HOME

ABOUT

FREE EBOOK

STORE

RESOURCES

CASE STUDIES

MY OTHER BLOG

CONTACT

The 65 Most Influential Strength Coaches

of All Time
September 16, 2012 by Chris McCombs 35 Comments

TweetShare on diggShare on linkedinShare on reddit

Across the United States and around the world there are
thousands of strength and conditioning coaches working hard to train clients that range
in ability and dedication from junior level and amateur competitors to Olympic-caliber
and professional athletes to die-hard powerlifters and everyday citizens.
With countless different methods and schools of thought about the best and most
effective conditioning programs, the influences of each coach is wide-ranging and
individual.
With that in mind, it is very difficult to compile a short list of the top strength coaches in
the world. However, this is a list of the some of the most influential strength and
conditioning coaches of all-time, listed in no particular order. A few of these guys might
not technically be strength coaches, but they definitely belonged on here.

I think the list actually contains 67, but 65 just made for a better hook

Louie Simmons
Louie Simmons is the owner of Westside Barbell which has turned out many of the
strongest powerlifters in the world. An experienced and championship-caliber
weightlifter himself, Simmons has been ranked nationally even at over 50 years of age.
Through personal experience and a myriad of training programs, he has produced
many champion lifters and over 100 training articles. Simmons created the Reverse
Hyper machine for strength conditioning, and he
serves as a consultant for several NFL and college football
teams.

Glenn Pendlay
After learning the basics of Olympic weightlifting, Pendlay studied exercise physiology
in both his undergraduate and Masters degree programs, focusing his attention
specifically on endocrinology and the bodys reactions to stress. His research has
allowed him to work with weightlifters, cyclists, skiers, and track and field athletes.
Pendlay created Wichita Falls Weightlifting, and he is the current head coach for the
California Strength team, where he
trains American team members and weightlifting record holders.

Bill Starr
A former Olympic weightlifting competitor, Starr became the assistant editor of Strength
and Health magazine in 1966 before changing careers to become one of the first strength
and conditioning coaches in the NFL for the former Baltimore Colts and the Houston
Oilers.A published author of both fiction and nonfiction, including his book The
Strongest Shall Survive, Starr currently works as a writer for both MILO and Iron Man
magazines.

Jason Ferruggia
AKA The Renegade Strength Coach, Jason has trained more than 700 professional
athletes around the country, Ferruggia teaches naturally skinny people to gain weight
and build muscle quickly and impressively. As the chief training advisor for Mens
Fitness magazine, Ferruggia has written more than 500 articles in his monthly column
and various other magazines, and he has presented seminars nationwide about his wellresearched and cutting-edge training techniques that create muscle through short trips
to the gym. Jasons blog is currenty the most popular strength training blog in the world

Leo Totten
Currently serving as the Olympic Weightlifting coach, Totten is also employed as the
president of Werksan Barbells. He has been the head coach of the East Coast Gold
Weightlifting Team since he established it in 1992.Prior to these credentials, he spent 33
years teaching and coaching at the high school level, and he continues to run satellite
training centers out of his local high school to coach and motivate lifters from afar.

James Smith
As a world-renowned coach and member of the LIVESTRONG.com Fitness Advisory
Board, Smith dedicates himself to encouraging each level of his athletes to work beyond
their potential. He serves as a consultant and lecturer at nationwide seminars, and he
has been a featured writer for several health magazines, all while producing best-selling
fitness and power-building DVDs. Smith owns and operates Diesel Strength and
Conditioning, where he trains professional
MMA fighters with innovative techniques.

Joe DeFranco
DeFranco established his program and training gym designed only for athletes at a New
Jersey location in 2003. Since then, his warehouse-type centers are training athletes have
worked to improve athletic performance at the high school, college, and professionallevels. DeFrancos tough strength training program was featured in the documentary
Strong, and his center was recently voted as one of the top 10 gyms in the country by
Mens Health magazine.

Dave Tate
As the founder and CEO of Elite Fitness Systems, which trains athletes and other
coaches, Tate has participated as a top weightlifter himself for nearly 25 years.
Additionally, he is a top personal trainer who has worked as a writer for magazines such
as Powerlifting USA and Mens Health. Presented by the Society for Weight Training
Specialists, Tate won a Lifetime Achievement award in 2005 for his hard work
and entrepreneurial spirit.

Charles Staley
Staley is a former martial arts competitor and trainer who has coached the Olympic
weightlifting team and many elite athletes from a variety of sports, including boxing,
football, and bodybuilding. Having published more than 100 articles, he also lectures
frequently about human performance and training for sports. Staleys website is
consistently considered in the top 50 health and fitness websites worldwide, and he is
consulted often for his training program.

Mike Boyle
Beginning more than 25 years ago, Boyles career training football players at Boston
University led to his world renowned work in sports performance training. He has been
featured on HBOs RealSports and on ESPN for his training book, Functional Training
for Sports, as well as his DVDs about strength training, conditioning, and weight loss.
Working with professional athletes across New England, Boyle was signed to the Boston
Red Sox strength training staff in 2012.

