Coach Mike Crissinger is currently the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Perry High School in Lake County, Ohio. Before starting at Perry High School in 2014, Mike was a partner with Speed Strength Systems from 2012-2014 and owner of Apex Sports Training (2006-2012) where he was the strength coach for West Geauga and Riverside High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Bowling Green State University in 2003 and his Master of Sports Science from the United States Sports Academy in 2007. Mike is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS*D) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).  Coach Crissinger was also recognized as the NHSSCA Ohio State High School Strength Coach of the Year for 2019.

“I am humbled to be selected as Ohio’s State Director for the NHSSCA. I am eager to utilize my experiences and passion to connect with coaches across the state to provide support, share information, and collaborate on behalf of the student-athletes that we have the opportunity to work with. It is my goal to increase access to resources and information to coaches throughout the state and increase awareness of the benefits of having comprehensive strength and conditioning programs at the high school level.”

1. How long have you been coaching?  

This is my 16th year as a strength coach.

2. What is your educational and employment background? Education: 

• The University of Akron, Akron, Ohio.

-Masters of Science Sports Science and Coaching, 2005

• Walsh University, Canton, Ohio.

-Bachelor of Science Physical Education, 2004   

Employment:

• Archbishop Hoban High School (February 2014 - Present)

-Director of Strength and Conditioning  

• Pittsburgh Pirates (November 2011 – December 2013)

-Strength and Conditioning Coordinator

• Los Angeles Dodgers (December 2008 – October 2011)

-Strength and Conditioning Coordinator

• Cleveland Indians (January 2006 – November 2008)

-Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach

• The University of Akron (August 2004- December 2005)

-Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

3. What certifications do you have?

• • Certifications: NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S.)
  • Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (R.S.C.C.)

4. What training methods do you implement in your programs or what is your coaching philosophy? Over the years, my program has been molded from many different methods but I would say the Tier System is most represented in our programming. 

5. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started? How important relationships are in this field.  Relationships with your athletes, strength staff, sport coaches, admin or high ups, parents and even other strength coaches are all crucial.  I didn't spend enough time getting to know people when I was younger.  

6. Do you have anything new or unique to your program that you would be willing to share? (Motivation techniques,  assessments, training programs,  technology,  surveys,  communication methods,  fundraising,  etc).  Motivation techniques: I guess is something I can speak to.  Our Hoban Strength Staff hands out an S.O.S. award (Picture attached) to seniors that have done everything the right way over their 4 years.  These are the kids that every coach loves having.  Everything from being an extremely hard worker to being a leader to everyone (especially younger classmen).  This award is very hard to get and our students sincerely want to achieve one.  We started this in January of 2018 and we only have 14 recipients because this award is for the rarest of dudes or dudets!

1. How long have you been coaching? This is currently my 25th year in the field of strength and conditioning.

2. What is your educational and employment background?

• Undergrad @ University of Cincinnati
• Grad school @ Xavier University

3. Could you share your professional background?

• 1995-1996: Summit Country Day - Volunteer Strength
• 1996-1998: St. Xavier High School - Strength and Conditioning Coach
• 1997-1998: University of Cincinnati - Volunteer Assistant / Internship
• 1998-2000: University of Notre Dame - Internship / Strength and Conditioning Assistant
• 2000-2002: Cleveland Indians - Latin American Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
• 2005-2013: St. Xavier High School - Director of Strength and Conditioning
• 2002-2005: Cincinnati Reds - Head Strength and Conditioning Coordinator
• 2013-2017: Pittsburgh Pirates - Sports Performance Coordinator
• 2017-2018: Motus Global - VP of Product Development
• 2018-Present: University School - Director of Strength and Conditioning                             

• National Strength and Conditioning Association: CSCS
• United States Weightlifting Association: USA Weightlifting Level 1
• United States Weightlifting Association: USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Level 1
• International Sports Science Association: Specialist in Sports Conditioning

6. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started? Our job is about building relationships. Honesty sets the foundation. Trust drives progress.

