NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, Episode 33: Steve Rassel

Steve Rassel, Associate Athletic Director and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Webber International University, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how to develop staff and interns to help them be successful coaches, and about work-life balance.

Stephen Rassel, CSCS,*D, RSCC has served at Webber International University since 2009, and is currently the Associate Athletic Director and Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. Prior to that, Rassel’s career began with the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball (MLB) team, followed by a stint with the Chicago Cubs MLB team. Rassel has spoken several times for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) on creating and developing a strength and conditioning department, and was named a finalist for the 2017 NSCA College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award. Rassel also serves on the NSCA College Coaches Special Interest Group (SIG) Executive Committee.

Find Steve on Twitter: @StephenRassel | Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield

Show Notes

“We have to have two main boxes checked off for us before we dive too deep into what they can offer, specialization-wise, even at the intern level: it’s culture and it’s growth gauge.” 5:34 

“Everyone talks about culture, but you just have to keep in mind that you want to hire for culture and train for skill and that’s where the mentorship comes into play. You have to have a system that can equip them with what they need if they can bring the intangibles to the table.” 5:45 

“One thing we have to make sure we keep in the forefront of our mind as coaches is that we have to take ownership right where we’re at and keep fighting, scrapping, and scratching to find ways to keep pushing and getting where we’re at." 8:17 

“If you could see what hurdles we had to go through to get where we’re at, that the short-term sacrifices for the long-term gain strategies that we’ve had to implement, and the hats I’ve had to wear to get to what we’re doing.” 9:51 

“Challenge yourself and reach out and connect because that brainstorming approach and us starting to link up and work together, even though we are at different places and different situations, it starts to get you in a different place mentally and these little strategies here and there can help build that momentum.” 10:27 

“You look at the things in front of you and attack those as much as you can.” 13:31 

“You have to maximize being great at what you currently have on your plate.” 14:30 

“What if the reason I am seeing this problem is because I am the one equipped to try to get it done?” 15:00 

“I challenge people to have multiple checks and balances systems when it comes to feedback.” 36:30