What I Hope the Future of Strength Training Looks Like
The strength world is evolving—but how we shape it next is entirely up to us.
As both a coach and an athlete, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful strength training can be when it’s done right—and how damaging it can be when it’s misunderstood, misapplied, or misaligned with the individual. The future of strength, I believe, must be personal, flexible, values-driven, and rooted in relationships—not just results.
1. Let Go of Absolutes—Different Athletes, Different Needs
One of the biggest gaps I see in strength programming today is the belief that there’s one best way to train. That if it worked for one athlete—or worse, one elite athlete—it must work for everyone.
But the truth is, there are multiple effective ways to get stronger. Training needs to be flexible. It needs to meet people where they are—mentally, physically, emotionally. Coaches and athletes alike need to be more open-minded and curious. The best programs come from listening, learning, adapting, and respecting the individuality of each person on the platform.
2. Shift from “Elite or Nothing” to Personal Growth
If we’re being honest, most of us are not coaching future Olympians—and that’s okay.
We don’t need to look for the next Hampton Morris or Olivia Reeves every time someone walks through the door. What we should be focused on is developing the person first, and the athlete second. Strength training offers a framework for long-term growth: goal setting, consistency, resilience, emotional regulation, and confidence.
This shift in mindset—toward supporting the person—is what I believe the next generation of athlete development must be built on.
3. Coach Education Needs to Expand Beyond Performance
I’ve been encouraged to see USA Weightlifting push for continued coach development after Level 2, but I think we can do better.
Right now, coach progression is too tied to athlete performance. That doesn’t tell the full story. Some of the best coaches out there are working with youth and masters—populations where medals don’t always define impact. These coaches are mentors, educators, and culture-builders. We need systems that measure and reward that.
We also need more accessible mentorship. There are a lot of great mentorships out there (I offer one myself), but not all coaches know where to start. Whether it’s revitalizing the Level 2 community chats or creating regional peer-to-peer mentor opportunities, we need more ways to help coaches grow in real-world, relationship-based settings.
4. Use Tech to Learn, But Don’t Lose the Human Element
I’m genuinely excited about where technology is headed in strength sports. At TriState, we use:
CoachNow for video analysis
TrainHeroic for programming and tonnage tracking
Hawkin Force Plates for athlete readiness and injury tracking
VBT tools to help athletes train smarter, especially those balancing busy work lives
But even as we integrate data and AI systems, we can’t forget the human side of coaching. An algorithm can give you a prescription; a coach gives you perspective. Data might tell you what’s happening—but a coach tells you why it matters.
The future will be a mix of both—and the best results will come when tech supports the relationship, not replaces it.
5. If I Could Shape the Future of Strength…
I’d start with the kids.
My greatest hope is that TriState becomes a force in youth development—not just as athletes, but as people. I want to help more kids discover confidence through lifting. To know what it feels like to fail, try again, and succeed. To see their worth beyond the barbell.
We need strength training in more schools. We need more positive environments for kids to grow. And we need more coaches willing to teach them not just how to lift, but why it matters.
That’s the impact I want to have—building stronger lifters, stronger coaches, and stronger communities, one rep at a time.
Ready to pass it on.
If you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or teacher reading this: you are part of what strength looks like tomorrow. Let’s build something that lasts—together.
