Nicole Rodriguez always knew she wanted to pursue strength and conditioning, but the extent of her journey — spanning 44 countries and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — is nothing short of inspiring. During her time at Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Rodriguez recognized the value of experience and environment, later joining the EXOS International Program to coach globally. Eager to test her skills and help standardize coaching education, she sought out developing countries to advance their sport infrastructure. Rodriguez outlines key differences between U.S. and European approaches: while the U.S. excels in strength methodology, Europe enhances sport-specific application through tactical periodization. Additionally, she highlights Europe’s emphasis on rehabilitation and an “inverse relationship” between time in the weight room versus pitch-side with sport coaches. Rodriguez also describes her work with Poland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism to pursue NSCA Global Chapter status, aligning with her passion for improving strength and conditioning education and implementation worldwide.

Connect with Nicole by email: [email protected] and online at: coachnicolerodriguez.com | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs  

Learn more about NSCA international programs mentioned in the episode at NSCA.com/Global.

“I think it's important for strength and conditioning coaches to know that our skill set and our scope of practice isn't just training this sport we work with. It's being able to adapt and form a needs analysis and build a program for any sport or activity based on demands, recognizing key aspects of an activity or a job or a sport or a position that give you windows of trainability to help that athlete or person.” 21:23

“I always believe in Harry Truman's word that you can be successful in life without getting the credit. And there's a lot of things that we have to do in the industry where we're just do not get any credit. And it's just part of the job. But we try to use it as a positive way of working together.” 31:30

“Those are the two things that I always work to remember is, hey, keep the peace in the environments that I work in because they are high-stress environments. But also, this concept of you don't always have to be super bubbly and always smiling. It's helpful. It's very helpful if you have that ability to stay positive through the thick of the scenario. But sometimes it doesn't always need to come from positivity but more of this idea of staying neutral, yeah, so you can make the next best decision.” 35:22

Lindsey Kirschman sees her non-traditional educational background as her greatest asset, not a detriment. She still considers herself a teacher — just differently — as the Director of Sports Performance for University of Utah women’s basketball. Coming from a family of educators, Kirschman initially studied forestry and range science before pursuing strength and conditioning. Kirschman explains how her teaching experience provided a firm foundation for optimizing learning and creating a positive environment. Her approach promotes skill transfer from the weight room to sport and beyond, using exercises like sled pushes as analogies for life lessons about resilience. A former track athlete, Kirschman underscores that while the finish line is the same, every athlete’s starting point is unique. Kirschman also discusses culture building through her “GOAT Award” and the challenges of transitioning from a generalist to a specialist. She encourages aspiring professionals to reframe their mindset and fully engage with their working environment.

Connect with Lindsey by email: [email protected] and Instagram: @authentically_strong | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs 

Get involved with the NSCA! Don’t miss your chance to give back and fast-track your growth with volunteer roles. Many applications close December 15 — apply now at NSCA.com/Volunteer.

“My expectation, the finish line is the same for all of them. But they're not starting at the same spot […] That idea stems from the fact that equity is not the same thing as equality. And in education, that's something that we talk about all the time, is that you have a classroom full of students. They're all going to take the same test, or all have to show the same proficiency, but they all come in with different reading levels. They all come in with different backgrounds, and you have to figure out how to get them all there anyway.” 11:20

“What can a powerful athlete do? They can push against a resistance quickly and overcome it. They can move a heavy object quickly, whether it's your body or another thing. They can overcome that friction at the beginning and they can push through at the end. And that's what a powerful human being can do too, in the world.” 16:00

"What do I celebrate? What do I tolerate? That's going to lead to what I proliferate. And, that's going to be the culture. That's going to be the learning environment." 18:05

“It comes down to, as always, really good communication. And when you think you're communicating, communicate more, or communicate more effectively. Being really willing to listen and learn from everyone all the time. And ask the question, don't just assume. So those are the things I've intentionally done over the last couple of years to really enhance those working relationships, and be the best team of sports performance professionals for each individual athlete.” 24:55

The playing field has changed in collegiate athletics, but Kaz Kazadi knows the keys to longevity. Get to know the Texas Christian University (TCU) Assistant Athletic Director of Football Human Performance, renowned for his ability to inspire athletes. Follow his roots from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) to playing for the National Football League (NFL) Los Angeles Rams — later becoming a “roaming gladiator” in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and NFL Europe to secure tenure. As a leader in the weight room, strength and conditioning was a natural transition. He recalls choosing a graduate assistantship to embody his “long money” philosophy of purpose-driven education, networking, and positivity. Kazadi compares new Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies to free agency and talent acquisition versus recruiting. Additionally, he drills decision-making and delayed gratification as players transition into adulthood. He concludes with advice for creating a coaching network and career vision.

