn thinks about finite time with his family and his athletes.QUOTE BLOCK"There's no permanence in any role. It's just presence."- Ryan Horn, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Indiana University

View This Week's Show NotesStart Your 7-Day Trial to Mobility CoachJoin Our Free Weekly Newsletter: The AmbushMarin Lazic believes the best athletes aren't just physically prepared – they're mentally free to perform. But that flies in the face of how many of us were taught to think about high performance. In this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Kelly and Juliet Starrett sit down with the Australian Men's Olympic Water Polo team's Head Strength & Conditioning Coach to explore why fun, play, and psychological safety may be some of the most overlooked performance tools in sport.Drawing from his own experience as an athlete whose performance collapsed under stress, Marin shares how that moment completely reshaped his coaching philosophy. We dive into why reducing anxiety can improve movement, decision-making, and resilience, how breathwork and vision training are becoming part of elite athletic preparation, and why creating a culture where athletes genuinely enjoy the process leads to better long-term results.Whether you're coaching athletes, raising competitors, or simply trying to perform better under pressure, this episode offers a fresh perspective on building durable, high-performing humans.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy reducing stress and performance anxiety and creating psychological safety can unlock higher levels of athletic performanceHow fun, play, and positive team culture improve movement, resilience, and performance under pressureWhy elite coaching extends beyond strength training to include recovery, mindset, and athlete well-beingHow breathwork, vision training, and movement quality help athletes perform at their best when it matters mostWhy the best coaches develop durable athletes who can stay healthy, adapt to setbacks, and perform consistently over timeKey Highlights: (0:00) Intro & Meet Coach Marin Lazic(0:38) Marin's Background & Coaching Philosophy(0:58) Marin's Athlete Setback Story(8:16) The Stressful Moment That Changed Everything(9:13) How Stress Physically Tanks Performance(16:55) Evolving from Old-School to Modern Coaching(18:12) Happy Athletes Are Better Athletes(20:17) Entrenched Thinking in Sport(20:57) Finding a Head Coach Who Buys In(24:38) Making Fun a Performance Strategy(26:43) Pre-Game Warmup Games to Ease Performance Anxiety(27:08) Beating Serbia at the Olympics(29:27) Preparing for Paris Olympics(30:25) Six Weeks in Europe Pre-Game(32:39) Removing Decision Fatigue on Game Day(33:04) Quarterfinal Loss to USA in Shootout(34:24) The Physicality of Elite Water Polo(36:04) Wrestling, MMA, & Water Training Methods(43:21) Eye Training & Vision Work(47:19) Breath Work & Session Structure(48:18) Post-COVID Efficiency Approach(54:29) The Concept of the "Stoke Tank"(55:53) Being a "MacGyver" Coach on the Road(1:00:33) Coaching Influences: Peter Twist & Pavel(1:02:11) Losing Size, Gaining Water Strength(1:06:14) Dad of the Year & Bluey(1:09:56) Infinite Shelf: The Book Legacy(1:12:17) Where to Find Marin & Watch World CupHuge thanks to our sponsors, LMNT and Momentous.

Meagan Vota is a Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Wichita Wind Surge, the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. She is currently in her second season in this role which happens to be her first experience in professional baseball. Previously, she spent 2.5 years at IMG Academy, specializing in long-term athletic development for their 11 baseball teams from middle school through post-graduate levels. Meagan holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Exercise Physiology from the University of Louisville (2016 - 2022) and is certified through the NSCA (CSCS) and USA Weightlifting (L1). With experience ranging from youth and private sector to collegiate and professional sports, she is passionate about helping athletes maximize their performance while developing confidence, discipline, and leadership skills that extend into everyday life.Topics covered in this episode:-Her journey to professional baseball-Mastering the basics with athletes-Bodybuilding, powerlifting, and long-term athletic developmentQuotes:-"I am someone that loves experiences" (5:47)-"I absolutely love long-term athletic development, I love youth sports. But I wanted to find a version of myself that I didn't know, and that was working with professional athletes" (6:37)-"I think that there is a difference between modifying to personalize for performance and modifying to just make your programming seem snazzy and appealing" (15:38)If you would like to learn more from Meagan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meagan_vota

Speed in American football is about far more than running a fast 40-yard dash. It is the ability to create space, close space, accelerate, decelerate, change direction and repeatedly produce high-speed actions under the demands of the game. This week, Richard Graves is joined by Matt Gebert, Strength and Conditioning Coach at Ole Miss Football, to explore how speed is developed within an elite college football programme. Matt explains how Ole Miss structures speed training across the week, from acceleration and change of direction to maximum velocity, curved sprinting and conditioning. He also breaks down how the physical demands change between position groups and why offensive linemen, linebackers, running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs require different training priorities. The conversation explores the five key qualities Matt uses to assess speed development and how tools including Catapult GPS and the 1080 Sprint can help coaches understand an athlete's strengths, weaknesses and potential performance limiters. However, collecting more data does not automatically lead to better decisions. Matt explains why sports science technology must be accurate, efficient and actionable, particularly when working with a squad of around 120 athletes within strict time restrictions. Richard and Matt also discuss the balance between pushing athletes hard and protecting player availability, the value of wellness monitoring, the importance of sleep and why technology should help practitioners ask better questions rather than replace coaching judgement. Matt also reflects on how his coaching philosophy has changed during more than a decade in college football, including moving away from one-size-fits-all programming and learning to coach athletes differently, both physically and psychologically. In this episode you will learn Why speed in team sport is ultimately about creating and closing space How Ole Miss structures acceleration, maximum velocity, change of direction and conditioning work Why different football positions require different speed and strength qualities The five physical qualities Matt assesses within speed development How Catapult GPS and the 1080 Sprint are used to profile athletes Why maximum velocity is particularly important for wide receivers and defensive backs How to identify and improve an athlete's performance limiters The difference between using sports technology and practising sports science The three questions Matt asks before introducing new technology How external and internal training loads can inform programme decisions Why wellness questionnaires can start important conversations with athletes The relationship between training load, recovery and player availability Why sleep may be the most overlooked performance metric How Matt's approach to individualising training and communication has evolved Why acceleration should be a priority for young athletes in almost every sport About Matt Gebert Matt Gebert is a Strength and Conditioning Coach with Ole Miss Football, where he leads speed development work within the programme's performance team. Matt has worked in college football for approximately 13 years and is currently completing a PhD focused on speed development. His work covers linear speed, multidirectional movement, acceleration, maximum velocity, deceleration, curved sprinting and conditioning for team-sport athletes. Alongside his coaching and research, Matt regularly shares practical information about speed development and the use of sports science within high-performance environments. He is also preparing a forthcoming book focused on speed development for team-sport athletes. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

