High-Performance Sports Conditioning

Bill Foran is the strength and conditioning coach for the Miami Heat. He has a master's degree in exercise physiology from Michigan State University and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Foran resides in Pembroke Pines, Florida.

William Kraemer holds multiple appointments at the Pennsylvania State University, where he is professor of applied physiology, director of research in the Center for Sports Medicine, associate director of the Center for Cell Research, and faculty member in the kinesiology department and the Noll Physiological Research Center. He is also editor in chief of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Dr. Kraemer is a former president and vice president of the NSCA; this association honored him with the Sport Scientist of the Year in 1992 and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. He is also a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Nikos Apostolopoulos is the founder of Stretch Therapy and the Serapis Stretch Therapy Clinic, the only clinic in the world pioneering in the development of therapeutic stretching. A graduate of the faculty of physical and health education from the University of Toronto, he has over 17 years of experience in gross and functional anatomy. Apostolopoulos is currently writing a book on stretch therapy, titled A Functional Clinical Anatomy Technique, as well as working toward his doctorate of health science. He resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Donald Chu is a licensed physical therapist, a certified athletic trainer through the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), and a CSCS through the NSCA. Dr. Chu, who earned a PhD in physical therapy and kinesiology from Stanford University, is the program director for the physical therapist assistant program at Ohlone College in Fremont, California. He is also a professor emeritus of kinesiology and physical education at California State University, Hayward. Chu, a former president of the NSCA, lives in Alameda, California.

Peter Twist has coached more than 500 professional athletes including Mark Messier, Pavel Bure, and Hakeem Olajuwan. He has authored dozens of articles and two books on the subjects of conditioning and quickness, including Complete Conditioning for Ice Hockey (1997 Human Kinetics). Having coached in the NHL for seven years, Twist is currently the president of the Hockey Conditioning Coaches Association and coeditor of the Journal of Hockey Conditioning & Player Development. Twist resides in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

E. Paul Roetert is the former administrator of sport science for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and is currently the executive director of the American Sport Education Program (ASEP) for Human Kinetics. Roetert received his PhD in biomechanics from the University of Connecticut and is a fellow in the American College of Sports Medicine. Roetert is an accomplished writer who has coauthored Complete Conditioning for Tennis (1998 Human Kinetics) and published articles in numerous scientific publications. Roetert lives in Champaign, Illinois.

George Blough Dintiman has more than 30 years of experience working on speed improvement with athletes at all levels-from beginners to the pros. The author of 30 books and three videos on speed improvement and health and wellness topics, Dintiman also is an NFL speed consultant and an internationally recognized authority on speed improvement for team sports. He is a board member of the International Sports Science Association and is president of the National Association of Speed and Explosion. Dintiman resides in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina.

A running coach for the past 38 years, Jack Daniels is currently a professor of physical education and is a distance running coach at State University of New York at Cortland. He received his doctoral degree in exerccise physiology at the University of Wisconsin. Named "The World's Best Coach" by Runner's World magazine, he has led Cortland runners to seven NCAA Division III National Championships, 24 individual national titles, and more than 110 All-America awards. Daniels resides in Cortland, New York.

As the strength and conditioning director for the United States Olympic Committee, Eric Lawson oversees programs for resident athletes at the Colorado Springs, Lake Placid, and Chula Vista training facilities. Lawson is a member of the NSCA and has been published in Skating Magazine, Olympic Coach, Conditioning Press, and USA Volleyball Magazine. He is also slated to be the strength and conditioning physiologist at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. Lawson resides in Monument, Colorado.

With seven years of professional baseball experience, Fernando Montes is now the head strength and conditioning coach for the Cleveland Indians. He is also the founder and president of the Professional Baseball S&C Coach Society.
Montes resides in North Ridgeville, Ohio.

Pete Draovitch has been the personal physical therapist for PGA Tour star Greg Norman since 1993. He also serves as physical therapist and wellness consultant for Martin Memorial Medical Center; as president and CEO of The Bodyguards, Inc.; and as spring training physical therapy consultant for the St. Louis Cardinals baseball organization. Draovitch holds a master's degree in physical therapy and sports medicine/physical education. He is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the National Athletic Trainers' Association, and the NSCA.

