athlete development

S03|E251 The Hardest Worker in the Room | Harlee Heath
S03|E251 The Hardest Worker in the Room | Harlee Heath Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E251 The Hardest Worker in the Room | Harlee Heath

Harlee Heath did not know strength and conditioning was a career until her sophomore year of college. A few years later she is finishing her second year as a GA at Western Kentucky University, coaching cheer, dance, and basketball — and she has learned more in those two years than most coaches learn in a decade.
June 17, 2026
S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten
S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E247 Mastering Growth Mindset with Leo Totten

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Leo Totten from Totten Training reflects on five decades in strength and conditioning. From his early days in Olympic weightlifting to building elite programs and mentoring coaches nationwide, Leo shares lessons on growth mindset, leadership, athlete development, and the importance of maintaining balance while striving for excellence.
June 17, 2026
S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S03|E241 Building NBA Toughness with Bill Foran | Samson Strength Coach Collective

Bill Foran reflects on a career that helped shape modern NBA strength and conditioning. From his early days in the late 1970s to building the Miami Heat’s legendary culture of toughness, Bill shares lessons on training, mentorship, and why caring about athletes still matters most.
June 17, 2026
S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E230 Embracing Adversity with Liane Blyn | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Liane Blyn, Director of Sports Performance for Olympic Sports at Arizona State University. Liane discusses her path in strength and conditioning, how the field has evolved, and the unique challenges she’s faced as a female leader in a male-dominated profession. She dives into the importance of building connections, fostering accountability, and embracing adversity as a tool for both personal and athletic growth.
June 17, 2026
S02|E224 Adaptive Sport Strength and Conditioning with Abbey Phillipson | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E224 Adaptive Sport Strength and Conditioning with Abbey Phillipson | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E224 Adaptive Sport Strength and Conditioning with Abbey Phillipson | Samson Strength Coach Collective

Adaptive sport is not about “inspiration”—it’s about inclusion, competition, and empowerment. In this episode, Abbey Phillipson, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Adaptive Sport and Head ParaPowerlifting Coach at the University of Michigan, shares her journey, breaks down misconceptions, and explains why strength training is vital for athletes with disabilities.
June 17, 2026
S02|E222 Coaching Evolved with Dave Nedbalek | Samson Strength Coach Collective
S02|E222 Coaching Evolved with Dave Nedbalek | Samson Strength Coach Collective Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

S02|E222 Coaching Evolved with Dave Nedbalek | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Dave Nedbalek, Head Boys Basketball Coach at Grace Community School. Dave opens up about his transition from college to high school coaching, the challenges of keeping today’s athletes motivated, and the role of family and community in athletic development. From the dangers of early specialization to the value of controlled chaos in practice, this episode is packed with insights for coaches at every level.
June 17, 2026
E092: Sean Swetnam (Assistant Athletic Performance Coach)
E092: Sean Swetnam (Assistant Athletic Performance Coach) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E092: Sean Swetnam (Assistant Athletic Performance Coach)

In this episode of The Collective, Sean Swetnam, Assistant Athletic Performance Coach at UCLA joins us to provide fascinating insight into his journey, and how his experiences have shaped the environment he provides for his student-athletes. We talk about everything from training concepts, philosophies around education for student-athletes, sprint mechanics, to death and what it means to truly leave a lasting impact. This one is jam-packed! Enjoy! https://youtu.be/DZ4HSsU_MwU
June 17, 2026
E110: Derek Ward (Founder of Upward Human Performance)
E110: Derek Ward (Founder of Upward Human Performance) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E110: Derek Ward (Founder of Upward Human Performance)

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Derek Ward joins us to share his untraditional journey into running a successful private training facility. Derek is the Founder of Upward Human Performance in Milford, CT, and in this podcast he shares with us his story around overcoming obstacles early in life, being determined and confident in his desire to be successful, as well as how to view experiences on a neutral scale in order to stay calm, composed, and make sound decisions when life happens! https://youtu.be/OUdyn205iA0
June 17, 2026
E109: Daniel Guzman (Head of Enterprise Sales at 3X4 Genetics)
E109: Daniel Guzman (Head of Enterprise Sales at 3X4 Genetics) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E109: Daniel Guzman (Head of Enterprise Sales at 3X4 Genetics)

