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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Morris of Missouri State to dive deep into what it truly takes to build a championship-caliber football program from the inside out. From establishing core values like attitude, discipline, accountability, and love, to developing young players with vastly different backgrounds, Dr. Morris breaks down the systems and standards that drive the Bears forward.

He shares how his staff approaches player development, motor patterns, nutrition, recovery, and in-season training using tools like force plates, bands, and chains. We also explore his leadership philosophy, the importance of a player-driven environment, and the professional growth he expects and encourages within his coaching staff.

With Missouri State making the jump to the FBS level, Dr. Morris offers a transparent look at the challenges, opportunities, and community-building required to elevate a program. This conversation is loaded with insights for coaches, players, and leaders who want to understand what holistic, intentional program-building truly looks like.

This episode highlights Dr. Morris’s comprehensive approach to building the Missouri State football program as it transitions to the FBS level. He emphasizes the power of culture—anchored in attitude, discipline, accountability, and love—as the foundation of everything they do.

We unpack the complexity of player development, especially when athletes arrive with varying levels of experience and inconsistent motor patterns. Dr. Morris explains how accountability, leadership, and a player-driven environment are critical for sustained success.

Despite limited resources, his staff invests heavily in nutrition and recovery strategies, while combining technology (like force plates) with training methods such as bands and chains to improve power and explosiveness in-season.

Equally important is his commitment to staff development, creating a collaborative coaching environment built on mentorship, growth, and shared purpose.

Overall, Dr. Morris provides a blueprint for what intentional, holistic program development looks like—and how those principles are helping Missouri State rise on the national stage.

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In this episode of Plates and Pancakes, we sit down with legendary strength coach Ron McKeefery to explore the intersection of performance, leadership, and faith. From his early days chasing quarterback dreams to shaping elite athletes at the University of Washington and beyond, Coach McKeefery shares hard-earned wisdom on building culture, navigating adversity, and staying grounded in purpose. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or leader, this conversation offers practical insights and spiritual depth for anyone committed to growth.

Coach Ron McKeefery reflects on his journey from small-town quarterback to internationally recognized strength coach. He discusses the power of redefining dreams, the importance of faith-driven leadership, and how to guide athletes through both performance and personal challenges. Topics include:
• Letting go of old dreams to embrace new callings
• Defining “good” and holding athletes accountable
• The “Why Meeting” and building deeper relationships
• Navigating NIL, high-performance roles, and resource limitations
• Reverse-engineering vision into reality
• Staying present and intentional in leadership
• Cultivating passion to overcome apathy
• Building lasting networks and mentoring with purpose
Coach McKeefery’s insights blend technical expertise with emotional intelligence, offering a blueprint for servant leadership in sport and life.

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In this episode, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Hunter Haralson of Collinsville Public Schools sits down with Steven to talk about the evolution of high school strength training, athlete development, and what it truly takes to build a winning culture.

Hunter shares his journey from Lawrence, Kansas, to wrestling at Lindenwood University, to becoming a sixth-year Head S&C Coach and leader in one of the most respected programs in Oklahoma. With certifications in CSCS, USAW L1, and a teaching license in Oklahoma, Hunter brings both expertise and passion to his athletes every day.

We dive into:
🔥 His background—from NCAA DII wrestling to internships at Clemson
🔥 How he and his wife Maddie built summer strength camps with 60+ junior high athletes
🔥 Coaching today’s athlete: explaining the “why,” building trust, and keeping training fun
🔥 Using tier systems, 5-3-1, and APRE to train multi-sport athletes
🔥 Adapting for wrestling, basketball, and sport-specific needs
🔥 Coaching philosophy: effort, toughness, character
🔥 Using velocity trackers, XBE concepts, outdoor speed work, and agility training
🔥 Improving female athlete engagement and performance
🔥 Halftime nutrition, athlete recovery, and coaching staff collaboration
🔥 Balancing family life with coaching demands
🔥 How to implement advanced training safely at the high school level

Hunter also opens up about mentorship, delegating to his assistant coach, and how his weight room design has reshaped his coaching style. From foundational lifts to high-level movement prep, this episode is a complete blueprint for coaches looking to elevate their program.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and drop a comment about your favorite insight from Coach Haralson!

