ABOUT THIS EPISODE
The biggest risk for an experienced strength coach isn't a lack of knowledge — it's becoming trapped by what worked in the past. When training becomes driven by routines, data, ego, or outdated beliefs, athletes can pay the price.
In Part 1 of this conversation, Tom sits down with legendary strength coach Joe “Big House” Kenn to unpack what it really takes to stay relevant after decades in the profession. From getting fired and learning from failure to training intensity, athlete individuality, collaboration, and knowing when to change your own system, Joe shares the lessons that have shaped more than 35 years of coaching at the collegiate and professional levels.
In This Episode, You'll Learn
- Why coaches can become trapped by the systems that originally made them successful
- Why winning, not simply avoiding injuries, has to remain central in team-sport performance
- How to balance athlete protection with the intensity required to actually perform
- Why individual athletes can't be managed by averages, data, or position-group norms alone
- How strength coaches, physios, sports scientists, and other specialists can collaborate without letting ego get in the way
- Why experimenting, admitting mistakes, and changing your programming are essential to staying relevant
This episode is for strength coaches, physiotherapists, performance coaches, clinicians, and high-performance professionals who want to make better decisions for the athletes they serve.
Timestamps
00:00 — Why Great Coaches Can't Get Stuck
01:22 — How Getting Fired Can Make You a Better Coach
03:00 — Winning vs. Injury Prevention
06:22 — Learning From Failure and Taking Responsibility
13:20 — How Strength & Conditioning Has Evolved
16:57 — The Problem With Treating Athletes Like Averages
18:08 — Collaboration vs. Professional Ego
23:04 — When Data and Athlete Monitoring Go Too Far
29:48 — What Happens When You're the Expert?
31:41 — Why Coaches Need to Experiment and Adapt
Connect with Joe:
📸 Instagram – @bighousepower
📸 Instagram – @dynamic_fitness_and_strength
🌐 Website – bighousepower.com
🔴 YouTube – @bhpcoachjoekenn
🔗 LinkedIn – Joe Kenn
🎓 Sponsored by the Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) Certification
The Advanced Movement Therapist (AMT) System helps clinicians and performance coaches stop guessing, understand the nervous system and identify the root cause of pain so they can deliver more consistent results — faster.
👉 Learn more at https://www.amtcertified.ca
#StrengthAndConditioning #StrengthCoach #SportsPerformance #AthleteDevelopment #PerformanceCoach #SportsScience #InjuryPrevention #HighPerformance #Coaching #JoeKenn #BigHousePower #StayingRelevant
