Mike Erb | Building Track & Field Programs, Athlete Development & The Art of Coaching

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to become a national champion, and what happens when the sport that has defined your life suddenly comes to an end?In this episode, Steven sits down with Cole Ritter, a three-time NCAA Division II All-American and 2025 NCAA National Champion at 174 pounds for Maryville University.Cole opens up about his journey through collegiate wrestling, the mental and physical demands of competing at the highest level, and his transition from competitive athletics into the professional world. But this conversation goes much deeper than wrestling.We explore what makes a great coach, why listening to athletes matters, and how trust, collaboration, and honest communication create better training environments. Cole shares pivotal moments from his career, including setbacks that changed his mindset, the importance of preparation, and learning to believe in himself even when the odds were against him.We also discuss:Why coaches need to understand the athlete’s perspective.The difference between confidence and how athletes actually feel internally.Learning to respond to failure and embracing the growth process.Creating athlete-led cultures built on accountability and mutual respect.Why great training environments challenge athletes while allowing them to have a voice.The importance of staying present and managing competition anxiety.Recognizing burnout before it becomes an injury or a reason to walk away.Separating your identity from your sport and finding balance outside competition.One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that success isn’t just about the medals, titles, or accolades. It’s about learning to love the process, developing the right mindset, and understanding that wrestling is something you do, not who you are.Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, or someone working to develop the next generation, there’s plenty to take away from this conversation.A rising tide raises all boats.Welcome to Voodoo Power.#VoodooPower #Wrestling #AthleteDevelopment #StrengthAndConditioning #Coaching #MentalPerformancehttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to develop better athletes? It’s about much more than lifting weights, running faster, or following a training program.In this episode of Voodoo Power, Steven Thompson sits down with Sam Zanders Jr., performance optimization consultant, strength coach, sports scientist, educator, and doctoral candidate, for an in-depth conversation about holistic athlete development and maximizing athletic performance.Sam shares his approach to meeting athletes where they are, identifying performance gaps, and helping them take ownership of their development. We get into the importance of nutrition, sleep, hydration, recovery, and training consistency, along with the challenges of managing fatigue and maintaining performance throughout a demanding high school sports season.The conversation takes a deep dive into strength and conditioning methodology, motor learning, movement quality, and the relationship between the weight room and the playing field.We also spend considerable time discussing hip strength, hip positioning, movement patterns, and why traditional squat strength doesn’t always translate into the ability to produce force through hip-dominant movements.TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:Holistic athlete development and performance optimizationMeeting athletes where they are and building ownershipNutrition strategies for high school athletesSleep hygiene, hydration, and recoveryManaging training volume, intensity, and accumulated fatigueIn-season strength and conditioning for footballMaintaining speed and power during the competitive seasonDeveloping aerobic capacity and repeat sprint abilityCramping, conditioning, and athletic performanceAutonomic nervous system and environmental influences on performanceMotor learning and the part-whole method of teaching movementGestalt theory and coaching movement patternsMovement quality, proprioception, and athletic developmentHip positioning, hip shift, and lower-body mechanicsGlute strength, adductor development, and hip stabilitySumo deadlifts versus traditional squat patternsBox squats and single-leg good mornings as coaching toolsUsing resistance bands and chains to develop athletic powerIdentifying the difference between hip-dominant and knee-dominant athletesOne of the biggest takeaways is that developing athletes requires looking beyond individual exercises and numbers in the weight room. Coaches need to understand how athletes move, recover, adapt, and transfer their training into competition.We also challenge a common assumption: If an athlete can squat heavy, does that necessarily mean they have developed the hip strength and movement qualities needed for athletic performance?This is a great conversation for high school strength coaches, football coaches, sports performance professionals, and anyone interested in developing stronger, faster, more resilient athletes.ABOUT VOODOO POWERVoodoo Power is dedicated to bringing strength coaches, athletes, and performance professionals together to share ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and improve athletic development.Our mission is to make quality strength and conditioning knowledge accessible, especially to coaches and athletes in smaller communities who may not have the same resources or opportunities as larger programs.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for more conversations with coaches, athletes, and performance professionals.If you found value in this conversation, share it with another coach!