You have a strength and conditioning background but are doing a masters in sport coaching? Why did you decide that the master of sport coaching was the best program for you?
I decided to pursue the Master of Sport Coaching because I felt a void in my coaching career. I began to realize that while the technical aspects of sport preparation are important, the areas of relationship building, teaching, and leadership are the difference makers. The best practice and training plans are useless if the athletes don’t trust their coach. Most strength and conditioning coaches will complete a master’s degree in nutrition or business, but I felt the Masters of Sport Coaching at Ohio State could make the biggest impact for my career. Ohio State University has some of the most accomplished coaches, professors, and administrators in the world, which meant it was the right degree at the perfect place.
Once you finished college football you played in the NFL for the Detroit Lions and then after got into strength and conditioning back at the college level. Can you describe some of the differences between college and professional and why you went back to work at the college level?
While my time in the NFL was brief, I learned that there must be an individualized training approach for each athlete. Rookies that are new to the league can’t be trained the same way as more experienced athletes so coaches must consider training experience, maturity levels, learning capabilities, injury history, and the demands of the sport at each level. Player training routines are very different because of positional demands and the longer season. Personally, the psychological difference was the deciding factor for the level I chose to coach. The collegiate athlete is typically 18-23 years old and needs more than physiological guidance to prepare for football games. They are away from home for the first time and are asked to behave like adults. Personal discipline, accountability, interpersonal and problem-solving skills haven’t been engrained into their nature. This takes time and can be cultivated through physical training and being in the presence of positive adult figures. What interests me is the psychological transformation and development of the young athlete as a result of a sound strength and conditioning program.
You are originally from North Carolina and coached there as well, how has it been transitioning to Ohio and now being here for 4 plus years?
There will be no place like home, however the people of Ohio and Ohio State University have welcomed my wife and I with open arms. With the shared mission of excellence and living up to high standards, I feel obligated to do my part and give my best to this university. Ohio State places a high priority on the well-being of its employees and I experience that every day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. The city of Columbus community reminds me a lot of the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina. The area is thriving and is perfect for young professionals and families. Many college towns don’t have more to offer than the university itself, but Columbus is the polar opposite. The city is budding and overflowing with opportunity. As far as the weather is concerned, we are embracing each winter with open arms (I wrote that previous sentence with a large smile on my face).
How has the Masters of Sport Coaching program been applicable in your daily activities in both a coaching and non-coaching context?
The benefits of this degree will stretch far beyond the two years that I was a part of the program. I loved that I could attend “Sports Psychology” class on Wednesday night then apply the motivation techniques on the following Thursday morning during a workout. The “Pro-Seminar for Coaches” course caused me to value the importance of self-reflection and evaluation. How am I able to connect better with the athletes I coach when I haven’t fully connected with myself? I feel more prepared to interview for a Director of Strength and Conditioning role because of the “Coaching Effectiveness” coursework. The beauty of coaching is the requirement of authenticity and high character to truly be effective. As Tim Kight, CEO of Focus 3, once said in one of our courses, “If it isn’t happening IN you, it won’t happen THROUGH you.” As I’ve journeyed through the Masters of Sport Coaching program, I have felt myself become a new and improved person, coach, and family member. I would recommend this degree program to any coach looking to be the absolute best in their field.