NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, Episode 8: Ron McKeefery

Ron McKeefery, Vice President of Performance and Education for PLAE, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how he got started with the Iron Game Chalk Talk, his involvement with the NSCA, the value in attending and putting on events, the future of the profession, decision paralysis, and creating culture in the weight room.

Ron McKeefery, MA, CSCS,*D is the Vice President of Performance and Education for PLAE and has been working as a strength and conditioning coach at the professional and collegiate level for over 20 years. McKeefery was named the Collegiate Strength Coach of the Year in 2008 and 2016, and has had the privilege of working with over 80 players that have gone on to play in the National Football League (NFL). In addition to a successful coaching career, McKeefery is also the best-selling author of “CEO Strength Coach.”

Find Ron on Twitter: @rmckeefery | Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield

Show Notes

“I’ve gotten so much more out of it than I could ever give to anybody.” 3:19

“I went to [my first] conference and literally talked to one person.” 5:40

“There’s a big difference between Coach Mac and Ron McKeefery. They’re two totally different people.” 6:03

“You don’t have the time to build really meaningful relationships in your own life, you’re so focused on your athletes’ lives.” 8:16

“Going to conferences and events and participating is a way to surround yourself with like-minded people.” 8:35

“Fortunately we have lots of different people who are doing some great things, that are putting on events, that you should be able to get to something.” 12:20

“I think the biggest challenge in our profession is making it so strength coaches retire being strength coaches.” 13:21

“We need to find ways to grow our profession.” 15:01

“We should be focused on getting a strength coach in every high school.” 16:19

“We need to be creating a degree in strength and conditioning specifically.” 17:07

“I want to be called ‘Coach.’ That’s something that really resonates with me.” 21:27

“The biggest thing that strength coaches can bring to sports medicine is that accountability—they have the ability to hold the athlete more accountable.” 28:03

“We have complex problems so we try to provide complex solutions... the challenge is to think of the simplest way to correct a problem.” 32:19

“Your athletes are never going to love the weight room as much as you do. You just have to provide the framework for an accountable program and make sure you enforce that consistently.” 35:30

“If we can coach coaches, I don’t think there’s any higher calling than that.” 37:44

“As a leader, you need to have a giving heart.” 38:21

The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings on Authenticity, Connection and Courage, by Brene Brown. https://www.amazon.com/Power-Vulnerability-Teachings-Authenticity-Connection/dp/1604078588. 47:45