The ronmckeefery's Podcast

Tim Kontos, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, is in his 20th year as the Director of Sports Performance for VCU Athletics. In 2015, Kontos was named as a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, the highest honor given in the profession.

His honors were further elevated by VCU after being named Associate AD for Sports Performance in July 2016, then to Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance and Student-Athlete Wellness in September of 2018 where he oversees the sports medicine, sports psychology and sports nutrition departments in addition to the sports performance department.

Kontos designs, implements and supervises all strength, speed and agility programs for The Rams’ Baseball and Volleyball teams. In addition to his direct sport oversight, Kontos oversees 16 of VCU’s 17 sports. Kontos has worked to develop a holistic approach to Sports Performance since his arrival at VCU in 1998. Kontos has built a program that believes in educating athletes beyond the “what” and puts emphasis on the “why” behind their program. Although each program is built around the needs of the sport, principles of nutrition, psychology, and recovery are common themes in addition to strength and conditioning.

A firm believer in leading by example, Kontos is a competitive powerlifter and most recently squatted 600lbs in December of 2015 placing him seventh on the all time highest squat for his age and weight class. A 1997 graduate of Radford University, Kontos spent two years as strength and conditioning coach for the ice hockey team at his alma mater, where he supervised off-ice workouts for speed and strength training. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Radford. Kontos is a Level-1 Club Coach through the United States Weightlifting Association, a Level-1 Coach through the United States Track & Field Association, and a Functional Movement Screen Practitioner.

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.

Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.

Secret to staying in one place for 20 years. 

His role as an Associate AD and how he works with all other departments. 

Advice to the next generation of Strength and Conditioning Coaches.  

Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.

His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Joseph Coyne is an exercise physiologist, sport scientist and sports nutritionist from Gold Coast, Australia. He is currently the Director of Athletic Development for Lindisfarne AGS. He has previously been the Physical Preparation Coach for the Chinese Athletics Association's jump & sprints section; where he handled the rehabilitation and strength & power training for China’s best track & field athletes.

Prior to that, he was the Performance Manager at the Chinese Olympic Committee’s National Sports Training Centre in Beijing in the lead up to the Rio Olympics. Athletes supported by this program won 34 medals (including 19 gold medals) at the 2016 Olympics. As a speaker, Joseph has lectured at a number of international conferences including in China, United Kingdom, United States, Australia and New Zealand.

  

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Where most go wrong with coaching sprinting and jumping. Test he uses to monitor his athletes.  Working with different cultures.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Monte Sparkman enters his sixth year coaching at Richland High School. Prior to his arrival at Richland, Sparkman had coaching stops at Burkburnett, The Virginia Military Institute, and most recently at North Ridge Middle School. Coach Sparkman currently serves at the Texas NHSSCA state director. Sparkman was a 3 year letter winner in football and earned his undergraduate degree from Baker University in 2002. He received his master’s degree in education in 2007 from Wayland Baptist University. Sparkman is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, certified Club Coach and Sports Performance Coach through USA Weightlifting, and a certified Level 2 coach through USA Track and Field. Sparkman has also competed nationally in powerlifting with a best total of 2200lbs. Sparkman is married to the former Sabrina Kingston of Burleson, TX and they have two children: Jacqueline Shea (9) and Alexandra Rea (6).

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Conjugate training system. How to get the most out of a High School period. How he uses the Block Zero approach.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Matt is a Strength and Conditioning Coach at Team NL (Dutch Olympic Team).

He was also the Lead Academy Sports Scientist/Strength and Conditioning coach at Al Shabab Al Arabi FC.

 

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Converting a internship into a full time position.Positives and negatives to working abroad. Working with Para Olympic athletes.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Taylor is a unique mind when it comes to looking at all aspects of performance. He came from collegiate and professional sport, including the NFL SF 49ers, and has become laser-focused on utilizing his insights to create and support performance cultures from the ground up in gaming and esports. He took this energy and founded IPI (Innovative Performance Institute) with the vision to promote health and wellness to millions of people worldwide through esports. That included comprehensive initiatives for elite training, research, and education for 5 esports organizations, 15 professional teams, a developmental academy, as well as the creation of a revenue-generating business vertical.

Taylor has both a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Rehabilitation and a Bachelor’s in Exercise Biology as well as certifications in strength and conditioning training, corrective exercise, nutrition, and sports performance. 

