The Strength In Numbers Podcast

Matt Aldred, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball at the University of Michigan, joins the show after helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. But this conversation goes far beyond training, performance, or basketball.

In this episode, Matt reflects on the impact his daughter has had on his life and career, how becoming a father has shaped his perspective, and the intentional constraints he uses to maximize his focus and time. We also dive into the values he tries to live by, the process of discovering what type of coach he wanted to become, and how the lens he uses to evaluate career opportunities has evolved over time.

While we do discuss what made Michigan's championship team so special, the heart of this conversation is about purpose, priorities, and building a life and career that align with what matters most.

🔗Check out more from Matt👇

Instagram: @sc_aldred

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:04 Navigating Social Media and Digital Constraints

05:53 Work-Life Integration and Family Dynamics

08:59 Balancing Coaching and Fatherhood

12:03 Setting Expectations and Communication in Family

15:04 The Role of Empathy in Coaching

18:03 Learning from Other Coaches' Family Dynamics

26:15 Celebrating Wins with Family

27:17 Defining Personal Values and Principles

28:57 The Role of Mentorship in Coaching

30:06 Authenticity in Coaching

32:47 Building Trust and Relationships with Athletes

36:26 Navigating Career Choices and Opportunities

39:24 The Importance of Work Environment and Culture

42:33 Living by Values and Accountability

45:20 Hiring and Mentoring Assistants

47:53 Finding Balance and Rejuvenation

51:10 Integrating New Players into a Team

54:35 Creating a Winning Team Culture

Nick DiMarco, Assistant Athletic Director for Peak Performance at Elon University, joins the show to break down the systems, leadership principles, and operational details behind building one of the premier sports performance departments in the country. Nick recently released his new book, The Director’s Manual, a must-read resource for coaches looking to step into leadership roles or elevate the programs they currently lead.

In this conversation, we dive into how to build a place people compete to work at, why creating stability in your role requires detaching yourself from any one sport coach, and the importance of always thinking one category above your current position. Nick also shares his framework for hiring staff, what true commitment to operational detail looks like, and how to lead in a way that allows your program to sustain success long after you leave.

Beyond the tactical takeaways, one of the most valuable parts of this episode is getting an inside look at how Nick thinks, builds systems, and creates vision within a high-level department.

🔗Check out more from Nick👇

Instagram: @dimarco.w.nick

Nick’s Book — The Director’s Manual: Get The Director’s Manual on Amazon 

Nick DiMarco Substack

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to The Director's Manual

01:12 Transitioning into a Director Role

05:51 Navigating Change and Resistance

08:45 Serving All Teams Equally

12:16 Taking Ownership as a Director

18:30 Establishing Administrative Relationships

23:09 Commitment to Operational Detail

31:25 Navigating Tough Conversations in Leadership

33:11 Hiring for Gaps: Building a Diverse Team

38:14 Uncovering True Character in Interviews

42:00 Creating a Desirable Work Environment

46:36 The Importance of Career Progression

48:42 Defining Your Hedgehog Concept

52:48 Building Sustainable Leadership

01:01:16 The Journey to Writing a Book

Tex McQuilkin, founder and leadership strategist of Captains & Coaches, joins the show to dive deep into leadership development, team dynamics, and how coaches can intentionally develop better leaders within their programs.  Along with working with teams and organizations on leadership development, Tex also hosts the Captains & Coaches Podcast and coaches middle school and high school lacrosse.

In this conversation, Tex breaks down how he approaches leadership development when working with a program short-term versus being embedded with a team throughout an entire season. We also explore teaching athletes to productively call out teammates, creating environments that inspire belief, and identifying what makes a true captain beyond simply age or position.

Tex also shares his perspective on long-term athletic development from both a physical and psychological standpoint, along with valuable advice for parents and athletes navigating the modern landscape of club sports and recruiting.

🔗Check out more from Tex👇

Instagram: @mcquilkin @captainsandcoaches

Captains & Coaches | Empowering Athletes for Success in Sports & Life 

Recommended Books:

Drabik - Children & Sports Training 

Piaget - How a Child Thinks 

Michele Borba - Thrivers 

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Captains and Coaches

02:03 The Role of Sports in Leadership Development

06:11 The Impact of Club Sports and Recruiting

09:52 Advice for Parents in Youth Sports

12:02 Working with Teams on Leadership Development

22:03 Sustaining Influence in Programs

29:17 High Support and Continuous Growth

31:56 Calling Teammates Up vs. Calling Them Out

38:20 The Three T's of Communication

40:45 Creating a Positive Coaching Environment

46:50 The Role of Expectations in Development

48:57 Understanding Child Development in Coaching

55:35 Navigating Challenges and Building Trust

Fonzo Martinez, Head Boy’s Basketball Coach at McKinney Christian Academy and the winningest coach in school history, joins the show to break down how he’s built sustained success at a championship level. After losing every starter from the previous season, Fonzo still led his team to a 39-1 record and another state championship.