Alwyn Cosgrove
As a lecturer, writer, and owner of two-time top gym nominee Results Fitness in
California, Cosgrove specializes in athletic performance enhancement developed
through scientific study. His training philosophy focuses on real-world people with
busy schedules. He has written many training manuals and produced several
educational DVDs in addition to his column for Mens Health Magazine and his recently
published book The New Rules of Lifting for Women.

Mark Verstegen
The founder and president of Athletes Performance, a facility created to help athletes
achieve their top goals, Verstegen cultivated his successful programs at Georgia Tech the
opening of his gym in 1999. He serves as a consultant for high performance companies
such as adidas and Gatorade, and Verstegen is often interviewed as part of his job as the
Director of Performance with the NFL Players Association. His Core Performance
system of training and line of books
has brown Verstegen international fame.

Mike Woicik
Woicik honed his strength conditioning program at Syracuse University in the 1980s.
Joining the coaching staff of the NFL Dallas Cowboys in 1990, Woicik is credited for
bringing conditioning and more wins to the team, earning him the title of the NFLs
Strength Training Coach of the Year in 1992. After a two-year stint with the New
Orleans Saints, Woicik trained the New England Patriots for 11 years before returning to
the Cowboys. He holds the record of most Super Bowl rings
for a coach, earning a combined six with the Cowboys and
Patriots.

Mike Clark
A recipient of the National Strength Coach of the Year award in 1993 for his work at
several universities, Clark became the head conditioning coach of the Texas A&M
athletic program. After serving collegiately for 25 years, he is the current coach for the
Kansas City Chiefs NFL team after previously holding a similar position with the
Seattle Seahawks from 2004-2009. In his brief work with the Chiefs, Clarks team has
already reached the Super Bowl.

Zach Evan-Esh
With his Underground Strength Methods, Evan-Esh works the core strength of his
trainees. Based on his own trial and error with sand bags and weight benches, he has
cultivated a conditioning method similar to those considered outdated by many fitness
experts. Evan-Eshs so-called underground style of training uses basic materials found
outside and at junk sales without relying on new technology.

Elliott Hulse
As a certified strength and conditioning specialist as well as a nationally ranked
competitive strongman, Hulse runs a Strength Camp fitness program that has been
demonstrated on FOX Sports as well as ranked the best fitness service in Tampa Bay.
Hulse also qualifies as a holistic lifestyle coach who coauthored the Lean Hybrid Muscle
Program, one of the most popular muscle building programs that combines aerobics
training, dieting, and weightlifting.

Eric Cressey
Owner of Cressey Performance facilities in Massachusetts, Cressey trains athletes of all
levels, from youth to Olympic-caliber performers. He has published more than 200
articles and has spoken at seminars around the world. A competitive powerlifter
himself, Cressey has co-produced several DVDs, including Magnificent Mobility and
Building the Efficient Athlete. He specializes in working with injured athletes, although
he also trains healthy competitors.

Pavel Tsatsouline
As a former drill instructor and conditioning trainer with the Soviet special forces,
Tsatsouline specializes in sculpting the muscles for flexibility and toning through
martial arts fitness training. He has been a major supporter in establishing the Russian
kettlebell as a superior fitness and strengthening device. Tsatsouline is now a civilian
consultant with the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marshals, and SWAT teams, and he has
published numerous articles on stretching and flexibility.

Kelly Starrett
After opening one of the first CrossFit affiliates in San Francisco in 2005, Starretts
facility has become home to many Olympians, world champions, and everyday
exercisers. He works with his athletes in a positive, welcoming environment to motivate
his trainees to perform at a higher level. A former canoe and kayak champion himself,
Starrett also serves as the conditioning coach for several competitive rowing athletes.

Martin Rooney
Featured on programs on networks such as ESPN, Spike TV, and Fox Sports Net, Rooney
is the creator of the Training for Warriors system and a consultant for Nike running
speed testing camps for collegiate athletes. Recently Rooney has also been the leader of
the Parisi Speed School, now a national franchise under his tutelage. He has trained 127
athletes successfully drafted following the NFL Combine.

Jim Wendler
Wendler, a former football player at the University of Arizona, has transitioned into
strength and conditioning coaching at the University of Kentucky. Soon he was hired by
Elite Fitness Systems, where he competes in powerlifting and continues to coach
trainees in strength and conditioning. Wendler is the author and creater of The Simplest
and Most Effective Training Method for Raw Strength.

Brooks Kubik
A weightlifting competitor and trainer for over 40 years, Kubik is the creator of the
Dinosaur Training program of books and DVDs, as well as the author of hundreds of
articles published in Milo, Ironman, and Muscle and Fitness among others. Based in
Kentucky, Kubik has released two novels about the Iron Game, as well as his follow up
manual to Dinosaur Training, a special strength training program for older lifters.

Jon Hinds
An accomplished motivational speaker, Hinds has been training for over 30 years
around the world focused on healing and strengthening the body. As the owner and
founder of the Monkey Bar Gym franchise, Hinds program integrates full-body
training, Yoga, and a plant-based diet to better both the body and the world. He also
serves as the vice president of LifelineUSA, which invents and distributes fitness
products.

Mike Mahler
Based in Las Vegas, Mahler focuses his training on using the kettlebell and a vegan diet
to produce strong, well-conditioned athletes. His Aggressive Strength training is
especially popular with mixed martial arts fighters who appreciate his seminars, classic
techniques, and modern routines for strength conditioning. Mahlers program requires
focus and internal intensity channeled on the workout in order to make progress.

