Summary

In this episode of the Central Virginia Sport Performance Podcast, Temple’s Ben Steenrod to discuss the transition from Olympic sports to basketball. We discuss Ben’s journey from working in Olympic sports to basketball. The conversation highlights the importance of versatility, relationship-building, and continuous learning. Ben shares insights on how his diverse coaching experience informs his approach, the significance of small actions in building team culture, and the use of technology in training. The episode concludes with reflections on the challenges and rewards of coaching in today’s environment.

Key Topics

• Ben’s diverse coaching journey across Virginia Tech, Villanova, St. Joe’s, and Temple
• The importance of helping various sports and roles to expand opportunities
• Navigating the transition from Olympic strength training to basketball-specific conditioning
• Practical strategies for onboarding transfer players and building team culture
• Balancing existing coaching principles with personal adaptation
• Using metrics such as force plate data to guide training decisions
• Emphasizing relationship-building to foster athlete buy-in and effort
• The value of old-school training methods like box squats in basketball
• Adjusting injury prevention exercises to individual needs
• The significance of communication, transparency, and trust in coaching

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction and Ben’s background in strength and conditioning
02:24 – Influences of mentors at Virginia Tech, Dr. Gentry, and Brian Bingaman
04:08 – Transition into basketball and the importance of flexibility in roles
05:35 – How Ben approached entering the Temple basketball program
07:31 – The process of integrating new training principles with existing routines
08:55 – Managing player buy-in during mid-season changes
10:24 – Cultivating team culture and shared standards
12:21 – Learning about players’ past training experiences with transfer portal dynamics
14:02 – Onboarding strategies before players arrive on campus
15:26 – Instilling work ethic and building relationships with basketball players
16:25 – Using performance metrics to motivate and inform training
17:35 – Decision trees and data-driven adjustments in training program
18:43 – Balancing explosive movements, injury prevention, and individual needs
22:48 – The value of old-school training methods like box squats and leg presses
29:28 – Reflection on college teams from 2014, including standout players and memories
31:05 – Who Ben wants to see next on the podcast, Bing’s story and influence