Courtney Carter is the first full-time female strength and conditioning coach ever at the University of Nebraska. Throughout her career, she has worked with 15 national championship/conference championship teams, covering five different sports. Carter has a masters in physical education and is a certified strength and conditioning coach (CSCS). A member of the NSCA, she lives in Lincoln, Nebraska.

A full professor at York University in Toronto, Tudor Bompa has authored numerous articles on physical conditioning as well as several important books on the subject including, four for Human Kinetics; Serious Strength Training; Periodization: Theory and Methodology of Training, Periodization Training for Sports; and Total Training for Young Champions. His work has been translated into nine languages, and he has made presentations on training theories, planning, and periodization in more than 30 countries. Bompa lives in Sharon, Ontario.

Todd Ellenbecker is a physical therapist and clinic director of Physiotherapy Associates Scottsdale Sports Clinic in Arizona. He is a certified sports clinical specialist and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Ellenbecker is also the manuscript reviewer for the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, he is on the editorial board of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, and he has published many books with Human Kinetics, including Complete Conditioning for Tennis (1998). Ellenbecker resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Steve Plisk has been the director of sports conditioning at Yale University since 1997. He is a certified strength & conditioning specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) and a Level I Coach through USA Weightlifting. His current professional activities include vice president of the NSCA Board of Directors, associate editor of the Strength & Conditioning Journal Editorial Board, faculty at the NSCA Coaches' College, and chapter author and symposium presenter at the NSCA Certification Commission.

Gray Cook is the director of orthopedic and sports physical therapy at Dunn, Cook and Associates. Cook is also currently the creative director of sports-specific training for Reebok. He is Reebbok's first master coach, a position developed from his approach to conditioning based on motor learning. Cook has authored many book chapters on functional testing and exercise from a conditioning perspective. He received his master's in physical therapy from the University of Miami School of Medicine. Cook currently resides in Danville, Virginia.

Vern Gambetta was the speed and conditioning coach for the Tampa Bay Mutiny major league soccer team (1996, 97, and 99), the conditioning consultant to the U.S. men's World Cup soccer team and the New England Revolution (1998), and the director of conditioning for the Chicago White Sox. He has authored five books; The Gambetta Method; The 3S System-Soccer Speed; Hurdling and Steeplechasing; How Women Runners Train; and The Complete Guide To Medicine Ball Training. Vern, recognized internationally as an expert in training and conditioning for sport, has lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia, and Europe. Vern obtained his MA in education with an emphasis in physical education from Stanford University.

Kent Johnston is the strength and conditioning coach for the Seattle Seahawks. Johnston originally served under head Green Bay Packers coach Mike Holmgren as the strength and conditioning coach from 1992-98. In 1997, Johnston was honored as Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches' Society. Before joining the Packers, Johnston spent five years (1987-91) in the weight room of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and from 1983-86, he was a member of Perkins' University of Alabama staff where he helped develop NFL linebackers Cornelius Bennett and Derrick Thomas. Johnston earned his master's degree in physical education from the University of Alabama in 1984.

Jeff Chandler is an associate professor in the department of exercise science, sport, and recreation at Marshall University where he teaches kinesiology and strength and conditioning. Dr. Chandler is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and is certified with distinction as a certified strength and conditioning specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is the editor in chief of Strength and Conditioning Journal, the professional publication of the NSCA.


Mark Verstegen was the director of the highly recognized International Performance Institute (IPI) located in Bradenton, Florida. While at IPI, Mark successfully trained numerous professional football, baseball, basketball, and tennis players, professional golfers, and other Olympic athletes. Mark's commitment directed IPI to become one of the most successful performance training, reconditioning, and educational facilities in the world. Mark's influence is evident throughout the sports industry. Some of Mark's athletes success stories include, WTA Comeback Player of the Year, MLB American League & National League Rookies of the Year, MVP runner-up, and NBA All-Star. Mark has also produced dozens of first round draft picks over the years and as a result he is revered as one of the industry leaders in preparing athletes for professional sports. In 1999, Mark relocated to Tempe, Arizona, to create Athletes Performance-an independent, purpose-built facility solely dedicated to helping athletes achieve their goals.