Joe Dowdell
A frequent trainer of celebrities, musicians, fashion models, and professional athletes,
Dowdell is the founder and co-owner of Peak Performance in New York. This gym was
voted the third best in the country by Mens Health magazine. Additionally, Dowdell
has contributed to several books, including his personal fitness manual, Ultimate You,
as well as national publication such as Fitness magazine, where he serves on the
advisory board.

Phil Richards
As one of the leading strength, conditioning, and nutrition experts, Richards trains
boxers and rugby teams for championships. He studied under several renowned fitness
leaders, and he has over 25 years of career experience to build his own company, Phil
Richards Performance. In addition to being Europes first Westside Barbell certified
strength coach, in 2009 Richards began developing his own line of nutritional products
to enhance athletes training.

Dan John
With experience as a former high school coach and as a current writer for Mens Health,
John publishes his own monthly newsletter called Get Up. He is a former competitor
and current record holder in discus and weightlifting competitions. Now mostly retired,
John has found renewed energy in training himself and others through the simple
motions of picking up, lifting, and carrying everyday objects.

Vince Gironda
As an early athlete and physique contest participant in the mid-1900s, Gironda opened
his first Californian gym in 1948. One of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, his book
called Unleashing the Wild Physique is considered a classic. Gironda favored the classic
shape of wide shoulders tapering to a small waist and hips, and he favored a training
program that promoted doing more work in less time. His diet and exercise regimen
trained Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, among others. Vinces Gym
remained open until
Girondas passing in 1997.

Joel Jamieson
A master at strength and conditioning for combat sports, Jamieson has trained some of
the biggest names in MMA. Originally a trainer for Division I collegiate athletes and
professional football players, Jamieson is also the creator of 8weeksout.com and the
author of Ultimate MMA Conditioning, published in 2009 as the authority on MMA
training.

Buddy Morris
Morris is an avid bodybuilder who still competes in the over 40 division. Formerly the
wellness director who coordinated a hospital sports medicine program, he has
repeatedly returned to the Pittsburgh Panthers weight room after stints with the
University of Buffalo and the Cleveland Browns. Morris weight room was named one
of the top 10 toughest gyms in the country by Muscle and Fitness magazine, and his
flexibility and conditioning program was featured in Sporting News
in 2009.

Mike Barwis
Based on his philosophy of fast-twitching muscles and flexibility used in clean-and-jerk,
yoga, and track stretching, Barwis has brought his program of channeling the bodys
energy to the West Virginia University, to the University of Michigan, and more recently
to the New York Mets as a consultant. He attempts to train with love and respect for
each of his athletes. In addition to his collegiate training, Barwis has also trained several
All-American strength and
conditioning athletes and Olympic participants.

Kevin Ebel
Having served as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator for the nations womens
hockey team, Ebel has experience working with accomplished athletes. Specifically
working with winter athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid from
1999-2004, Ebel helped lead the American team to a record number of medals at the
2002 Olympics. His program is based on a combination effort in controlling the athletes
diets, weights, and fitness levels.

Jim Radcliffe
The designer and implementer of the Oregon Ducks strength and conditioning
program for athletes, Radcliffe has been combining exercises to improve speed and
quickness at the university for 27 years. Radcliffes year-round programs involve long
and short term goals to improve speed and endurance. He has also written books and
articles in several professional magazines, and he has produced a number of
plyometrics videos.

Tudor Bompa
With more than 40 years of training athletes around the world, Bompa is one of the
premier specialists in periodization, workout planning, and peaking, all based on
varying training exercises to reduce stress on the body. His book Theory and
Methodology of Training and his online training system have allowed him to work with
Olympic and world athletes. Currently Bompa is a full-time professor in Ontario.

Yuri Verkhoshansky
Most known for inventing the plyometric training program, also known as Shock
Method, Verkhoshansky began his career as a coach in Moscow in the 1950s. Through
research and published papers and dissertations, he created his fitness regimen and led
various Soviet committees and training programs in the 1980s and 90s. Verkhoshansky
has served on the Olympic Committee of Italy since 1995.

Ivan Abadjiev
As a hugely successful and influential coach of Olympic weightlifters, Abadjiev created
a famous Bulgarian training method based on high intensity Olympic weightlifting with
more weight and fewer repetitions. A decorated weightlifter himself, he coached the
national Bulgarian team from 1969-1989 and again from 1997-2000, working with the
Turkish national team in between. Abadjiev is largely retired now, although his methods
are still used by many professionals.

Robert Dos Remedios

After working with high school and community college athletes, Dos Remedios
accepted a position as the first full-time strength and conditioning coach in California at
College of the Canyons. His success can be measured by the football teams
championships and by the 8 players who went to the NFL after not even earning college
scholarships to play. Dos Remedios remains at the college, where he was named the
NSCA Collegiate Professional of the Year, a distinction
awarded by his peers.

Vladimir Issurin
Issurins research focuses on high-performance training and coaching, and he has
published his findings in numerous journals and in 10 books. As a lecturer and Olympic
committee member, he has worked especially with water sports and swimmers. Now
living in Israel, Issurin works as a lecturer at the Wingate College and coaching school.

