The Pig Pen

Persistence at its finest. Find out how law man turned pro wrestler did / does it. J ☀️ has been a friend of mine since I’ve been in coaching and once again he drops so much knowledge and such a great depth with his perspective on life. Incredible episode that I’ve listened to 3 times already. Hope ya’ll enjoy!

Today we are joined by Eastern Michigan’s Assistant Director of Marketing, Meg Szabo! Meg jumps in the Pen to talk about her days at Akron, her current role with EMU and much more on today’s episode.#GoZips! 💪🏾🦘

I mean I can’t think of a better name for a facility. And today we have the Director of Sports Performance, Coach James Young, joining the Pig Pen. Listen to two old men relish in the old ways as we talk training, today’s land scape and even mention a blast from the past 👀

We back! Join us today as Coach Kalil talks about his battles with cancer, his coaching style and how conjugate helped save his life (literally). Coach Kalil is a former pro baller who found his love for the weight room transcending into his full time career. Kalil also is the founder of the Conjugate seminar started way back in 2019 and about to make it’s return 👀Big round of applause for coach, survivor and good friend Kalil Sherrod!

Avengers…ASSSEMBLE! Ya’ll know the names, Coach Praise and Coach SJ are back in the Pig Pen dropping some fuego knowledge bombs! We even share the secret to striking out the legendary Babe Ruth 👀

This episode has a WHOLE LOTTA GATA! Welcome to the Pig Pen where today my buddy and Alabama’s so social content specialist, Mr. Austin Mitchell joins the show! Prior to Alabama, Austin spent time down in Ole Miss working with Ole Miss working with their football team on the production of their tv show. Though, I think it’s safe to say that he is most famously know as one of the founding members of GATALyfestyle. I won’t give everything away, you’ll just have to listen to this awesome talk about leadership, social media, and of course the culture of being a TRUE BLUE GS Man! #GATA

Special episode and a true honor to have a gold medalist swimmer share her journey and insight into what it takes to be great. Maddy is a University of Akron swim alumn. She has won golds on a NCAA level, national level and in the game of life. She has competed (and medaled) at the Pan American games while also competing at the NCAA’s during her college swim career. Was a pleasure to bring such an accomplished former athlete / current alumni onto the podcast.Ya’ll get up and cheer for the legacy that is Maddy Gatrall!!!!

Today Coach Jill Brown jumps in the Pig Pen!Coach Brown is an athletic performance coach at Elevate U. Prior to joining the Elevate U team, Jill was a seasoned veteran at the college sector serving as the Director of Athletic Performance at Jewell College.Coach Brown played her college volleyball at Missisppi College where she was coached by THE Carissa Bell and almost just as notable, Coach Brown served as an intern for the legacy Kentucky intern dynasty. Welcome our guest, Jill Brown!

This next guest to the podcast needs no introduction but imma give him one anyway.Bill Miller is a legend in the field of baseball. He has been a pioneer in many aspects of how baseball is trained today. If you aren’t reading his posts, books and listening to the podcast he’s been on then you’re behind. I’ve been a fan of Bill’s for years and am truly blessed that he was able to join the Pig Pen. I won’t keep ya’ll waiting any longer. Enjoy!

Today’s episode doesn’t need a big introduction. Today we give you a glimpse into baseball that most people don’t often see. A look behind the curtain on what it means to truly have a process oriented mindset.Today current Charles Dirty Birds Pitcher, Frank Moscatiello joins the Pig Pen! Frank is a 2x Frontier League All Star, Reliever of the Year and a 3x Frontier League Champion. He brings to the Pig Pen a phenomenal perspective on life, baseball and the make up of what is a good pitcher. Let’s cook!

Ya’ll (Georgia guy now) we bring to the Pig Pen an absolute champion in Coach Jon Davis!Coach Jon is the assistant strength coach for the Tulane Green Wave and has spent time in both the WNBA and NBA. He is the man when it comes to all things health, function and performance.If you haven’t seen his IG account then you need to be living off it but more importantly you really need to be listening to the knowledge bombs dropping on this episode of the podcast!

