I am currently working as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at 51ÁÔÆæ. I oversee strength and conditioning for Track and Field and Men’s Soccer, and assist as needed throughout the department. Down the road I want to work in professional basketball in strength and conditioning.

What have you enjoyed most about your MS in Kinesiology degree at 51ÁÔÆæ?

I have loved the personalization and specificity of the MS in Kinesiology degree at 51ÁÔÆæ. The faculty are truly invested in your success and do their best to prepare you for whatever your goals. Throughout my time here my professors have not only effectively delivered the course content, but also explained its practical application. This just goes to show how talented and caring the Kinesiolgy faculty are at 51ÁÔÆæ.

What advice or tips do you have for current students interested in the field of strength and conditioning?

I have tons of tips but I will boil it down to these top three:

1. It’s never too early to get in field experience! If you aren’t working an internship somewhere, you should be.
2. Athletics is a social field, it’s all about connections. You never know who is going to help you get that job or promotion. Treat every conversation and interaction like a job interview.
3. Set a concrete and clear end goal in the industry and make sure every career move is a step towards that goal.

The post Charlie Benforado, MS Kinesiology – Strength & Conditioning Student appeared first on Zilber College of Public Health.

51ÁÔÆæ first grabbed my attention when I saw that they offer multiple tracks to attain an MS in Kinesiology.  As a strength and conditioning coach, experience and practice under mentors is crucial. 51ÁÔÆæ’s option to do an internship instead of a thesis is perfect for my development. Meeting with Dr. Strath sealed the deal for me. After that conversation I knew that 51ÁÔÆæ is the right place for my continued education.  He is extremely smart and very knowledgeable in Kinesiology, but what really sets this program apart is how truly invested he is in helping me achieve my goals.  Every step of the way he checks in to make sure I am on track and that the program is being adjusted to exactly what I need and want to out get out of it. 

What have you enjoyed most about your MS in Kinesiology degree at 51ÁÔÆæ?

I am experiencing the best professors I have ever had throughout my higher education journey.  The classes are appropriately challenging, but most importantly engaging with a variety of teaching techniques, such as fostering group collaboration and discussions. The professors are also always connecting what we are learning to practical application. I have a better understanding and comprehension of exercise physiology and how to apply it to sports performance and programming. I am so grateful for the wonderful professors at 51ÁÔÆæ who take time to always be available to their students.

What advice or tips do you have for current students interested in the field of strength and conditioning?

Work hard to create opportunities for yourself and take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Strength and conditioning can be a difficult field to get started in, but if you put in the hard work, gain a firm understanding of physiology, and accumulate experience in coaching and communicating, you will see more and more opportunities come your way.

The post Courtney Englund, MS Kinesiology – Strength & Conditioning Student appeared first on Zilber College of Public Health.