Daniel Guzman, who is the Head of Enterprise Sales at 3X4 Genetics where he specifically works on the software "GENEFIT" joins us to discuss the work he is doing with genetics in the world of sport. For those wondering how DNA can influence your genetics, this is the episode for you! Daniel gives us his personal and professional accounts of the work being done to improve quality of life through genetic feedback, in addition to improving sport performance by giving coaches the ability to make specific decisions around what each athlete needs based on their genetic profile. https://youtu.be/-q3SHGw3cL0
June 17, 2026
Episode 099: Terrance McClellan (Assistant Strength Coach)
Episode 099: Terrance McClellan (Assistant Strength Coach) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Episode 099: Terrance McClellan (Assistant Strength Coach)

Terrance McLellan, who is a strength and conditioning coach for Atlanta Hawks basketball joins us to discuss the major takeaways he's had during his time navigating the field of strength and conditioning. Terrance speaks about the specific scenarios he's found himself in as an intern and GA leading into becoming a professional in the industry, and how he's been able to adjust in order to advance into a life in professional basketball. https://youtu.be/yYe9uHvipXI
June 17, 2026
E096: Edward Williams (Strength Coach and Educator)
E096: Edward Williams (Strength Coach and Educator) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E096: Edward Williams (Strength Coach and Educator)

Ed Williams joins Anthony in this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective! Ed is a Strength Coach and Educator who has trained athletes and consulted with coaches in the industry for 22 years. Ed reflects on the time he spent training under Charles Poliquin, what it means to be truly resilient, fast twitch vs. slow twitch muscles and the way he trains them, in addition to the impact that he is trying to provide in the current strength and conditioning industry by coaching coaches. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/S9VWDnOwMJs
June 17, 2026
E094: Brianna Kanz (Assistant AD for Sport Performance)
E094: Brianna Kanz (Assistant AD for Sport Performance) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E094: Brianna Kanz (Assistant AD for Sport Performance)

Brianna had one of her former Stanford athlete's, Katie Meyer take her own life recently. The following link will take you to a place where you can read about the Katie's Save mission, and donate to a cause that is dedicated to helping student-athletes navigate the dynamics of campus life and the pressures that come from sport. Thank you for your help! In this episode, Brianna Kanz, Assistant AD for Sport Performance at Santa Clara hops on to talk shop and catch up with Ant! This episode is very much free-flowing, but also touches on topics related to her journey,…
June 17, 2026
E93 Chula Loomis (Assistant Strength and Conditioning for Football)
E93 Chula Loomis (Assistant Strength and Conditioning for Football) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E93 Chula Loomis (Assistant Strength and Conditioning for Football)

Chula Loomis, who is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with Football at FAU hops on the podcast to provide insight and perspective on his journey working in strength and conditioning thus far. Chula has a great outlook on how to approach the field in the early and later years, and how to maintain integrity while doing so! He brings great content in this episode around how he plans to continue to obtain the qualities he needs to accomplish his personal and professional goals moving forward. https://youtu.be/1Olt7iA4HfM
June 17, 2026
E088: David Ventress Jr. (Director of Athletic Performance)
E088: David Ventress Jr. (Director of Athletic Performance) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E088: David Ventress Jr. (Director of Athletic Performance)

In this episode, David Ventress Jr., who is the Director of Athletic Performance at The University of South Alabama joins us to talk about how he approaches connecting with his athletes, in addition to some specific stories around those connections. David talks about the purity of coaching when it comes to physical preparation, the good and the bad of the strength and conditioning industry, and he provides some great insight around how we can have the impact we desire through coaching. https://youtu.be/exPNNrWN44E
June 17, 2026
E083: Joe Gilfedder (Fordham University)
E083: Joe Gilfedder (Fordham University) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E083: Joe Gilfedder (Fordham University)

Joe Gilfedder, who is the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sports Performance at Fordham University in the Bronx discusses what it was like taking on a director role at 28 years old. Joe provides us with insight around how to be socially aware when creating and establishing connections with the players, and everyone else in the building. He also talks to us about what it means to truly set a standard and how to uphold that standard across the board. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/t-wGG-vIpwg
June 17, 2026
E081 - Dan O'Rourke (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach)
E081 – Dan O’Rourke (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E081 – Dan O’Rourke (Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach)