Welcome ladies and gentlemen to another Fuego episode of the Pig Pen. Today’s guest is Coach Tyghe Healy!Coach Ty is an assistant sports performance coach at Oral Roberts working with baseball, men’s soccer and tennis. Coach has also spent some time at Merrimack college and Boston College in the strength game. This episode is packed full of a lot of punches and I am very excited to bring to you another powerful episode. And in my opinion Coach Ty is one of the better young coaches out there in the industry so make sure to take notes!

Today I’m joined by the Director of Sports Performance for VB, W.Soc and X Country at South Alabama… Coach Katie Forage! This episode goes deep. We talk marriage, pregnancy, life goals, technology and changes happening in the college athletic landscape. Sit back and enjoy the episode with the girl from the Dirty T, Coach Katie!

Today we are joined by Coach Kacie Allison! Coach Allison is the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Bowling Green State University working with w.soccer, basketball, softball and golf. Prior she worked at THE Elon as well as UIS. Coach Kacie also has some years of college softball playing experience under her belt. I won’t give everything away but she is a stud young coach who brings a TON of great information to this episode. Look forward to ya’ll hearing it. Also, we love MACtion!!!!

What better way to kick the month off. Hear the story of a true inspirational leader, Elizabeth May. She has worn many hats but the one she wears with most pride is mother of two beautiful boys. Miss May is a business woman, a manager, an influencer, a content creator and an accomplished world traveler.I loved doing this episode and was writing down notes the entire time. Have you pen and paper out because we discuss everything from music to potty training routines.

In today’s episode we sit down with Coach Zuza. She is currently the Assistant Athletic Performance Coach at UCLA. She works with some pretty big hitters as well: volleyball, softball and golf. Prior to UCLA, Zuza worked with me at MTSU. She also has worked overseas in pro sports for many years before making her way to the states.This episode is packed with a ton of deep rooted knowledge bombs that I have relistened to three times already. Great information for anyone on the path to being the best version of themselves. Enjoy!

Today I get to sit down with former App State Pitching coach and current OGX Pitching Coach, Natalie Ruechel!!! And like the episode states, we really get to see why OGX is in a league of their own (clever huh?). Coach Nat talks in depth about her vast experiences and journey through the softball world while expanding on what makes OGX so elite and so unique in this industry. It was great to hear more about their processes in depth.We also dive into learned vulnerability and how at some point we both had to let the wave of scary wash over us. Big round of applause for our guest, Coach Natalie Ruechel!

Tune is as I welcome current student assistant Grace Crane joins the podcast. Grace is a former thrower at the University of Akron and has a great story to tell. Ya’ll gonna enjoy this one. Currently Grace is working as a student assistant AT with the football team continuing her involvement in sport post playing career. She’s also a Hog Performance Trainee! Super pumped to welcome the Canton LEGEND, and former UA Track Star, Grace Crane!

Rodney Hill enters his second season with the Gators after joining the program in the role of Director of Player Athletic Development ahead of the 2024 season.Hill arrives to Gainesville after spending the last two seasons at Arkansas (2023) and Duke (2022) in the position of assistant director of sports performance, working primarily with the football program.Prior to Duke, Hill was at LSU in 2021 as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for football. While in Baton Rouge, Hill oversaw the Tigers’ lifting, running, and mobility training programs, specifically for the offensive line and tight ends groups. He also used velocity-based training systems (perch), global positioning systems and heart rate monitor (polar) technologies to collect, monitor, and report findings in athlete training and help monitor the athlete’s physiological and mechanical outputs.Rodney is most importantly a guy I consider a good friend so let’s give him a warm welcome to the Pig Pen!

Former Phoenix Mercury and Arizona Wildcats, Sam Thomas joins the show. Sam was the originator of NIL and used her fame to now only ride on private jets but start her own business as well! Sam is a good friend, a very accomplished athlete (having played in the National Championship) and more than all of that: just generally awesome!Thanks for being on the show and can’t wait to dive into this story!