Anthony Clark
Known as the first teenager to bench press 600 pounds, Clarks unusual reverse grip
also made him the first lifter to bench press 700 with that stance on the bar. He began
referring to himself as the Worlds Strongest Man, touring a demonstration of his
strength in the mid 1990s. He broke his own record with an 800-pound bench press in
1997. A former steroid user, Clark gave motivational speeches to children and prison
inmates before his 2005 heart attack and death.

Paul Chek
A holistic practitioner and founder of the C.H.E.K. Institute, Chek consults with
numerous sporting organizations and professional teams and athletes. CHEK coaches
and trainers combine multiple biomechanical workouts to create new fitness and
lifestyle programs. Chek works with rehabilitation patients dealing with mild to
complex orthopedic conditions, as well as professional athletes.

Charles Poliquin
Recognized as a top strength coach of professional and Olympic athletes, Poliquin
founded Poliquin Performance in 2001. His philosophy based on nutrition and
supplements in addition to strength training led to the creations of the Poliquin
International Certification Program and BioSignature Practitioner program, both of
which have been featured in numerous worldwide magazines. Poliquins gym and
strength institute in Rhode Island was completed in 2009, and
he recently opened a European distribution company for his
supplemental products.

Vladimir Zatsiorsky
As a trainer of hundreds of Russian athletes over 26 years and a recent professor at Penn
State University, Zatsiorsky stands as one of the foremost sport scientists in the world.
He is also the author of almost 400 academic papers and 15 books, including his human
kinetics tome Science and Practice of Strength Training which focuses on coordination,
heavy weights, and repetition exercises to increase strength.

Mel Siff
Siff lectured to students in South Africa about biomechanics, communication, and
engineering, but his work in strength conditioning spread to athletes and exercisers
worldwide. His books Supertraining and Facts and Fallacies of Fitness are recognized as
some of the most important and respected works about conditioning. Siff served as a
leader at conferences and sports councils before his sudden death in 2003.

Michael Yessis
Dr. Yessis, a professor at and president of Sports Training, Inc., has been a consultant to
the U.S. mens volleyball team, the Los Angeles Raiders, and several Olympic teams. His
three-step fitness regimen, known as the Yessis System, is designed to improve running
speed through explosive strength, a term coined by him. Having written 16 books and
more than 2,000 articles on sports technique, Yessis is often referred to as a legendary
biomechanist.

Mark Bell
Owner of Team Super Training Gym, voted one of the best gyms in America by Mens
Health, Bell is a powerlifter and former professional wrestler who spends hours a day in
his gym helping his team of powerlifters. Bell patented the Sling Shot supportive upper
body bench training accessory that helps to reduce stress on the upper body during
heavy lifts, and is the Editor of Power Magazine.

Al Vermeil
With the distinction of being the only strength and conditioning coach to have worked
in the NFL, NBA, and MLA, Vermeil was inducted into the Strength Coaches Hall of
Fame in June 2003. He owns and operates Vermeil Sports and Fitness, Inc., where clients
are treated individually to receive an evaluation, conditioning, and strength training.
This philosophy has brought Vermeil many celebrity clients, and he is frequently invited
to speak at clinics and training camps.

Cal Dietz
As a staff member at the University of Findlay (Ohio) and the University of Maryland,
Dietz has had the opportunity to train many Big Ten athletes, NCAA champions, and
Olympic participants. Additionally, he has traveled the country lecturing and
publishing scientific articles about training, as well as a co-authorship on a bestselling
book about speed and explosive strength performance titled Triphasic Training. Dietz
continues his work in Minnesota and on the Big Ten committee
to develop a policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Charlie Weingroff
Weingroff served for 12 years with the Philadelphia 76ers as the head strength and
conditioning coach on a staff ranked first in the NBA with the fewest players missing
games. Weingroff prefers to follow evidence-based training, relying on testing
equipment to screen the bodies of his athletes and rehabbing patients at Drive495 in
Manhattan and at Fit for Life in New Jersey.

Brett Jones
A Master RKC and member of the FMS Advisory Board, Jones travels the country
speaking working on behalf of Functional Movement Systems and Dragon Door. His
exercise programs focus on using the grip and bodyweight of the athlete in order gain
lean and functioning muscle. His work with RKC and kettlebells is available for viewing
at his Applied Strength website.

Todd Wright
Entering his 14th season with the University of Texas mens basketball team, Wrights
strength and conditioning program boasts 13 straight years of making it into the NCAA
Tournament. Individually, his athletes have excelled, 16 being drafted into the NBA and
several others being ranked nationally. Prior to his work at Texas, Wright brought a
program of strength and agility to Clemson that he also detailed in the book Basketball
for Dummies.

Charlie Francis
Perhaps best known for his book Speed Trap, detailing the rampancy of performanceenhancing drugs, or for his work as coach of sprinter Ben Johnson, Charlie Francis was
an Olympic sprinter himself. Although his explicitly described training techniques are
typically overshadowed by his work in against drugs, Francis was one of the best sprint
coaches of all time before his tragic death in 2010.