Eddie Ramirez took an unconventional route into strength and conditioning. He spent his teenage years and early twenties as a competitive breakdancer before a friend showed him that college strength coaching was even a career path. Internships at Syracuse and Texas followed, and by the time he wrapped his stint with Texas football in 2019, he knew this was what he wanted to do for good.Now in his fourth year at Indiana University, Ramirez works with volleyball, men's and women's swimming and diving, and men's golf. Volleyball has been his primary focus, and he's been direct with his athletes from day one. Competing with programs like Wisconsin, Purdue, and Nebraska, teams that lean on deep talent pools, meant Indiana needed something else to close the gap. Ramirez calls it grit, and he builds it by refusing to sugarcoat hard training while staying honest with his athletes about his own tough stretches.That same directness shapes how he works with the program's international athletes. Rather than expecting them to adjust to a new sport system and a new country on the same timeline as everyone else, Ramirez has taught himself greetings and coaching cues in his athletes' native languages, including Russian and Turkish, to shorten the adjustment period and build trust early.Key Takeaways- Competing with programs that out-talent you requires a deliberate culture decision, not just harder workouts. Ramirez tells his volleyball team upfront that training will be uncomfortable, and backs it up by being vulnerable about his own hard moments.- International athletes are managing two adjustments at once: a new training system and a new country. Ramirez shortens that gap by learning basic phrases and coaching cues in their language.- Skill progression should be athlete-paced, not calendar-paced. If a full clean takes a year to teach safely, that's the timeline he uses.- His own path into the field was nontraditional. Five years as a competitive breakdancer came before he even knew college strength and conditioning existed as a job.- He's actively working to close a skill gap this year: getting sharper with GPS and data tracking through Catapult.Quote Block"It's not because I hate you guys or think you're out of shape. We've got to have a little extra when we're competing against these big-name teams."- Eddie Ramirez, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Indiana University

Devin Young, Senior Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Pittsburgh, did not take a straight path into the profession. He grew up chasing a hockey career through the junior ranks, walked on at Fitchburg State, and did not make the team. That setback pushed him into exercise science and a string of internships at UMass Lowell, Eastern Michigan, Princeton, St. Francis, and James Madison before he landed his first full time job at North Carolina A&T.Young was the department's director during COVID, running a football strength program with roughly 100 athletes, five platforms, a fraction of the normal equipment, and a single part time, uncertified assistant. He walks Connor Agnew through the daily problem solving that era demanded and how it shaped the coach and communicator he is today.The conversation centers on what Young says has done more for his growth than any book: investing directly in mentors through site visits, cohorts, and phone calls, because a mentor can answer the follow up question a book cannot. He connects that philosophy to Pitt's staff culture, weekly continuing education, and the summer internship program he now runs, where he is trying to give young coaches the same head start his own mentors gave him.Young's fastest growth as a coach came from investing in mentors and site visits rather than books alone, calling it the difference between reading about a problem and actually getting it answered.Directing a strength program during COVID with no staff and constantly rotating athlete pods forced Young to build rapid problem solving and communication skills that still define how he coaches today.Pitt's staff runs weekly continuing education and full peer reviewed program audits, using force plate data and KPIs to catch blind spots without turning it into a competition.Posting workouts and running a handwritten whiteboard series forces him to be certain of what he is teaching before it goes public, sharpening his own knowledge in the process.Pitt's summer internship runs on daily meetings, a full 15 week programming project, guest round tables with outside coaches, and live coaching drills that get progressively harder, built to give interns the same mentorship head start he got."I'm a big believer in finding people who are doing what you believe in and reaching out to them. Go intern for them. That's the best way to learn, because now you're hands-on, learning and doing at the same time."Guest: Devin Young, Senior Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, University of PittsburghInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/devin_sc_coach/Versatile Training Academy, Devin's side company (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/vta_sports_performance_/ | linktr.ee/VTAcademyUniversity of Pittsburgh Strength & Conditioning (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/pitt_sportsperformance/Devin's staff bio, Pitt Athletics: https://pittsburghpanthers.com/staff-directory/devin-young/3836Talkin' Pitt Podcast: Spotify | Apple PodcastsKeywords: Devin Young, University of Pittsburgh, Pitt strength and conditioning, strength coach mentorship, COVID training protocols, program audits, continuing education, Talkin' Pitt podcast, internship program, Connor Agnew, Samson Strength Coach Collective

Nicholas Lee, BS, CSCS, RSCC, USAW-L1 is the H2F Lead Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. With more than 20 years of military service, including time in Army Special Operations and conventional forces, Lee brings a unique blend of tactical leadership and human performance expertise to his coaching.Prior to his current role, Lee worked with EXOS as an H2F Tactical Strength and Conditioning Coach and served as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Freedom Christian Academy. He earned his bachelor's degree in Sports and Exercise Science from Methodist University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Athletic Development Management.Save on your re-certification to the NSCA and CSCCa with best price CEUs

