CVASPS The Podcast

This week we welcome Matt Aldred of the University of Michigan to The Podcast to discuss preparing basketball athletes for performance—and what it means to be a strength and conditioning coach beyond the weight room. Matt shares how he adjusted summer training after a long season, why he prioritizes keeping players fresh, and how he builds individualized plans around each athlete’s goals, movement, and needs.In this episode, the focus is on thoughtful coaching systems that support both athletes and coaches: managing training volume, adapting programs, creating athlete buy-in, and explaining the purpose behind the work. Matt and Jay also have an honest conversation about the emotional demands of coaching, the pressure to make work your identity, and the importance of protecting relationships and life outside the profession.

Time Stamps
00:00 - Welcome and why this conversation matters for young strength coaches
01:40 - Matt’s coaching journey from Alabama Huntsville to Michigan
04:21 - How a long postseason run affected the offseason
05:46 - Reducing summer training intensity and session length
07:12 - Keeping summer work in perspective and preparing for the season
10:03 - Adapting training around travel and player availability
10:58 - Using coach feedback and movement observations to individualize programs
11:56 - Setting specific summer goals with athletes
13:12 - Aligning player, coach, and program priorities
14:41 - Listening to athlete ideas while staying grounded in training principles
15:10 - Explaining training choices and building trust
16:31 - Making athletes co-authors in their development
18:41 - Building relationships through intentional one-on-one conversations
19:38 - Using visuals and practice examples to explain the purpose of training
21:19 - Shifting the conversation from coaching to identity
22:30 - Coaching as experimentation and learning
23:00 - How work follows coaches into life outside the gym
24:26 - Separating professional success from personal identity
25:52 - “Leasing the jersey” and letting go of ego
27:20 - The challenge of switching off after work
28:48 - The uncertainty of evaluating strength and conditioning work
31:16 - Why coaches keep thinking about work during personal time
32:13 - The emotional swings of wins, losses, and close games
33:36 - The value of talking openly about the strain
34:03 - A reminder to keep family and personal priorities in view
35:55 - Supporting relationships through the demands of coaching
36:08 - Communicating when work changes family plans
37:17 - Checking in with your partner and creating boundaries
38:16 - Being present instead of letting work and ego take over
39:50 - Matt’s suggestion for a future podcast guest
41:38 - Finding practical ways to help athletes
42:56 - Closing thoughts and thanks

In this weeks episode of The Podcast, host Jay DeMayo sits down with David Ventress, strength coach for the University of Louisiana men's basketball program, to break down how speed work, movement training, and weight room design fit into a basketball culture. The conversation focuses on how to build acceleration and speed reserves, then carry those qualities into competition, conditioning, and team identity.David also explains how he adapts his programming to the realities of a team setting, from group-based sprint work to position-specific lifting for guards and bigs. The big theme throughout is simple: the program has to serve the culture, not the other way around.

Key topics

This week we welcome Allison Wade of LSU to The Podcast to share with us how sports nutrition fits into a sport performance system, specifically in basketball. Allison explains how she works alongside strength and conditioning, athletic training, and coaches to individualize hydration, fueling, and recovery without losing sight of the team-wide routine.In this episode, the focus is on practical nutrition systems that actually work in a team setting: sweat testing, plate coaching, mandatory snacks, recovery strategies, and how to build athlete buy-in through consistent habits. Allison also shares how her background in private practice and her relationship-driven approach shaped the way she works today.

Key topics

Action items

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome to the show and why nutrition matters in performance
01:56 - Allison’s move from NC State to LSU and her relationship with Coach Wade
03:26 - Why her private practice background made her more individualized
06:16 - Building a performance system through collaboration and baseline testing
08:39 - Mandatory shakes, extra calories, and hands-on weight gain strategies
13:00 - Sweat testing, hydration data, and showing athletes what they lose
15:49 - Using carbohydrate powder and electrolyte strategies in practice
17:14 - Building a halftime routine into practice for fueling and recovery
19:33 - Cramping, carbohydrate under-fueling, and fixing the real issue
23:26 - Learning why athletes are picky and meeting them where they are
26:46 - Why carbohydrates are often the missing piece—not more protein
29:55 - Why observation and communication beat blanket nutrition rules
31:07 - Creating opportunities throughout the day instead of forcing every meal
34:31 - How recovery nutrition is tied to player load and practice demands
35:52 - Smaller-volume recovery shots, smoothies, and anti-inflammatory support
37:50 - Making team nutrition habits part of the culture
40:25 - Who Allison wants to hear from next

In this weeks episode of The Podcast, Abby Sherard joins Jay DeMayo to discuss the changing demands of college basketball strength and conditioning. With transfers, international competition, new coaching staffs, and constantly changing rosters, Abby explains why athletes must be evaluated individually instead of placed into a one-size-fits-all program.She emphasizes giving athletes time to recover and move independently before beginning a demanding summer program focused on foundational movements, volume, heavy lifting, tempo work, and conditioning. The conversation also explores how coaches can balance structure with athlete autonomy, communicate individualized plans, and prepare players for the entire season—not just the first practice.Abby’s overall philosophy is simple: meet athletes where they are, identify what they need, train the basics well, and help them become independent athletes who understand how to train, recover, and care for themselves beyond college basketball.

