My path into the strength and conditioning industry was led first by my love for sports growing up. I started young and found that athletics was something that I excelled in and truly enjoyed. I remember my coaches telling me that if I wanted to be great, I needed to make the weight room my priority and take my training seriously. Through this, I found that I actually enjoyed training, and between both the physical and mental challenges, it helped me to grow as a young man, as well as an athlete.
I played multiple sports through high school, and am still a huge advocate for playing multiple sports for as long as possible. I went on to play football at Colorado State University for 5 years, where my love for the weight room grew. I felt that in a Division 1 program with talent all around, my work that I put in while training, as well as my mentality on the field, allowed me to play over teammates who were more talented. After my senior year, I went on and interned in the weight room with the University of Nebraska football team, and then came back to CSU and spent 3 years working as an Assistant Strength Coach with the football team. After 3 years as a strength coach at Colorado state, I made the decision to make the move from collegiate strength and conditioning to the ‘private sector’. This move required new learning and a bit of a new approach. Rather than coaching athletes who had already made it to college, I was now focused
on athletes who held that as their highest goal.
Since then, I have helped athletes of all ages and sports achieve their athletic goals, whether that’s simply becoming a better all around athlete for their high school team, or obtaining a scholarship to play a collegiate sport. I have been fulfilled by the relationships I have been able to create and grow with athletes, as well as their parents and families. I love watching the changes that happen mentally and physically within an athlete as they grow stronger and see the progress they are able to make, which then carries over onto the field, court, or course.
I grew up in a small town in northeastern Colorado, where along with sports, I took part in helping out with the family farm. This upbringing allowed me to develop a blue collar mentality and ‘Outwork Everyone’ attitude that I try to portray to my athletes. No success comes without hard work, and if you are willing to put in the time and effort, even when there is nobody watching, you will find success.
I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Exercise Science, as well as a Masters Degree in Education, both from CSU. I currently hold the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the NSCA. While working in collegiate athletics, I also held the SCCC certification through CSCCA, as well as the USAW-L1.
In my off time, I spend every moment I can with my wife and 2 kids doing numerous family activities, as well as continuing to go and help my parents with their farm and livestock.
I believe in creating a dominant athlete through a well rounded program that focuses on building strength as the foundation. Movement quality is put in the highest priority, and knowing what the athlete needs is key in helping them reach their goals. I believe in developing speed, strength, and power in all plains of motion, and in utilizing many different avenues to get there, knowing that at the end of the day, the basics work. As long as everything is progressed with purpose and intent, and there is trust between the coach and the athlete, success will come. I believe in developing relationships to foster this trust, and preaching that athletes fall in love with “the process” of training and becoming a better athlete.
I hope that they gain more from me than just their increased productivity on the field or court, and I hope that I can give them the tools to succeed whatever path they choose in life. Relationships are the cornerstone of my program, and I hope that they can learn lessons in the weight-room that they can take with them the rest of their lives.