We dive into how he structures his yearly development plan, how he helps players embrace roles that maximize their strengths, and how he molds his system around the makeup of each team rather than forcing them into a system.

We also explore how coaching both school and AAU basketball has shaped his philosophy and how AAU helped him become more intentional about what truly matters in practice. 

🔗Check out more from Fonzo👇

Instagram: @coachmartinez13

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:41 Transition to McKinney Christian

06:23 Sustaining Elite Success

09:48 Player Development Philosophy

17:03 Advice for Aspiring College Players

18:28 Building Trust and Opportunities in Development

19:37 Mistakes in Development

21:38 Comparing AAU and School Coaching

26:55 Learning from Failures as a Coach

31:07 Adapting Coaching Strategies to Team Strengths

32:41 Finding Purpose Beyond Winning in Coaching

Mason Hays, VP of Sports Performance at Elite Performance in Frisco, Texas, joins the show to break down his journey from APEC athlete to training director and now to his role with EPT.

We dive into how to build a coaching identity you’re known for, what it takes to succeed in the private sector, and why great coaches are generalists and elite problem solvers. Mason also gets into removing “trash volume” from your programs and focusing on the work that actually drives the right stimulus based on your goals.

Mason also shares his thoughts on LTAD, common mistakes in youth training, how he balances data with coaching intuition, and how he profiles athletes and tracks key KPIs.

🔗Check out more from Mason👇

Instagram: @mason_perform

The Blueprint Training Team: https://tr.ee/1QsimBTnEG

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

04:47 Planting Seeds to Coach as an Athlete

09:01 Building a Coaching Identity

12:24 Making it in the Private Sector

14:46 Being a Master Problem Solver

17:56 Youth High-Performance

27:12 Removing Trash Volume

32:40 Common Misconceptions in Athlete Development

34:53 LTAD Outline

37:00 Balancing Data and Intuition in Training

41:40 Athlete Profiling

46:53 Key Performance Indicators in Training

49:37 Adapting Speed Training to Limited Spaces

51:05 Evolving Coaching Beliefs

54:42 Long-Term Goals and Career Aspirations

01:00:02 Finding Purpose in Coaching

Paul Hiepler, former Abilene Christian basketball player and current criminal prosecutor in Ventura, California, joins the show to reflect on his journey from college athlete to life after sport. You may recognize him from his role on the ACU team that upset Texas in the first round of March Madness. 

In this conversation, we dive into his development as an athlete, including the impact of his multi-sport background, the coaches and AAU environment that influenced him most, and the secret to his vertical jump. 

Paul also reflects on the good and bad he’s seen from coaches, why a greater emphasis on strength and conditioning and weight gain could have better prepared him for college, how coaches can better support athletes through the transition when their playing careers come to an end, and how to impact a team even when you aren’t getting playing time. 

🔗Check out more from Paul👇

Instagram: @paulhiepler

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

04:15 Early Athletic Development and Multi-Sport Experience

06:55 Transition to College Basketball and Overcoming Challenges

09:14 The Impact of Coaching and Training on Performance

11:43 The Role of AAU in Athlete Development

14:10 Specialization vs. Multi-Sport Participation

16:47 The Importance of Enjoying the Game

19:18 Coaching Perspectives and Lessons Learned

25:12 The Importance of Trust and Investment

29:52 The Role of Team Dynamics in Success

33:24 Adding Value Beyond On-Court Performance

39:47 Preparing for Life After Sports

Devin Young, Senior Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Pittsburgh, joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation on development, data, and growth within the profession. Devin works with track and field, cross country, and softball at Pittsburgh.

In this conversation, we dive into his personal development as a coach, the data he uses to drive decision-making, and how he implements the Omni-Contraction System within his programs. Devin also shares how coaches can navigate imposter syndrome and continue building confidence in their role.

We also discuss his experience hosting the Talkin’ Pitt podcast—how it started, the connections and skills it’s created, and the most impactful conversations he’s had along the way.