Key Topics

Sound Bites

Chapter List

00:00 — Intro and Abby’s background

03:41 — The new reality of college basketball rosters

04:35 — Evaluating athletes during the summer

07:14 — Why transfer summers are so important

08:30 — Giving athletes autonomy in May

09:56 — Building individualized summer programs

10:54 — Training volume and handling stress

12:16 — Adjusting training for a younger roster

13:13 — Foot training and conditioning foundations

14:13 — Trust, autonomy, and athlete buy-in

Season seven of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast 0pens with return of my good friend Chase Campbell, who joins from South Florida after a unique path through college basketball and IndyCar. The conversation centers on how Chase’s background has shaped his coaching, how the transfer era has changed the way strength programs are built, and why connection and mentorship matter just as much as sets and reps.Chase walks through how he ended up in South Florida after working with ECR and Ed Carpenter in IndyCar, where he trained both drivers and pit crews. That experience reinforced how important it is to tailor training to different demands, different bodies, and different levels of readiness. From there, the discussion shifts into the reality of modern college basketball, where rosters can turn over quickly and coaches have far less time to build athletes up the old way.A major theme in the episode is adaptability. Chase explains how having 15 new players from 15 different places forces him to be more efficient, more thoughtful, and more open to using tools and methods he may have resisted earlier in his career. He talks about changing his mind on machines, especially as a way to create a high training stimulus in a shorter amount of time, and how the current landscape has pushed him to sharpen his programming rather than rely on old habits.The episode also goes deep on mentorship. Chase shares what it means to move into a more direct teaching role with GAs and interns, how his own early career was shaped by trial and error, and why he wants the next generation to be more prepared than he was. He and Jay compare old-school graduate assistant experiences, the value of being challenged, and the difference between productive struggle and being left without enough guidance.Another strong thread is the importance of keeping the environment enjoyable. Chase reflects on the mentors who made the weight room somewhere he wanted to be every day, and he says that same kind of culture is what he wants to create now. Even as the profession gets more complicated, he emphasizes staying connected, staying curious, and keeping the love for the work alive.

Key topics

In this episode of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast, host Jay DeMayo sits down with Brian Bingaman, an athletic director who spent years building his career in strength and conditioning at programs including Penn State, LaSalle, St. Joe’s, and Eastern University. The conversation centers on Brian’s transition from strength coach to administrator, and how the lessons he learned in the weight room—work ethic, communication, organization, and relationship-building—prepared him to lead an entire athletic department.Brian shares how unexpected job changes, COVID-era responsibilities, and years of wearing multiple hats helped him develop the confidence and skill set needed to move into administration. He and Jay also dig into hiring, professionalism, self-advocacy, side income, and why young coaches should think strategically about the paths they want to build. The episode closes with a broader reflection on the realities of coaching careers, the value of transferable skills, and the importance of building security and flexibility over time.

Takeaways / Key Points

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction: The journey from strength coach to athletic director
02:11 - Lessons from working in collegiate strength and conditioning
09:25 - Transferrable skills gained from strength coaching
13:32 - Evolving hiring criteria for coaching staff
14:07 - Developing soft skills: communication and professionalism
18:43 - Reflecting on the support staff role and career growth
20:03 - Advocating for more responsibility in your career
22:01 - Diversifying revenue streams and side projects
27:18 - Leveraging technology and social media for career advancement
33:14 - Valuing strength and conditioning in the broader athletic landscape
34:54 - Recommendations: Next guests and inspiring storiesThis episode underscores that the skills coaches develop on the gym floor—work ethic, communication, leadership—are highly transferable and valuable for upward mobility in sports organizations. Encouraging ongoing learning, soft skills mastery, and strategic career planning will empower support staff and coaches alike to reach new heights.

This episode dives into how Dr. Tommy Otley blends sports science, rehab, and performance strategies within college basketball. Gain insights into athlete evaluation, injury mitigation, and the balance between team-wide systems and individual athlete needs.