#StrengthAndConditioning #SportsPerformance #AthleteDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to build a successful track and field program, develop athletes, and create lasting relationships that go beyond the competition?On this episode of the Voodoo Power Podcast, Steven Thompson sits down with Coach Mike Erb to discuss his unconventional journey into coaching, from environmental science and municipal government to collegiate track and field.Coach Erb shares his experience rebuilding a struggling program at the University of Redlands, developing athletes from different sporting backgrounds, and creating a culture built on genuine relationships, high standards, and a commitment to continuous learning.The conversation dives into the fundamentals of track and field development, the importance of strength and force production, and why coaches should focus on building sound movement patterns before advancing to more complex technical work.We also explore the unique challenges of coaching multi-event athletes, balancing general strength and conditioning with event-specific training, and the importance of reading social cues and building professional relationships throughout a coaching career.In this episode:* Mike Erb’s unconventional path into collegiate coaching* Rebuilding a track and field program at the University of Redlands* Recruiting athletes from other sports and identifying untapped potential* Building a culture through relationships, accountability, and high standards* The importance of fundamental movement patterns in track and field* Strength, force production, and the development of collegiate athletes* Training multi-event athletes and balancing general preparation with technical work* Managing training loads, recovery, and injury prevention* Lifelong learning and the evolution of coaching resources* Networking, mentorship, and creating opportunities in the coaching professionWhether you’re a track and field coach, strength and conditioning professional, or someone passionate about athlete development, this conversation offers valuable insight into the process of building better athletes and better programs.🎙️ Voodoo Power PodcastHosted by Steven ThompsonSubscribe for more conversations with coaches and athletes who are committed to developing the person behind the performance.#VoodooPower #MikeErb #TrackAndField #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailWhat does it take to build an athlete who can perform under pressure, overcome adversity, and reach their full potential?On this episode of Voodoo Power, Steven Thompson sits down with Jim Beebe, founder of Unbreakable Athletics, to discuss athlete development, strength and conditioning, mental toughness, and the principles that help athletes succeed both in sports and in life.Jim’s journey from managing $1.2 billion in financial assets to building a successful training facility is a story of discipline, persistence, and a commitment to helping others become better. With experience coaching athletes across multiple sports, Jim shares practical lessons on developing the complete athlete—not just a stronger or faster one.In this conversation, we cover:* The Athlete Builder philosophy: developing the complete athlete* Why mindset, nutrition, recovery, knowledge, and teamwork matter* Six core values: integrity, discipline, Kaizen, teamwork, enjoyment, and Sisu* How to identify weaknesses and turn them into opportunities for growth* Using pressure and competition to accelerate athletic development* Building mental toughness and overcoming the fear of injury or failure* Helping injured athletes continue progressing beyond physical rehabilitation* Developing trust, accountability, and stronger coach-athlete relationships* Lessons from Jim’s visit to the Ohio State wrestling program* How Jim built Unbreakable Athletics through challenges and adversity* The Athlete Builder scorecard and evaluating an athlete’s strengths and weaknesses* Developing athletes who are prepared for college sports and life beyond competitionJim also shares lessons from his son Jack’s journey from walk-on athlete to scholarship recipient and team captain, along with his perspective on longevity, leadership, and continuous improvement.One of the biggest takeaways: great coaching is about more than programming. It’s about understanding the person, identifying what holds them back, and helping them become capable of doing things they once believed were impossible.Whether you’re a high school strength coach, athletic performance coach, personal trainer, athlete, or parent, this episode offers practical ideas for building stronger, more confident, and more resilient athletes.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for conversations with strength coaches, athletes, and leaders who are working to improve athletic performance and change lives through training.Keep showing up. Keep improving. Build something unbreakable.#VoodooPower #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Voodoo Power Podcast, Steven Thompson sits down with George Adams, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Madison-Ridgeland Academy, to discuss the differences between high school and college strength and conditioning, developing young athletes, and building programs that translate to performance on the field.George shares his journey from college athletics to high school coaching and explains why the high school setting offers unique opportunities to build relationships, develop athletes over multiple years, and establish a lasting training culture.Topics covered include:• High School vs. College Strength & Conditioning: The differences in coaching environments, athlete motivation, and long-term development.• Speed Development: Improving acceleration, top speed, sprint mechanics, and the importance of individualized coaching.• Velocity-Based Training (VBT): Using performance data to guide training decisions and evaluate what best prepares athletes for speed and power.• Injury Management: Practical approaches to shin splints, ankle injuries, cramping, and athlete recovery.• In-Season Training: Balancing strength, speed, fatigue, and sport demands throughout the competitive season.• Technology and Recruiting: GPS tracking, timing gates, 40-yard dash preparation, and collecting reliable performance data.• Building Relationships and Buy-In: Communicating with sport coaches, earning athlete trust, and creating a successful strength and conditioning program.This conversation is about more than sets and reps. It’s about understanding the athlete, adapting the training process, and building a program that serves athletes at every stage of development.At Voodoo Power, we’re committed to sharing ideas and conversations that help coaches become better and give athletes more opportunities to succeed.