This week on iTunes, iHeartRadio, Stitcher and Spreaker, STT interviews a strength coach who has seen a lot throughout his career. Mike Golden is the football strength coach at the University of Massachusetts. Golden has 17 years of collegiate coaching experience that includes stops at South Florida, East Carolina, South Carolina and UConn. Golden came to UMass after spending the last two years at South Florida with head coach Skip Holtz. There he supervised the football program’s year-round weight training, speed, agility, and conditioning sessions. As the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance, he also oversaw the development of rehabilitation and performance enhancement programs for all of South Florida’s sports. Prior to South Florida, Golden helped Holts build East Carolina into one of the top football programs in Conference USA. The Pirates won back-to-back conference championships in 2008 and 2009 and went to five consecutive bowl games from 2006-2010. While in Greenville, Golden worked with first round draft pick Chris Jonson who turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine History. At ECU, Golden was often credited by Holtz for playing an integral role in turning around the program which had won just three games in 25 outings prior to 2005. Golden is a certified member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), United States Weightlifting Federation (USWA) and National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).

The SMARTER Team Training Audio Interview Series has been developed to share insights from some of the best in the industry. Stay tuned for more insights, tips, drills, and techniques to come from STT on iTunes, STT on iHeartRadio, STT on Stitcher and STT on Spreaker. Be sure to share the STT Audio Interview Series with coaches, trainers, parents, and athletes too.