Connect with Coach Kaz by email: [email protected] | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs

“Always chase the long money, the things that create longevity. Something that creates longevity is always going to be education, a purpose-driven life, networking with people of like mind, positive energy, being consistent, and being positive.” 8:00

“Adapt. Adapt and be positive. That's the first thing you need to do as a performance coach.” 24:00

“My staff is dear to my heart, man. They keep me alive. I think you're only going to be as good as the five people that you spend the most of your time with.” 28:25

“If you want to get into the field, then get into the field. If the NSCA is having their conference, if the NSCA is having their clinic, I'm going. I'm going to shake hands. I'm going to introduce myself. I'm going to have a digital resume. I'm going to do something to meet the people that I want to meet. And then I'm going to follow up on holidays. Then I'm going to follow up with emails, just the old school way.” 39:40

No two days are the same for Will Gilmore as part of a team that oversees over 800 athletes across 200 sports at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Center. From surfers to skydivers, the facility provides an elite high-performance ecosystem for traditionally individual sport athletes. Gilmore highlights the need for remote programming and monitoring to support a constantly shifting roster. Together as a team, they navigate uncharted territory in action sports conditioning, guided by physiological demands and underlying energy systems. Gilmore and NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager Eric McMahon discuss the shift in sport science from ample to actionable data to find, change, and measure what matters most. Gilmore reflects on his “career periodization” and having free time for friends and family while working corporate hours — a stark contrast with his background in Major League Baseball (MLB). The pair also emphasize proactive networking and education for future career opportunities.

Connect with Will on Instagram: @will_gilmore_ or LinkedIn: @will-gilmore | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs  

Want to get involved with the NSCA? Find peers who share your passion for a specific sport or topic in Special Interest Groups (SIGs), or apply now for Volunteer Leadership Opportunities!

“What I've found is that relationships, again, are very important. You never know what's coming around the next corner. But being a good person, meeting people, forming genuine bonds over strength and conditioning or even things outside of work with people in your field are very important.” 16:05

“Whether the sport demands show that, hey, you need some high-level anaerobic conditioning for this, the mental state of the athlete demands it. So whether that's cliff diving or downhill mountain biking where there's zero pedaling or even pitching in baseball, they've shown that the heart rate gets to 90%, 95% max. Why? Because that guy is stressed out. That is a tough job out there. And so you better prepare him in the gym to handle those demands.” 23:20

“That's really what we're looking for if we're going to be hiring a strength and conditioning coach. Not necessarily, have you worked with any extreme sports, but what is your thought process in going about evaluating a sport?” 26:32

Regarded as a sport science advocate in Major League Soccer (MLS), follow David Tenney’s journey from sport coach to High Performance Director at Austin Football Club (FC). Tenney and NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager Eric McMahon begin by discussing increases in MLS staff and embracing the overlap between coaching and performance science staff. Tenney reflects on how experienced coaches often evolve toward mentorship, finding balance between “leader” and “practitioner.” The pair examine the new MLS-mandated performance scientist position, which requires the Certified Performance and Sport Scientist® (CPSS®) credential. Created to standardize the role and responsibilities, MLS performance scientists leverage data from GPS and force plates into effective and ethical takeaways. As President of the emerging Professional Soccer Performance Association (PSPA), Tenney shares his goals to create a network, gain representation, and increase credibility. Tenney and McMahon also explore the robust MLS developmental pipeline, interviewing strategy, and early career advice.

Connect with David on Twitter/X: @davetenney or LinkedIn: @david-tenney | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs

For a deeper look into sport science, explore career trends and how to leverage the CPSS certification into new career opportunities. Discover your next job or internship on the NSCA Job Board.

