Director of Volleyball Sports Performance at SMU, Anthony Cockrill joins the show to unpack what real athlete development looks like—and what many people get wrong. We dive into how the transfer portal has reshaped long-term development, why so many athletes show up underprepared, and how constantly adjusting the plan to make athletes “feel good” can become a dangerous long-term strategy. Anthony also shares his thoughts on load management, kinesthetic awareness, and where the collegiate strength and conditioning field is headed.

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 Anthony Cockrill

06:45 The Evolution of Strength and Conditioning in College Sports

12:23 Understanding Athlete Development

17:19 Balancing Short-Term Gains with Long-Term Development

27:29 Building Trust with Coaching Staff

33:39 Capacity Meets Demand in Training

42:52 Characteristics of High-Performing Athletes

Head Strength Coach at Bishop’s College School and Universal Academy, Josh Bray joins the show to break down how he tailors training by bucketing athletes into three archetypes based on both their physiological and psychological traits. We dive into how he individualizes programs in large group settings without losing structure. Josh also shares how and when he uses games in training, the importance of educating athletes, and his approach to long-term development.

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 Josh Bray's Journey

03:28 Navigating Young Athletes' Mindsets

04:47 Athlete Archetypes and Group Dynamics

10:42 Intent and Engagement in Training

12:33 Strengths vs. Weaknesses in Training

14:38 Implementing Bucketing Strategies

16:36 Establishing Foundations in New Environments

18:19 The Role of Education in Athlete Development

20:12 Data-Driven Decision Making

22:31 Incorporating Games and Competitions

26:21 Creating a Positive Training Environment

27:14 Fostering Excellence Among Athletes

29:10 Reassessing Programming Decisions

31:25 The Importance of Mental Toughness in Athletics

34:55 Crafting the Ideal Development Path for Young Athletes

39:04 The Role of Curiosity and Continuous Learning in Coaching

45:45 Balancing Inputs and Outputs in Coaching

52:32 Personal Training's Impact on Coaching Philosophy

54:29 Closing the Gap in Personal Skill Development

55:57 The Value of Mentorship in Coaching

57:37 The Importance of Patience and Commitment in Athletic Development

Owner and Director of Player Development at Kingdom Performance, Keith Spencer joins the show to share how he’s built a training environment rooted in community, relationships, and long-term development. From partnering with parents to creating unforgettable experiences for athletes, we explore how Keith overdelivers and builds something far greater than just basketball skills. This episode dives into the business side of coaching, the depth of athlete development, and the keys to leaving a lasting impact.

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 Kingdom Performance

02:39 Building a Community in Sports

05:35 Developing Staff and Intentionality

08:30 Creating Impactful Relationships with Athletes

11:17 Engaging with Parents for Holistic Development

14:09 Exceeding Expectations in Training

17:02 The Importance of Confidence in Athletes

19:50 The Role of Debriefing in Player Development

22:58 Personalized Training and Ownership

25:37 Identifying Areas of Opportunity

28:28 Creativity in Basketball Training

34:17 Empowering Young Athletes

41:27 Balancing Business and Purpose

45:39 International Experiences and Cultural Impact

51:36 Building Character Beyond Basketball

01:00:13 Navigating Challenges and Finding Gratification

EXOS Performance Specialist Jordan Bush joins the show to take us inside the world of NFL Draft Combine prep and what it really looks like to train elite athletes at the highest level. We dive into the difference between coaching pro athletes versus youth athletes, what true collaboration with your athletes looks like, and the traits that consistently separate top performing athletes from everyone else.

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

04:20 The Evolution of Jordan's Coaching Philosophy

07:09 Building Relationships with Athletes

09:47 Adapting Coaching Styles for Different Levels

12:38 The Role of Agents in Athlete Training

15:21 Maintaining Relationships with Athletes

17:53 Understanding Athlete Feedback

20:55 The Importance of Routine and Discipline in Athletes

34:28 Navigating the Combine Process

39:27 Mental Challenges in High-Stakes Training

44:10 Focusing on Process Over Outcome

44:14 Gratifying Moments in Coaching

46:49 Closing the Skill Gap

48:12 Impactful Mentors in Coaching

51:32 Advice for Young Coaches

57:22 The Power of Social Media in Coaching

President of Metabolic Elite Christian LaValle joins the show to discuss how coaches can improve their cognitive function despite operating under constant stress. From sleep and nutrition to stress management and daily routines, we dive into the habits that fuel sharper thinking, better decision-making, and long-term resilience in high-pressure coaching environments.

