Episode 16: Holistic Coaching & Athlete Development with George Greene

In this episode of Rapid Fire, Host Justin Ochoa connects with George Greene — Director of High Performance at UMass Football — for a deep dive into holistic athlete management at the college level.

George shares how he’s building trust with a brand-new roster, how data helps shape practice and training, and why being a good human is performance coaching.

You’ll hear about:

• Managing staff, sport coaches, and athletes through one connected vision.
• Using force plates, NordBord, and Catapult data to drive decisions.
• Creating buy-in with college athletes.
• Supporting young coaches and interns with confidence and opportunity.
• Turning the dining hall into a secret weapon for performance.

A powerful episode for any coach looking to lead people, not just programs.

Key Quotes

On player buy-in: “If they don’t believe in you, they’ll never believe in the program.”On sports science tools: “The data is only as good as what you’re willing to act on.”On managing teams: “We’re not strength staff vs. sport coach — we’re one team, chasing one goal.”On young coaches: “Give them the floor. Give them reps. Then step back and watch them grow.”On culture change: “You don’t flip a culture overnight — you cook it slow and stay consistent.”Time-Stamps00:00–03:00 — Intro and George’s background03:00–06:30 — Managing staff and building alignment between departments06:30–11:00 — Using Hawkin Dynamics, NordBord, and Catapult for better decisions11:00–17:30 — Creating buy-in with new athletes and building trust first17:30–23:30 — George’s holistic performance model: sleep, food, training, recovery23:30–28:00 — Teaching young coaches how to lead with confidence and context28:00–32:00 — Training culture at UMass and building long-term adaptations32:00–35:00 — UMass Dining: an underappreciated performance edge35:00–End — Final thoughts, leadership advice, and where to connect with GeorgeConnect with George GreeneInstagram/Twitter: @greenestrength Email: ggreen@umass.edu