Part 2 of this phenomenal story of grit and determination…and sliders made of pure filth! Enjoy!

Last week was splitters and sweepers. Today we talk queso and sliders. Follow along as we dive into Jack’s career as he gives an in depth dive on life of a former professional. From highschool to recruiting to college and his career comeback. This was definitely a unique experience being able to hear his story. Welcome to the podcast former Mariners sides arm pitcher and forever ISU alumni Jack Parisi!

Chris Langin is the Owner, Founder and Director of Pitching at Unfiltered. He has been in the game developing high level athletes and coaches for years. Chris has also been a part of the development of 50+ MLB Pitchers and 3 Cy Young Winners. His list of clients includes Shane Bieber, Sean Manaea, Joe Ryan and more. This is definitely one of those episodes you listen to on repeat and then come back to learn more from. Welcome THE chill guy himself to the Pig Pen, Chris Langin!

Coach Reina is the AA hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox. Johnny comes to the Red Sox after spending time as a hitting skills trainer at Driveline Baseball. Johnny is also an accomplished author having written two books: the Secret Arts Within The Game and The Eyes of Baseball. Johnny is also a buddy of mine who brought great vibes to work everyday. I enjoyed the time we worked together and love seeing him living his dream. Enjoy the story because it covers everything from bat speed to my free agent offer.

Chris Martin, former Houston Astros Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator since November 2023, was hired as the LSU Baseball Strength and Conditioning Coach in August 2024.Martin spent six seasons in various roles in the Astros organization, most recently as Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. His work has been distinguished by a strong passion for developing players and maximizing their on-field performance.Let the Akron, Kent Rivalry reignite in this episode of the Pig Pen Podcast!

Coach Jamie Burleson is the Director of Baseball S&C at Florida State. Burleson came to FSU from the University of Central Florida, where he was the assistant sports performance coach for the Knights’ baseball, track and field and tennis programs. Prior to his time in Orlando, Burleson was at Penn State for three seasons and spent a season at Florida in 2012 as an assistant strength coach for baseball, softball and football.Burleson earned his Master’s degree in physical education from South Carolina in 2012. He worked as a graduate assistant for the Gamecocks in all sports from 2010-12.Let’s all give it up for Jamie Burleson!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. Welcome our next guest Coach Cheyenne Pump! She is currently the assistant strength coach at Wofford College working with multiple teams and assisting with football. She comes to the podcast with the greatest last name in S&C history.Please give a round of applause to Coach Pump!

Terry is a Physical Therapist with over 15 years of professional experience. He was the on-site physical therapist at Driveline Baseball from 2016-2022. After spending a few years in the general population setting, he opened up his own private practice, Phillips Rehab and Performance. A practice that is focused on getting baseball and softball players of all types healthy and performing to their best capabilities.Welcome to the show THE Terry Phillips!

Evan Weinstein is a skilled Strength and Conditioning Coach with a passion for optimizing athletic performance. Based in Chester, PA, he holds an M.S. in Performance Enhancement, Injury Prevention, and Nutrition from California University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Exercise Science from SUNY Cortland. Evan is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.Currently, Evan serves as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Delaware, designing training programs for multiple varsity teams and mentoring interns. He has prior experience at SUNY Cortland and Coastal Carolina University, where he developed sport-specific strength programs and collaborated with sports medicine staff to support athlete rehabilitation. With a focus on evidence-based techniques and teamwork, Evan is committed to fostering peak performance while prioritizing injury prevention and athlete well-being.Round of applause for the man, the legend, and possibly the hardest last name in the history of this podcast; Coach Evan!

Join us as we bring to the stage former MTSU and current Delaware Blue Hen, Claire Woods! Claire is a former player of mine who was always the fire starter and energy in the weight room. Claire has been a SAAC President as well as an NCAA committee member during her young career and one day will be my next boss when she’s the AD at UT. Let the line dancing and K’s begin, ladies and gentlemen, Woodsy!