Mike Robertson
President and founder of Robertson Training Systems, Robertson has been in the fitness
industry for 12 years, serving as a conditioning coach at Ball State University, working
with rehabilitation patients, and personal training adults in the 40s and 50s. Since then,
he has become a co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training, which was
named one of the top 10 gyms by Mens Health.

Anatoliy Bondarchuk
Despite his personal success as a Soviet hammer thrower, Bondarchuk is better known
as a coach and trainer of Olympic hammer throwing athletes. His book, Transfer of
Training was translated to English while he was creating and leading the USSR National
Team program from 1976-1992. Bondarchuks work with imitative approaches and
technique form the basis of many current fitness practices.

Bill Hartman
Co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training, Hartman has been training and
coaching in Indianapolis for 17 years. With his license in physical therapy, Hartman
works with clients facing joint rehabilitation and spinal disorders. However, he also
coaches weightlifters, clients with weight loss goals, and athletes of all levels and
abilities. Hartman is a published author, and he has created a bestselling DVD, Your
Golf Fitness Coachs Video Library.

Mark Rippetoe
Focusing on the technical aspects of barbell lifting and basic weight training, Rippetoes
first books advocate a program of slowly adding weight to gain strength. Rippetoe also
suggests that underweight lifters drink a gallon of whole milk each day to aid strength
gains from the lifting. His strength training books and DVDs have sold well, as has
Rippetoes Basic Barbell Certification course that he has now expanded to the Starting
Strength Seminar.

Vern Gambetta
Author of the seminar series Building and Rebuilding the Athlete, aimed at physical
therapists, personal trainers, and conditioning coaches, Gambetta has also taught at the
National Coaching Institute in Canada. He has served as a consultant with many
professional sports teams, including the Chicago Bulls and the New York Mets, and he
works on product development with Nike, Converse, and Dupont. Gambetta is
considered the originator of functional sports
training.

Christian Thibaudeau
Working with athletes ranging in skill from juniors to international professionals,
Thibaudeau himself has competed in Olympic weightlifting and bodybuilding. His
Black Book of Training Secrets outlines his personal theory of strength and power, and
his DVD, Cluster Training, provides specific examples for training quickly. He trains
athletes both in person and via email, incorporating ideas from many different fitness
programs.

Todd Durkin
As founder and owner of Fitness Quest 10, a gym for conditioning and bodywork,
Durkin is a personal trainer, speed and strength coach, and motivational speaker. He
was named Personal Trainer of the Year in 2004 and 2005, and Mens Journal declared
him to be one of the top 100 trainers in the country. Durkin has created 27 DVDs about
conditioning, massage, and personal growth.

Steve Maxwell
The first American to earn a black belt in Jiu Jitsu, Maxwell taught the first kettlebell
classes in the country and helped influence many of the movements and concepts in the
RKC curriculum. He has worked with many government agencies, including the Secret
Service and FBI, and he has served as a trainer for professional baseball players.
Maxwells gift is in connecting with his clients, and he was named one of the top
trainers by Mens Health magazine.

Kevin Larrabee
After studying at Cressey Performance, Larrabee created The FitCast in April 2006. This
podcast airs weekly, bringing fitness and nutrition experts together for the benefit of
nationwide listeners. With over 5,500 listeners to some of the biggest names in the
fitness industry, Larrabees podcast is one of the most listened to podcasts in its
category. Additionally, Larrabee works at Mike Boyles Strength and Conditioning
center.

Bob Hoffman
Nicknamed the Father of World Weightlifting, Hoffman wrote tirelessly about the
benefits of exercise for the general public. He founded York Barbell in 1932, which
revolutionized the shape, weight, and style of weightlifting forever. Hoffmans York
Barbell Company currently houses the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame and Museum in
Pennsylvania.

Arthur Jones
Jones ideas about high intensity training involving short sets of lifting weights led to his
creation of Nautilus, Inc. and MedX, Inc. companies and equipment, which include the
Bowflex, Stairmaster, and Nautilus products. Jones pushed exercise enthusiasts away
from the bulky shape of bodybuilders toward a leaner, stronger body type. He died in
2007 at 80 years old.

Bret Contreras
In leaving a career as a high school mathematics teacher, Contreras brought his passion
for weightlifting, training, and glute exercise programs to the fitness industry. His
training center in Scottsdale recently closed its doors so he can focus more on writing
articles and eBooks about biomechanics and his personally invented conditioning
regimens.

Ian King
Through his training of athletes involved in more than 20 sports from 10 different
countries, King has honed his methods of what works in strength and conditioning
training. His approach is practical rather than scientific, and he has written many pieces
of educational literature to spread his message, some of which appear in Mens Health
and Testosterone magazines. Kings system involves slow training, resting, and applying
supplements when the body asks for them,
all findings based on his many years of working with athletes.

Juan Carlos Santana

A proponent of functional fitness, Santana combines biomechanics and conditioning to
maximize the performances of his athletes. Working with clients that range from hardworking individuals to professional athletes, his methods apply to all types and all
levels of trainees. In addition to his work with clients, Santana has lectured at more than
300 major conferences and authored more than 60 DVDs and books about fitness and
improving performance. His IHP
training facility in Boca Raton has been recognized as one
of the top core-training centers in the country.
And this list just wouldnt be complete without a shoutout to

Milo of Croton
Ancient Greek wrestler Milo of Croton won many victories in the 6th century B.C.E.,
including six Olympic victories in wrestling. He is said to have demonstrated
superhuman strength, perhaps based on his supposed daily diet of 20 pounds each of
meat and bread paired with 18 pints of wine.
Although it is thought that he was ultimately devoured by wolves, Milo of Croton is
considered one of the original bodybuilders.