🔗Check out more from Devin👇

Instagram: @devin_sc_coach 

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:43 Technology in Strength Training

06:28 Data-Driven Decision Making

09:23 Athlete Development and Specialization

12:06 Imposter Syndrome in Coaching

14:40 Continuous Learning and Development

17:28 Rabbit Holes of Knowledge

20:04 Omni Contraction Training

22:50 Offseason Training Strategies

33:31 Eccentric Training Techniques

37:57 Sprinting and Speed Work Integration

42:27 Networking and Professional Growth

47:30 Shifts in Coaching Philosophy

50:06 Finding Purpose in Coaching

Jared Wilson, owner of JW Performance and former Head of Performance for NBA All-Star John Wall, joins the show to break down how he’s translating elite, one-on-one performance systems into a high-performance model for youth athletes.

Jared breaks down how he makes development decisions—starting with health, then skill, then outputs—and why identifying an athlete’s needs is critical for efficient development. He also drops incredible wisdom on how to consolidate stress, build schedules, and bring in aspects of medical care, nutrition, sleep, and recovery education for high-school athletes. 

We dive into how Jared uses force plates as a system of checks and balances, the key metrics he focuses on, and how data can drive both results and retention.

🔗Check out more from Jared👇

Instagram: @jw.performance 

Website: https://jwperformance.my.canva.site/jw-performance/

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

05:02 Implementing High-Performance Training for High School Athletes

13:00 Stress Consolidation and Communication with Coaches

18:39 Case Study: Building an Athlete's Program + Schedule

20:54 Need Based Decision-Making

23:43 Hyper-Focused Development

36:05 Shifting Court Volume When Skill is a Superpower and Athleticism a Weakness

41:46 Utilizing Force Plates for Athlete Assessment

45:44 Training the Unweighting and Braking Phases

57:31 Choosing Your Sacrifices in Coaching

01:05:28 Life After Sports: Defining Success Beyond the Game

Andrew Nilo, Head Olympic Strength and Conditioning Coach at Texas State, joins the show to discuss the evolution of his training philosophy and his transition into a director role. After multiple conference championships and a College World Series run at Oral Roberts, Nilo brings a high level of experience and intentionality into his new position.

In this conversation, we dive into how his training is evolving, what he’s adding to his programs, and how he structures his training weeks. Nilo also shares why he’s placing a greater emphasis on shape changes and movement quality over simply chasing outputs.

We also explore his first year as a director and how the role has challenged him to grow as a leader, improve as a communicator, and think differently about managing people and performance.

🔗Check out more from Nilo 👇

Instagram: @kilos_with_nilo

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:25 Transition to Director Role

06:09 Building Relationships and Communication

08:36 Balancing Responsibilities and Time Management

10:20 Evolving Training Methods

13:04 Adapting to Logistical Challenges

15:28 Integrating New Training Concepts

18:04 Finding Balance in Training Environment

20:46 Understanding Individual Athlete Needs

23:01 Continuous Learning and Growth

25:45 Understanding Movement and Gait in Training

29:15 Weekly Training Structure and Programming

31:58 Key Performance Indicators in Strength Training

36:14 Training Young Athletes: Balancing Output and Development

37:47 Influences from Early Career in Strength and Conditioning

40:42 Evolution of Coaching Philosophy and Practice

45:19 Communication and Growth in Strength Coaching

48:05 Building a Competitive Team Culture

Jacob Garvin, Director of Sports Performance for Women’s Basketball and Volleyball at Oral Roberts, joins the show to break down his journey through the field and how he approaches building high-level athletes at the mid-major level. 

In this conversation, we explore his path from starting as an athletic trainer to transitioning into strength and conditioning, and how that background shapes his approach today. Jacob also dives into how he structures his training weeks using Daniel Bove’s quadrant system, his use of force plates to guide decision-making, and how he programs sprint work for both volleyball and women’s basketball.

We also get into how to effectively build a nutrition program at the mid-major level and create systems that support performance with limited resources, and how to find a balance between training smart while still training hard and providing challenges for your athletes. 

🔗Check out more from Jacob👇

Instagram: @sniper_strength

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

06:26 Journey into Strength and Conditioning

12:18 Experiences and Growth in Athletic Training

18:24 Balancing Hard Training and Smart Training

24:44 Implementing the Quadrant System

34:31 Managing Dual Responsibilities in Coaching

39:05 The Balance Between Commitment and Sustainability

47:51 Utilizing Force Plates for Performance Metrics

56:34 Career Aspirations and Personal Development in Coaching