This episode discusses David Tenney’s PhD dissertation, An Exploration of the Leadership Competencies Required for High-Performance Directors in North American Professional Sports Organizations, which includes interviews with NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS leaders.

“It's not enough just to be a really good practitioner. You have to know how to manage, lead, and collaborate with different groups and different departments and practitioners from other areas.” 8:35

“Learning to be a good mentor. I think that most people think of themselves, if you go in a room and ask most coaches, ‘Hey, do you think you're a mentor?’ Everyone would say, ‘Oh yeah, I'm a good mentor.’ But very few of us have ever been taught [those] kind of mentorship skills and what that means, and how do you mentor young practitioners. And are you connecting with them in the way they need, not just how you want to connect with them and lead them.” 27:25

“You do always want to focus on some of the hard skills of the interview process, but I think we don't in the interview process ask enough questions around is someone stress resilient, can someone be vulnerable, can someone admit they make mistakes, can someone show that they have a growth mindset. How do they handle when they don't know the answer to something?” 30:30

What does it take to become an award-winning Director of Strength and Conditioning in the National Football League (NFL)? Justin Lovett reveals the “we over me” mentality that guides his role with the Los Angeles Rams. Lovett reflects on receiving the 2024 NSCA Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year Award after being an NSCA Member for over 20 years. He draws parallels between working with high school and NFL athletes — where the desired training responses are the same and ability levels vary — making versatility key. Lovett also stresses the importance of finding clean and effective training methods to accommodate wear and tear in football athletes. He compares the Rams’ hiring philosophy to gathering “infinity stones,” emphasizing character attributes, culture alignment, and staff chemistry. Lovett and NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager Eric McMahon discuss progressing into leadership and the rise of performance director roles, as well as how to seek out career and networking opportunities.

Connect with Justin on Instagram: @strcoachlovett, Twitter/X: @justin_lovett,  or LinkedIn: Justin Lovett | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs  

“Your ability to individualize is critical, and make it position or sport or athlete-specific in many cases... It's never quite a repeat one-size-fits-all cookie-cutter approach.” 7:25

“You need some juice. You need some authentic and genuine passion.” 13:45

“I think, first and foremost, the thing that resonates with me is that it's never about you. It's never about you. These players shouldn't be able to recognize who the head strength coach is when we're working the floor. Everybody — it's almost a flat hierarchy where we're here to help players, so it doesn't matter who gets the credit.” 18:45

“Your players have to be available. They have to feel like they are in a position where they're improving. And you have to be able to audit your programs and show them metrically that, yes, you are in a prime state or a ready state to compete at the highest level. So, it's never about you, ever about you. And the minute it becomes about you, you should leave. And I strongly believe that.” 19:45

“You have to provide strategies for them to grow horizontally within your organization, within your department, and vertically.” 20:30

“I think that's an empowering message for anyone listening is that no matter what you're going through, the challenge you're facing, how you're feeling about your current role or where you want to be, there's someone that's had that experience or can help you maybe relate to that experience better, going back to it's not about us. It's about our athletes, our teams, the programs that we are tasked with empowering and growing, and the people that we influence in this business.” 33:50

You can’t talk about strength and conditioning without Coach Boyd Epley. Regarded as the “Godfather of Strength and Conditioning,” Epley laid the groundwork for the profession and later founded the NSCA in 1978. His 10 Husker Power Principles, developed at the University of Nebraska, remain a cornerstone in programming and formed the basis of sport-specific training. Emphasizing strength and power, Epley implemented testing and debunked the prevailing belief that weightlifting hindered speed. He recounts his journey with co-hosts Eric McMahon and Jon Jost, chronicling how a pole vault injury and exposure to bodybuilding led him to become the first collegiate strength and conditioning coach. What began with cement bars and paint cans evolved into a fully equipped weight room and impressive lifelong career. Additionally, Epley’s open-door policy — even with his fiercest competitors — helped drive the profession forward. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in strength and conditioning history.

Explore the University of Nebraska’s Husker Power Principles discussed in this episode.

Reach out to Coach Epley by email at [email protected]. Get in touch with Jon Jost at [email protected]. Find Eric on Instagram @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn @ericmcmahoncscs.

