The Strength In Numbers Podcast

EP 62: Chase Sanders | The Highest Human Act Is To Inspire

Chase Sanders, owner of Chasing Strength and the strength coach for football and baseball at Damien High School, joins the show to share lessons from coaching across the high school, collegiate, and private sector settings. After spending six years as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Cal Poly Pomona and learning under an elite staff at Utah State, Chase brings a unique perspective on athlete development and coaching. We dive into his approach to training youth athletes, why he believes coaches should chase adaptation rather than novelty, and the experiences that shaped his coaching philosophy. Chase also shares how he built Chasing Strength from his garage and the deeper purpose that continues to drive and inspire him. 🔗Check out more from Chase 👇 Instagram: @chasing_strength7 This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:00 Chase's Path to Sports Performance Coaching 07:00 Building a Sports Performance Program from Scratch 10:02 Establishing a Training Culture and Coaching Development 17:56 Lessons from Elite Coaches and the Importance of Standards 19:54 Comparing College, Private Sector, and High School Coaching 25:23 Transitioning to Private Coaching 30:26 Building Relationships in Coaching 35:34 Navigating Business Logistics 42:44 Vision for the Future 48:18 Balancing Business and Coaching 51:21 The Importance of Consistency in Training 54:55 Educating Parents and Athletes 01:00:41 Inspiration and Personal Growth 01:06:47 Work-Life Balance and Prioritizing Family

EP 61: Will Graham | Programming, Performance, and Career Growth

Will Graham, Director of Performance for Men's Basketball at Stony Brook University, joins the show to discuss his transition into a new role after spending the past seven years at Liberty University and four years in the private sector at APEC. We dive into what attracted Will to Stony Brook, the first steps he's taking to build relationships and establish his program, and the lessons he's carrying with him from both the private and collegiate sectors. We also discuss his weekly programming structure, the skills that translated most from the private sector to college athletics, and his perspective on efficient versus effective movement. 🔗Check out more from Will 👇 Instagram: @coachgraham_ @train_pursuit  This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:57 Journey into Coaching and Sports 05:07 Transitioning from Private to College Coaching 10:01 Skills Developed in the Private Sector 16:06 Building Relationships and Team Dynamics 19:08 The Decision to Move to Stony Brook 23:05 Preparing for a New Role at Stony Brook 26:58 Program Structure and Training Philosophy 28:29 Training Methodology and Positioning in Basketball 31:11 Adapting Training for Individual Needs 33:19 Integrating Holistic Approaches in Coaching 37:20 Proactive Problem Solving in Coaching 39:40 Understanding Second and Third Order Consequences 45:16 Balancing Efficiency and Effectiveness in Movement 49:51 Reflections on Coaching Journey and Development

EP 60: Justin Ochoa | Connecting the Weight Room to the Court

Justin Ochoa, Owner and Director of Performance at Gem Sessions Training, joins the show to break down his approach to basketball development and the integration of both skill and performance training. We dive deep into Justin's athlete profiling system, how he manages leading both skill and performance development, and the value that comes from owning both areas. Justin also explains how he's adapted Tony Villani's Game Speed System to his basketball setting and the impact it’s made.  Justin breaks down his 3-2-1 system for looking at force plate metrics, the insights he's gained when comparing force plate asymmetries to 5-0-5 change of direction asymmetries, and the athlete archetypes he uses to guide programming and development decisions. 🔗Check out more from Justin 👇 Instagram: @justinochoa317 Justin Ochoa — Bio Sites [https://bio.site/justinochoa317?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnk61FTKmVMRN3VcLT16_tJ01kmS2snU6xA1ULzfJkfWL1fBw8xkGvr6vS844_aem_2HK68SD-kVrCrmVrN3efCA]  This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:31 Force Plate  3-2-1 System 10:10 Force Plate and 5-0-5 Asymmetries 18:35 Individualized Approaches to Athlete Training 22:05 Creating Athlete Archetypes 26:24 Integrating Skill and Physical Profiling 30:38 Adapting Game Speed Systems for Basketball 35:34 Blending Basketball Skills with Movement Control 39:15 Integrating Sprinting and Change of Direction Training 52:30 Monitoring Performance and Adjusting Training 58:23 Balancing Skill and Strength Training 01:06:37 Building and Filtering Career Opportunities

EP 59: Sam Patterson | Building a Championship Program in Year One

Sam Patterson, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, joins the show after a great first season that included an American Southwest Conference Championship and a trip to the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. After spending eight years at Oral Roberts, Coach Pat shares what it was like stepping into his first head coaching role and the lessons he learned throughout the transition. We dive into his first priorities as a new head coach, how he approached building relationships with players, and the process of establishing the culture and standards he wanted for the program. He also breaks down the core values he recruits to, the differences between developing athletes at the Division I and Division III levels, and why giving players ownership of their own development is critical to long-term success, especially at the DIII level. We also talk about his deeper purpose as a coach, why he doesn’t place his identity in wins and losses, and how he intentionally integrates his family into his coaching career. 🔗Check out more from Coach Patterson👇 Instagram: @coach_patterson This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:00 Building Initial Relationships with Players 05:49 Establishing Core Values and Standards 09:07 Recruiting for Selflessness and Team Chemistry 11:55 Navigating the Challenges of Division III Coaching 20:55 Balancing Structure and Personal Ownership in Development 36:33 Setting Standards and Accountability 39:41 Managing Time and Efficiency in Practice 42:34 Individual Development vs. Team Focus 44:41 Empowering Players Through Ownership 51:27 Navigating Leadership Decisions 01:00:07 Finding Identity Beyond Wins and Losses 01:04:04 Integrating Family into Coaching Life

EP 58: Matt Aldred | Winning Championships Without Losing What Matters Most

Matt Aldred, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men's Basketball at the University of Michigan, joins the show after helping lead the Wolverines to a national championship. But this conversation goes far beyond training, performance, or basketball. In this episode, Matt reflects on the impact his daughter has had on his life and career, how becoming a father has shaped his perspective, and the intentional constraints he uses to maximize his focus and time. We also dive into the values he tries to live by, the process of discovering what type of coach he wanted to become, and how the lens he uses to evaluate career opportunities has evolved over time. While we do discuss what made Michigan's championship team so special, the heart of this conversation is about purpose, priorities, and building a life and career that align with what matters most. 🔗Check out more from Matt👇 Instagram: @sc_aldred This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches. Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success. 👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here]. [https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Numbers-Insight-Long-Term-Coaching/dp/B0DPNCVG4H] Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:04 Navigating Social Media and Digital Constraints 05:53 Work-Life Integration and Family Dynamics 08:59 Balancing Coaching and Fatherhood 12:03 Setting Expectations and Communication in Family 15:04 The Role of Empathy in Coaching 18:03 Learning from Other Coaches' Family Dynamics 26:15 Celebrating Wins with Family 27:17 Defining Personal Values and Principles 28:57 The Role of Mentorship in Coaching 30:06 Authenticity in Coaching 32:47 Building Trust and Relationships with Athletes 36:26 Navigating Career Choices and Opportunities 39:24 The Importance of Work Environment and Culture 42:33 Living by Values and Accountability 45:20 Hiring and Mentoring Assistants 47:53 Finding Balance and Rejuvenation 51:10 Integrating New Players into a Team 54:35 Creating a Winning Team Culture