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In this episode, Steven sits down with Maddie Harrelson, Coordinator of Strength and Conditioning at Owasso High School, to explore her journey from Washington, Iowa, to the heart of one of Oklahoma’s most competitive athletic programs. Maddie shares how her experiences at Lindenwood University, Quincy, and Mississippi State shaped her nine-year coaching career and her passion for developing strong, resilient athletes.

The conversation opens with real-life connection—Steven and Maddie talk family, work–life balance, and the challenges of growing careers while raising young children. Maddie discusses how she and her husband, Hunter, navigate being a coaching family and how collaboration drives the strength program at Owasso.

From there, the episode dives into her coaching philosophy:
• Training Wrestlers – density block training, preseason power, weight-cut challenges, and building relationships with young athletes.
• Cheer Strength & Performance – eccentric training, plyometrics, injury prevention, core strength, and the unique demands of high-level cheer.
• Overhead Athletes – mobility strategies, overhead carries, eccentric chin-ups, landmine work, and managing tight lats.
• Building Athlete Confidence – creating a weight-room culture where athletes learn to handle pressure, take ownership, and grow through mistakes.
• Plyometrics Across Sports – cheer, wrestling, synchronized swimming, and adapting elastic qualities to different athletic demands.
• Autonomy-Based Coaching – how Maddie evolved from rigid structure to adaptable programming based on each athlete’s needs.

This episode offers invaluable insight into developing athletes, building trust, and coaching with purpose—on the platform, in the weight room, and in life.

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Coach Tucker Seay, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Dalton High School, joins Steven to discuss his evolving approach to athlete development and performance. Drawing from his background in exercise science and insights from Super Training, Tucker breaks down how he balances speed, volume, and neural fatigue in his programming.

They explore his transition to head coach, the implementation of the Lightened method with bands for confidence and control, and his findings on optimal power output at 50% body weight. Tucker also shares his progress with sumo deadlifts, maximal tension training, and strategies to “surf the strength curve” for peak results.

The conversation dives deep into practical coaching, from warm-up innovations and bench press development to the lasting influence of Louie Simmons on modern strength training — offering a masterclass in blending science, creativity, and experience on the gym floor.

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In this episode, Steven sits down with John Coleman, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Powerlifting Coach, and Algebra teacher at Pollok Central High School in Lufkin, Texas. John shares his unconventional journey into coaching—starting from being fired from a summer camp job to becoming a respected leader in both the classroom and the weight room.

They dive deep into training high school powerlifters, exploring how John blends 531 programming, max-effort and dynamic sessions, and recovery management to keep athletes strong and healthy throughout the season. The conversation expands into balancing public school and private coaching, developing baseball and softball speed, and adapting powerlifting principles for athletic performance.

John and Steven also reflect on the realities of coaching teenagers, from teaching proper technique to managing parental expectations, NIL pressures, and evolving high school strength culture. The episode wraps with insights into mentorship, competition prep, and stories from influential coaches across Texas’ strength community—including Monty Sparkman, Seth Ford, and Donnie Thompson.

Whether you’re a coach, teacher, or athlete, this episode offers valuable takeaways on building strong athletes and stronger relationships through intelligent training and genuine mentorship.

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In this episode of Plates and Pancakes, Steven sits down with Coach Donoho from APG Strength for a wide-ranging conversation that blends athletic performance, coaching wisdom, and a touch of horsemanship. The two discuss the art of developing young athletes, tackling topics like early sports specialization, asymmetries, and injury prevention — all through the lens of practical coaching experience.

Coach Donoho shares insights from his time on the Tennessee State Advisory Board for the NHSSCA and explains how a supportive network of coaches has shaped his growth. Steven and Donoho also explore surprising parallels between classical horse training and athletic movement, uncovering lessons from dressage that translate to curvilinear sprinting and power development.

