Show Notes
Matt Durant is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at University of La Verne, where he oversees performance training for all 20 varsity sports. A 1999 La Verne graduate, Durant returned to his alma mater in 2002 and has spent more than two decades developing student-athletes and building a highly respected Division III strength and conditioning program. In 2017, Durant was named the National Sports Performance Association Coach of the Year. During his tenure, numerous athletes have earned conference, regional, and national recognition, including multiple National Strength and Conditioning Association All-America Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year honors. Before returning to La Verne, Durant coached at College of the Canyons and Wingate University. He earned his bachelor's degree from La Verne and a master's degree from Azusa Pacific University, and remains active in both the NSCA and USA Weightlifting. From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above. Power Lift 🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr 🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/ Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above. PlayerData 🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-us PlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above. Thorne 🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/ Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about Thorne click the link above. TeamBuildr 🌎Site:https://www.teambuildr.com/en TeamBuildr is a platform for any coach in any setting. Every day, thousands of coaches log into TeamBuildr to write training programs, build questionnaires and access athlete training in a simple and manageable way. Be sure to check them out in the link above.
More from Cheeky Mid Weeky
In this episode Justin sits down with Rachel Balkovec of the Miami Marlins to discuss leadership, organizational culture, player development, and the role of strength and conditioning in professional baseball. Rachel shares her journey through professional baseball, the challenges she faced breaking into the industry, and how those experiences shaped her approach to leadership. The conversation explores hiring for culture, developing accountability among athletes, building resilient players, and why training hard remains essential to long-term athletic development. ___ SCN CEUs to the NSCA, CSCCa, and BOC: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing ___ Learn about the Admin Dashboard: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/institutions ___ From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above. Power Lift 🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr 🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/ Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above. PlayerData 🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-us PlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above. Thorne 🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/u/PR2094749 Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about supplements that Justin trusts with Thorne click the link above.
Travis Reust, M.Ed., MSCC, RSCC*D, is the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator at Temple Independent School District in Temple, Texas. With more than 20 years of experience in strength and conditioning, Reust has worked across NCAA Division I and II athletics, Texas public schools, and the U.S. Army. His collegiate coaching career includes stops at East Central University, Oklahoma State, Colorado, TCU, Nebraska, and UTSA, where he served as Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning. Throughout his career, he has contributed to championship programs, including Big 12 football at Colorado, Conference USA baseball at TCU, and Southland Conference basketball at UTSA. In 2016, Reust earned the prestigious Master Strength & Conditioning Coach designation from the CSCCa. He has also worked with professional basketball players, including George Hill, Ian Mahinmi, and C.J. Miles. Now working in the Texas high school system, Reust focuses on developing district-wide strength and conditioning programs, mentoring coaches, improving athletic performance, and reducing injury risk through evidence-based training. ___ Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing ___ CONNECT WITH US: 🌎Site: https://strengthcoachnetwork.com/ From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above. Power Lift 🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr 🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/ Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above. PlayerData 🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-us PlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above.
THE Coach Kaz Kazadi came on the podcast to drop knowledge on Justin. Kaz has decades experience as a S&C coach, as well as former collegiate and professional football player. Born in the DRC, Kaz shares his story about humble beginnings and how it shaped the man he is today. Players and coaches love working with and for Coach Kaz and in this episode you will find out why. ___ SCN CEUs to the NSCA, CSCCa, and BOC: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing ___ Learn about the Admin Dashboard: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/institutions ___ From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above. Power Lift 🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr 🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/ Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above. PlayerData 🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-us PlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above. Thorne 🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/u/PR2094749 Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about supplements that Justin trusts with Thorne click the link above.
Meet Mark Spellman, the S&C Coach who pushed back against the NCAA 5 Strength Coach limitation rule. Mark has decades of S&C experience in the field and helps the field get better by helping this old rule go away. There is no reason in today's S&C world that only 5 S&C coaches can work in college football. The new rules allow for sport coaches to be around the players more. New rule changes for the sport means new rules for S&C coaches. This can be a huge step forward for everyone - tune in to find out why. ___ SCN CEUs to the NSCA, CSCCa, and BOC: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing ___ Learn about the Admin Dashboard: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/institutions ___ From our sponsors: Hawkin Dynamics 🌎Site: https://www.hawkindynamics.com/ Hawkin Dynamics is the world leader in force plate solutions. Wireless hardware, intuitive software, and powerful analysis make Hawkin Dynamics the best choice for any coach or trainer. Make sure you check them out in the link above. Power Lift 🌎Site: https://www.powerliftusa.com/ Power Lift is an industry-leading designer and manufacturer of American-made strength and conditioning equipment. They understand that your Brand is important and offer several diverse ways to incorporate that Brand into your strength equipment. For more about Power Lift click the link above. Dashr 🌎Site: https://www.dashrsystems.com/ Dashr is a performance testing company best known for its laser timing, but also integrates with Teambuildr and offers a free Player Profile app used by 6k+ athletes. Beyond timing, they provide a full suite of testing solutions including verticals, broad jumps, RSI, biometrics, reaction, and AMS. For more about Dashr click the link above. PlayerData 🌎Site:https://www.playerdata.com/en-us PlayerData is Strength Coach Network’s trusted GPS provider and a FIFA Quality–certified system, used by coaches at every level to quantify training load and understand movement demands. PlayerData delivers reliable, actionable data at a strong value point, with seamless syncing that saves coaches precious time—so the focus stays on coaching, not managing technology. For more about PlayerData click the link above. Thorne 🌎Site: https://www.thorne.com/u/PR2094749 Thorne is a global leader in high-quality nutritional supplements and health testing. Trusted by professional sports teams, the U.S. military, and practitioners around the world, Thorne is known for rigorous ingredient sourcing, third-party testing, and science-backed formulations. Whether supporting performance, recovery, or overall health, Thorne provides products coaches and athletes can trust. For more about supplements that Justin trusts with Thorne click the link above.
Michelle Pifer is the Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at Rutgers University, where she works directly with Field Hockey and Women’s Rowing. She joined Rutgers in 2021 and was promoted to Associate Director in 2023. Michelle brings eight years of collegiate strength and conditioning experience, with an emphasis on athlete performance, long-term development, and sport science integration. At Rutgers, she utilizes technologies including Catapult GPS, WHOOP, Hawkin Dynamics force plates, EliteForm VBT, and Whistle Performance to help guide training and athlete monitoring. Prior to Rutgers, Michelle coached at the University of Pennsylvania and Swarthmore College, working across a wide range of collegiate sports. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Exercise Science from Bloomsburg University and holds the CSCS and RSCC*D credentials through the NSCA. Michelle has also presented at the 2025 CSCCa National Conference and 2026 NSCA National Conference, sharing her applied approach to strength and conditioning and sport science. ___ Learn about CEUs to the NSCA and CSCCa: https://www.strengthcoachnetwork.com/pricing