EMORY, Va. – Mike Caro's reputation in the strength and conditioning community is growing, and that popularity has led to a busy spring and summer.
It started in March with the release of the book "Weight Room Wisdom: Lessons In Leadership From 99 Strength Coaches" in which Caro was one of the featured authors in the book. The book is a collection of inspirational stories from 99 of the top strength and conditioning coaches in the world. A description of the book calls it "a combination of metaphorical, experiential, and personal stories the coaches have used to inspire their athletes for years. This book is for any coach that aspires to make an impact on their athletes' life." Caro's writings focused on the importance of doing quality work, while not accepting subpar performances and how athletes and coaches can make the conscious decision to choose to be great at their endeavors. This book quickly became an Amazon bestseller.
RELATED: Purchase "Weight Room Wisdom: Lessons In Leadership From 99 Strength Coaches"
Caro also penned the first chapter in a book that serves as a step-by-step guide to helping organizations through the process of hiring an assistant strength and conditioning coach. Caro's contribution to "Strength Coach's Complete Guide to Hiring" focused on how to tell when the timing is right to hire an assistant strength and conditioning coach and how to begin the search. The e-book also features former E&H Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Josh Bullock.
In April, Caro presented at the Kentucky National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) State Clinic at Centre College. Caro's presentation on "A Versatile, Evidence-Based Programming System for Busy Strength & Conditioning Coaches" focused on the system he has implemented at the College and the updates he is implementing as the strength and conditioning program grows.
Caro previously presented at the National Strength and Conditioning Association's National Coaches Conference in 2018, sharing research he conducted on the "Performance and Body Composition Changes from Four Weeks of Modified APRE 10 Lifting Program in Division III Basketball Players" in collaboration with researchers from the University of Missouri-Columbia and Eastern Kentucky University. This research showed how modifications to a common strength and conditioning programming method could be used to increase performance improvements for athletes.
Caro currently serves as the chairperson of the College Coaches Special Interest Group for the NSCA. While at the conference, he sat down for an interview with Scott Caulfield, the NSCA's Head Strength Coach/Coaching Education Manager, as a part of the NSCA's Coaching Podcast. In the episode, he discussed his journey into the field, passion for his work, and how future professionals can prepare for job opportunities and interviews.
RELATED: NSCA Coaching Podcast with Mike Caro
Caro also recently sat down with the "Big Time Strength" podcast that features small school strength and conditioning coaches that are providing big-time results.
In the episode, Caro covered topics like running a strength and conditioning department and fitness center at the same time, hiring and managing staff, establishing and reinforcing the right culture, and how to work with high achieving, academically driven student-athletes.
"The field of strength and conditioning is still relatively young," said Caro. "Through speaking engagements and media opportunities, I want to help the strength and conditioning community by sharing information and lessons I've learned over my career. It also gives me the opportunity to show what a special place Emory & Henry college is thanks to the focus that the coaches and administration have on the well-being and performance development of our student athletes."
RELATED: Big Time Strength Podcast Featuring Caro
Caro is entering his third year as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Emory & Henry College. Before joining the E&H coaching staff, Caro spent three years as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.
He holds a master's degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the National Academy of Sports Medicine, the National Association of Speed & Explosion, USA Weightlifting, and the American Red Cross.
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