Why I Became A Coach
My journey to becoming a strength coach began early in my university career at Acadia, and it almost ended before it ever started. In 2011, a few months after I packed up and moved to Wolfville, Nova Scotia I lost my uncle unexpectedly to an incident that left him with severe head trauma that he did not recover from. I contemplated leaving school to be home with my family but thankfully I have supportive family, friends and coaches who helped me to keep going. Being home for my uncle’s funeral I noticed one thing in particular after speaking with many of those who knew him, that he had a tremendous impact on the lives of those around him. The amount of people who came to pay their respects was overwhelming and proved to me what I already knew about him, he was an amazing person who touched the lives of everyone he knew. From that day forward I vowed to look to impact others, just like he did, just like my parents and family members continue to do.
In 2012 I decided that my avenue to impact others was through a career as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. You see, I am not the biggest, fastest or most physically gifted athlete that has ever graced the gridiron, I had to work extremely hard just to compete. My dedication in the weight room quickly became a passion and something I spent most of my free time studying and practicing. I heavily relied on the coaching I received and being proficient in my technique as I didn’t have that natural raw ability and strength that others had. Having been a part of the Axemen football team introduced me to training with a coach and truly understanding the impact a coach can have on an athlete’s life, both on and off the field or court.
Having a great strength coach to learn from and be mentored by played a huge part in my development as a coach, and is in large part why I am in the position I am today. With guidance, early in my education from Elliott Richardson, Dr. Jonathon Fowles and Dr. Said McKery, I have been fortunate to have been taught not only the science behind training but also how to effectively deliver that information in a way that can have a true impact on others.
In the 7 years since I started my journey of becoming a coach, I have been able to share my passion and help hundreds of people. From athletes to rehab clients and everyone in between, my experience both throughout my time at Acadia, and the time since graduation I have been able to impact a diverse array of individuals. Having the ability to help others achieve their goals and positively impact their lives through training has been my driving force to become the best coach possible.
My goal is and always will be, impact over influence.
“Success is not measured in the amount of dollars you make, but the amount of lives you impact”
Dylan
