Built Strong Online Coaching

The Coaching Journal Podcast #347: Inside Collegiate S&C: Profiling, Programming, and People w/ Cole Hergott

In this episode, we sit down with Cole Hergott, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach to break down what long-term athlete development really looks like inside a collegiate performance environment.

Cole walks us through his journey from student intern to leading large-scale university programs, sharing how his early experiences shaped the way he develops athletes from freshman year through to graduation. We dive deep into how he profiles athletes, identifies true limiting factors (technical vs physical vs movement-based), and balances long-term development with the constant pressure of competition schedules.

With responsibility for hundreds of athletes across multiple sports, Cole also opens up about managing large groups in limited space, handling conflicting demands from sport coaches and academics, and building systems that keep training consistent year-to-year.

The conversation finishes with leadership, mentorship, and culture — from developing interns and young coaches, to creating a strength room environment that athletes buy into, even during injury or performance setbacks.

Listen on Spotify or link in Bio 📲