In this conversation, Keegan Smith details his path from high school football in Alabama to working under Scott Cochran at Alabama and now coaching Olympic sports at Georgia Southern. He reflects on the emotional demands of coaching, building authentic relationships with athletes, and creating a culture rooted in trust and personal growth. Keegan emphasizes the value of early strength exposure, team-driven success, and the importance of coaching style in building athlete buy-in.

Key Takeaways

• Strength culture starts early and is shaped through consistent habits.
  

• Team culture and leadership are daily practices, not slogans.
  

• Coaching relationships must evolve with the realities of the transfer portal.
  

• Coaching Olympic sports requires adaptable, athlete-centered styles.
  

• Emotional intelligence is essential for long-term success in coaching.
  

• Personal and career growth comes from learning from your staff and peers.
  

• Details in training environments impact athlete mindset and motivation.
  

• Developing the whole athlete—beyond sports—is key to program longevity.
  

  Quote “Get close with the people on your staff… Learn their styles. Take what works. Leave what doesn’t. That’s okay.” — Keegan Smith

In this candid episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, Michael Tucker, Strength and Conditioning Coach at Liberty University, reflects on his coaching journey—from internships to leading performance programs. Michael emphasizes how foundational relationships are to coaching success. He dives into pacing, motivation, energy management, and maintaining professional and personal relationships, including navigating long-distance commitments. The episode offers a real-world look at coaching across sports, managing athlete data, and staying energized amidst the daily grind. Coaches will find encouragement, inspiration, and tangible lessons from someone who has walked the path with intention and passion.

• Building genuine relationships is central to coaching effectiveness and athlete trust.
  

• Strength coaches are expected to bring energy—learning to manage and pace it is key.
  

• Loyalty to athletes and colleagues strengthens team dynamics and long-term success.
  

• Coaching across sports brings diversity of experience and insight.
  

• Motivation must be cultivated, especially during tough or uncertain times.
  

• Long-distance relationships, though challenging, can be navigated with intention.
  

• Understanding and applying sports statistics effectively is a learned skill.
  

• Time invested in athlete connection yields better outcomes in training and beyond.
  

• Enjoyment and fulfillment in coaching are rooted in personal connection and growth.
  

• Collaborative learning and internships play a critical role in coach development.
  

Key TakeawaysQuote with Guest Name Attribution"If you invest in your players, they're going to invest back in you—and then you're going to get a better product in the weight room." — Michael Tucker

S02|E208

Unbreakable Athletics with Jim Beebe | Samson Strength Coach Collective

In this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we’re joined by Jim Beebe—owner of Unbreakable Athletics and creator of the Athlete Builder system. Jim opens up about a powerful turning point in his life: a moment in his front yard with his son that sparked a radical transformation.

We talk about how that moment led him from a finance job to founding a gym—and a mindset. Jim’s holistic approach blends physical training, nutrition, and mental discipline. This episode is packed with real-world lessons on coaching, accountability, and how to turn adversity into strength.

⸻

Topics Covered:

• From finance to founding Unbreakable Athletics
• Coaching mindset and mental PRs
• How to teach healthy habits to your kids
• Building lifelong accountability
• Holistic coaching: nutrition, training, and mental focus
• Success stories and life-saving transformations
• The philosophy behind Athlete Builder
• Coaching general pop vs. athletes
• The value of continuous learning in fitness

⸻

Keywords:

Jim Beebe, Unbreakable Athletics, Athlete Builder, fitness coaching, mental toughness, accountability, holistic health, strength training, gym owner, personal transformation

Elite Athlete Nutrition with Jessica Isaacs

On this episode of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Jessica Isaacs—elite athlete, sports dietitian, and voice of reason in the chaotic world of performance nutrition.

Jessica shares her incredible journey from serving as an aircraft mechanic in the military to becoming a trusted expert in collegiate and elite athlete nutrition. She dives into the real challenges athletes face today, especially around food language, misinformation on social media, and the overwhelming pressure to look or eat a certain way.

We explore:

• The evolving role of sports dietitians in athlete health and performance

• How to use positive, inclusive language around food

• What it takes to build trust with athletes and create buy-in

• Why collaboration between strength coaches and dietitians matters

• Social media’s influence on dietary decisions

• Common myths athletes believe about food and performance

• Creative strategies to engage athletes in their own nutrition journey

• Hydration, timing, and making nutrition stick without being rigid

Jessica emphasizes that the key to effective nutrition isn’t just what’s on the plate — it’s about relationships, trust, communication, and meeting athletes where they are.

Quote from Jessica:

“Even if you have all the letters after your name and you’re the expert—if this other person has a million followers and says things confidently, they’re going to listen to them. That’s why trust is everything.”

S02E207

Asking Reflective Questions in Coaching with Sean Swetnam | Samson Strength Coach Collective

On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Sean Swetnam, Assistant Director of Football Performance at UCLA. In this episode, Sean shares his path from private sector training to coaching at a Power Five program—and how that journey shaped his approach to athlete development.

We dive into how to support athletes during identity transitions, why relationship-building is crucial to performance, and how asking the right questions can create breakthrough moments. Sean also details the innovative fine system he uses to create accountability among coaching staff and how he balances technology with personal connection in the weight room.

⸻

Topics Covered:

• Transitioning from private sector to collegiate athletics
• Identity crises and mental health in athletes
• The role of soft skills in coaching
• How to build trust and communication
• Balancing tech and human connection in performance coaching
• Creating accountability through a staff fine board
• Relationship-driven coaching culture at UCLA
• Coaching consistency and leadership under change

Keywords: Sean Swetnam, UCLA, strength coach, athlete identity, coaching culture, collegiate athletics, sports performance, relationship building, soft skills, football performance, trust in coaching, coaching communication

On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective, we sit down with Dakota Wilson, Director of Athletic Performance at Ouachita Baptist University. In this episode, Dakota shares his journey from walk-on offensive lineman to full-time strength coach, and the lessons learned while starting a brand new strength and conditioning departmen

On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective with Director of Sports Performance for Liberty Christian School in Argyle, David Neill. During the episode we discuss the importance of culture development in a team, aligning your program with the head coach’s vision, and identifying and developing team leaders.

Topics Covered:

• Defining and reinforcing cultural values
• Communicating across the coaching staff
• Developing team leaders
• The unique dynamics of Texas high school sports
• Entrepreneurship in the world of coaching

Keywords: David Neill, strength coach, Texas high school sports, team culture, coaching philosophy, athlete leadership, sports performance, strength conditioning, coaching business

Values-Based Coaching with Blair Lloyd | Samson Strength Coach CollectiveS02-E202On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective with Blair Lloyd, Director of Training for Pure Performance. During the episode we discuss identifying your core values as a coach, overcoming significant injuries, and how mentor coaching can transform a coach’s career.Topics covered: • Self-doubt and coaching growth • Empathy and athlete injuries • Shared success & team culture • Mentor coaching for personal development • Core values and coaching principles

On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective we speak San Diego Gulls Strength and Conditioning Coach and Co-Owner of Move The Needle, Mike Sullivan. During the episode we discuss consistently challenging yourself as a coach, the genesis of Move The Needle, and the benefits of hosting a podcast.

On the latest edition of the Samson Strength Coach Collective we speak with Renaissance Periodization Strength Coach, Danny Wirt. During the episode we discuss building relationships with your clients, how to use self-reflection in your career, and how to navigate diet and exercise myth-busting conversations.