"Your skill set's not going to be lifting weights—it's going to be the sport, but you still have to learn how to strain." For thirteen seasons, including eleven in the collegiate trenches, Lucas White has survived the brutal, revolving-door reality of Division I strength coaching by adapting elite powerlifting principles to hyper-talented athletes who have never had to grind out a rep in their lives. By rejecting the copy-and-paste templates of traditional football programs and introducing Westside-influenced periodization to a 120-man roster, he transformed the weight room from a mandatory chore into a high-stakes diagnostic lab where athletic longevity is built and weaknesses are ruthlessly exposed. INSIDE THE EPISODE Managing the Chaos: The exact mechanics of running a multi-wave conjugate system inside a high-pressure Power Five football program. Specialty Bars as Diagnostics: Why safety squat bars, cambered bars, and Swiss bars are essential diagnostic tools rather than optional accessories. The Private Sector Carryover: What elite collegiate programs must steal from underground powerlifting gyms to drastically reduce player mileage. The 20% Rule: Cultivating absolute, bone-crushing strength when your athletes are genetically gifted but technically raw in the weight room. Surviving the Trench: A raw look at the grueling reality of zero-dollar internships, moving across the country, and earning trust at the elite level. MEET THE GUEST Lucas White is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Penn State Football, operating under Director Reid Kagy and Head Coach Matt Campbell. Over a thirteen-season career spanning stops at Iowa State, Boise State, and Mississippi State, White has cemented himself as a premier practitioner of team-scale conjugate periodization. His philosophy was forged not in pristine football facilities, but through years of coaching Olympic sports and training alongside world-record lifters in the private sector—proving that true strength coaching isn't about chasing arbitrary numbers, but building a robust physical base that survives the chaos of late-November football. Become an elitefts Channel Member Get early access to Dave Tate's Table Talk podcast and other perks: ➡️ @eliteftsofficial Support Dave Tate's Table Talk FULL Crew Access https://www.elitefts.com/join-the-crew Limited Edition Apparel https://www.elitefts.com/shop/apparel/limited-edition.html Programs & More https://www.elitefts.com/shop/dave-tate-s-table-talk-crew.html TYAO Application https://www.elitefts.com/dave-tate-s-tyao-application Best-Selling elitefts Products Pro Resistance Training Bands https://www.elitefts.com/shop/bands.html Specialty Barbells https://www.elitefts.com/shop/bars-weights/specialty-bars.html Wraps, Straps & Sleeves https://www.elitefts.com/shop/power-gear.html Sponsors Get an Extra 10% OFF at elitefts Use Code: TABLE TALK https://www.elitefts.com/ Get 10% OFF Your Next Marek Health Labs Use Code: TABLETALK https://marekhealth.com/tabletalk Get a FREE 8-Count Sample Pack of LMNT's Most Popular Drink Mix Flavors http://www.drinklmnt.com/tabletalk ChiliPad 2.0 – Save Up to $255 Use Code: TABLETALK https://sleep.me/tabletalk OFFICIAL MEAL PREP PARTNER Save 10% on the Best Meals in Central Ohio Use Code: TABLETALK10 https://visionarymeals.com Support Massenomics https://www.massenomics.com/ Save 20% on Monthly, Yearly, or Lifetime MASS Research Review Use Code: ELITEFTS20 https://massresearchreview.com/ Get 10% OFF RP Hypertrophy App Use Code: TABLE TALK https://rpstrength.com/pages/hypertrophy-app

On this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at UT Tyler, Morgan McCrary, joins us to discuss his journey through nearly every corner of the strength and conditioning profession. From JUCO athletics and private sector coaching to the collegiate level, Morgan explains how each experience shaped his coaching philosophy.Throughout the conversation, Morgan emphasizes that relationships, communication, and trust are the foundation of every successful program. He shares how he builds athlete buy-in, develops accountability, and encourages athletes to "flip the switch" once they step into the weight room. Morgan also reflects on overcoming setbacks, staying motivated throughout his career, and why adapting your coaching to the environment and athlete is essential for long-term success.Key TakeawaysBuilding trust starts with genuine relationships and consistent communication.Every coaching environment offers valuable lessons that shape long-term growth.Athletes perform best when expectations and accountability are clearly established.Adaptability is one of the most valuable traits a strength coach can possess.Career setbacks become opportunities when approached with perseverance and a growth mindset.Quote"I call it flipping the switch. Whatever you've got going on outside of the weight room, when you're in the weight room, it's time to go." — Morgan McCrary

Matt Durant is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at University of La Verne, where he oversees performance training for all 20 varsity sports. A 1999 La Verne graduate, Durant returned to his alma mater in 2002 and has spent more than two decades developing student-athletes and building a highly respected Division III strength and conditioning program.In 2017, Durant was named the National Sports Performance Association Coach of the Year. During his tenure, numerous athletes have earned conference, regional, and national recognition, including multiple National Strength and Conditioning Association All-America Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year honors.Before returning to La Verne, Durant coached at College of the Canyons and Wingate University. He earned his bachelor's degree from La Verne and a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University, and remains active in both the NSCA and USA Weightlifting.From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics

Garga Caserta (@GargaCaserta) is the former Head of Performance for the KC Current and the founder of TALO. With over a decade of experience training world-class athletes, Garga has coached at the highest levels of sport, including stints with the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, the Portland Timbers, and the Portland Thorns. His teams have won an NWSL championship and were 2x Supporters Shield Champions. Known for his transparent, accountability-driven approach, he bridges the gap between elite sports performance, strength and conditioning, and injury rehabilitation. Whether managing fitness departments or shaping collegiate programs, Garga's mission is simple: elevating human potential and building durable, high-performing athletes. In our discussion today, we discuss the role of performance training in both injury prevention and the psychological boost it gives athletes. We talk about the importance of sleep and recovery, and how soccer coaches can accomplish most fitness goals with a ball instead of straight running. Finally, the importance of making your conditioning training game like in order to achieve match performance and not simply improved fitness.  CAPTAIN: THE ATHLETE'S GUIDE TO BEING AN EXCEPTIONAL TEAM LEADER is now live on Amazon!  CLICK HERE TO ORDER We are constantly asked "where have all the leaders gone?" Now more than ever, it is up to schools, clubs and coaches to develop our leaders, and this new book is a perfect guide to train and develop them. It is filled with stories of champion team captains on the professional and college level, Hall of Fame coaches, and more, and is a masterclass on leadership. Your athletes will learn from leaders such as Carles Puyol Abby Wambach, Tim Duncan, Shane Battier, Richie McCaw, Carla Overbeck and Simone Biles. It will help your athletes understand the qualities needed to lead, the responsibilities they must accept, and the most common challenges they will face. The chapters are short and sweet and have discussion questions so that your leaders can work through them together and set your team up for great success. The book also comes with a  FREE downloadable 10-session curriculum so you can guide your team or the leaders in your school or club through the entire book.  FOR ORDERS OF 10 OR MORE, WE OFFER A $5 PER BOOK DISCOUNT. EMAIL John@ChangingTheGameProject.com to place your order. BOOK A SPEAKER: Interested in having John or one of our speaking team present to your school, club or coaching event, either in person or virtually? Looking for leadership training for your student athletes, a coach development workshop or parent education? We are still booking Fall 2026 events, please email us to set up an introductory call John@ChangingTheGameProject.com PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS, AND JOIN 2026 CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM SYRACUSE MENS LAX, UNC AND NAVY WOMENS LAX, AND MORE! These are just the most recent championship teams using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes and support teams. Many of these coaches are also getting THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT so their team parents can be part of a successful culture. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next? Click here to visit John's author page on Amazon Click here to visit Jerry's author page on Amazon Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books on any of our books. Thanks everyone. This weeks podcast is brought to you by our newest sponsor, Zone 14 Coaching. Zone 14 Coaching is a company built by coaches for coaches. If you have ever ended a session thinking, "Did that practice really hit the mark?" you will love what they have created. Zone 14's next-gen journals for coaches and players help you plan every practice, reflect on what worked and track progress all season long. Built on intentional coaching and backed by neuroscience, they bring structure and purpose to your training. Visit zone14coaching.com and use code Champions20 for 20% off. Or if you want to outfit your whole team or club and improve consistency across coaches, you can get in touch with Zone 14 via their website to discuss bulk discounts. This week's podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a software platform for youth sports clubs.  Yeah, there are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites, communication tools and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams. Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you've been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG.