This special episode is brought to you in part by Gatorade Performance Partner. Learn more and join their community at GatoradePerformancePartner.com.

Want to get involved as an NSCA Volunteer? Discover opportunities to lead and share your expertise at NSCA.com/Volunteer. Applications for many positions open in September and October!

“We always wanted to explain to the athletes what we were trying to do and make sense out of it so that they would buy in and participate at their best effort… Our 10 principles really provided a path for not only our athletes but others across the country.” 4:10

“Over the years, I really focused on strength and power, the squat and the clean. If that's all someone did, I think they'd have a pretty successful chance to gain and improve their performance. But as a result, I got stronger than Nebraska's football players.” 11:10

“I found out real quick, depending on if the coach recruited the kid, how fast they were going to run. The coach would look at it and say 4.6. So, we had to put up with that for a while. That's why I went to the electrical department at the university and asked them to help. And we created electronic timing at the University of Nebraska.” 19:35

“My biggest problem wasn't the program working or the facility, it was raising money to pay my volunteers… But we even had them sell t-shirts on game day to raise money and created a booster club called the Husker Power Club. When I left the program, we left $300,000 in the bank that was supposed to never be used except to support the strength program.” 27:50

Autumn Lockwood knows football. As the daughter of a collegiate football coach, she’s been attending games and “breathing football” since she was born. Now, she holds a highly coveted full-time position as an Associate Performance Coach for the National Football League (NFL) Philadelphia Eagles. But this was not always her plan. Follow her unique professional path, from a criminal justice major and aspiring Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) special agent to coaching at football’s highest level. Learn how the Philadelphia Eagles cultivate a championship culture through never-ending development, strategic staffing, and sport science initiatives. She recounts how mentorship, building a village, and networking enabled her successful career switch. Lockwood and McMahon also discuss coaching challenges and ways the NSCA can push the profession forward through diverse collaboration, uncomfortable conversations, and deeper in-person connections. They conclude by breaking down the calendar training year, key performance indicators, and athlete profiling in professional football.

Connect with Autumn via Instagram: @autumnlockwood, LinkedIn: @autumn-lockwood, or email: [email protected] | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs  

Love football? Join your fellow professionals in the NSCA Football Special Interest Group!

This episode discusses the intangible rewards of volunteering, like opening career doors and making connections. Want to get involved? Check out NSCA.com/Volunteer for opportunities.

“I would say getting in the door, it's all about that opportunity and what you do with that, and how you show up every day. The opportunity is always going to present itself once you have built those right relationships, networked, and done what you can, controlled what you can control, to get there. And then once you're there, it's really, OK, I'm going to observe everything. I'm going to be a sponge. I'm going to be so hands-on. I'm going to be an extra set of hands. I'm going to do everything that I can to help this team, this staff, all these departments that go into building a championship culture. I'm going to do what I can to help that.” 3:25

“Having that belief and that support really kind of helped, and then just building that village around you from your family, from the coworkers that you do work with, with your mentors, those are really the people that I leaned on throughout my whole entire career.” 17:40

“There are definitely ups and downs that come with this field. And it's all about how you take care of yourself and how you're able to navigate those personally, and then go from there.” 20:45

As Director of Sport Science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Heather Farmer spearheads comprehensive integration efforts. This includes ensuring every stakeholder, from sport performance staff to academic advisors, has a seat at the table. Farmer also outlines developing an internship and graduate assistantship program to meet staffing needs and offer opportunities for practical experience. She recounts how leveraging relationships — not data — has been her key to scalability. Additionally, Farmer recognizes that to make an impact, she must meet athletes and sport coaches where they are, which she uncovers through “highlights” and “hurdles.” She suggests that sport scientists with strength and conditioning backgrounds, like herself, are uniquely equipped to excel due to their communication skills. Farmer and McMahon also discuss avoiding “analysis paralysis” and how to incorporate data to elevate the student-athlete experience — an unignorable factor as athletes bring an element of “self” in the age of name, image and likeness (NIL).