Dan O'Rourke joins us to discuss the concepts he and the staff at Florida International University are using to rebuild the football program from a physical and psychological perspective! Dan is an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach with Football, Baseball, and Beach Volleyball at FIU and brings some great insight in this episode as to how we can better reach players from various backgrounds! https://youtu.be/SsEdVNSpGF0
June 17, 2026
080: Mike Tucker - Director of Football S&C (Villanova University)
080: Mike Tucker – Director of Football S&C (Villanova University) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

080: Mike Tucker – Director of Football S&C (Villanova University)

In this episode, Mike Tucker, Director of Football Strength and Conditioning at Villanova University joins us for an episode to chat about the community that he has created around "Sprintember" and what his intentions were when he set out to create the program! Mike dives into his philosophy on how to uphold standards, how he approaches his personal and professional development, the evolution of strength and conditioning, and a bunch more! https://youtu.be/SsEdVNSpGF0
June 17, 2026
E078 Don Day
E078 – Don Day (Strength & Conditioning Coach Murray State) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E078 – Don Day (Strength & Conditioning Coach Murray State)

In this episode of The Collective, Don Day provides us with some great free-flowing conversation around the current state of strength and conditioning, and how to achieve peace of mind in your current position (along with some great jokes)! Don has been to a variety of different universities and has served as much more than just a coach. In this episode he explains his take on how strength and conditioning professionals should view their roles in order to move things forward. https://youtu.be/SsEdVNSpGF0
June 17, 2026
072 Brandon Sardine
E072 – Brandon Sardine (Performance Coach – Future) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E072 – Brandon Sardine (Performance Coach – Future)

In this episode, we are joined by Brandon Sardine who is a Performance Coach at Future. Brandon has a vast array of experiences at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Each of which have their own challenges! Brandon discussed these experiences, the dichotomy of the current state of the private and collegiate sectors, and the danger of playing the comparison game when it comes to your career vs. others! This episode bounces around and it's one of the more back-and-forth episodes we've had. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/mjHLgE9xSqY
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E070 - Nick Greyno (TCU)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E070 – Nick Greyno (TCU) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E070 – Nick Greyno (TCU)

https://youtu.be/KFoUsDTKPS0 In this episode of The Collective, Nick Greyno, Strength and Conditioning Coach at TCU opens up about the various ways he uses psychological training to prepare athletes for success, how to meet the player where they're at in their journey, why we truly don't know enough about the athlete, and the various ways we can move the industry forward. Nick has taken a unique path to where he is now, forgoing paid positions to take on unpaid positions in order to relentlessly pursue his dream. His take on this is extremely interesting and worth the listen!
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E063 - Jason Hettler (IMG Academy)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E063 – Jason Hettler (IMG Academy) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E063 – Jason Hettler (IMG Academy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFt4FHdhYnw&list=PLxq_OWThB2iSscx30C1qEisoHmOQRJ5Fp&index=60 In this episode, Jason Hettler, Speed and Agility Coach at IMG Academy discusses with us his path through the world of sport performance, and how his time at the world-renowned Altis has shaped the way he approaches physical preparation with his athletes in his new role. Jason provides wisdom, and some analytical-thought towards specific methods of motor learning that he is using to enhance performance with athletes from a variety of sports at IMG.
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E062 - Jordan Nieuwsma (Elon University)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E062 – Jordan Nieuwsma (Elon University) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E062 – Jordan Nieuwsma (Elon University)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chGfrq8E2FI&list=PLxq_OWThB2iSscx30C1qEisoHmOQRJ5Fp&index=59 Author of Reverse Engineering Sport; The 8 Vector System Jordan Nieuwsma joins Anthony in this episode to talk about his new book. Jordan is the Assistant Director of Sport Performance at Elon University in North Carolina. Get a pen and paper out for this one because it is jam-packed with great insight as to how this system has provided better protection on the field for athletes, along with increased physical capabilities over a student-athlete's 4 years!
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E060 - Mike Durand (Seattle Prep)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E060 – Mike Durand (Seattle Prep) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E060 – Mike Durand (Seattle Prep)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8dFMjQzyRU&list=PLxq_OWThB2iSscx30C1qEisoHmOQRJ5Fp&index=57 Mike Durand brings wisdom and a message of simplicity in this weeks podcast. Mike has seen it all; from a career that began in the collegiate setting, to an assistant in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders. Now, going on his 13th year as the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Seattle Prep, his mission is to "get back to the fundamentals" of strength and conditioning, coaching, communicating, and establishing a foundation for the athletes he works with and the community he serves. Mike understands his purpose, and in this podcast, you will get exposure to the thoughts of…
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E059 - Amanda Kimball (University of Connecticut)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: E059 – Amanda Kimball (University of Connecticut) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective: E059 – Amanda Kimball (University of Connecticut)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWz8c2HGveE&list=PLxq_OWThB2iSscx30C1qEisoHmOQRJ5Fp&index=56 In this episode, Anthony sits down with Amanda Kimball, long-time UConn Women's Basketball Strength Coach to discuss how to navigate the challenges of stepping into a role surrounded by hall of fame coaches and potential WNBA players. After 6 National Championship and 14 Final Four appearances, Amanda takes us through her experiences and how her perspective is allowing her to make an impact as the new Director of Holistic and Reintegrative Sports Performance at The University of Connecticut. There will be a part II to this in which Amanda will provide us with more specific case studies surrounding her…
June 17, 2026
E054 - Bobby Smith (Reach Your Potential Training)
E054 – Bobby Smith (Reach Your Potential Training) Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

