On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Blaine Johnson, Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance at Rider University. In this episode, Blaine shares what it was like building a strength and conditioning program from the ground up, navigating limited resources, and learning how to earn buy-in across an entire athletic department.

We dive into mentorship, career growth, managing massive team loads, and why preparation and boundaries matter if you want to stay in the profession long term. Blaine also closes with some fun Pokemon talk, including his all-time favorites.

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Topics Covered:

• Building a strength and conditioning program from scratch

• Coaching with limited racks and barbells

• Earning buy-in from athletes and sport coaches

• Time management, organization, and avoiding burnout

• Mentorship and building career momentum

• Setting boundaries and learning when to say no

• Favorite Pokemon, games, and growing up on Emerald

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Keywords: Blaine Johnson, Rider University, sports performance, strength coach, strength and conditioning, building a program, buy-in, limited resources, mentorship, New Jersey, time management, coaching career, athlete development