Training Science Podcast From EXOS to Irish Rugby: The Art and Science of Better Coaching With Dr Nick Winkelman and Dr Martin Buchheit
Oct 23, 2026
Dr Nick Winkelman, Irish Rugby’s athletic performance and science leader and former EXOS education director, explores what makes coaching truly effective. He discusses scaling coach education, building connected performance systems across Ireland’s provinces, integrating GPS and shared standards, and designing purposeful warm-ups. The conversation also dives into external cues, analogies, athlete-centered language, and why communication must adapt to the individual.
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Nick Winkelman Walked Into Exos Unannounced
- Nick Winkelman cold-called Athletes Performance in 2006, arrived unannounced with a portfolio, and became its education leader by age 21.
- The mentorship model later expanded from Phoenix week-long courses to programs delivered across nearly 24 countries.
Online Courses Cannot Replace Physical Coaching
- Online education transfers facts and theory efficiently, but coaching physical interaction requires embodied practice and live feedback.
- Nick Winkelman argues that convenience and self-pacing cannot fully replace role-playing the experience of coaching and being coached.
Build Warmups Around People And Sessions
- Build preparation around individual needs and session demands rather than repeating generic warm-up drills.
- Progress from massage, stretching, and activation through integrated movement, rapid response, and session-specific build-ups.