Reach out to Heather by email at: [email protected] | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs  

“I can carry 8 - 10 undergrad interns. I have graduate students, PhD students who wanted that experience. And boom, now all of a sudden, we've got a full operating department. These guys became pivotal. We live tag 6 - 8 teams every day on campus… They get to see what they're doing in action versus just that blind data collection.” 8:15

“We want to align with the coach. Whatever your vision is, we are spearheading that. We are making sure we're traveling together.” 18:20

“So, for them, I gave them, what was the internal workload score of the day? What was that intensity? What was the external workload of the day? What was that intensity? And we look at one recovery metric, and those are the only five things we look at for that team. And is that because that's the best and that's the absolute scientific principle of high performance? No, but we also have to make sure that we talked at the beginning about meeting coaches where they're at. Where can I get the buy-in and the understanding?” 23:40

“I don't want to just grow, grow, grow to meet certain thresholds. I want to grow, grow, grow and make sure those experiences are at such a high level. As sports science continues to grow throughout all of the levels and we're bringing everyone together, I think you'll see more sports scientists being hired at different schools across the country. I think it just takes time, just as the other sport performance pillars did.” 27:25

Get to know Army Lieutenant Colonel Nick Barringer, Program Director for the United States Army-Baylor University Master’s in Nutrition. Barringer shares how he originally planned to become a strength and conditioning coach before a nutrition course inspired him to pursue dietetics. However, it was his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist® (CSCS®) credential that ultimately landed him his role as the first 75th Ranger Regiment (Army Rangers) Dietitian. He recounts drawing inspiration from the Navy SEALS to start the Ranger Athlete Warrior (RAW) program and seeing the Special Operations THOR3 program follow suit — laying the groundwork for the US Army Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system. Barringer and McMahon discuss the synergy between strength and conditioning coaches and dietitians, as well as cultural challenges and diverse training ages in tactical settings. The pair also stress the importance of sales and building relationships before discussing basic nutrition advice and pathways into tactical and dietetics careers.

Connect with Nick on Instagram at: @nickbarringer.phd.rdn or by email: [email protected] | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs

“If I'm the dietitian at the unit or coming into a unit, I want to get on the calendar of those leaders. I want to go on a run with that regimental commander, that battalion commander, that brigade commander, and have that conversation with him or her to see what their vision is and where I can nest in it.” 11:05

“My first suggestion would be… find those strength coaches who've successfully made that transition to the military. And talk to them before going in.” 13:20

“It's more important in the tactical community that you practice what you preach… I'm not saying you got to be able to do everything that the soldier can do. But if you can put a rack on and at least go a couple miles and do those sort of things, that really carries a lot of weight.” 14:20

After almost leaving the profession entirely, Ashley Kowalewski landed her role as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the prestigious Louisiana State University. Listen as she recounts the strength and conditioning coach who inspired her as a high-level athlete at Oklahoma State University, diverting her path away from pursuing a physical therapy career. Explore how her early experience as an NSCA intern and working with adaptive sports under the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee expanded her network and strengthened her coaching. Discover where to tap into access points that can build mentors in your corner and the importance of being relationship-oriented in a field where collaboration is key. Kowalewski also speaks about checking her ego after a difficult career experience and the challenge of starting again at the intern level. Learn her guiding principle of providing over proving and how high-quality leadership can elevate a program’s impact and staff longevity.

Connect with Ashley on Instagram at: @ashleykowalewski or by email: [email protected] | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs

“That's my big thing with a lot of the athletes that get injured. I have no sympathy for you. I've trained athletes that are wheelchair-bound. I've trained athletes without a leg. Do you think it's difficult for me to train you while you're in a boot? Absolutely not. We can adapt… anything. We can make it work.” 7:05

“I don't really care what you know about the Xs and Os. We can teach that. I think anybody — if you go to any great place, you can be taught, if you're willing, and that's one thing that I want to look for. I want to look for somebody that has a growth mindset. I want to look for somebody that is great at creating relationships and maintaining relationships.” 15:20

“It's hard to just pack up your life on a whim with all that uncertainty. We like to think we're pretty tough in this field and we can put up with a lot, but we're still human.” 19:15

“I think perspective is everything, and how do we keep perspective? For me, a lot of it is not getting caught up in the ‘next.’ It's being caught up in the where I'm at right now. Be where your feet are, we tell athletes that all the time.” 34:10