A strength and conditioning coach uses exercise programs to improve athletic performance and help prevent injuries. These coaches work with athletes at all levels to enhance strength, power, flexibility and sport-specific skills. The profession has grown substantially over the past 30 years from former athletes training teams informally to sports performance professionals with degrees working in high-tech facilities. Strength coaches must have expertise in exercise science and the motivation and interpersonal skills to work effectively with athletes.

1. Q U I N T I N H A L L
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STRENGTH AND
CONDITIONING COACH

2. OVERVIEW
• According to Human Kinetics A strength and
conditioning coach is a fitness and physical
performance professional who uses exercise programs to
specifically improve performance in athletic
competitions.
• Strength coaches help athletes with injury prevention
and proper mechanics within their specific sports
performances.
• These sports performance professionals can be found in
all levels of athletics from the private sector, to
professional sports.
• "Strength and Conditioning Coach-- Helping Others to Improve Their Fitness." Human-kinetics. Human Kinetics, n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/strength-and-conditioning-coach>.

3. HISTORY
• In America, the past thirty years have been monumental
for the development of this profession.
• It began as former athletes teaching current football
players how to improve overall strength in small weight
rooms.
• Currently, at the collegiate level, strength coaches work
with all sports in multimillion dollar training facilities.
• Now, a Strength & Conditioning coach will improve the
general areas of absolute strength as well as absolute
power, body composition, flexibility, speed, metabolic
power, and sport technique, all while following the
principles of specificity, overload, and progression.
• Peterson, Clay. "The University of Iowa Strength & Conditioning." Strength and Conditioning: History and Overview of the Field. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://strength.sports.uiowa.edu/article/strength-and-conditioning-history-and-overview-field>

4. IMPORTANT CRITERIA
• It is important to know your craft.
• You have to know what exercises get desired results.
• You have to be an encourager, leader, and
motivator.
• You must have the proper Degrees and
Certifications
• You must have a high level of interpersonal skills.
• Organization is key.

5. GRADUATE PROGRAM
• Georgia Southern University
• Master of Science in Kinesiology with Coaching Education
Emphasis
• The Coaching Education emphasis is an online program designed
for individuals preparing to enter the coaching field.
• The program is designed to be completed in four semesters.
• “ The program offers totally online courses in performance
enhancement, coaching administration, athletic training, and
coaching effectiveness. The curriculum follows National Coaching
Standards for Level 5 Coaching Status.”
• Admission Requirements:
• Completion of A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited
institution.
• Minimum GPA of 2.75
• GRE score of less than 5 years old
• $16,500 for the entire program
• "Master of Science, Kinesiology, Coaching Education Emphasis (ONLINE)."Master of Science, Kinesiology, Coaching Education
Emphasis (ONLINE). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015. http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/admission/all-graduate-
programs/gradprogramsbycollege/atheletics-programs/master-of-science-coaching-education/.

6. JOB
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE
• Title: Sports Performance Director
• Salary: $46,000/year
• Job Requirements:
• You need talent and experience coaching movement and
strength, as well as a driving passion for the sports performance
field and helping athletes of all ages and levels.
• You have to be a demonstrated high energy, charismatic
training approach along with a 5+ year track record of
motivating, inspiring and training middle and high school
student athletes.
• History working with elite or college athletes is very preferred,
and experience working with teams and groups is essential.
• Velocity Sports Performance. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://www.velocitysp.com/spd>.

7. JOB
VELOCITY SPORTS PERFORMANCE
• Job Experience Needed:
• Programming and delivery of strength and power training;
speed, agility, movement sessions; and regeneration
• Management experience of a strength & conditioning staff,
as well as a history of teaching/developing younger
coaches
• Demonstrable leadership experience
• A Master's degree in Kinesiology or other sports related field
• Experience with sports medicine is desired
• Certification as CSCS or equivalent and USAW preferred
Velocity Sports Performance. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://www.velocitysp.com/spd>.

