Today I am so excited to announce our first presenter for The 2020 Edition of The Seminar, Elon University’s Director of Strength and Conditioning Nick DiMarco. Nick is known as one of the most forward thinking coaches in all of college football, and one who will bring a unique view on training to Richmond, Virginia this coming July 17 and 18. I hope you’re as excited to have Nick on the docket as I am, but enough from me, let’s meet our first presenter, Nick DiMarco…
JD: If you could, please give our readers a little background information about you, what your niche in the world of athletics is, accomplishments, how you got there, education, any products you have available and/or notable publications.
ND: My name is Nick DiMarco. I am a proud husband & father to Breann and Olivia DiMarco. Since March of 2018 I have been the Director of Sports Performance at Elon University. Prior to my work at Elon, I was an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the University of Iowa Football from January of 2015 until March of 2018. I had previously interned at the University of Iowa in the summer of 2013 and was hired back when I completed my football career. My educational background includes a bachelors in strength and conditioning from William Penn University (IA), a masters in Exercise Science from California University of Pennsylvania, and a PhD from Concordia University Chicago (May of 2020 Completion). I am currently working on my first publication examining agility training for sport, which will be available in 2020.
JD: Discuss with us the mistakes you see made by strength and conditioning coaches in the United States and around the world, and what you feel should be done differently/how to correct these issues.
ND: The issues I see in the world of performance go far beyond exercises, sets, and reps. The biggest issues I see are the huge ego coaches who make it about them and the military mentality that so many coaches embody. As Jim Radcliffe said, the performance staff should be backstage not onstage. The hype coaches with WWE personas set our entire field back tremendously, because this is the perception we get from the outside world. Behaving like a professional is never a bad decision. As for a solution to the second problem I addressed, self-discipline will always trump obedience. Allowing athletes to enjoy the training process and helping them build foundational habits is a better strategy than leading through fear and intimidation. You provide a service to the athletes; the athletes do not serve you.
JD: What advice would you give a coach to improve knowledge in the lines of continuing education, meaning could you point our readers in a direction to find the scientific and practical information to improve the methods they use to improve performance?
ND: Talk to great professionals inside and outside of the coaching world, read books inside and outside of sports performance, read research, join the strength coach network, take an Altis course, and test anything you think may be valuable on yourself first.
JD: If you could give a brief description of what our attendees can expect from you at The Seminar?
ND: How to optimize on field/court performance through an agility-based approach.
JD: Nick, excited to have you aboard, any closing thoughts?
ND: I am thankful to Jay for the opportunity to speak at CVASPS. The seminar is a one of a kind learning experience.
Who is Nick DiMarco?
Nick DiMarco was named Director of Strength & Conditioning in February 2018.
Prior to coming to Elon, DiMarco spent three years with the Iowa Hawkeyes as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the football program. The Hawkeyes made bowl game appearances in every season during DiMarco’s tenure, including a Rose Bowl appearance in 2016. He rejoined the Hawkeyes after spend the 2013 season with the program as a intern.
DiMarco rejoined the Iowa program after playing in the NFL as an outside linebacker in 2014. He spent time with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens.
DiMarco previously was an intern with the strength and conditioning program at William Penn University, where he was a member of the football team. DiMarco also designed and implemented all phases of strength and conditioning for the track and field throwers and jumpers, along with the women’s basketball team, and assisted with training of all sports.
DiMarco is Strength and Conditioning Coach Certified (SCCC) through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), CPR/AED and PES Certified.
DiMarco earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education and strength and conditioning from William Penn in and a Master of Science in exercise science, performance enhancement and injury prevention, from California University of Pennsylvania. He is currently pursuing his PhD in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University-Chicago.
From Elon University’s Athletics Web Page.
Grab your seat for this summers MUST ATTEND continuing education event here!