Tanner Kolb is the Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympics Sports at West Virginia University. Kolb joined the Mountaineer athletic staff in 2012 and was promoted to his current position in 2017, where he handles the strength and conditioning responsibilities for the rifle, men's soccer and wrestling programs. Prior to WVU, Kolb was an assistant coach at East Carolina University for one year where he designed and implemented programs for baseball, volleyball and tennis, as well as assisting with football. Prior to his tenure at ECU, Kolb spent three years as the head strength coach and adjunct professor at Waynesburg University. There he designed and implemented programs for all varsity sports in addition to teaching four classes. Kolb spent three years as a fitness specialist at the Stillwater Medical Center and Total Health in Oklahoma teaching Olympic lifting techniques, instructing group exercise classes, supervising and judging the weightlifting portion of the Pioneer Senior Olympics. Kolb began his career in 2003 as a volunteer coach at Oklahoma State, where he assisted primarily with football, wrestling, softball and the equestrian programs. Additionally, he spent two stints as a prep strength and conditioning coach first at Perry High in Oklahoma during the summer of 2004 as well as both at Petoskey High and Charlevoix High in Michigan from 2006-2008. While there he contributed time at Northern Michigan Sports Medicine while lecturing and directing powerlifting and strongman competitions. Coach Kolb is a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association earning the highest honor in the profession in 2021. His work has been published in numerous industry-associated publications, including The Sport Journal, Journal of Applied Ergonomics and Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. A former college wrestler at Messiah College, Kolb has competed both single and multiply geared powerlifting. He is still active himself in the weight room in addition to getting outside the weight room to enjoy rock climbing and white water kayaking in his free time.Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

#268: Justin Roethlingshoefer is a performance scientist, former NHL strength and conditioning coach, and the founder of OWN IT—an elite health coaching ecosystem trusted by Stanley Cup champions, Olympians, and mission driven leaders such as Brandon Lake & Phil Wickham. His life's work lives at the intersection of data-driven performance and Spirit-led transformation. Holy Health is the most personal and prophetic piece of literature he has published. Fusing science with biblical truth, he redefines health as a holistic act of worship, aligning body, mind, and spirit. Having overcome personal health crises, he provides a blueprint to break the "all-or-nothing" cycle, moving from burnout to overflow.For more on Justin and his new book check out holyhealthbook.com holyhealth.org & justinroethlingshoefer.com Enjoy the show!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Steven sits down with Coach Cade Oller, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Choctaw High School in Oklahoma City, to discuss the training philosophies and coaching principles that have helped build a successful athletic culture.The conversation dives deep into Coach Oller's implementation of Brief Maximal Tension (BMT) training within a conjugate framework, including how his athletes utilize box squats, bench press variations, deadlifts, and APRE methods to drive consistent strength gains. Coach Oller shares practical insights on why box squats became a cornerstone of his program, how he addresses posterior chain weaknesses, and the adaptations required when coaching athletes of different sizes and abilities.Beyond sets and reps, Steven and Coach Oller explore the human side of coaching. They discuss building positive team culture through individual conversations rather than public criticism, helping athletes navigate setbacks and pressure, and creating an environment where accountability comes from both coaches and athlete leaders. Coach Oller also shares how reorganizing Choctaw's weight room schedule into flexible before- and after-school sessions dramatically improved athlete participation and coach collaboration.Additional topics include:• BMT and APRE programming• Box squat coaching and technical development• Strength transfer to speed and athletic performance• Leadership development within teams• Managing multi-sport athlete schedules• Consistency as the foundation of long-term success• Hip projection and movement efficiency• The role of culture in strength and conditioning successWhether you're a strength coach, sport coach, athlete, or parent, this episode offers valuable lessons on adapting training systems to fit your population, developing athlete buy-in, and creating a culture where performance and personal growth go hand in hand.Tune in for a conversation that blends practical programming, coaching wisdom, and real-world solutions from one of Oklahoma's leading high school strength coaches.https://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email Voodoo4ranch@gmail.comhttps://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Dr. Eric Cash serves as President of the National High School Strength Coaches Association and is the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Dorman High School. Widely recognized as one of the leading voices in high school strength and conditioning, Dr. Cash has dedicated his career to developing young athletes through evidence-based training, mentorship, and long-term athletic development.Prior to Dorman, he held head strength and conditioning positions at Presbyterian College, Eastern Illinois University, and Elon University. He earned his doctorate in Kinesiology from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was named NHSSCA Coach of the Year in 2020.___$1 Trial Membership to SCN