8. GROWTH POTENTIAL AND SALARY
• Exercise Physiologists (Strength Trainer)
• Average Annual Salary
• $44,770
• Growth Potential
• High
• Job is growing at 19% which is faster than the national average
• There is an expected growth of 5,400 jobs from 2012-2022
• "Athletic Trainers and Exercise Physiologists." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers-and-exercise-physiologists.htm#tab-1>.

9. RELEVANT ACADEMICS
• A Bachelors and/or Masters degree in Exercise Science
or Kinesiology is preferred.
• Also certifications such as “Certified Strength and Conditioning
Specialist” is required by most programs.
• Biology
• Anatomy
• Nutrition
• Exercise Physiology
• Kinesiology
• Athletic Injury Prevention
• Principles of Coaching
• Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning

10. SKILLS AND QUALITIES
• I possess many qualities that would aid me in being a
successful Strength and Conditioning Coach.
• I love to teach and develop personal relationships with
people. I have spent time as coach and thoroughly enjoyed
it.
• I am not afraid of hard work or long hours. As a football player
I am no stranger to effort. I enjoy the competition aspect of
making athletes bigger faster, and stronger.
• I am social, realistic, and enterprising according to my O*Net
profiler results.
• I have grown up as an athlete and have always taken special
interest in the strength training aspect of sport performance.
• I have majored in Public Health Science and minored in
Athletic Leadership. I have spent time learning the human
body in the context of being a strength coach.

11. O*NET PROFILER RESULTS
• Social
• I enjoy working with people to help them develop. I would
rather work with people, than working alone or with
computers.
• Realistic
• I think practically and use my skills to answer problems with
a hands-on approach.
• Enterprising
• I embrace taking action and using my skills to carry out
projects.
• "O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move." O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip>.

12. STRENGTH FINDERS
• Woo
• I love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. I get
energy from meeting new and making a connection with another person.
• Communication
• I typically find it easy to put my thoughts into words. I am an effective
teacher and explainer.
• Competition
• I like to measure my progress against the performance of others. I work to
win first place and delight in contests.
• Achievement
• I have a great deal of stamina and work hard. I enjoy being busy and
productive.
• Self-Assurance
• I am confident in my ability to manage my own life. I tend to have an
ability to find confidence in my decisions.
• "Clifton StrengthsFinderTM Themes." Strengths Finder Strengths List. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.strengthstest.com/strengthsfinderthemes/strengths-themes.html>.

13. CONCLUSION
• I believe that I possess the skills necessary to
become a strength and conditioning coach.
• I meet the prerequisites for graduate school at GSU.
• With a masters in kinesiology, I feel like I will be an
attractive candidate for any Sports performance
career.
• My O*Net profiler suggested that my personality sets
me up to succeed at this career.
• I am excited and encouraged about the research
on this career.

14. CITATIONS
• "Athletic Trainers and Exercise Physiologists." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015. <http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/athletic-trainers-and-
exercise-physiologists.htm#tab-1>.
• "Strength and Conditioning Coach-- Helping Others to Improve Their Fitness." Human-kinetics.
Human Kinetics, n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/strength-and-conditioning-coach>.
• Peterson, Clay. "The University of Iowa Strength & Conditioning." Strength and Conditioning:
History and Overview of the Field. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
http://strength.sports.uiowa.edu/article/strength-and-conditioning-history-and-overview-field
• "Master of Science, Kinesiology, Coaching Education Emphasis (ONLINE)."Master of Science,
Kinesiology, Coaching Education Emphasis (ONLINE). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://cogs.georgiasouthern.edu/admission/all-graduate-
programs/gradprogramsbycollege/atheletics-programs/master-of-science-coaching-
education/>.
• "O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move." O*NET Interest Profiler at My Next Move. N.p., n.d.
Web. 29 Aug. 2015. <http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip>.
• "Clifton StrengthsFinderTM Themes." Strengths Finder Strengths List. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Aug. 2015.
<http://www.strengthstest.com/strengthsfinderthemes/strengths-themes.html>.
• Velocity Sports Performance. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Aug. 2015. <http://www.velocitysp.com/spd>.