For Keith Swift, coaching is completely effort based, but it starts with camaraderie and education. As Director of Strength and Conditioning at Wofford College, his philosophy is clear: educate, heal, and enhance. While playing collegiate football and studying exercise science, Swift learned early to question the “why” behind training and encourages his student-athletes to do the same. At an academically rigorous institution, his educational focus fits right in, fostering curiosity, technical precision, and peer coaching. Swift shares how his experiences across professional baseball, the private sector, and collegiate programs each shaped his foundation while making it his own. Amid collegiate challenges — from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) transfer portal to the growing authority of student-athletes — Swift holds firm that “there is no substitute for hard work.” His goal is simple: help student-athletes leave with both a degree and a championship ring, setting them up for success in sport and life. Reach out to Coach Swift on Instagram: @worqueowt and @wofford_strength, Twitter/X: @CoachSwift93, LinkedIn: @keithswift, or by email: swiftkd@wofford.edu | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs and LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs Discover how salaries have evolved across collegiate athletics and other work settings in strength and conditioning in the 2025 NSCA Salary Survey at NSCA.com/Salary.

The football quarterback (QB) is a unique position in sport. To throw or pass the ball, the QB needs to incorporate nearly every muscle in the body in a very precise sequence to optimally release the ball with the right amount of power, spin, and precision. Specific movement patterns are suggested to optimize the performance of a QB.

This article discusses the ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) scales and how to educate older clients to utilize them, as well as how to monitor and safely progress their training intensity.

Chris Morris, Director or Performance Science at the University of Kentucky, talks to the NSCA Coaching Program Manager, Eric McMahon, about the importance of capturing athlete readiness through data and technology. Topics under discussion include Dr. Morris’s time as a University of Kentucky football player turned PhD student, how sports science is critical to understanding athlete’s capacities on a much deeper view, and developing interpersonal relationships with athletes to create trust and buy-in. Find Dr. Morris on Twitter: @CMorrisPhD | Find Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or Twitter: @ericmcmahoncscs

In this Bridge the Gap Lecture from the 2019 National Conference, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Oregon, Jimmy Radcliffe, discusses the specifics of deceleration, change of direction, and reacceleration through ground negotiation, postural control, and specific running mechanics.

In this session from the NSCA’s 2016 TSAC Annual Training, Ryan Massimo demonstrates foundational movement techniques that engage the body as a single coordinated system, complement the movements the body performs on the job and in life, and help to build optimal and usable strength, power, mobility, and durability.

Motivation techniques derive from building relationships of trust and honesty. In this session from the NSCA’s 2017 Coaches Conference, Marisa Viola, Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Rutgers University, teaches how to connect and impact this generation of athletes.

Donovan Santas, former Head Major League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball (MLB) organization, explains the process for optimal athletic development by taking a look at the day-to-day practices and techniques used at the professional baseball level.

Jeff Connors, Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning at East Carolina University, shares insights regarding a successful and comprehensive training program that places emphasis on speed development. Originally presented at the NSCA 2016 Coaches Conference.

In this session from the NSCA’s 2017 TSAC Annual Training, Matt Devine demonstrates the use of physical therapy exercises to enhance restorative and strength accessory work appropriate for various injury histories. Also discussed is a mindfulness practice to enhance recovery from injury and self-regulation.