The conversation takes thoughtful turns into faith, discipline, and purpose — reflecting on how spiritual grounding and human connection enrich both coaching and life. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or lifelong learner, this episode offers a blend of science, philosophy, and strength that reminds us: the best performance starts with understanding motion, mindset, and meaning.

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In this episode, Steven Thompson sits down with Dr. Ivey, the Senior Athletic Director for Health and Performance at the University of Louisville, to explore what it truly takes to build a championship-level athletic program.

Dr. Ivey brings decades of experience in sports psychology, strength and conditioning, and mental performance coaching, sharing powerful insights from his time at the University of Missouri, the NFL, and now at Louisville.

The conversation dives deep into:
💪 Strength & Conditioning Coaching Philosophy – Going beyond traditional weight training to create complete, resilient athletes.
🧠 Mental Performance & Athlete Mindset – How goal setting, resilience training, and self-awareness shape elite performers.
🤝 Authentic Coaching Relationships – Why vulnerability and connection matter more than ever in athlete development.
🎯 Program Design & Progression Systems – Level-based training methods that prevent plateaus and optimize performance.
👥 Leadership & Staff Development – Building strong, aligned coaching teams through collaboration and trust.
🌱 Coach Growth & Self-Development – How continuous learning, communication, and reflection lead to long-term success.

Dr. Ivey also discusses his core leadership values—Care, Communicate, and Collaborate, offering practical lessons for coaches, athletes, and performance professionals striving for excellence.

🎧 Tune in for an hour of real conversation on coaching culture, athlete development, and high-performance leadership—from one of the most respected minds in collegiate sports.

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In this episode, Steven Thompson sits down with Clay Bewley, Speed, Strength, and Conditioning Coach at Willow Canyon High School in Surprise, Arizona, and former coach at Estrella Foothills High School. With over two decades of experience coaching at the high school and collegiate levels — including Northern Arizona, Jacksonville University, Angelo State, UNLV, and Faith Lutheran — Coach Bewley shares powerful insights on athlete development, recruiting, and the evolving landscape of modern athletics.

💪 Topics Covered:
 • Building high-performing strength programs across 22 school-sponsored sports
 • Implementing the conjugate system and tracking athlete performance
 • Managing recruiting, NIL changes, and program integrity in college sports
 • Maintaining motivation, preventing burnout, and engaging reluctant athletes
 • Balancing athletic development with academic and behavioral standards
 • Funding and organizing high school training programs effectively

Coach Bewley also opens up about his journey from small-town roots to leading a premier Arizona athletic program — emphasizing connection, accountability, and long-term athlete growth.

📈 Whether you’re a strength coach, athletic director, or sport science enthusiast, this episode delivers real-world coaching wisdom and leadership lessons from one of the most respected high school coaches in the country.

⸻

🔔 Subscribe for more episodes featuring top coaches and performance experts.
🎧 Listen on: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

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In this episode, we sit down with David Abernethy, high-profile strength coach, athlete, and co-founder of Tsunami Barbell. With nearly 25 years of experience as a college athlete and coach at schools like Methodist, Western Carolina, Clemson, Ole Miss, Western Kentucky, and Furman, David has shaped the performance of countless athletes — from Eli Manning to future pros across multiple sports.

We dive into:
 • The coaching journey from college sidelines to building Tsunami Barbell
 • Working with legends, including the Harbaugh family and Louie Simmons’ influence
 • The Speed Force Max Training System and Iron Disciples nonprofit
 • How fascia training, AR, and oscillation improve performance
 • Conjugate principles in the weight room and training that actually carries over to sport
 • Building accountable athletes, longevity in coaching, and the art of finding an edge

David shares wisdom on maximizing athletic potential, balancing innovation with fundamentals, and what it takes to stay passionate across decades in coaching.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders in strength, performance, and athlete development.

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