Fred Hatfield ( Dr. Squat )

Known affectionately known around the world as Dr. Squat Fred Hatfield isa pioneer
in the world of strength training. One of is most memorable accomplishments came at
age forty-five when, at a body weight of 255lbs., he squatted 1014lbs in the squat, more
than anyone else in history had ever lifted successfully in competition to date. To his
credit are more than sixty books (many published in various languages), over 200
articles and over thirty world and national records in 5 different weight classes
(something never before accomplished by anyone)

Editors Note: After creating this list its become painfully clear that far too many names
have been left off of this list to make anywhere close to complete
Names like

George Burroughs
John Coffee
Boyd Epley
Gayle Hatch
Scott Abel
Boyd Eppley
Ken Leistner
Stuart Mcrobert
Ed Coan

Bill Kazmaier
Mike Mentzer
Ellington Darden
Just to name a few a revision may be in order at some point so that these, and many
other, great names in the history of strength training can be included
Id LOVE to hear your comments below
AND if youd like to get blog updates and free stuff to help you build your strength
training or personal training business, just put your name and primary email in here
and
Ill be sure to hook you up

Filed Under: Fitness Training

Comments

1.

DrGeorge says:

September 16, 2012 at 3:39 pm

Great Post, Big Chris! Id add John Coffee of Coffees Gym located just outside of Atlanta, Ga. Many
great powerlifters (male and female) have trained there. Also, I would refine this list by
eliminating anyone who has had 2 or more lifting-related surgeries. I say this because, in my
opinion, a true sign of greatness in the strength arena is safety. Many so-called gurus show off
their surgical scars (from pec tears, bicep tears, quad tears, etc) as if they were badges of honor. The
truth is, those are the guys an athlete/trainer should least want to model.

2.

Rick Kaselj says:

September 16, 2012 at 8:10 pm

Chris,
Great list of SC.
Still so many more that could have been added.
Rick Kaselj of http://ExercisesForInjuries.com
.

3.

Wayne carrels says:

September 17, 2012 at 5:14 am

Where is Peter twist and Robb Rogers? Alvin cross grove? Really? This sounds like another buissness
selling tactic. Never Quit! Wayne

4.

Susanne Alberto says:

September 17, 2012 at 6:39 am

No females sad. We (females) need to do something about that. What was the criteria for making
this list? Were any females even nominated?

5.

Randy Huntington says:

September 17, 2012 at 6:41 am

I would suggest Bill Pearl needs to be here as well. He influenced a lot of young men. Not one
woman. Meg and/or Mike Stone Bill Kraemer just to name a few. Max Jones Internationally and

Scmidtblicher as well. Old ones Vic Tanny, Charles Atlas and jack Lalane. Forgot Paul and Bob
Ward. Great list!
Randy H

6.

Nathan Jordan says:

September 17, 2012 at 7:41 am

This is a very impressive list. I will be keeping this email and eventually following stuff by everyone
on the list and someday will be mentioned in a list such as this one. I would have put Marty
Gallagher, Arnold, and Paul Wade on the list though.

7.

Charles Staley says:

September 17, 2012 at 8:44 am

Im certainly honored to be on this list, but if it were not for Fred Hatfield, I wouldnt be on it, as he
gave me my start in the industry.

8.

Travis says:

September 17, 2012 at 9:34 am

No Boyd Epley? What about Tom Moffit, Tom Cross, Mike Arthur, Mickey Marotti, etc. You put guys
like Elliot Hulse and Zach Even-Esh on there, but not people with real relevancy? Give me a break

9.

gus marone says:

September 17, 2012 at 11:44 am

many of these guys are not strength coaches but people in the field of fitness-bodybuilding etc
some have been mentioned some have not
these guys are strength coaches by trade
al miller
marotti
mannie
epley
dan riley
al johnson
matt bryczki
these guys are strength experts/authors by trade
hatfield
leistner
stuart mcrobert
these guys are experts by way of accomplishments as well as having written books
ed coan
bill kazmaier
mike mentzer
ellington darden

10.

Chris says:

September 17, 2012 at 11:54 am

Dr. Squat has officially been added

Damn dude, these dudes all deserved a spot.. wish I had time to add them all
Ken leistner
stuart mcrobert
ed coan
bill kazmaier
mike mentzer
ellington darden

11.

Jean-Pierre says:

September 17, 2012 at 2:49 pm

surely leaving Boyd Epley off the list is ignorance personified? The guy essentially inventted the
entire profession (Strength and Conditioning Coaching) and as such is surely by default THE most
influential. Leaving him out of your self-styled top 65 is extremely disingenuous.

12.