Episode 221: In this episode of Sports Science Insights, host Steve Barrett is joined by Julie Gooderick — a UKSCA Accredited Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sports Therapist with more than 15 years of experience supporting athletes across a wide range of sports, from grassroots participation through to the Olympic Games. Julie has led athlete scholarship programmes within schools and universities, helping to create pathways that develop talent from early participation to elite performance. With a degree in Sports Therapy, an MSc in Strength & Conditioning, and experience supporting athletes at two Olympic Games, she brings a unique perspective on long-term athlete development, performance support, and the realities of working in high-performance sport. At the centre of the conversation is the challenge of supporting athletes beyond the training programme itself. Julie discusses the role of recovery in performance, why sleep remains one of the most underutilised tools available to athletes, and how practitioners can create environments that promote both performance and wellbeing. The discussion also explores Julie's involvement in initiatives designed to support and develop female coaches within the profession. Drawing on her own experiences, she reflects on the progress that has been made, the challenges that remain, and the importance of creating opportunities for future generations of practitioners. Throughout the episode, Julie shares practical examples and case studies from her consultancy work with female athletes, providing insight into the complex and individualised nature of performance support across different sporting environments. -  Topics Discussed: Julie's Background and Career Journey Sleep, Recovery and Performance Female Coach Initiatives Through UKSCA Female Athlete Consultancy Case Studies Long-Term Athlete Development Supporting Athletes Across Different Sporting Environments -  Where you can find Julie: Linkedin Publications -  Sponsors Axon: Performance teams spend the morning after game day stitching together six systems before the coach gets an answer. Axon Perform fixes that. Every source you already use, Catapult, StatSports, VALD, Opta, OVAL, Wyscout, WHOOP, Garmin and the rest, connects into a dedicated Snowflake warehouse. Ask Axon, the in-platform chat, lets analysts and sports scientists query the lot in plain English. Reports that took hours now take seconds. Used by the Springboks, England RFU, Japan RFU, Sydney Roosters and a growing list of rugby, football & cricket clubs and federations. Your data, reports, measures and AI models stay yours, fully portable. See if your data is ready for AI at axonperform.com VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training Hytro: The world's leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.  -  Where to Find Us Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on: Instagram Twitter Our Website - Our Team Andy McDonald Ben Ashworth Nicola Graham Steve Barrett  Pete McKnight

● Dr. Pat Ivey is the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Health and Performance at University of Louisville and currently serves as President of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association Board of Directors. With more than 20 years of experience in collegiate athletics, he has held leadership roles at Louisville, Missouri, and Arkansas State while becoming one of the most respected voices in athletic performance and leadership.● Jason Wilfawn is the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the Oxford School District and the 2024 Mississippi High School Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year. With more than 20 years of experience in athletic performance, he has worked across the high school, private sector, and Division I collegiate levels, including stops at the University of Mississippi, the University of Arkansas, and the University of Evansville● Aaron Duvall is the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance at University of Pittsburgh, where he oversees all strength and conditioning and applied sport science operations for the athletic department. In addition to leading Pitt's integrated high-performance model, he directly oversees the training of the women's volleyball program.● Beth Byron is the Chief Science Officer for the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, where she helps guide the organization's scientific and educational initiatives. With nearly two decades of experience in collegiate athletics, she has held strength and conditioning positions at West Virginia University, University of South Florida, The Ohio State University, and The University of Texas at Austin. Matt Jennings is the Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning at XavierUniversity, where he oversees strength and conditioning for all 19 varsity athletic programs. A member of the Xavier staff since 2007, Jennings was promoted to his current leadership role in 2021 after helping build and advance the department's performance culture.

Matt Gebert is an Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Mississippi. Gebert joined the Ole Miss staff in 2026 after serving a similar position for football at Auburn University for the 2025 season. Prior to that he was an assistant director for football strength & conditioning at the University of Arizona from 2024-2025. Before Arizona Gebert logged stints at Indiana University (2023), Stanford (2020-2022), Florida International (2017-2020) and Purdue (2015-2017). Additionally, he garnered experience as an intern coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2014 season, at Columbia University in summer of 2013 and Rutgers University in spring of 2013. Gebert was also a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach on the staff at Minnesota University from 2013-2014. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Gebert is currently completing his PhD in Sport Science from Liberty University. A former college football player at Western Connecticut State University from 2009-2013, Gebert is an avid lifter and still very active himself in the weight room.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

One of only a handful of three-time guests on the show, Professor Nic Gill returns for another insightful conversation. After more than two decades with the New Zealand All Blacks Rugby Team, guiding one of the most successful teams in world sport through over 240 Test matches and more than 200 victories, Nic is embarking on his next chapter in elite performance:moving to the United States as Vice President of Health and Performance for the Baltimore Ravens NFL Team.From his first appearance in 2021, "Rugby Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the NZ All Blacks," through the follow-up episode, "A Week in the Life of an All Blacks Rugby Player," Nic is back to discuss his latest and perhaps greatest challenge yet. Having spent a career at the pinnacle of rugby performance, he now steps into the world of American football, embracing the uncertainty, excitement, and opportunity that come with leading performance in one of the NFL's premier organizations.At his core, Nic operates on a simple but powerful philosophy: performance is built on trust, relationships, and doing the basics exceptionally well. He rejects over-complication, emphasising that motivation isn't created by coaches—it already exists within athletes, driven by identity, purpose, and environment.Whether pushing himself through extreme challenges like 24-hour Wattbike records for charity, Ironman races or guiding elite players, he consistently chooses discomfort, using challenge as fuel for growth and purpose.That mindset underpins both his coaching and his life decisions. Leaving the All Blacks after two decades wasn't driven by necessity, but by a deliberate move toward uncertainty and challenge. For Nic, growth lives on the edge of discomfort—where fear and excitement coexist.His move to the NFL represents more than a career shift; it's a continuation of a philosophy he has lived for years: walk toward the pressure, simplify the process, and help people perform when it matters most.I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Gilly is one of the most humble, authentic, and driven men I've ever had on the show, and I'm proud to call him a friend. Every time we sit down, I walk away having learned something. From the All Blacks to the Baltimore Ravens, this is a conversation about challenge, leadership, family, and having the courage to step into the unknown. AND hopefully a Super Bowl Win!!Another super-powerful episode—sit back and enjoy.

