Horizons Fall 2014

39 HORIZONS gave Lelii a routine that involved low weights, often lifting just the bar. Soon, she was doing cross-fit workouts with Cameron Clark, assistant strength and conditioning coach, who has a master’s degree in education with a specialization in athletic administration. “I don’t think I could have found a better place than NSU with its awesome staff,” said Lelii, who is working on her bachelor’s degree in psychology and exercise and sports science. It’s indicative of the NSU staff’s impact that Lelii is considering becoming a collegiate strength and condition- ing coach once she graduates. “Most people coming back from surgery might have been worried,” Lelii said of the soccer season. “But because of the people who worked with me and the fact there was never any negativity, I was 100 percent confident.” If any NSU student-athlete were to lose confidence or just want to sharpen mental abilities, they would be directed to Stephen A. Russo, Ph.D., director of NSU’s Sports Psychol- ogy Department, part of the Center for Psychological Studies. “I’ve been working in sports for 16 years, and my job is no different than that of a strength and conditioning coach’s,” Russo said. “You work on your skills and get stronger, physically and mentally. We teach our student-athletes skills in visualiza- tion, goal-setting, and ways to avoid anxiety and remain focused and under control.” Zevon Stubblefield, M.S., assist- ant athletic director of sports medicine, works closely with Dustin Gatens, M.S., head athletic trainer/research and development, and athletic trainer Rudy Rodri- guez, M.S., as well as athletic train- ers Amy Gatens, Jason Palmateer, Brianna DiAntonio, Kim Schilling, Katie Fulk, and Ricky Braun. They all work to make sure Sharks ath- letes are being proactive to injuries instead of reactive. “Early detection and early intervention are crucial,” Stubblefield said. “We have several means of trying to identify athletes who are at risk, and this could start as early as their recruiting visit. Through years of sports science, we have learned that there are many preventable injuries, and coaches and players have become very receptive to this type of information.” Orris agrees, adding that he has noticed an increased amount of “buy in” from NSU’s head coaches. “Traditionally, baseball and basketball coaches have seen the benefit of what we do,” Orris said. “But, more recently, golf, tennis, soccer, and other coaches are buying into the program. They see that we can come up with a sport-specific program to help their athletes improve. We emphasize hard work rather than lifting heavy weights. The goal is to maximize their potential.” Years ago, Orris said, the strength coach was typically a massive man and a former college or pro football player. That’s changing, said Orris, who was on the University of Florida’s strength and conditioning staff for eight years. He also cred- its the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for a new rule implemented last year in which all strength coaches have to be certified, passing a difficult, three-hour test. “Fifteen years ago, you could get a job by just being a former player,” Orris said. “I had to prove myself as more of a scientist.” n Soccer player Sierra Lelii and basketball senior guard Brian Cahill both credit NSU’s strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers with helping them rebound from injury.