E054 – Bobby Smith (Reach Your Potential Training)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSMVx8GdJVE&list=PLxq_OWThB2iSscx30C1qEisoHmOQRJ5Fp&index=51 After four major surgeries (ACL reconstruction, meniscectomy, Tommy John surgery, and ankle reconstruction), Bobby Smith decided to take the same qualities that made him a competitive 3-sport athlete and establish a facility that would provide athletes with proper guidance to avoid such injuries. In this episode we cover "The Components of Training and Developing a Great Team" as Bobby takes us through how he establishes expectations in his gym, Reach Your Potential Training (RYPT) in Tinton Falls, NJ.
June 17, 2026
E058 – Zach Fears (Southeastern Oklahoma State University)
E058 – Zach Fears (Southeastern Oklahoma State University) Strength Coach PodcastAthlete Development & Performance

E058 – Zach Fears (Southeastern Oklahoma State University)

Episode Summary This episode features Zach Fears and explores his work in collegiate sports performance at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The conversation points to the responsibilities that come with leading athlete development across a department, from training design and daily implementation to long-term planning and facility use. It also gives listeners a useful look at how performance leadership requires both technical coaching and broader organizational thinking. Coaches working in college settings will find value in the discussion around infrastructure, athlete support, and building a process that can serve a full roster of teams well. Listen to More Episodes Browse the…
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective: Episode 043 – Tyler Lesher (Florida Atlantic University)
Samson Strength Coach Collective: Episode 043 – Tyler Lesher (Florida Atlantic University) Strength Coach PodcastAthlete Development & Performance

Samson Strength Coach Collective: Episode 043 – Tyler Lesher (Florida Atlantic University)

https://youtu.be/e9UtWDgpEO0 Tyler Lesher is interviewed by Matt Tometz. Before arriving to FAU in November 2020, Tyler was with the Greensboro Swarm as the Head ATC and Strength Coach. Tyler is now an Assistant Athletic Trainer for FAU. With a love for strength and conditioning he takes a unique approach to his practice.
June 17, 2026
Samson Strength Coach Collective Episode 020 | Darien Pyka
Samson Strength Coach Collective Episode 020 | Darien Pyka Athlete Development & PerformanceStrength Coach Podcast

Samson Strength Coach Collective Episode 020 | Darien Pyka

We finish up the month of August and our highlight of female leaders within the strength & conditioning industry with Darien Pyka! Coach Pyka is an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Southern California and a certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association. She shares why she has such a passion for strength & conditioning and how being a walk-on for Loyola Marymount Women's Soccer drove that passion!   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRpJoHmS7YM
June 17, 2026