Early-career coaches have to learn fast, adapt faster, and still earn trust. Sammi Ryan, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Boston University, shares how seeking golden opportunities led her across the country and into unfamiliar sports. After an early training experience deterred her from the field, Ryan found her way in through graduate experience and a support system she still maintains today. When coaching sports she has not played, Ryan starts with research, trusted peers, and relationships with sport coaches. She stresses that coaches cannot “copy and paste” what worked at a previous stop because every team, athlete, and setting is different. For Ryan, athlete questions are a chance to clarify the plan or change course. She also discusses staff coverage and sport science integration at Boston University. Ryan reflects on helping college athletes grow and develop as humans, not just athletes. Listen to learn how to strengthen your support system, adapt across teams, and guide athletes beyond sport. Connect with Sammi on Instagram: @sammiryann or by email: sryan95@bu.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Join the NSCA College Coaches Professional Development Group (PDG) to build your network, share ideas, and navigate challenges in college strength and conditioning.Show Notes“I think a lot of times we can kind of get a little narrow focus on the way we're doing things or the way that things are happening at whatever spot we're at. So, I think being able to lean on different support systems, mentors, other people that were in my cohort at my different grad programs to be able to reach out and lean on them and see how are you dealing with this, not just kind of the X's and O's, but maybe dealing with sport coaches or navigating how to train different teams, or working with sport science or just anything that kind of we deal with on the day to day... I think has been a huge one.” 7:10  “I feel like athletes nowadays, especially with the social media climb, they want to know the reason behind everything. So, I think being able to take a step back and [...] making sure I mean everything I program always has a why behind it. And I told my athletes, if they ask me why and I don't have a reason, I'm more than happy to take a step back and change it.” 14:45  “We get kids that are 17/18 years old and then we can take them and see them grow and develop into not just athletes, but grow and develop as humans as well. [...] I think a big part is being part of their life and helping them develop as humans, not just athletes. And to see that development throughout the years is definitely one of my favorite parts about this field.” 19:20 

Sign Up for Collective Membership: https://strengthtc.com/product/collective-membership-subscription/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=video_descScott Leech (URI) on Modern Football S&C Programming: High/Low Weeks, Roster Turnover, Testing, and Contact PrepTim Caron hosts Scott Leech, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Rhode Island, to discuss practical program design amid the realities of modern college football, including transfers, NIL, and shortened training windows. Leach explains how he assesses athletes' readiness to train, uses position and relative-strength standards, and structures off-season weeks with a flexible high/low approach to manage field demands. He outlines non-negotiables such as max-velocity exposures (90%+), jump testing, and quality strength work, and explains how metric trends guide deloads and expectations across phases. The conversation covers planning from the annual calendar down, evaluating daily sessions and entire off-seasons, integrating game-based conditioning and contact prep, using GPS to validate load, and the need to keep programming evolving rather than becoming static. Leach also shares where to find him and his “Grid Iron Warrior 2.0” resources.00:00 Introduction and Background01:54 Rivalries and High School Memories03:03 Hall of Fame Aspirations03:58 Program Design Philosophy04:40 Challenges in College Football Programming06:51 Assessment and Developmental Programs13:36 Training Structure and Flexibility18:48 Max Effort Training and Metrics22:01 Annual Planning and Adjustments24:07 Evolving Training Models and Challenges29:42 Facing Life's Challenges30:26 Evaluating Training Sessions32:50 Assessing Off-Season Effectiveness34:49 Adapting Training Programs38:06 Maintaining Program Flexibility44:41 Contact Prep and Games52:30 Impact on Wins and Losses

Megan Pierro is in her 3rd year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays organization (seasonal in 2024, full-time in 2025 and 2026). She is originally from Lutz, FL and attended the University of South Florida, where she played 5 seasons as a D1 softball player (2019-2023). She graduated with a B.S. in Biomedical Health Science and a Minor in Nutrition. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA and will be playing professional softball this summer for the Florida Breeze in the Professional Softball League (PSL).Topics covered in this episode:-Her softball playing career-Finding success and advice for others-Continuing education resourcesQuotes:-"I think for me as a coach establishing relationships with my players is a very important piece" (0:41)-"Baseball you have to take into consideration that they're playing so many games, and we have to be able to optimize our players to go out there and perform to their greatest potential throughout the whole season" (5:21)-"The best thing I think we can do as coaches is to just be a sponge to the information around us and try to absorb it all" (14:38)If you would like to learn more from Megan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meganpierro

Mike Joseph is the Assistant Athletics Director and Head Football Strength & Conditioning Coach at West Virginia University, where he has led the Mountaineers' strength and conditioning efforts since 2008. A pioneer in integrating sport science, recovery, nutrition, and performance technology, Joseph oversees athletic performance development across the department with a primary focus on football.Rece Poulin is the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Merrimack College, where he oversees Men's Ice Hockey, Women's Basketball, and Women's Lacrosse. A former Merrimack graduate fellow, he earned his master's degree in Exercise and Sports Science and was honored with the prestigious Lance Vermeil Award from the CSCCa for his commitment and potential in the strength and conditioning profession.Kristina Jeffries is the Associate Director of Athletic Performance at Penn State University, where she currently oversees Men's and Women's Hockey. Since joining Penn State in 2014, she has worked with multiple programs, including Track & Field and Men's Soccer.Dr. Bill Burghardt is the Director of Sports Science at Michigan State University, where he leads efforts to optimize athlete training, performance, and return-to-sport through the integration of sport science, technology, and data analytics. He previously served as Director of Football Sports Science and spent several years on the Spartans' strength and conditioning staff.Scott Swanson is the Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Strength & Conditioning at United States Military Academy, where he oversees the physical development of more than 1,000 cadet-athletes across 28 varsity sports. Now in his 24th year leading the program, Swanson directs one of the most unique and comprehensive strength and conditioning operations in collegiate athletics.Jordan Nilson joined Auburn University in 2024 and oversees all aspects of strength and conditioning for Auburn's Olympic sports while serving as the primary performance coach for women's tennis. Prior to Auburn, she spent several years at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she worked with gymnastics, women's tennis, and softball while also leading internship education and athlete leadership initiatives.Kelly Powers is the Athletic Director at Saint Ursula Academy. Prior to this she was the Associate Athletic Director for Olympic Sports Performance at University of Cincinnati, where she oversees Olympic sports performance and nutrition while serving as the head strength and conditioning coach for women's basketball and volleyball. Since joining Cincinnati in 2008, she has helped lead the growth of the department's performance and athlete wellness initiatives.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Leave Your Mark, I sit down with Chris Chapman, a veteran Strength & Conditioning Coach, Sport Scientist, educator, and outdoor adventurer whose career has spanned eight Olympic quadrennials, multiple sports, and the rapidly evolving world of performance technology.Chris currently serves as the Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach for Canada's Slopestyle and Big Air Freeski Team, while also working as a Sport Scientist with WHOOP. Over the course of our conversation, we explore a career that has taken him from traditional Olympic sport environments to startup culture, innovation, and entrepreneurship.We discuss:• Growing up with dreams of becoming a fighter pilot, video game tester, and martial artist• How martial arts shaped his approach to coaching and life• The role nature plays in his mental health, creativity, and personal growth• Lessons learned working across eight Olympic cycles• Building trust and buy-in with athletes in high-risk sports such as freestyle skiing• Why context matters more than absolutes in coaching• The transition from high-performance sport to the technology sector• Product development, innovation, and the realities of bringing new ideas to market• Mentorship lessons from legendary Canadian coach Chris Delcin• The importance of humility, kindness, and choosing your battles wisely• Why innovation often struggles inside large organizations• His vision for creating a nature-based training and wellness retreat in Northern OntarioChris is thoughtful, reflective, and deeply passionate about helping people perform at their best. Whether you're a coach, therapist, sport scientist, entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to build a meaningful career, there are lessons in this conversation for you.Enjoy the conversation.If you liked this EP, please take the time to rate and comment, share with a friend, and connect with us on social channels IG @Kingopain, TW @BuiltbyScott, LI+FB Scott Livingston. You can find all things LYM at www.LYMLab.com, download your free Life Lab Starter Kit today and get busy living https://lymlab.com/free-lym-lab-starter/Please take the time to visit and connect with our sponsors, they are an essential part of our success:www.ReconditioningHQ.comwww.FreePainGuide.com 

