NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, Episode 19: Boyd Epley

Boyd Epley, founder of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and one of the most decorated strength coaches of all time, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how the NSCA was founded, how Coach Epley talked Nebraska into letting him weight train all football athletes (most of whom never lifted before), and growing the profession for female strength and conditioning coaches.

Boyd Epley, MEd, CSCS,*D, RSCC*E, FNSCA, is the one of the most decorated strength coaches in history and is the recipient of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) Lifetime Achievement Award. Lindy’s National College Football magazine named him one of College Football’s Top 100 Most Important People of the Century after his training program helped produce five National Championships and 356 wins in 35 years of University of Nebraska Football. He is the founder of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and continues to be an advocate for strength coaches.

Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield

Show Notes

“There was no way I could ever have imagined the growth of the NSCA.” 1:12

“I don’t think anyone could have seen the growth.” 1:27

“It used to be about strength coaches but changing the name opened the door for researchers and anyone else who has an interest.” 5:05

“We coined the term strength coach.” 5:26

“Ultimately, that’s what we do—we improve performance.” 6:40

“My career [as an athlete] ended and they asked if I would help other injured athletes in the weight room… So I did that and it caught on.” 7:55 

“I would get paid two dollars per hour, two hours per day, three days per week but instead of taking it for what it was, two hours a day, I came in and worked full days and I took it serious and it caught on like wildfire.” 8:16

“The second year they went 6 – 4 it was alarming and there were rumors the head coach would be replaced.” 9:08

“Then he [Tom Osbourne] says, ‘Boyd thinks we should have the whole football team all lift weights.’” 11:39

“He [Bob Devaney, University of Nebraska Head Football Coach] said, ‘We’re going to give this a try because Tom thinks it’s important, but if anybody gets slower you’re fired.’” 11:59

“Nebraska went from a 6 – 4 season to 9 – 2 season (after our first year lifting) and then the next year, National Championship, and then again the next year we won the National Championship.” 14:32

“We were doing periodization back in the early 70s before it was formally called that.” 15:27

“The way athletic programs work today are even tougher schedules than when I started as a strength coach.” 19:45

“I don’t agree that athletes should be training early in the morning. They need to sleep.” 20:52

“The award that means the most to me is the NSCA’s Lifetime Achievement award.” 22:56

“The great ones adjust.” 25:44

“We have 14 Registered Strength and Conditioning Coaches at Nebraska.” 29:45