Though I haven’t had experiences with many strength and conditioning coaches, the coaches that I have been exposed to are such great role models. The most memorable strength and conditioning coach that I know is Dr. William Ebben. He was the professor of my strength and conditioning and sport psychology classes at Marquette University. Though he is no longer teaching at Marquette, he still has an impact on how I interact with athletes, whether it be as an athletic trainer, strength and conditioning coach, or otherwise.
One quality that Bill Ebben has that I think is important is his empathy, the fact that he cares about the person as a whole. As a strength and conditioning coach, it can be easy to hone in on what areas we can strengthen on an athlete and what muscle imbalances need to be fixed, but all in all, we are here to support the athlete; there are so many factors that contribute to an athlete’s wellness that may get overlooked. Luckily, Northeastern takes an approach that is very supportive of the athlete as a whole; they take care in checking to see the quality of sleep and nutrition in their athletes, not just worrying about the fraction of the time that is spent in the weight room.
When dealing with teams (especially those that include a large number of athletes), it is impossible to focus one’s attention on all athletes at all times. It is important to make each athlete feel cared for; this may be a challenge, but even the littlest gestures can show a person that you are paying attention and that you care. Bill’s sport psychology side was evident in that he always made his students aware that the little things matter. Sharing a joke, a fist bump, or even just a sincere smile can show an athlete that you are there for support.