Anachronistic (Google it. It fits perfectly), Watterson explains how he was able to not just survive but thrive under sixTitans head coaches in four different decades. Coaching wasn't even his first career choice for the Newport, Rhode Island Native and he reveals how a failed physical, of all things, led him to the NFL. Watch and hear who this ringleader of team pranks believes is the toughest Titan, the one who got the most out of the least effort, and why he had no posters on his bedroom wall growing up. You'll enjoy getting to know the guy who knew the players best. AMONG THE TOPICS: OCEANOGRAPHY TO THE GRIDIRON, THE PRANK WHERE A TURKEY WASN'T REALLY A TURKEY, PLAYINGCHRIS EVERT, AND LOVE IS IN THE FRONT OFFICE AIR.

Anachronistic (Google it. It fits perfectly), Watterson explains how he was able to not just survive but thrive under sixTitans head coaches in four different decades. Coaching wasn't even his first career choice for the Newport, Rhode Island Native and he reveals how a failed physical, of all things, led him to the NFL. Watch and hear who this ringleader of team pranks believes is the toughest Titan, the one who got the most out of the least effort, and why he had no posters on his bedroom wall growing up. You'll enjoy getting to know the guy who knew the players best. AMONG THE TOPICS: OCEANOGRAPHY TO THE GRIDIRON, THE PRANK WHERE A TURKEY WASN'T REALLY A TURKEY, PLAYINGCHRIS EVERT, AND LOVE IS IN THE FRONT OFFICE AIR.

Join me as I talk with a legend on the gridiron for UAB, Zac Woodfin! Zac has a unique story with UAB because he not only played for the Blazers during some of their most memorable seasons, but he also played and coached for Bill Clark. Woodfin talks about playing for Coach Clark in high school at Prattville and returning to UAB to be his strength and conditioning coach. We also discussed some big game memories, his relationships with teammates, his time in the pros, and his coaching career, which has taken him to the NFL! Zac shares amazing insight into the mind of an athlete and gives great advice for up-and-coming athletes. Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!Be sure to follow my social media pages (@DragonsDenEFEL) on Facebook, X, and Instagram for new episode announcements to see who is joining me next! Go Blazers!

Scott Caulfield is one of the most respected voices in collegiate strength and conditioning, currently serving as Director of Strength & Conditioning at Norwich University. In 2025, he was named the National Strength and Conditioning Association College Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year, recognizing decades of impact as a coach, educator, and leader in the profession.Before returning to Norwich in 2021 as the school's first-ever Director of Strength & Conditioning, Caulfield spent more than a decade with the NSCA in Colorado Springs, where he served as Head Strength Coach, Coaching Education Manager, and Performance Center Manager. In that role, he helped shape coach education nationwide while collaborating with organizations across the NCAA, MLB, NBA, NFL, and Olympic sport systems.His coaching journey also includes stops at Dartmouth College and Colorado College, along with experience in private sector performance and military fitness. A U.S. Navy veteran and Vermont native, Caulfield is known for blending high standards, real-world leadership, and relationship-driven coaching.$1 Trial Membership to SCN

Megan Pierro is in her 3rd year as a Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Tampa Bay Rays organization (seasonal in 2024, full-time in 2025 and 2026). She is originally from Lutz, FL and attended the University of South Florida, where she played 5 seasons as a D1 softball player (2019-2023). She graduated with a B.S. in Biomedical Health Science and a Minor in Nutrition. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the NSCA and will be playing professional softball this summer for the Florida Breeze in the Professional Softball League (PSL).Topics covered in this episode:-Her journey to the Rays organization-Participating in the "Spanish Immersion Program"-The value of using the textbookQuotes:-"I learned very quickly that speaking Spanish is a huge part of working in baseball, especially at the complex level" (4:43)-"I think it's easy to get caught up in wanting to always try new and different things, but at the end of the day, especially at the level that I work at, I think sometimes simple can be better" (14:39)-"I started to realize that this was actually something that we might be able to make work, and turns out that we are, so I will be playing this summer" (18:49)If you would like to learn more from Megan, you can connect with her on social media:Instagram:@meganpierro

Mark Weisman is a great example of how strong coaching relationships can come full circle. I had the chance to coach and work with Mark earlier in his career, so it's been special to watch his path unfold from athlete to coach at the highest levels of sport.A former standout running back at University of Iowa, Mark became one of the most productive backs in program history. After college, he spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals before transitioning into strength and conditioning after a short career in medical salesMark then returned to Iow a as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for football, later became Director of Sports Performance at Southeast Missouri State University, and continued building his career in professional baseball. He now serves with the Chicago Cubs as Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach. $1 Trial Membership to SCN