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for more conversations with strength coaches, athletes, and performance professionals who are making a difference.#VoodooPower #StrengthAndConditioning #SpeedDevelopment #HighSchoolSports #AthleteDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Voodoo Power, Steven sits down with high school strength and conditioning coach Travis Webb to talk about his journey into coaching, building culture, developing athletes, and constantly evolving as a coach.Travis shares how an unexpected turn in his college career eventually led him into strength and conditioning, including his internship experience at UMass and his decision to focus on high school athletes. He explains why he believes coaching is about much more than writing a program—it’s about being present, understanding athletes, asking “why,” and creating an environment where athletes want to work.The conversation dives deep into Travis’s approach at Perkins High School, including his tiered training system, Block 0–3 progression, in-season versus off-season programming, speed development, and the balance between strength and speed for high school athletes.Steven and Travis also spend a lot of time discussing the transition from trap bar deadlifts to sumo deadlifts for speed development. Travis explains why he made the change, what he has seen from his athletes, and how the change has affected intent, technique, strength, vertical jump performance, and speed testing.Other topics include:• Building athlete buy-in and team culture• Coaching middle school athletes• Accountability and discipline in today’s athletes• Developing strength before chasing speed• Tiered training systems• Block 0–3 athlete development• Speed development and 20-yard fly testing• Sumo deadlifts vs. trap bar deadlifts• Box squats and athletic performance• Mobility, recovery, and in-season training• The importance of internships in strength & conditioning• The realities of compensation and career advancement• Learning from other coaches and continually adaptingThis is a conversation about coaching beyond the program—developing people, building relationships, and finding better ways to prepare athletes for competition and life.If you enjoy conversations about high school strength and conditioning, athletic performance, strength development, speed training, and coaching, subscribe to Voodoo Power and follow along as we continue talking with coaches who are helping athletes get better.#VoodooPower #StrengthAndConditioning #HighSchoolStrength #AthleteDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Voodoo Power Podcast, Steven sits down with Mark Garrett, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Crown Point High School in Indiana, for a deep conversation on Olympic lifting, athlete development, and building a long-term training system.Mark shares his journey from a powerlifting-focused approach in the 1990s to incorporating Olympic lifting after learning from coaches including Frank Exton, Mike Bergener, and Jim Schmitz. He explains how seeing the impact of Olympic lifting on athletic performance changed the way he approached strength and conditioning.The conversation goes deep into Mark’s “Prepare to Train” system and his progression from middle school athletes through high school. He explains how he develops balance, coordination, movement quality, speed, and technique before progressing athletes into Olympic lifts.Mark also breaks down his hybrid training philosophy, combining elements of Russian, Polish, and Bulgarian weightlifting systems. He discusses the use of lower-intensity volume work, high-intensity singles, managing fatigue, and why the training demands of elite weightlifters don’t always translate directly to high school athletes.Other topics include:• Teaching Olympic lifting without over-coaching• “Trace, don’t scrape” when teaching pulls• Proper body position and bar path• Reverse-chain learning• Front squats vs. back squats for athletes• Developing foot positioning and landing mechanics• The 2-inch, 4-inch, 6-inch drop drill• Deadlift progressions for young athletes• Hyperextensions, good mornings and Romanian deadlifts• Training intensity and managing the nervous system• Combining weightlifting with football and other sports• Developing athletes over multiple years• The Hoosier Barbell Club• Strength expression within the same time windows as athletic movementsThis is a conversation about much more than Olympic lifting. It’s about how coaches build systems, teach movement, manage training stress, and develop athletes over the long term.#VoodooPower #StrengthAndConditioning #OlympicLifting #Weightlifting #HighSchoolStrength #AthleteDevelopment #Powerlifting #SportsPerformancehttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Voodoo Power, Steven Thompson sits down with Brayden Durfee, a former Division I sprinter at Boise State University and Mountain West champion as a member of Boise State’s 2019 distance medley relay team. Brayden is now the Sprint Coach at Northwest Nazarene University.Brayden shares the story of his development as a sprinter, including the challenges he faced transitioning from high school to college and the training changes that helped him reach the championship level. He explains how strength training became an important part of his development and how he incorporated conjugate-style methods into his sprint program.The conversation dives deep into Brayden’s approach to training sprinters, including box squats, accommodating resistance, band squats, sumo pulls, dynamic-effort work, max-effort work, sleds, and plyometrics. He explains how he used approximately 55% of his 1RM with 15–20% band tension and adjusted training across four-week phases based on running volume, recovery, and competition schedules.Steven and Brayden also get into the technical side of sprint coaching, including:• Training strategies for the 100m and 200m• Why 200m training can help develop patience in the 100m• Acceleration and top-speed mechanics• Sled training for acceleration and recovery• Developing posture and hip engagement• Backside mechanics and stride development• Teaching athletes to “grab the