The Strength Game

Nick O'Brien
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The Strength Game is a weekly podcast dedicated to discussing all things physical culture with the coaches, athletes, iron enthusiasts, and experts deeply imbedded in the strength game on both sides of the profession; as coaches and as competitive athletes. Hosted by Nick O’Brien, each episode we discuss, rant and dive deep into all things related to strength and conditioning, high performance and training lifestyle. Join us in The Strength Game!

  1. #164 - Tanner Kolb

    1d ago

    #164 - Tanner Kolb

    Tanner Kolb is the Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning for Olympics Sports at West Virginia University. Kolb joined the Mountaineer athletic staff in 2012 and was promoted to his current position in 2017, where he handles the strength and conditioning responsibilities for the rifle, men’s soccer and wrestling programs. Prior to WVU, Kolb was an assistant coach at East Carolina University for one year where he designed and implemented programs for baseball, volleyball and tennis, as well as assisting with football. Prior to his tenure at ECU, Kolb spent three years as the head strength coach and adjunct professor at Waynesburg University. There he designed and implemented programs for all varsity sports in addition to teaching four classes. Kolb spent three years as a fitness specialist at the Stillwater Medical Center and Total Health in Oklahoma teaching Olympic lifting techniques, instructing group exercise classes, supervising and judging the weightlifting portion of the Pioneer Senior Olympics. Kolb began his career in 2003 as a volunteer coach at Oklahoma State, where he assisted primarily with football, wrestling, softball and the equestrian programs. Additionally, he spent two stints as a prep strength and conditioning coach first at Perry High in Oklahoma during the summer of 2004 as well as both at Petoskey High and Charlevoix High in Michigan from 2006-2008. While there he contributed time at Northern Michigan Sports Medicine while lecturing and directing powerlifting and strongman competitions.  Coach Kolb is a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association earning the highest honor in the profession in 2021. His work has been published in numerous industry-associated publications, including The Sport Journal, Journal of Applied Ergonomics and Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.  A former college wrestler at Messiah College, Kolb has competed both single and multiply geared powerlifting. He is still active himself in the weight room in addition to getting outside the weight room to enjoy rock climbing and white water kayaking in his free time. Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 38m
  2. #163 - Matt Gebert

    Jun 16

    #163 - Matt Gebert

    Matt Gebert is an Assistant Football Strength & Conditioning Coach at the University of Mississippi. Gebert joined the Ole Miss staff in 2026 after serving a similar position for football at Auburn University for the 2025 season. Prior to that he was an assistant director for football strength & conditioning at the University of Arizona from 2024-2025. Before Arizona Gebert logged stints at Indiana University (2023), Stanford (2020-2022), Florida International (2017-2020) and Purdue (2015-2017). Additionally, he garnered experience as an intern coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 2014 season, at Columbia University in summer of 2013 and Rutgers University in spring of 2013. Gebert was also a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach on the staff at Minnesota University from 2013-2014. In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Gebert is currently completing his PhD in Sport Science from Liberty University.  A former college football player at Western Connecticut State University from 2009-2013, Gebert is an avid lifter and still very active himself in the weight room.   Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 18m
  3. #162 - Kenny O'Mary

    Jun 2

    #162 - Kenny O'Mary

    Kenny O’Mary is the Assistant AD – Director of Sports Performance at Sacramento State. Prior to relocating to the west coast, O’Mary served in a similar role as the associate athletics director/director of student athlete high performance at William & Mary since 2021. Before joining the Tribe, he was the director of strength & conditioning at Howard University for three and a half years. O’Mary primarily worked with the football, volleyball, track & field, and women’s soccer programs in addition to overseeing the 19 Bison varsity programs. O’Mary began his career at his alma mater, Eastern Kentucky University, as an intern coach from 2009-2010 before being promoted to graduate assistant, from 2010-2012 and eventually full-time assistant from 2012-2013. Additionally, O’Mary garnished experience as an intern coach at Louisville in 2011 between his roles at EKU and later joined the staff at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he worked from 2013-2017.  O’Mary is active himself in the weight room and continues trains while balancing the rigors of the collegiate coaching schedule. He is an avid lifter and enjoys golfing and hanging out with his dog, Coach, when he is not training in the weight room.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 22m
  4. #161 - Joe Connolly