Main Topics

Key Insights

Timestamps

00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Dr. Tommy Otley’s role and background
 02:25 - Path from athletics to sports science and PT in college basketball
 04:11 - The athlete mindset: work ethic and attention to detail
 06:37 - Balancing rehab, sports science, and performance work across teams
 09:53 - The athlete evaluation process and how injuries affect screening priorities
 11:11 - Customizing assessments based on injury profiles
 12:07 - Interpreting testing data across PT, strength, and science roles
 14:06 - Turning assessment results into training, rehab, and communication
 15:24 - Team-wide benchmarks versus individual extremes
 18:52 - Thresholds for intervention based on injury history and testing
 20:19 - Retesting and process evaluation in injury mitigation
 22:41 - Using historical injury data alongside athlete-specific nuances
 24:51 - Size, athleticism, and sport-specific demands in performance metrics
 26:40 - When to individualize training versus use group programming
 28:07 - Tracking game demands and translating them into practice plans
 30:16 - Season periodization: balancing volume, intensity, and recovery
 33:33 - Managing training load in team sports
 35:29 - Coach-athlete collaboration and strategic communication

In this episode of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast, we welcome Pat Lewis to the show. We explore Pat’s journey through collegiate strength and conditioning and how his experiences shaped a detail-oriented, athlete-first approach to coaching. The conversation emphasizes the importance of education, communication, and individualized programming in developing stronger, more prepared athletes.Pat shares his philosophy of “figuring it out” as a coaching mindset, highlighting how adaptability and problem-solving help coaches meet athletes where they are. He discusses the value of building programs around athlete history, assessment, and current needs rather than relying on one-size-fits-all methods. The discussion also covers how education can improve athlete ownership of nutrition, hydration, and recovery.The episode also dives into the importance of onboarding new athletes, balancing general and specific training interventions, and using foundational movement principles across a wide range of ability levels. Pat reflects on the role of structural balance, full range of motion, and practical application of Charles Poliquin’s principles in modern program design.The conversation concludes with Pat sharing insights on mentorship, athlete accountability, and the importance of consistency in the small details. Listeners walk away with a clearer understanding of how thoughtful coaching, education, and individualized systems create long-term success.

Main Topics Covered:

• The “figure it out” mindset in coaching and problem-solving

• Building individualized programs from athlete assessment and history

• Athlete education around nutrition, hydration, and recovery

• Onboarding new players into a performance program

• Applying foundational movement principles across different athletes

• Balancing general and specific training in diverse rosters

• Structural balance, full range of motion, and safe training foundations

• The role of mentorship, accountability, and communication in coaching

Key Insights:

• Great coaching is built on adaptability, not rigid systems

• Athlete ownership improves when education is simple and consistent

• Individual needs should guide exercise selection and progression

• Small details in communication and implementation can create major performance gains

• Foundational movement principles still matter in modern training environments

• Coaches must balance efficiency with personalization when working with varied athletes

• Long-term success comes from structure, consistency, and continuous learning

• Strong mentorship helps build stronger coaches and stronger program

Final Notes:

This episode emphasizes that excellent coaching depends on attention to detail, athlete education, and a willingness to adapt systems to the individual. Use these principles to create stronger relationships, improve performance outcomes, and build a coaching process that lasts.

In this episode of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast, host Jay DeMayo welcomes Duke's Preston Greene to the show. They explore Preston's extensive journey through the world of high-performance coaching, from his beginnings at Clemson to his current role at Duke. The conversation emphasizes the importance of humility, work ethic, and a growth mindset in coaching.Preston shares his insights on talent identification and the necessity of adapting training systems to fit each athlete, rather than forcing athletes into a rigid system. He discusses the value of clinical experience over purely theoretical research, highlighting how real-world coaching can lead to more effective athlete development.The discussion also delves into the challenges of modern coaching, such as managing program design within compressed timelines and the evolving landscape of college basketball. Preston reflects on his experiences with different coaching philosophies and the importance of maintaining foundational principles while being flexible to adapt to new environments.The episode concludes with Preston offering advice on mentorship and the significance of building a strong coaching tree. He shares his admiration for influential figures in the field and suggests future guests for the podcast, providing listeners with a wealth of actionable wisdom and inspiration.

Main Topics Covered:

Key Insights:

Final notes: This show emphasizes the importance of experience, adaptability, humility, and ongoing mentorship in performance coaching. Use these principles to elevate your approach, foster strong athlete-coach relationships, and develop future leaders in the field.

In this weeks episode of The Podcast we are joined by Zane Scott to discuss the strategic focus on internal mobility within sports performance departments, emphasizing its role in strengthening staff loyalty and improving team dynamics. He shares insights from his experience at FAU, highlighting the importance of developing career pathways and creating growth opportunities for staff. Zane explains how transparency in setting expectations can aid in retaining staff and how understaffing can be leveraged as a catalyst for departmental growth.

The conversation delves into mentoring young coaches and managing their career transitions, balancing long-term athlete development with short-term wins, and the benefits of diversity in coaching experiences across different levels, from D2 to high-major programs. Zane underscores the significance of building a cohesive, adaptable team culture, emphasizing humility and resilience in staff development.

He also discusses tactical approaches for advocating for departmental resources and growth, sharing examples of promoting staff. The episode concludes with reflections on the power of consistency, shared purpose, and the importance of nurturing internal talent to build a transparent, growth-oriented environment.

Takeaways