track”• Using resistance bands to create better movement awareness• Training 400m runners to maintain mechanics under fatigue• Using assault bikes and broken reps with developing athletes• Postural drills for maintaining structure late in races• Adjusting lifting around competition schedules• Using video analysis to identify mechanical breakdowns• Integrating strength training with sprint and plyometric workOne of the most interesting parts of the conversation is the practical coaching discussion around getting athletes to actually feel the positions coaches are trying to teach. Steven introduces the band-under-the-armpits drill as a way to slow the shoulders down, allow the hips to come underneath the athlete, and create better awareness of hip engagement.Brayden also explains how he uses hands-on drills, bands, sleds, and exaggerated movements to help athletes understand acceleration positions and improve their sprint mechanics.This episode is packed with practical ideas for high school and college sprint coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, track athletes, and anyone interested in combining speed development with intelligent strength training.Whether you’re coaching the 100m, 200m, or 400m, there are plenty of practical takeaways from Brayden’s experience as a Mountain West champion sprinter and his current work coaching athletes at Northwest Nazarene University.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for more conversations with strength coaches, athletes, and coaches working to improve athletic performance.#VoodooPower #BraydenDurfee #NorthwestNazarene #BoiseState #SprintTraining #TrackAndField #StrengthAndConditioning #SpeedTraining #ConjugateTraining #SprintMechanics #100m #200m #400m #AthleticPerformancehttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailThis conversation is about more than lifting weights. It’s about identifying weaknesses, building physical qualities that transfer to the mat, developing trust between coach and athlete, and preparing young wrestlers for the demands of college competition.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for more conversations with strength coaches, athletes, and coaches working to develop better athletes.#VoodooPower #JeremyHartman #PeytonHornsby #Wrestling #WrestlingStrength #StrengthAndConditioning #HighSchoolWrestling #CollegeWrestling #WrestlingTraining #Powerlifting #AthleticDevelopmenthttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Voodoo Power, Steven Thompson sits down with Chris Greene for a deep conversation about strength and conditioning, football performance, conjugate training, speed development, powerlifting, athletic development, and building better athletes.Chris Greene shares his journey into the conjugate training system, including the influence of Westside Barbell and how he adapted conjugate principles for different sports and athletes. The conversation explores how strength coaches can take proven training concepts and apply them to the realities of high school and college athletics.A major focus is football strength and conditioning, particularly developing offensive and defensive linemen. Chris and Steven discuss acceleration, first-step quickness, football stances, footwork, repetition, deep practice, sled pushes and drags, dynamic effort training, rate of force development, and the importance of teaching athletes to move efficiently.They also examine the challenges of developing younger athletes who may arrive at the high school level without strong movement foundations. Chris explains his vision for a long-term athletic development model that begins in middle school and develops athletes through high school, with an emphasis on teaching positions, acceleration, hip strength, and fundamental movement skills.The conversation also covers Chris’s experience developing a high school powerlifting program and creating opportunities for athletes who may not have traditionally participated in strength sports. They discuss athlete autonomy, deadlift and clean variations, proper technique, strength development, and the growing connection between high school powerlifting and college opportunities.One of the most interesting sections focuses on the relationship between the adductor magnus, hip strength, sprinting, and hamstring injuries. Chris explains his research and how it has influenced his programming, including Copenhagen exercises, hip isometrics, step-ups, sled work, and other methods for developing stronger hips and adductors.Steven and Chris also discuss velocity-based training, sprint timing systems, acceleration testing, step-up exercises and sprint mechanics, multi-sport athletes, and how coaches can use technology and data without losing sight of fundamental coaching.Topics covered include:• Strength and conditioning for high school athletes• Football strength training• Conjugate training• Westside Barbell• Speed and acceleration development• Offensive line training• Sprint mechanics• 5–10 meter acceleration• Rate of force development• Sled pushes and sled drags• Dynamic effort training• Long-term athletic development• Middle school athletic development• High school powerlifting• Athlete autonomy• Adductor magnus training• Hip strength• Hamstring injury prevention• Copenhagen planks and Copenhagen squats• Step-ups and sprint mechanics• Velocity-based training (VBT)• Sprint timing systems• Multi-sport athletes• Football player development• Strength coach educationThis is a conversation for strength coaches, football coaches, athletic trainers, athletes, and anyone interested in developing stronger, faster, more complete athletes.Subscribe to Voodoo Power for more conversations with strength coaches, athletes, and coaches from across the strength and performance world.#VoodooPower #ChrisGreene #StrengthAndConditioning #FootballStrengthTraining #ConjugateTraining #SpeedTraining #AthleticDevelopment #Powerlifting #Acceleration #HipStrength #HamstringInjuryPrevention #VelocityBasedTraininghttps://youtube.com/@platesandpancakes4593https://instagram.com/voodoo4power?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://voodoo4ranch.com/To possibly be a guest or support the show email [email protected]://www.paypal.com/paypalme/voodoo4ranch