 

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.History of ESports and how Strength and Conditioning has a role.  His transition to a new environment. What cognitive load is and how to train for it.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Aubrey started her coaching career in gymnastics working in the field for over 10 years with developmental through elite gymnasts. This lead her to pursue her BS in Kinesiology from CSU, Long Beach. Following her undergraduate degree, Aubrey worked at Velocity Sports Performance in Redondo Beach, CA as a Sports Performance Coach and Operations Coordinator. There she worked with a variety of athletes ranging from youth in physical literacy to elite Combine Prep groups specializing in speed and agility and recovery sessions.

In 2014, Aubrey started at the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in Colorado Springs, CO as the Performance Center Coordinator and Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. There she managed the Performance Center as well as coached several teams including the Colorado Springs Amateur Hockey Association, Fountain Valley School Men’s Ice Hockey, Cheyenne Mountain High School Women’s Field Hockey, Women’s Lacrosse, and Men’s Ice Hockey, Colorado College Ultimate, and Colorado Springs Police and Fire. Aubrey also managed the NSCA internship program throughout her time there overseeing and mentoring 12 classes of interns. In addition, she assisted in the development, training, and teaching of the NSCA’s Foundations of Coaching Course. During her time at the NSCA, Aubrey also obtained her MS in Sports Management from Texas A&M University in 2017.

As of March 2018, Aubrey now works as the Coaching Education Coordinator at the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). There she helps gather and create content through the USOC Coaching Education Newsletter, Team USA Mobile Coach App, Team USA Prep Center Online Educational Platform, and several in person training courses for Team USA Pipeline Coaches as well as National Team Coaches. She also works closely with the National Governing Body Coach Educators to help push Coaching Education throughout Olympic and Paralympic Sports.

Aubrey has spoken at several conferences such as Mountain-Con, Hammer Strength Regional Clinic, NSCA State Clinics, as well as several International Coaching Programs. She is also passionate about promoting women in sport and sits on the USOC’s Women’s NET Committee. When she is not working, you can find her on the slopes in Colorado or traveling looking for the next adventure.

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Importance of a holistic approach to coach education. How to find yourself and your coaching voice. Ways to build a rock solid network.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Jeff Hurd was born in Pomona, Calif., and raised in Parker, Ariz. where he graduated from Parker High School in 1976. Jeff was Student Council President in addition to his participation in sports and extra curricular activities during his four years at PHS.

Following high school, Jeff went on to become a two-year baseball letterman at Imperial Valley Junior College in El Centro, Calif., before transferring to Fort Hays State University, in Hays, Kan., where he earned two more letters and graduated with a degree in physical education in 1981.

Jeff then returned to Parker High School as a volunteer assistant baseball coach for one season, while substitute teaching in the school district.

He returned to Fort Hays State University as a graduate assistant for the Tigers and in 1984, received his Master’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology.

Jeff served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Delta State University (’85-’86), Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Clemson University (’86-’87) and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Western Michigan ( ’87-‘’92).

During the 1992 and 1993 football seasons, Jeff was an intern Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. He returned to the university setting for the 1994 football season at Tulsa University.

Jeff returned to the National Football League with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach from 1995-1997.

The Kansas City Chiefs made him their Head Strength and Conditioning Coach in 1998 through 2006.

Jeff came out to the West Coast in 2007 to become, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Diego Chargers.

Jeff Hurd has more than 25 years of experience in the field of strength and conditioning, most of which has been in the National Football League (NFL) from 1992 until 2016, finishing his career with the Minnesota Vikings as their assistant strength and conditioning coach. Over his twenty-three years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative record of 203-165-0.

Jeff and his wife, Kathy, have three children: Eric, Austin and Audra.

 

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.How he got started in the profession. What Strength and Conditioning Coaches are not thinking about for life after S&C. What he likes and dislikes about the profession.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

At the forefront of modern strength coaching for athletes, Johnny Parker began his coaching career in 1969 at Indianola Academy in Mississippi. Well before weight training was common in sports, he spent 10 years coaching at the collegiate level, where at Indiana University he became the first strength and conditioning coach in the Big 10.