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

01:52 The Importance of Generalist Skills in Coaching

03:57 Balancing Depth and Breadth in Knowledge

05:24 The Systems Biology Approach to Performance

08:01 Translating Coaching Skills to Business

11:17 Unique Aspects of Metabolic Elite

16:58 Influence of Family and Environment on Performance

21:11 Health Strategies for Coaches

24:56 Prioritizing Decisions for Better Leadership

27:09 Managing Stress and Cognitive Fatigue

29:59 Finding Balance Between Work and Self-Care

31:31 Strategies for Overcoming Burnout

34:39 The Importance of Therapy and Support

37:50 Navigating Difficult Conversations in Business

West Virginia Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning for Men’s Basketball Jason Martinez dives into building alignment with your head coach, how to assess what a new program truly needs, and why evaluating your process matters—regardless of results.

With career stops at UNT, Iona, and East Carolina, Jason offers practical insights from years of success in high-level college basketball.

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 The Journey into Coaching

04:12 Full Circle Moments in Coaching

06:41 Transitioning to a New Staff

09:10 Navigating Resources and Relationships

11:57 Maintaining Core Values Amid Growth

14:37 Building Relationships and Assessing Needs

17:14 The Role of a Strength Coach

19:46 Partnering with Head Coaches

22:17 Staying Curious and Self-Development

24:56 Navigating Budget and Resource Needs

30:17 Growth Through Conversations

33:15 Evaluating Success and Areas for Improvement

35:45 The Importance of Process in Training

40:38 Parenthood's Impact on Coaching Philosophy

46:05 Closing the Skill Gap and Learning from Others

50:05 The Need for Open Conversations in Coaching

In this episode, Justin Lovvorn shares his approach to basketball skill acquisition and how he builds long-term development pathways for athletes. He dives into driving skill through simplicity, discusses the overlooked positives of AAU basketball, and gives his perspective on how strength and conditioning can best support skill development.

Justin is the Owner of Shooters HQ in Dallas, TX, and was recently named Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Fort Worth Southwest Christian School.

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

02:26 Transitioning to Head Coach

03:49 Philosophy of Coaching and Player Development

05:49 Understanding Individual Players

07:56 The Entrepreneurial Journey of Shooters HQ

10:10 The Importance of Ownership in Coaching

11:30 The Journey of Developing Shooters

17:09 Cutting the Fluff in Training

21:18 Developing Skills Independently

23:41 Understanding Game Context and Personal Development

26:45 The Balance of Skill Development and Autonomy

27:11 Pathways to Long-Term Player Development

30:42 Defining Roles in Player Development

31:58 Scaling Development for Different Skill Levels

33:57 The Role of Strength Training in Basketball

35:50 Navigating the AAU Landscape

40:14 Creating Diverse Learning Environments

40:51 Closing the Skill Gap

43:23 Influential Figures in Coaching

45:33 The Importance of Dependence and Identity

Kansas State Men’s Basketball Strength Coach Phil Baier shares practical, high-impact insight on developing interns, career progression, and separating yourself in the interview process. Whether you're just starting out or further along in your career, this episode is packed with lessons you can use right away.

Phil has been the driving force behind the physical preparation of two programs that made back-to-back Elite Eight runs — first with Miami in 2022, then with Kansas State in 2023.

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

03:48 Value Beyond Physical Development

06:18 Recruiting and Evaluating Potential Players

10:39 Career Decisions and Job Transitions

13:57 Common Traits of Successful Coaches

18:30 Building Relationships and Communication

21:36 Individualized Training Approaches

24:06 Interview Strategies for Coaches

29:34 Effective Communication in Coaching

32:22 Developing Interns and Young Professionals

36:25 Building Coaching Philosophy and Experience

40:04 The Importance of Reps and Real-World Experience

45:47 Closing the Skill Gap

49:12 Influential Mentors in Coaching

51:28 Balancing Personal and Professional Life