Special Episode | Investing in What’s in Front of You

Sporting nine national championship rings, Coach Andrea Hudy stands as a titan in strength and conditioning. She joins co-hosts NSCA Coaching and Sport Science Program Manager Eric McMahon and Gatorade Team Sports Manager Jon Jost to reflect on her journey, including pursuing her PhD and the impact of lifelong learning. Together, they discuss the changing collegiate landscape, now resembling a professional environment with holistic, interdisciplinary collaboration. Hudy explains how early specialization may expedite later-career injuries, inspiring her to investigate gait mechanics. Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies also mean a “bigger pot” for athletes, extending collaboration to agents and scheduling. They theorize collegiate athletes may face more stressors than professional athletes due to their academic schedule, training, and promotional travel — making time management and investing in longevity essential. Hudy describes her philosophy of education, motivation, and communication, built upon a foundation of honesty and healthy relationships. The trio examine the evolving strength coach skill set, including sport science elements, before offering advice for aspiring professionals.

Reach out to Coach Hudy by email at andrea.hudy@uconn.edu or via social media on Instagram: @a_hudy, X/Twitter: @A_Hudy, or LinkedIn: @andrea-hudy.

Connect with Jon Jost at: jonathan.jost@pepsico.com. Follow up with Eric on Instagram: @ericmcmahoncscs or LinkedIn: @ericmcmahoncscs.

This special episode is brought to you in part by Gatorade Performance Partner. Learn more and join their community at GatoradePerformancePartner.com.

Don’t miss your chance to get involved as an NSCA Volunteer. Applications for most positions close soon on December 15. Find your role and apply now at NSCA.com/Volunteer.

Show Notes

“I have a biomedical engineer on my dissertation committee. I have an ACL specialist on my dissertation committee. I have a tendon specialist on my committee.  It's looking at the problems or solving issues that we have that have always been existent, I think, in sports — both men and women's sports. But to bring that group together, and myself as a sports performance person, and just take all these ideas and collaborate to find out what is the best practice for our athletes, I think, was super important.” 5:00

“I think you have to teach them that relationships are important. And it's not a one-way street. Relationships are a two-way street.” 13:25

“I think a better human makes a better basketball player and being present, being with them, having energy investing in what's in front of me, not what happened in the past, or what happens tomorrow, but what's happening right now and being very present for them.” 17:35

“So you're standing on the edge. And you're welcome to come in here, but just know that these are going to be 12-, 14-hour days. You're going to learn a lot, but you have to invest a lot in it.” 21:35