    May 19

    #161 - Joe Connolly

    Joe Connolly is the Head Sports Performance Coach for Football at Arizona State University. Connolly arrived in Tempe in 2018 after serving as the director of sports performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for two years primarily working with the football program. Prior to UMass, he was the director of strength and conditioning at the University of South Carolina. Connolly oversaw the training for the football and track and field programs at South Carolina for seven season from 2009-2015. Connolly got his start coaching in 2007 at Harvard University where he assisted with all 41 athletic teams. Following a year with Harvard, he spent one year as an athletic performance coach for football at the University of Louisville before joining the Gamecocks for his longest stop.  Connolly is a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association earning the highest honor in the profession in 2022. He was awarded Football Scoop Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2024 and was a nominee in 2026 for the NSCA’s Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year. Over his career, Coach Connolly has worked with over 45 NFL Draft picks including the 2014 number one overall pick, and has been a part of 11 bowl games. A former four-year baseball at the University of Hartford, Connolly has shifted gears from his college playing days but has still found way to stay active himself both in and outside the weight room. Connolly is an avid lifter with dedicated time under the bar. Since his time on the diamond, he’s stepped on the platform competing in both drug-free powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting as well as strongman and Highland Games.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 43m
  5. #160 - Melissa Mercado

    May 5

    #160 - Melissa Mercado

    Melissa Mercado is the Tactical Manager and Practice Planner General Manager at TeamBuildr. Mercado joined TeamBuildr in 2024 first as a tactical manager before taking on additional responsibilities as the practice planner general manager in 2025. Prior to her current position, Mercado was a strength and conditioning coach at the School of Infantry-East for the Marine Combat Instructor Course and Headquarters and Support Battalion in Camp Lejeune, NC. She was in this role from 2022-2024 and spent the early part of 2022 as a strength coach at Wounded Warrior Battalion-East. Mercado began her coaching career as an intern coach at her alma mater, Radford University. She served in that role from 2017-2018 while also gaining additional experience as an intern at Virginia Commonwealth University in summer of 2018 and Clemson University the fall of 2018. From there she transitioned into the tactical field as a Fitness Specialist at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where she played a key role in the Force Fitness Instructor Course, developing the curriculum and instructing future FFI’s and FFIT’s.  Outside of work, Mercado enjoys sunrise runs, discovering new coffee shops, lifting heavy things, walking her dog Wyatt, and cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Clemson Tigers.  Support the show

    1h 9m
  6. #159 - Mike Axler

    Apr 21

    #159 - Mike Axler

    Mike Axler is an Exercise Science professor and researcher with extensive experience in endurance sport, strength training and applied physiology. Earning his PhD in applied physiology from the University of Delaware in 2023, Axler currently teaches classes on the subject of anatomy & physiology and human nutrition as an assistant professor of exercise science at Jacksonville University. Arriving at JU in 2023, he spent 2019-2023 as a graduate research and teaching assistant at the University of Delaware while earning his doctorate. He also garnered coaching experience as a seasonal strength coach with the UDel football program in summer 2022. Prior to that, Axler spent time as a certified personal trainer at Retro Fitness in Winter Garden, FL from 2018-2019 and graduate assistant at the University of Central Florida from 2017-2018. Axler got his start in the exercise science field as a physical therapy aide and online trainer at Breakthru Physical Therapy in Mt. Laurel, NJ from 2016-2018.  Beyond the classroom, Axler is also an executive performance strategist and founder of Axler Concierge Coaching. Through his online coaching business, he combines evidence-based strategies with a concierge-level client experience, programming and consulting for a wide range of clients from youth athletes and older adults to professional athletes, busy entrepreneurs, and high-performing executives. Additionally, he is also the host of the Simple Science podcast, where he leads long-form conversations on the intersection of science, performance and human health with a wide range of guests in the health and fitness space.  Axler is no stranger to training in addition to his many research, teaching and coaching responsibilities. He is very active himself in the weight room and outside of it, competing in multiple endurance based events. To date he has competed in and successfully completed over 60 marathons and ultramarathons over the course of his racing career with the long-term goal of competing in a race in every state across the USA.  Support the show

