More than 60 K-12 coaches from across Oklahoma attend a strength and conditioning clinic on campus.

HPNRI and OSU Athletics host K-12 strength and conditioning clinic

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Media Contact: Cody Cramer | The Innovation Foundation at OSU | 405-613-2838 | ccramer@okstate.edu

The Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute collaborated with Oklahoma State University Athletics to host a strength and conditioning clinic for more than 60 K-12 coaches from across Oklahoma last week.

Rob Glass, OSU assistant athletic director, led the class with his expertise in strength and conditioning programs.

Coaches and athletic directors of rural and urban high schools attended the clinic to learn about movement preparation, dynamic stretches and lifting techniques.

“I liked how Coach Glass talked about some of the [workout] programs and how they structure it to set up throughout the year for in-season and offseason. I took a lot from that,” said Harry Wright, Bartlesville High School assistant athletic director and football coach.

Attendees tour the Boone Pickens Stadium facilities as well as demonstrations within the Sherman E. Smith Training Center and Cowboy football weight room.

The workshop aimed to equip coaches and athletic programs with technical and practical applications to enable their athletes to perform at a higher level and create a healthier Oklahoma. Attendees spent time touring the Boone Pickens Stadium facilities as well as demonstrations within the Sherman E. Smith Training Center and Cowboy football weight room.

"HPNRI is thrilled to collaborate with Coach Rob Glass and the OSU Athletics Strength and Conditioning Program to extend OSU's expertise beyond campus and give back to communities across Oklahoma,” said Melenda Knight, HPNRI associate director. “By sharing the best in strength and conditioning, we aim to empower coaches, athletes and schools statewide with the knowledge and resources to elevate performance, help mitigate injury risk and build a stronger, healthier future for our state.”

Strength and conditioning goes beyond athletic performance and injury prevention. Creating and implementing healthy habits at a young age directs the trajectory of habits into the athletes’ adult years.

“Lifting is for everyone, not just elite athletes. It starts when they are young, and as long as you are teaching proper technique — anything can be accomplished,” said Stephanie Riley, fast-pitch and slow-pitch softball coach at Moore High School.