Mentors, Culture, and Philosophy with Doug Davidson

May 20, 2024

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What does it take to build a sports performance department out of bare-bones? Our guest this week is Coach Doug Davidson. Doug is the Associate Director of Sports Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights, being with the organization since the team’s inaugural season in 2017-2018. We will explore the foundational work + early years of slowly building up a sports performance department, starting from the ground level. You’ll get a closer look at the organization’s decision making process for technology, integration, and beyond, all from a sports performance lens. We also discuss Doug’s background and mentors, what his time in the AHL taught him + how it affected his tenure in the NHL, and his cooperative approach to communication with his veteran athletes. Join in as we break down everything from the VGK performance culture to the practice versus post-game mindset and more!

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Major lessons from time in the American Hockey League, and how that information transitioned to the National Hockey League.
The important elements of successful communication, cooperation, and decision-making.
The early days of building a sports performance department for a new expansion team.

HIGHLIGHTS

00:00 Welcome to the podcast, Doug Davidson, the Associate Director of Sports Performance and Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Vegas Golden Knights!

01:45 What are your current responsibilities with the Vegas Golden Knights?

04:35 How did the experiences with your mentors shape you as a coach?

09:50 Major lessons from the American League + transitions into the National League.

15:40 The important elements of successful communication between athletes & coaches.

18:50 What are the foundations of building a sports performance department from ground level?

23:35 Check out the High Performance Hockey Masterclass!

24:55 How were additional hires integrated in the early years?

27:15 Breaking down the VGK performance model and culture.

30:40 How do your relationships bleed into decision making?

32:40 The three keys behind choosing technology.

36:35 How do you approach practice days versus post-games?

39:35 Balancing coaching and cooperation with veteran players.