1. How long have you been coaching?  

2. What is your educational and employment background?

I have a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Leisure Studies from Ohio State University and a Master of Science in Allied Health with a focus in Exercise and Health Science from Otterbein University. I began my own personal and team training business in 2014, then became the head strength coach at Grove City Christian School in 2015, and became employed by the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in 2017. I still work for Ohio State but have recently moved schools and now work at Columbus Academy.

3. What certifications do you have?

I have my CSCS.

4. What training methods do you implement in your programs or what is your coaching philosophy? 

I believe it is very important to, first and foremost, connect with my athletes and get to know them as people. They are the reason I have a job and the reason why it's fun! This also paves the way for everything else I want to do. I believe in movement first, and how I progress my athletes' training reflects that.

5. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started? 

I am thankful for the support and friendship of my coworkers at Ohio State that I did not have for the first 3-4 years that I coached

6. Do you have anything new or unique to your program that you would be willing to share? 

I (along with my coworkers at Ohio State) ensure my athletes sprint every day (shoutout to Mike Boyle) and work on landing mechanics every day using athletic position snap-downs and their progressions. 

Pete Collopy, MS, CSCS
pcollopy@mcnhs.org
Twitter: @CollopyPete
 
1. How long have you been coaching?
This is my 7^th year in coaching. I began volunteering at two high schools in Northern Kentucky while an undergrad, interned at a few colleges, then worked as a Graduate Assistant at the collegiate level for a few years before coming to Wellington.
 
2. What is your educational and employment background?
I have my Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Northern Kentucky University and a Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Eastern Kentucky University. During my time at EKU, I worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Sports Science Lab and interned in the weight room. After EKU, I interned at Xavier University. I’m in my third year as Sports Performance Coach at Wellington and my first year as an Assistant Athletic Director where I mainly work with Middle School. I also teach an Intro to S&C class and a Sports Performance class for our high school students.
 
3. What certifications do you have?
CSCS
 
4. What training methods do you implement in your programs or what it's your coaching philosophy?
 
I keep an open mind when it comes to utilizing different training methods. The main priority is mastering fundamental movement patterns and then developing an individualized plan that fits the needs and goals of each athlete. The more training methods I can familiarize myself with, the more exercises (tools) I have available to drive specific adaptations. 1x20 has been a very effective method for our students with little to no experience in the weight room. I also use a lot of Dan John’s Easy Strength principles along with the Conjugate Method. Dan John is a great reminder for me to keep programming simple and focused on effort and intensity.
 
The Covid-19 lockdown and safety protocols really changed the way I program and how our training operates on a regular basis. We still train in the weight room with small groups, but the majority of our in-season team training is now done outside or in very large open spaces with students maintaining a distance so I’ve had to get creative, using less equipment while staying focused on programming what’s optimal for our athletes. In a lot of ways, the lockdown has made me much better at my job. I use Sign Up Genius to control group sizes; Teambuildr has helped me stay organized and allows to me to progress our students in their training efficiently. We’ve been forced to get away from manual resistance training, which was a large part of what we used beforehand. The track coach at my school and Charlie Francis Training Systems have made me much better at understanding and coaching plyometrics and speed.
 
Coaching is the platform I was blessed with to make a positive impact in my community. It all starts with relationships. I need to get to know the person behind the athlete in order to be as effective as I can be. I’m focused on helping our students understand the “why” behind everything that they do. The standards of our program are the most important aspect that drives our culture. Winning is a byproduct of our standards and our relationships.
 
5. What is one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you first started?
 
In my first year at Wellington, I greatly missed being on an S&C staff surrounded by other like-minded individuals. I finally realized all I had to do is reach out to other HS S&C Coaches in the state for help to improve my program. A lot of the coaches I reached out to I had never previously met and they gave me their time and attention. It just goes to show how special of a network we have in the S&C community. I also began searching for feedback from the sport coaches at my school and it’s helped me gain a better outside perspective and understanding of specific details about certain sports I have less experience with.
6. Do you have anything new or unique to your program that you would be willing to share? (Motivation techniques,  assessments, training programs,  technology,  surveys,  communication methods,  fundraising,  etc).