Talkin' Pitt #53 "Intern Development, Conditioning Truths, and Making the Weight Room Fun” - Kevin Deitz - University of Cincinnati

Today on Talkin’ Pitt, Devin sits down with Kevin Deitz (University of Cincinnati) for a candid conversation about coaching with purpose and clarity. Kevin shares why he’s fallen back in love with learning (hello, early-morning reading blocks) and what he’s discovered since taking over the Bearcats’ internship program from recording Zoom lectures and “lab” videos (Perch setups, technique demos) to simplifying the curriculum and meeting students where they are. They dig into conditioning realities across field sports: why every athlete needs some aerobic base, where tests like the Yo-Yo vs. Beep fit, and how to separate “not fit enough” from “we got outplayed”. Kevin walks through his in-season soccer microdose approach, which includes timing gates every Tuesday to chase 95%+ top speed, low-volume sprint exposures, daily on-field plyometrics matched to practice demands, and option-based lifts (1–3) that give athletes autonomy while maintaining high standards.   Beyond sets and reps, Kevin’s coaching philosophy centers on kindness, authenticity, and joy: crank the music, let athletes choose wisely, educate them on the “why,” and build an environment where smiles make you stronger. The episode concludes with quick hitters (favorite dessert, perfect day off, a must-try Cincy spot) and one piece of advice Kevin would give his 18-year-old self: grow up, zoom out, and value what truly matters —relationships, sanity, and impact. Highlights Rebooting an internship program: Zoom lectures + recorded labs, clearer basics, better videos, less overwhelm Testing ≠ the sport: using tests to profile qualities, then preparing with actual soccer demands Speed in season: two timed sprints weekly, PR-chasing with sensible cutoffs, daily plyos organized by vector Autonomy with guardrails: optioned lifts (recovery → get-after-it) based on minutes and readiness Coaching ethos: reduce ego, increase empathy; make the room fun so athletes want to train   Teambuildr Trail Code Use code PITT at checkout.   Pitt Sports Performance Instagram @pitt_sportsperformance   Pitt Sports Performance Twitter @pitt_science                                                                          Austin Kevin Deitz Email: [email protected] Instagram @kevin_deitz     Music Credit Music Unlimited, “The Podcast Intro.”