In this episode, Joe Ryan sits down with Coach Ross Garner—Athletic Performance Coordinator and Assistant Football Coach at Effingham County High School (GA)—for a wide-ranging conversation on high school strength & conditioning, program-building, and what it takes to create real buy-in.

Coach Garner walks through his coaching journey from Longwood University (interning under Rick Canner) to Liberty, then into the high school ranks across Florida, Texas, and now Georgia. Along the way, he’s coached multiple sports, served in athletic administration, and helped build performance systems in very different environments.
What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Football culture by state:
  • Florida = speed at the skill positions
  • Texas = QB + offensive line play + major resources
  • Georgia = defensive linemen + linebackers that can run
• Why high school S&C is harder than people think (the “teach a 12-year-old to RDL” test)
• The biggest misconception about college vs. high school training—and how relationships matter more than ever (especially with NIL/transfer portal realities)
• Coach Garner’s mindset pillar: “Chosen suffering”—and why discipline beats motivation
• How he earns buy-in: give them what’s familiar, prove your concept, then layer in the upgrades
• A practical warning for young coaches: don’t come in and blow it all up
• Why sprint timing matters: if he has budget for one tool, Coach Garner wants a laser timer
• The metric that matters most to him: not just PRs—but attitude, resilience, and ownership
• The “thank you” moments that define success as a coach

Rapid-fire favorites:

• Motivation movies: The Patriot, The Last Samurai, Friday Night Lights
• Books: Extreme Ownership (Jocko Willink) + Chosen Suffering (Tom Ryan)
• Desert island equipment: belt squat (and if it has to be portable—PowerBlocks)

Where to find Coach Garner:

• X / Instagram: @coachrgarnerm

If you’re a high school strength coach, sport coach, or athletic leader trying to build standards, culture, and performance—this one is packed with real-world coaching truth.

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