Chris says:

September 17, 2012 at 3:11 pm

ha ha Damn Jean-Pierre, I appreciate where youre coming from but man are you brutal with
words that said I admire your word-smithing abilities
Yeah he definitely should have been on the list, along with about 30 other guys At some point if I
get that time Id like to update it to include him and a lot of the others people mentioned, especially
the ones Gus Marone suggested Im not nearly are well versed in the history of strength coaching
as many of my readers are
Ignorance Personified and Extremely Disingenuous ouch even though I do admire your use of
the English Language, very Rollinsesque

13.

Jean-Pierre says:

September 17, 2012 at 3:53 pm

ok Chris sorry if I came in a bit hard! but seriously. missing out th guy who started the whole
thing is pretty inconsiderate. his coaches/assistants/graduates etc have gone on to fill a huge numbr
of the top positions globally within pro sports S&C, college athletics, olympics etc etc. he not only set
the standard, but churned out a production line of people who rose to the very top, but continue to
look to him as their mentor.

14.

Perri says:

September 17, 2012 at 3:59 pm

Any list of top strength coaches that does not include Gayle Hatch makes this list just seem comical.
Protgs of his using his strength and conditioning system have won 6 BCS National
Championships. He is the only coach in both the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame and USA Strength
and Conditioning coaches Hall of Fame. He received the presidents award from the NFL Coaches
Association for his impact on strength and conditioning in the NFL. At the CSCCA annual
conference in may, 2013 in Kansas City Gayle Hatch will receive the legend award. He was also the
mens head coach of the 2004 USA Olympic Weightlifting Team. His weightlifting team has won a
total of 50 Team National Championships

15.

Chris says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:02 pm

All good Jean-Pierre, I added him to the list in the bottom of the post for now by the pic of the baby
goin doh!, and as soon as I have time to update this post Im gonna give him a full bio up there
like the rest, probably put him up somewhere near the top, theres a few other dudes that I cant
believe I missed as well
I appreciate the input

16.

Greg Justice says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:11 pm

Big Chris, Besides the fact that youre Ignorance Personified, Extremely Disingenuous, and
Inconsiderate, I still think youre one cool dude.
I loved the list and all the interest that it has generated!

17.

Chris says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:14 pm

Greg, Im probably gonna do a separate one of personal trainers, and youll definitely be on that list

18.

JON says:

September 17, 2012 at 4:32 pm

The only person I would add is Chris Doyle at the University of Iowa

19.

Brendon Ziegler says:

September 17, 2012 at 5:54 pm

uh Don Chu, Johnny Parker, Al Miller, Alvin Roy? Come on seriously.

20.

Chris says:

September 17, 2012 at 11:14 pm

what about Richard Simmons and Tony Little ?

21.

Yael Grauer says:

September 18, 2012 at 8:41 am

Sort of stunned that theres no women on this list, even though theres so many to choose from:
Krista Scott-Dixon, Cassandra Forsythe, Rachel Cosgrove, Neghar Fonooni, Mina Samuels, the list
goes on and on.

22.

Adam says:

September 18, 2012 at 8:42 am

Sorry but no Boyd Epley, Mike Gittelson, Allan Johnson, Gayle Hatch, Dan Reiley, Matt Bryczki, Dr.
Ted Lambrinides, Mark Asanovich, Ken Leistner, Ken Mannie, Kim Wood.

23.

Chris says:

September 18, 2012 at 10:32 am

Yael, I AM STUNNED you forgot to mention Suzanne Somers and Suzanne Powers STOP THE
INSANITY!!! http://youtu.be/Ur0g-R7ZODY

24.

Yael Grauer says:

September 18, 2012 at 10:36 am

Chris, thats your response? Seriously?

Oh and I forgot to mention Jan Todd, Sally Moss, Callie Marunde and Allyson Goble look em up?

25.

Chris says:

September 18, 2012 at 11:10 am

Its a joke Yael (=

I cant take this shit too serious or Ill go mad, just look at all the comments above and youll see id
go crazy if I wore my heart on my sleeve here.
When I polled my FB friends about who should be on the list, the ones in the post were the ones I
put in there, none of the females you mentioned were brought up, but neither were many other
greats
I appreciate you bringing up these names, Rachel Cosgrove is a no brainier, Ill have to check out the
list you mentioned, I may update this post when I have time
I couldnt help the two Suzannes, Im a knuckle head by nature, not a card carrying member of the
He-Man Woman Haters Club just a knuckle head thanks for your valued input (=

26.

Yael Grauer says:

September 18, 2012 at 11:33 am

LOL. Well, Dr. Todd is *highly* influential (see this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Todd), aside

from setting more than 60 national and world records in powerlifting and being in the Guinness
Book of World Records for over a decade, her work as an editor, historian and lecturer is pretty
incredible.
Krista Scott-Dixons website, stumptuous.com, is probably one of the best sources of strength
training for women and highly influential (lots of guys secretly read it, too, ha ha), Cassandra
Forsythes New Rules of Lifting For Women was a game-changer (and New York Times bestseller),
etc. etc.
Maybe I should write a list of influential female strength coaches so people can send all their hate
mail my way.

27.

Chris says:

September 18, 2012 at 12:43 pm

I checked out your blog and your writing is great Yael, Id happily put it up here as a guest post if
you want and give you credit and link you up thats an open offer to you (=

Yael Grauer says:

28.

September 18, 2012 at 9:23 pm

Wow, thanks! I may very well take you up on that, after I get through the pile on my desk.

