Navigating Trainer Dynamics in Athlete Development

Today’s guests are Cameron Josse and Joel Reinhardt. Cameron Josse is an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Detroit Lions. He’s previously led training at DeFranco’s and worked in college football at Auburn and Indiana, training athletes across the NFL, NHL, UFC, and WWE. Joel Reinhardt is the Director of Football Performance at Lafayette College. He’s coached at San José State, Stanford, UMass, and Nicholls State. Both Cameron and Joel are field leaders in applied performance, data-driven programming, and athletic movement for physical preparation in American Football. Details in athletic preparation change from the level of high school to college to professional. On today’s episode, Cameron and Joel speak on the nature of contact and collision preparation in their athlete populations, with a specific emphasis on the use of the ground and rolling patterns. They discuss the specific game demands of football, especially on the college and pro level, and how to prepare athletes for 25,000+ weekly yards of total on-field movement. They break down their approaches to speed, direction change, and capacity building work, with these ideas in mind. This was a show with lots of wisdom on helping players fully meet the needs of their sport. Today’s episode is brought to you by Hammer Strength and LILA Exogen wearable resistance. Use the code "justfly25" for 25% off any Lila Exogen wearable resistance training, including the popular Exogen Calf Sleeves. For this offer, head to Lilateam.com View more podcast episodes at the podcast homepage. (https://www.just-fly-sports.com/podcast-home/) Timestamps 1:57 – In-Season Program Differences: NFL vs. College Strength Cycles 4:48 – Navigating Player Relationships with Private Trainers 15:57 – Adapting Contact Prep and Agility for Different Levels 32:38 – Tempo Running as a Foundation for Training Camp Readiness 37:44 – Total Yardage and Conditioning Strategy in Football Preparation 50:16 – Designing Multi-Directional Conditioning Sessions That Mimic Football 58:28 – Integrating Multi-Directional Movements in Conditioning for Athleticism 1:03:46 – Reframing Speed Development Within Annual Training Cycles 1:10:04 – Shifting Focus: From Pure Speed to Building Complete Players Quotes "Some of the better athletes on the team are not necessarily the fastest, but they are the ones who seem to control their bodies the best." - Cameron Josse "The ground is undefeated." - Cameron Josse "It's not about making the strongest guy, the fastest guy, any of that. It's about helping foster the best player you can." - Cameron Josse "If I have a wide receiver who adds half a mile an hour to his top speed over six months, sweet—that's a significant difference in a comeback route if he can push the guy off or have an extra half yard." - Joel Reinhardt "If a player is telling me that there's someone that makes them feel their best, I personally feel as though I would want to get in touch with that person just to learn about what they're doing." - Cameron Josse "Sometimes it's interesting to be like, oh, I wouldn't even think to do that because I'm doing it with 30 guys at one time." - Joel Reinhardt "If you're not working backwards from the game, I just don't know what you're doing." - Cameron Josse "When people say, 'How much should I run? How much should I sprint?' I always say it's based on whatever team you work with in the team setting." - Cameron Josse "If I have a team that is able to maturely execute good extensive tempo, it just opens up more avenues from an overall training perspective." - Joel Reinhardt "You're not just thinking about speed, power, strength, somebody that's isolated by motor abilities or qualities. You're thinking systemically, how am I creating the best integrated system of a player that I can?" - Cameron Josse "Recognizing the time of year and educating the guys around like, 'Hey, we had 26,000 total yards this week and you hit 94% of your all-time best speed—you don't need to be disappointed by that.'" - Joel Reinhardt "I always think it's funny when people try to decelerate on the balls of their feet like the same foot strike you'd have in acceleration. It's literally the opposite of accelerating—you need whole foot pressure." - Cameron Josse About Cameron Josse Cameron Josse is currently serving as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach with the Detroit Lions. Cameron brings a wealth of experience shaped across collegiate and professional domains. Following a successful seven-year tenure in the private sector as Director of Sports Performance at DeFranco’s Training Systems (2014–2020), he transitioned into collegiate football, first with Auburn and then Indiana University, where he shaped high-level training programs for athletes in the NFL, NHL, UFC, and WWE. His portfolio showcases expertise in sport‑specific speed development, neural training, and integrated performance planning, skills he continues to leverage on the Lions sideline. A PhD candidate and specialist in athletic performance, Cameron’s methodology bridges scientific rigor and field-tested application. At Indiana, he spent three seasons refining football performance systems before his NFL appointment . Known for his insights on sprint mechanics and speed training, he regularly shares expertise through clinics and masterclasses. With the Detroit Lions, he works alongside a dynamic strength and conditioning staff—led by Mike Clark—bringing a modern, data-driven approach to athlete development and recovery. About Joel Reinhardt Joel Reinhardt is the Director of Football Performance at Lafayette College. Joel brings a wealth of experience in strength and conditioning, having coached at programs like San José State, Stanford, UMass, and Nicholls State. At San José State, he served as both Assistant Football Athletic Performance Coach and Sports Science Coordinator, where he led injury return-to-play efforts and helped shape comprehensive training plans. During his time at Stanford, he worked with some of the best collegiate athletes in the country, developing performance systems that translated all the way to the NFL—including for players like Rams kicker Josh Karty and Eagles quarterback Tanner McKee. Joel’s coaching journey started after his playing days as a wide receiver and team captain at St. Olaf College, followed by a graduate assistantship at Springfield College, where he earned his master’s in strength and conditioning. He’s a coach who blends data-driven training with hands-on coaching, emphasizing injury resilience, individual development, and long-term performance. Joel is originally from Eagan, Minnesota, and now lives in Pennsylvania with his wife Lauren, their young son Lincoln, and their dog Boo. His background, from small-school football to cutting-edge performance science, makes for a unique and practical perspective on what it means to truly develop athletes.