COACH DAVE DOWNEY
My name is Dave Downey, and I have been a strength and conditioning coach since 2013. I’ve been in every position from Division 1 to Division 3, Volunteer to Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance. I’ve seen great departments run with compassion and innovation and others that do not. As strength coaches, we need to find a way to combat this negativity wherever we are, and it starts with working on ourselves. We cannot pour from an empty vessel.
BE THE COACH YOU KNOW YOU CAN BE
This book dives into my experience coming up through the field to cast a light on the reality of working for a T-shirt. Our jobs are full of rejection and failure, and the turnover rate is incredible. We all have friends and colleagues who have struggled to find work or left the field altogether. By sharing this experience in my own life, I hope to build a culture that no longer allows it. We will touch on mental health issues, focusing on imposter syndrome, rejection, and lack of consistent evaluation. After that, we visit positive psychology and leadership strategies that will combat the feelings of imposter syndrome.
IT’S A BOOK THAT VETERAN STRENGTH COACHES SHOULD READ AS A WAKE UP CALL AND THAT YOUNG COACHES SHOULD READ TO BUILD THE CULTURE WE NEED.
Tony Paiva
IT HAS A SOLID BALANCE OF PERSONAL STORY, BUT ALSO STRAIGHT APPLICABLE INFORMATION.
Sam Cutrone
FAQ
WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?
This book is for anyone in the college athletics coaching ranks or those looking to get their start in the field. There are a lot of parallels in strength and conditioning, sport coaching, administration, and athletic training. So, even if you are not a strength coach, you can still gain some insight. Know what to look out for in yourselves or your staff and create a real positive impact on the mental health of those around you!
WHAT MAKES YOU AN AUTHORITY?
Fair point. I have been in this industry in some capacity since 2013. I have held positions from the bottom to the top of the ranks. My Bachelor’s Degree is in Exercise Science, and I have a master’s Degree in Positive Coaching from Mizzou. I’ve coached children to professional athletes and have had dozens of bosses and leaders in different organizations, each with a unique culture. Learning how to thrive in each one has led me to believe that there is a gap in our field that this book looks to address.
IS THIS WORTH READING?
Everything is worth what you are willing to put in. If you want to read it and be done, go for it. But at the end of the book, there are included worksheets and character surveys that will allow you to dig deeper into your “why.” Creating your own structured leadership philosophy tailored to your character strengths will give you more confidence running a room and more tools during interviews.
WHAT’S NEXT
I have no idea; if this book does well, and coaches want to hear more, I’ll be thrilled to write another book. I am not a significant social media presence and have no intention of being one. You are more than welcome to follow me or even reach out on Instagram @davecdowney, but you’ll see pictures of weird animals and some of me. Enjoy
Invest in Yourself
Imposter Coach Paperback Book
Concepts and strategies for mental health in strength and conditioning