Highlight Registered Strength Coach Recipient
Ryan Johnson, MEd, CSCS
Wayzata High School
The purpose of the Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach program is to create a registry of qualified members who are interested in better defining a career path in strength and conditioning. The purpose of the registry is to recognize coaches who have been certified as strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS®), have demonstrated commitment to the field of strength and conditioning and wish to be identified for career advancement.
Benefits of the program include:
- As a Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach you will be able to promote yourself to potential future employers as such
- You will also be recognized by the NSCA and receive a certificate to acknowledge your achievement
To see if you qualify for Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach status go to http://www.nsca-lift.org/education/nscaregcoach.shtml. If you qualify we highly encourage you to complete the application process. If you don’t yet qualify we encourage you to take the necessary steps so that you can apply in the future.
Ryan Johnson, MEd, CSCS Wayzata High School The featured Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach for the month of September is Ryan Johnson of Wayzata Public Schools in Plymouth, Minnesota. Coach Johnson is the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator and also the Director of Player Development for the Wayzata Football program. During Coach Johnson’s tenure, Wayzata has claimed 17 team state championships and seen three individuals reach the National Football League (NFL). Coach Johnson began his career in education teaching health and physical education classes. His road to strength and conditioning began after attaining his CSCS Certification and attending NSCA National Conferences. As his involvement with the NSCA increased, he joined the Minnesota State Board of Directors and has contributed quite extensively with state and regional clinics and was this past year was appointed as the Assistant State Director for Minnesota. Through his continued service and support of the NSCA, Coach Johnson mentored 12 former students at this year’s regional clinic and also saw two of his students become certified. When asked what the Registered Coach Distinction means to him, Coach Johnson said, “being a Registered Coach is an accomplishment that I am really proud of as I feel that it comes with a great deal of responsibility. I feel that it is my duty to be an ambassador of the NSCA and its certifications and also to provide the highest level of training to our students and athletes.” Coach Johnson explained his approach to training by saying that there are so many elements of instruction and educational practices that occur each day that it can be overwhelming to produce a curriculum that works for all students and athletes. However, he institutes a progression-based approach to training individuals, teams, and classes that permits everyone from beginners to advanced lifters to train alongside each other as they progress step-by-step through skill mastery. As for his recommendations to someone looking to get into the profession or seeking advice, Coach Johnson said, “I certainly did not get to where I am today by learning everything prior to training athletes and I continue to learn and strive to be a better coach each day. I would advise any young strength and conditioning coach to get as much experience in a team setting as possible. This type of environment, such as in a high school setting, is very helpful and may help a prospective student afford the ability to intern or coach at higher levels.” Overall, Coach Johnson feels that although his staff may not have all of the answers, he certainly feels that he has created a training program and philosophy that has afforded him much success. He hopes that he can continue to grow as well as be of assistance to anyone interested in establishing themselves, or their program, in the field of strength and conditioning.