    1h 23m
  7. #158 - Tim Caron

    Apr 7

    #158 - Tim Caron

    Tim Caron is the Co-Founder and Head Coach of Allegiate Gym. Caron helped start Allegiate Gym with two of his former football players and co-founders in 2017. Since the opening in Los Angeles, they have seen the gym expand to three total locations. Prior to his work in the private sector, he spent the majority of his career in collegiate strength and conditioning. His last stop was Army West Point where he served as the head football strength coach for the Black Knights for three seasons. While at the United States Military Academy, Caron helped spearhead Army to an explosive victory over Navy in 2016 – their first win in the historic series in 15 years. Prior to Army he spent three years as the associate strength coach at USC working with the Trojans football team in addition to overseeing the swim & dive team. Caron began his full-time coaching career at Springfield College, where he worked with multiple programs including the football, men’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, women’s volleyball and women’s sprint & jump programs. He then joined the Georgia Tech staff as an associate strength coach for football in addition to overseeing the women’s basketball team for three years before joining USC. Caron also bolsters experience as an intern coach first at Velocity Sports Performance and later with Harvard University, Georgia Tech and the University of Mississippi before securing a role at Springfield College.  In addition to his coaching experience, Coach Caron is heavily involved in the S&C field as an author, consultant, mentor, and speaker. He is has written numerous blog posts in addition to being the author of multiple books including Strength Deficit, How to Become a Strength Coach, and Training Sports Teams. Caron is a coaching consultant and mentor to many coaches offering both in-person and online consulting and mentorship programs in a wide range of topics for the Strength TC Collective including muscle mentorship, private mentorship, staff workshop, staff audit, and remote consult. He has spoken at various strength and conditioning conferences and been featured on many podcast in addition to being the host of his own, the Performance Health (pH) Podcast. Caron is a true strength advocate and enthusiast who has been an avid lifter with dedicated time under the bar. He still continues to train hard while coaching and running his business and gyms.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1 hr
  8. #157 - Colton Krueger

    Mar 24

    #157 - Colton Krueger

    Colton Krueger is a Sports Performance Coach at William & Mary. Joining Tribe athletics in 2024, Krueger oversees training for the baseball, men’s and women’s soccer teams in addition to assist with football. Prior to W&M he was a graduate assistant sports performance coach at Youngstown State from 2022-2023 where he worked with the football, track & field, and men’s tennis programs. He started his coaching career as an intern at Marquette in 2020 before earning additional sports performance coaching experience at the University of Oregon with the football team in 2021 and the University of Wisconsin in 2022.  A former college player at Hillsdale College continues to stay active himself in the weight room. He continues to train and compete, now in Olympic weightlifting where he has had success competing at U25 Nationals securing a podium finish in 2025 and earning a qualifying total for the American Open Finals. He is an avid lifter and enjoys skiing, golfing, traveling, and watching sports when he is not training in the weight room.  Samson EquipmentSamson Equipment provides Professional Weight Room Solutions for all your S&C needs.Cerberus StrengthUse Code: STRENGTH_GAME at Cerberus-Strength.comSport KiltUse Code: TSG at SportKilt.comDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show

    1h 29m
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

The Strength Game is a weekly podcast dedicated to discussing all things physical culture with the coaches, athletes, iron enthusiasts, and experts deeply imbedded in the strength game on both sides of the profession; as coaches and as competitive athletes. Hosted by Nick O’Brien, each episode we discuss, rant and dive deep into all things related to strength and conditioning, high performance and training lifestyle. Join us in The Strength Game!

Information

  • Creator
    Nick O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    165
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Strength Game
  • Show Website
    The Strength Game

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