Matt Thome is the Director of the Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory (NAPL) at University of Nebraska Athletic Department, where he leads applied sport science initiatives focused on technology integration, athlete monitoring, training strategies, and return-to-play processes to optimize performance and athlete health.Before Nebraska, Thome worked as a Sport Scientist at ALTIS supporting Olympic-level sprinters through monitoring, research, and strength training programming. He previously served as Head Strength & Conditioning Coach and Lecturer at Michigan Technological University and began his career at University of Richmond.Thome earned degrees from Grand Valley State University and Indiana University, and completed his PhD in Sport Science at Edith Cowan University in 2024, with research focused on training load and elite sprinter monitoring.___Download The Supertraining Reading Planhttps://strengthcoachnetwork.com/st___Buy Supertraining to Read Along with Ushttps://uaconcepts.com/product/supertraining

Joe Connolly is the Head Sports Performance Coach for Football at Arizona State University. Connolly arrived in Tempe in 2018 after serving as the director of sports performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for two years primarily working with the football program. Prior to UMass, he was the director of strength and conditioning at the University of South Carolina. Connolly oversaw the training for the football and track and field programs at South Carolina for seven season from 2009-2015. Connolly got his start coaching in 2007 at Harvard University where he assisted with all 41 athletic teams. Following a year with Harvard, he spent one year as an athletic performance coach for football at the University of Louisville before joining the Gamecocks for his longest stop. Connolly is a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association earning the highest honor in the profession in 2022. He was awarded Football Scoop Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2024 and was a nominee in 2026 for the NSCA's Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year. Over his career, Coach Connolly has worked with over 45 NFL Draft picks including the 2014 number one overall pick, and has been a part of 11 bowl games.A former four-year baseball at the University of Hartford, Connolly has shifted gears from his college playing days but has still found way to stay active himself both in and outside the weight room. Connolly is an avid lifter with dedicated time under the bar. Since his time on the diamond, he's stepped on the platform competing in both drug-free powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting as well as strongman and Highland Games. Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

Rocky Snyder sits down with Dominic Cothern, Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Cincinnati Reds organization . The Zelos Podcast is all about the "pros behind the pros." Each week, Rocky interviews leading experts in strength & conditioning, sports medicine, athletic training, and physical therapy who work behind the scenes in leagues like the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, MLS, and NWSL.Hosted by internationally recognized movement specialist and master trainer Rocky Snyder, new episodes drop every Monday at 9am EST / 6am PST.TIME STAMPS:4:00 Dominic Cothern's career path to the Reds8:30 The importance of mentors11:00 Working in the Reds organization16:00 Trying not to overcomplicate things19:00 Screening athletes23:00 Diving into the foot & ankle29:00 Program differences between MiLB and the MLB35:00 Teaching daily habits41:00 What's in your go-bag45:00 Recovery tools and mental performance 47:30 Rapid fire questions50:00 Looking into the futureGET TO KNOW DOMINIC COTHERNLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominic-cothern-1764581a1/INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/cotherndominic/DAYTON DRAGONS: https://www.mlb.com/milb/daytonGET TO KNOW ROCKY SNYDERMEET: Visit the Rocky's online headquarters: RockySnyder.comREAD: Grab a copy of his new "Return to Center" book: www.rockysnyder.comINSTA: Instagram fan, check him out at https://www.instagram.com/rocky_snyder/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/rocky.snyder.77LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocky-snyder-cscs-cafs-nsca-cpt-a77a091/TRAIN WITH ROCKY WORKOUT: Want to meet Rocky and get a private workout: https://rfcsantacruz.com/INSTA: https://www.instagram.com/rockysfitnesssc/FACEBOOK: Facebook.com/RockysFitnessCenter

Joe "Big House" Kenn coached strength in the NFL for nearly a decade. He sits down with Tom Barry for four decades of lessons. From a guard at Wake Forest to leading strength programs at Boise State, Utah, Arizona State, and Louisville, Joe Kenn has built one of the most decorated coaching careers in the NSCA. He created the Tier System, served as head strength and conditioning coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2019, and is the only coach to have won both the NSCA Collegiate Strength Coach of the Year and the NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. He now runs Big House Power and works with elite strongman athletes including Brian Shaw and Tom Evans. In this episode, Joe and Tom dig into how strong is strong enough at the highest levels, how NIL and the transfer portal have rewired strength coaching, how Joe interpreted Louie Simmons rather than copying him, practice-based evidence vs evidence-based practice, why he stopped programming power cleans for three years at Arizona State, peak velocity over average velocity, and why the strength coach often has to be the sacrificial lamb in a team sport setting. TOPICS COVERED 00:00 What the public misunderstands about strength at the top level 05:35 Joe's background: Wake Forest to the Carolina Panthers 10:41 How NIL and the transfer portal changed strength coaching 28:58 No absolutes, and how Joe interpreted Louie Simmons 32:00 Dynamic effort, compensatory acceleration, and peak velocity 36:00 When three quarters of the NFL trained one set to failure 41:00 Lineage, principles, and "absorb, modify, apply" 49:00 The apprenticeship problem: 32,000 grads, 14,000 jobs 1:13:00 Why Joe stopped programming power cleans for three years 1:30:00 Why the strength coach has to be the sacrificial lamb 1:36:00 What Louie Simmons actually contributed to Joe's tier system LEARN THE CONJUGATE METHOD Conjugate Coach Pathway: https://www.westside-barbell.com/products/conjugatecourse Digital Internship (Level 1): https://www.westside-barbell.com/products/digital-internship Conjugate Club: https://www.conjugateclub.com/ CONNECT WITH JOE KENN Instagram: @bighousepower Website: https://bighousepower.com/ FOLLOW WESTSIDE BARBELL: Website: https://www.westside-barbell.com/ Instagram: @westsidebarbellofficial Facebook: @westsidebarbellofficial Twitter: @westsidebarbell Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Dollamur Sport Surfaces CLMS Conjugate Tactical The Conjugate Club