From 1984 until his retirement in 2008, he spent 21 years as an NFL strength coach, beginning with nine years in the New York Giants organization. Under Coach Bill Parcells, he helped them win Super Bowls in 1986 and 1990. Playing against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, the Giants set an all-time Super Bowl record for ball-control possession at 40 minutes and 33 seconds. Parker’s role as a strength and conditioning coach certainly contributed to the Giants’ tradition of excellence.

He then went on to spend seven seasons with the New England Patriots, followed by helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the first Super Bowl in team history in 2003. In 2005, Johnny went to the San Francisco 49ers before retiring in 2008. All told, his coaching practices, many of which are outlined in this book, helped to establish winning records with nine teams, including four Super Bowl appearances.

In addition to his Super Bowl triumphs, he received the President’s Award from the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society, presented annually to the NFL’s top strength and conditioning coach and was named to the USA Strength and Conditioning Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, along with his co-authors Al Miller and Rob Panariello and mentors Alvin Roy, Clyde Emrich, and Lou Riecke.

 

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.What is good and bad with present day Strength and ConditioningWhat advice would you give a young S&C to prepare for retirement. Motivation behind co authoring the book "The System".  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Owen is the founder and director of Science for Sport. He was formerly the Head of Academy Sports Science and Strength & Conditioning at Cardiff City Football Club, and an interim Sports Scientist for the Welsh FA. He also has a master’s degree in strength and conditioning and is a NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach.

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Why does he want you to be the change.Building your own USP.Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.

For Show Notes and Coach McKeefery's Website - http://www.RonMcKeefery.com

Now Available on iTunes http://bit.ly/1bPlMei

Pick up your copy of Coach McKeefery's #1 Amazon International Bestseller "CEO Strength Coach" - http://www.CEOStrengthCoach.com

Please “Thank” our sponsors who bring this show to you for free:PLAE - http://plae.us/Samson - https://www.samsonequipment.comIron Grip - http://www.irongrip.com/Intek - https://intekstrength.com/Train Heroic - http://trainheroic.com/Gym Aware - https://kinetic.com.au/gymaware.htmlWoodway - http://www.woodway.com/Versa Pulley - http://versaclimber.com/vp-versapulley/

Simon Taylor – UK high performance tennis centre in London, moved to Canada in 2011. Lead S&C coach and Director of Education at Twist Performance in Vancouver for 5 years prior to China.

Then multiple national teams, primarily Table tennis and Weightlifting prior to Rio Olympics in 2016. Helped Ding Ning to gold and Shi Zhi Yong to gold. Then moved to figure skating for 2 seasons and helped Sui Wenjing ad Han Cong to Olympic silver, they narrowly missed out on gold by less than 0.5 points.

Currently Simon was chosen by the COC to head up the new division called Team China, which is the all of the foreign support staff working with Olympic national teams.  

 

Steve Nightingale - Following his graduation from University of Bedfordshire in 2009, Steve started teaching in a college in the UK, whilst also working with a semi-professional rugby team, and running private training in an MMA gym. In 2012, following the completion of his Masters degree in Strength and Conditioning (at Middlesex University, London), he moved to South Essex College to continue teaching, and at the same time took on the role of Head of Strength and Conditioning for the English Ice Hockey Association. During this time, he published several papers in Journal of Strength and Conditioning, Strength and Conditioning Journal, and the UKSCA Professional Strength and Conditioning Journal, as well as providing S&C and sports science support to the professional ice hockey team Coventry Blaze.

In 2016, Steve was recruited by the Chinese Olympic Committee to work as the strength and conditioning coach for the female ice hockey program, and followed this with supporting the Chinese National Short Track Speed Skating team in the build up to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Following the Games, Steve was appointed as Assistant Director of Sports Performance Services of Team China, a Chinese Olympic Committee project designed to standardise and improve the provision of performance services to the Olympic sports teams. Steve is a council member on the NSCA Hockey Special Interest Group, and in 2018 he worked with Adam Douglas (York University/Hockey Canada) to contribute a chapter to the Routledge Handbook of Strength and Conditioning.

In This Episode We Discuss:

What experience in his journey impacted him the most, and Why.Biggest mistake he has made and how he learned from it.Misconceptions and truths about coaching in China. Working within a different culture. Program design for the Olympic Quad athlete.  Managing your ego when working with elite athletes and coaches.  Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.