John Coleman: Building Powerlifters, Balancing Roles, and Evolving High School Strength

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In this episode, Steven sits down with John Coleman, the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Powerlifting Coach, and Algebra teacher at Pollok Central High School in Lufkin, Texas. John shares his unconventional journey into coaching—starting from being fired from a summer camp job to becoming a respected leader in both the classroom and the weight room.

They dive deep into training high school powerlifters, exploring how John blends 531 programming, max-effort and dynamic sessions, and recovery management to keep athletes strong and healthy throughout the season. The conversation expands into balancing public school and private coaching, developing baseball and softball speed, and adapting powerlifting principles for athletic performance.

John and Steven also reflect on the realities of coaching teenagers, from teaching proper technique to managing parental expectations, NIL pressures, and evolving high school strength culture. The episode wraps with insights into mentorship, competition prep, and stories from influential coaches across Texas’ strength community—including Monty Sparkman, Seth Ford, and Donnie Thompson.

Whether you’re a coach, teacher, or athlete, this episode offers valuable takeaways on building strong athletes and stronger relationships through intelligent training and genuine mentorship.

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