Jorge Ruiz, Assistant Coach and Assistant GM at Weber State University, joins the show to share his path from Video Coordinator to one of the youngest assistant coaches in the nation and his recent promotion to Assistant GM.

We dive into how Jorge approaches recruiting and roster building in today’s unpredictable college sports landscape, what he evaluates in high school recruits versus the transfer portal, and what coaches often miss about players like Damian Lillard and Dillon Jones, who became 1st-round NBA picks.

Jorge also breaks down what makes Weber State unique in developing professional-level talent, how strength coaches can add value in the recruiting process, and his in-season approach to skill development that balances long-term growth with keeping players fresh.

🔗Check out more from Jorge 👇

Instagram: @ruizjorge1

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

03:13 Career Journey at Weber State

04:51 The Value of Longevity in Coaching Roles

08:26 Understanding the Assistant GM Role

09:46 Navigating Roster Management and Recruitment

11:14 The Importance of Honest Communication in Recruiting

13:04 Fitting Roles and Managing Expectations

15:38 Finding the Truth in Recruitment

17:35 Managing Challenging Personalities

20:27 Expectations and Ownership in Player Development

22:03 The Path to Professional Success

28:10 What Big Schools Miss in Talent Recruitment

34:16 Choosing the Right School for Development

35:40 The Pressure of Immediate Production in College Basketball

39:40 The Importance of Development and Growth

41:49 The Impact of Alumni on Current Players

47:33 Identifying Talent: What Sets Players Apart

52:04 The Role of Strength Coaches in Recruiting

58:04 The Costs of Pursuing Greatness in Coaching

59:54 Finding Purpose in Coaching Relationships

Anthony Cockrill, Director of Volleyball Sports Performance and Assistant Director of Olympic Sports at SMU, returns to the Podcast for his second appearance after his first episode became our most downloaded episode ever.

In this conversation, we go deep into the systems behind elite volleyball performance. Anthony breaks down jump and swing mechanics, squat progressions, jump training, building bulletproof shoulders, getting your first chin-up, and how he balances physical preparation with skill development.

We also dive into assessments, warm-ups, gymnastics movements, nutrition, injury mitigation, and how to organize training to support long-term athlete development.

This episode is packed with practical insight and high-level thinking for anyone training volleyball players—or athletes at any level.

🔗Check out more from Anthony👇

1st Episode with Anthony: The Epidemic of the Underprepared Athlete (#1 MOST DOWNLOADED EPISODE) - [click here]

Framework For Flight - PDF Program: [click here]

Instagram: @anthonycockrill

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:10 Jump Mechanics: Understanding the Approach

14:56 Visual Feedback and Skill Acquisition in Jumping

17:38 Body Awareness and Squatting Fundamentals

25:54 Plyometric Training for Vertical Jump Improvement

34:48 Swing Mechanics: Enhancing the Volleyball Arm Swing

41:01 Why Volleyball Players Should Throw Footballs

48:32 Key Movements for Shoulder Health

51:14 Getting Your First Chin Up

01:00:49 Nutrition for Young Athletes

01:09:11 Game Day Nutrition and Timing

01:11:14 Effective Warm-Up Strategies

01:18:03 Balancing Skill and Physical Development

01:22:11 The Importance of Physicality in Youth Sports

01:25:39 Assessment and Evaluation Processes

01:32:55 Reflecting on Injury Management and Prevention

01:36:58 Building Routines for High-Pressure Situations

Owner of Hansen Athletics and Speed Lab Director with Universal Speed Rating, Darren Hansen joins the show to break down how he’s built one of the top performance facilities in the region by making speed development a true priority. Voted the best performance facility in Southeastern Idaho, Hansen Athletics is known for both results and culture.

We dive into how Darren creates an environment athletes can’t wait to return to, how he programs in the private sector, and how to build systems that make high-quality training scalable as your business grows. Darren also shares the biggest mistakes he sees in youth athlete development, how they run assessments and onboard new athletes, and what actually drives long-term progress.

We also touch on the business side—what truly fuels growth, where coaches overcomplicate things, and how to build a model that lasts.

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:51 The Story Behind Hansen Athletics

04:42 Culture and Environment at Hansen Athletics

08:49 Coaching Staff and Development

13:41 Making Them Want To Come Back

18:12 Scalable Individualized Training

19:45 Onboarding New Athletes

20:50 Balancing Training Loads

21:54 Scaling and Structuring Programs

24:32 Integrating Middle School and High School Athletes

31:33 Fostering Positive Competition Among Young Athletes

33:56 Common Mistakes in Youth Athletic Development

38:32 The Importance of Diverse Experiences for Young Athletes

41:00 Building a Business from Scratch in a New City

43:05 Drivers of Growth in Established Athletic Programs

46:59 Incentivizing Referrals in Youth Sports Training

47:38 Learning from Controversial Training Methods

51:16 Reflecting on Decision-Making and Growth