Nathan Jones Owner of Elevation Athletic Performance in Cassville, MO works with primarily baseball and softball players in the southwest MO area bringing a level of performance and training that is unmatched in small town USA.Ready to talk about training, deep dives into conjugate and the American way with Coach Jones!

Michael Fahey vs The Time Travels part 2 of our two part series! Dial in ladies and gentlemen

This is one of the most impactful meetings I’ve had. Stopped everything I was doing to edit and get this podcast to ya’ll. Our guest tonight is Coach Aaron Rouselle. He is not only a cancer survivor but a 2x liver transplants recipient. He founded Brig Baseball & Diamond Minds. He is a baseball nerd, a father and THE Grandpa of Juco.Ya’ll give it up for one of the most powerful dudes I’ve ever met, Aaron Rouselle.

Daniel is the owner of “The Facility Sports Performance” and a certified personal trainer based in the Bay Area, California. He earned a degree in kinesiology from Cal State University East Bay while also interning at prestigious institutions like Stanford University and the University of Arizona, gaining extensive experience in strength training, functional fitness, and personalized workout programs. Daniel has also earned certifications through DBC Fitness, further enhancing his expertise in biomechanics and movement efficiency.Welcome to the show, Danny Boy!

Praise joins Connected Performance after serving as the Lander University pitching coach in the 2021 season. Throughout his coaching tenure Praise has developed multiple draft prospects and trained athletes ranging from the high school to professional level. Prior to Lander Praise served as a throwing instructor at the Florida Baseball Armory digesting analytic reports, biomechanical breakdowns, movement assessments, and implementing strength, throwing, and mobility programs. During his playing career at Lander, Praise trained himself to jump from the low 80’s to finishing his career sitting 90-92 mph.Super excited for this one ya’ll!

SJ MousseauCurrent pitching coach at St Cloud State University, former Driveline and Push Performance throwing trainer. Sj played baseball at the DII, DIII, and junior college level .He is on the road to side arm 90 pulldowns and someone I consider a great friend and confidant. Let’s welcome SJ or Coach Mooose for episode 3 of the Pig Pen Podcast!

Get ready to go down the rabbit hole ladies and gentlemen. In a two part series we travel to never ever land with Michael Fahey. Michael Fahey is the director/producer/editor of the West Side vs The World film. He also has worked on the award winning documentary Forks Over Knives. Coach Fahey trains many different athletes in the high school sector as well. Michael is also the man behind OVR Performance. The affordable technology that is taking the market by storm 🫡Welcome to the podcast, Producer/Coach/Director/ Man Weary of Time Travelers… Michael Fahey!

Nate Marko is a seasoned baseball professional with experience as a Hitting Trainer at Driveline Baseball, where he developed and implemented data-driven hitting programs for athletes. He has also served as the Director of Hitting at a training facility in Pittsburgh, focusing on player development and performance optimization. Additionally, Nate was an Assistant Coach for the Steel City Slammin' Sammies, an independent team, and has worked with both the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. His diverse background in coaching, player development, and analytics has helped him build a comprehensive approach to developing high-level talent.Welcome to episode 2 of the greatest podcast you’ve just heard of!

THE FIRST EVER TUESDAY WITH TONY! Starring our host Tony Rouse who’s spent time as a strength coach from the HS level, to Alabama, to the Bills. Tony was most recently an assistant at MTSU before returning home to take a HS strength position in Indiana. This Tuesday serves as an introductory to the Wild West of weekly podcast. Without further ado here’s Tony.

John Delf is the Head Strength Coach at Piedmont Univerity where he’s been the first ever strength coach for the last 3.5 years. Coach Delf also has spent 2.5 years at Shorter and Univerity of Illinois-Springfield, respectfully. He also has had experience with running his own training facility in Illinois for 12 months before making his way back to Georgia via Piedmont University. John played D3 football and basketball at Berry College where he won 3 conference championships. Episode 1, let’s ride!