The Hawkin Podcast 〡Hawkin Dynamics N39: Tracy Zimmer - Building a Career You Are Proud Of
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Feb 8, 2023 In this engaging conversation, Tracy Zimmer, an Olympic Sports Coordinator and strength coach at the University of Florida, shares her journey from athlete to coach. She highlights the exciting challenges of coaching various sports and the importance of earning athlete buy-in while maintaining structure. Tracy emphasizes the need for clear communication with coaches and the benefits of teaching foundational lifts to enhance performance. Her insights on balancing career growth with stress management are both practical and inspiring.
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From Player To Division I Strength Coach
- Tracy described her path from Temple lacrosse player to strength coach, including internships and moving from part-time to full-time roles.
- She recounted being let go from Penn and later interning with the Atlanta Falcons before joining Florida.
Varied Sports Improve Coaching Skills
- Working across many low‑profile sports forced Tracy to think creatively and explain why training matters.
- That exposure improved her coaching because she had to justify and maximize limited training time.
Let Competent Athletes Choose Exercises
- Give experienced athletes controlled autonomy to choose exercises once they've shown competence.
- Use smaller group sessions and assistants to deliver individualized coaching while preserving autonomy.