Strength and conditioning has a historical hard-nosed attitude towards training and change.  Most strength coaches of the past have been football coaches whom have been relatively strong in the gym and thus found themselves coaching in the gym for better or worse for their athletes.

The past 4 months I was lucky enough to have an internship with Brijesh Patel, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Quinnipiac University.  The first day I walked in and went through one of his warm-ups and did not like how he set up one of the stretches.  After speaking with B for a moment about why I did not like the execution of the stretch he tried it himself.  To my surprise he agreed that my way seemed to get a better stretch than the way he used, and on the fly changed it that day while coaching his athletes.  I immediately knew that internship was going to be nothing that I had expected.

B’s strength and conditioning program is more of a culture than a strength program.  Every athlete is taught to be accountable for his or her actions in and out of the weight room.  It is not uncommon to hear teammates yelling “watch your tempo” during the middle of lifts to ensure everyone is on pace.  Trust and teambuilding is incorporated into every workout from simple things as individual warm-ups pre-workout to making sure everyone makes a given time during conditioning drills.  These qualities not only build camaraderie in the weight room, but also transfer well to the playing field, where teammates must be able to rely on one another when shit hits the fan.

Demanding perfection out of every set, rep, and exercise is a prerequisite at QU.   Maximal intensity is always required during ever aspect of training from cheering on teammates to post workout stretching; everything is done with a purpose.  Some may think from reading this article that Brijesh is some crazy man whom expects an absurd amount from his athlete’s.  Well he does, it’s expected, and excuses don’t make champions and that is his job, to develop champions.  He also takes it upon himself to educate his athlete’s that this is a lifestyle, to expect the most out of themselves in all facets of life.  Educating every individual on the reasoning behind why they are lifting a certain way, doing specific exercises, and why they need to fuel their bodies a specific way to get the most out of it.  These are life skills that each person can take away and apply to all aspects of life.

Gary know’s all about maximal intensity

Constant improvement is expected from B from his athlete’s and himself.  If there is a way to develop stronger, faster, healthier athlete’s I can promise you it will find it’s way into a QU program.  I have learned so much more over the past 4 months working with such an amazing coach, but the biggest lessons I have learned have more to do with people than anything to do with training.  B is truly an innovator in the industry and just as much a life coach as a strength coach.

If I had to sum up what I’ve learned I would say “Demand hard work, strive for perfection, intensity and passion can overcome anything, and you have to have some fun”.  Strength and conditioning is an essential part of every athlete’s development, but I can assure you, it’s not just about the weights.