TT says:

29.

September 20, 2012 at 6:51 pm

.with so many great S&C out their making the list 100 would be a great idea. This article makes me
want to read everything every one of these individuals have written. One of those ideas that make
you say, why didnt I think of that.

Yael Grauer says:

30.

September 27, 2012 at 9:36 pm

hi, Chris!
How do I contact you directly?

31.

Chris says:

September 28, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Hey Yael, I just emailed you (=

John says:

32.

October 6, 2012 at 7:44 pm

There is no way Charles Staley should be on this list. He owes me and a dozen other trainers and
gyms thousands of dollars in seminars and bullshit coaching programs he never turned up for. Pay
up chuck!!

Cory says:

33.

November 15, 2012 at 2:54 pm

why dont you make a list of CURRENT S&C coaches by city and state! I live in NYC and there isnt
much of a powerlifting community here except for maybe 2-3 gyms in LI, but thats far away Now I
am trainig hard, but would LOVE if any of these top strength coaches would help me!!! like Josh
Bryant for instance or just any top powerlifters who also train and coach near NYC!!! Im 170 lbs and
loving training!!! thanks
Cory

34.

Mike Debenham says:

January 19, 2013 at 9:05 pm

In the Southern hemisphere Ashley Jones is regarded as one of the best in the field.
Currently has taken over the S&C role with the Australian Rugby Union but previously to this was
the S&C trainer for the Canterbury Crusaders in the Super Rugby Fancise the Crusaders have long
been regarded as the Best franchised Professional Rugby Team in the World and often the All Blacks

Contain many of the Crusaders along with All black Captain Ritchie McCaw (3x IRB Player of the
year) Ashley was also involved with the All blacks Not so successful 2007 world cup campaign

Eric Burkhardt says:

35.

February 6, 2014 at 12:32 pm

You forgot John Garhammer and Bob Takano.

Speak Your Mind

Name *
Email *
Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

s FAST!

Follow @ChrisMcCombs

Recent Posts

Group Personal Training vs. Boot Camps

Heres a Fun Game Personal Trainers Can Use To Help Kids Lose Weight

How to Charge More Than Other Personal Training Businesses and Bootcamps

7 MASSIVE Mistakes I Made in My Personal Training Business

Dont Do These 19 Things if You Want More Personal Training Clients

6 Big Reasons to Offer Transformation Programs

How Personal Trainers Can Help Chronically Sick or Injured Clients

How to Get and KEEP Personal Training Clients

7 Types of Web Pages That GET Fitness Training Clients

How to Avoid a HUGE Marketing Mistake Most Trainers Make

Enter The Void Training Philosophy from Dave Tate

A Tribute to Coaches and Trainers

Must Read

Fitness Profits Roadmap

How To Not Get Your Ass Kicked

Top Fitness Marketing Tips for 2013

Top 100 Most Influential Personal Trainers of All Time

65 Most Influential Strength Coaches of All Time

How To Grow A Personal Training Business

Breaking The Fitness Business Rules - Advanced

Lessons From The June KBL

Death of a Personal Trainer

Fitness Training in a Crazy World

Beast Mode - Blueprint for Personal Trainers

This One's Personal

20 Trainers That Make The Fitness Training Industry Look Just Plain Weird

41 Ways to be a Lifestyle Design Badass

43 KILLER Fitness Marketing Tips

7 Things Pick-Up Artists and Savvy Marketers Have in Common

A Day In The Life

Topics

Blog

Blogging

Boot Camp Marketing

Fitness Blogging

Fitness Business Strategies

Fitness Copywriting Strategies

Fitness Information Marketing

Fitness Marketing Strategies

Fitness Sales Techniques and Systems

Fitness Training

Health Club Marketing

How to Get Personal Training Clients

Humor

Internet Marketing

Mindset and Time Management

Nutrition

Personal Trainer Marketing Strategies

Start a Personal Training Business

Transcend

Categories

Blog (1)

Blogging (3)

Boot Camp Marketing (50)

Fitness Blogging (23)

Fitness Business Strategies (155)

Fitness Copywriting Strategies (19)

Fitness Information Marketing (5)

Fitness Marketing Strategies (107)

Fitness Sales Techniques and Systems (27)

Fitness Training (66)

Health Club Marketing (7)

How to Get Personal Training Clients (6)

Humor (10)

Internet Marketing (93)

Mindset and Time Management (103)

Nutrition (2)

Personal Trainer Marketing Strategies (44)

Start a Personal Training Business (34)

Transcend (14)

Kick Back Life 2013 - Fitness Marketing | Starting a Personal Training Business | How To Get Personal Training
Referrals | Personal Trainer Marketing | Health Club Marketing | Advertising a Personal Training Business | Selling
Personal Training | Contact | Terms Of Service | Privacy Policy | Earnings Information | Site Map
* Results are not typical. Advertised results are only typical of people who worked their tails off and followed every one of the
fitness marketing strategies and personal training tips that I outline on my site to really explode their fitness business. Also, if
you click on a link on my site to someone else's product, there's a good chance I'm makin' a profit off of it, probably even a
steep one.

Return to top of page

Copyright 2015 Prose Theme on Genesis Framework WordPress Log in