2026 NHSSCA Arkansas State Clinic

12:15-12:55 pm – CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION + LUNCH PROVIDED

More Than a Meal, It’s a Networking Opportunity: Lunch at the NHSSCA Clinic is not just about grabbing a plate and catching up with your usual circle. It’s a chance to collaborate, share, and expand your professional network. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or just stepping into the field of high school strength and conditioning, this is your moment to connect with coaches who inspire, mentor, and challenge you to grow.

If you leave this clinic without making at least one new connection, you’ve missed an incredible opportunity to grow professionally and personally. The NHSSCA is more than an organization—it’s a #FAMILY, built on shared knowledge, support, and a commitment to making each other better.

So, don’t just eat—engage, listen, and learn. The people sitting around you might change how you approach coaching forever. Let’s make this lunch one to remember! #NHSSCA #FAMILY #CoachingConnections #GrowYourNetwork

1:00-1:10 am – WELCOME
Overview of Day’s Activities & Presentations

1:10-2:10 pm – LECTURE
In-Season Training for the High School Athlete by John Simmons

OVERVIEW: As teams transition from the offseason to the in-season, the focus shifts from preparation to performance. Unfortunately, many sports coaches will opt for more practice time and completely neglect the weight room. During this presentation, attendees will not only gain further understanding of the importance for inseason training, but also special considerations when dealing with different sports and their respective competitive seasons. We will also touch on the importance for multi-sport athletes, return-to-play protocols for injured athletes, and specific progressions for gameday lifts.

PRESENTER BIO: John Simmons has been coaching in the field of Strength & Conditioning since 2007. With experience in the private sector, collegiate, and scholastic levels, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the Marion School District. Currently, he oversees the programming and implementation of all 30 teams from 7th to 12th grade. He also draws on his experiences as a former collegiate/arena football player, weightlifter, strongman, and Highland Games athlete to help develop athletes to their fullest potential. Coach Simmons was named the NHSSCA Arkansas State Coach of the Year in 2023, as well as the NHSSCA Southwest Regional Coach of the Year in 2024. He holds certifications through the NSCA, USA Weightlifting, and USA Track & Field. He resides in Marion, AR, with his wife, Chastity, and his two children, Cash and Kylen.

2:15-3:15 am – LECTURE
Yearly Plan for Speed and Strength Development by Nathan Moreland

OVERVIEW: This presentation will highlight how the Greenbrier Panther Football and Athletic Performance programs plan and develop speed and strength year-round. It will break down how we build and progress speed, agility, and strength in the offseason, summer, and in-season phases to continually improve performance. The goal is to show how structured planning, consistent training, and intentional progressions help athletes develop throughout the entire year while supporting long-term development, durability, and success across football and all athletic programs.

PRESENTER BIO: Coach Moreland graduated from Harding University in 2007 with both a B.S. and M.Ed. in Kinesiology. He is married to his wife, Jessica, and together they have twin 9-year-old boys. He is currently in his 18th year of coaching at Greenbrier High School, working with the Football and Boys’ Track programs. This is his 12th year leading the Strength and Conditioning program for football and his 4th year implementing Athletic Performance classes designed to support and elevate all athletic programs.

3:20-4:20 pm – LECTURE
Speed School: Positively Impacting a Community by Austin Warford

OVERVIEW: In this presentation, Coach Warford will share how Speed School has positively impacted athletes, the school district, and the surrounding community. He will highlight noticeable improvements in confidence, performance, injury resilience, and overall athletic development. He will also explain the benefits of speed training and why it is a crucial component for success in every sport—not just track and field. Finally, he will walk through the drills, methods, and tools he uses to train and develop speed safely, intentionally, and effectively, helping athletes grow, stay healthy, and reach their full potential year after year.

PRESENTER BIO: Coach Warford graduated from OBU with a BSE in Kinesiology, where he also played football for the Tigers. He has been coaching for 8 years and was selected as the Malvern School District Teacher of the Year in 2022-2023. Coach Warford serves as the Head of Strength and Conditioning at Malvern High School. During his tenure, he has been an assistant coach in football, softball, soccer, and track and field.

4:25-5:25 pm – LECTURE
Training Multi-Sport Athletes Year-Round by Matt Rhodes

OVERVIEW: With so many athletes playing multiple sports or participating in both high school and club programs, the concept of a true off-season has almost disappeared. While traditional off-season and in-season training cycles still matter, they often don’t align with the constantly changing schedules today’s high school athletes face. This creates challenges when trying to build strength, speed, and durability without overwhelming them. In this presentation, I’ll share how I adapt training to meet this reality and keep athletes progressing year-round.

PRESENTER BIO: Matt Rhodes brings 10 years of experience in college strength and conditioning, including 3 years coaching college football and 4 years building and leading a high school strength program from the ground up. A competitive powerlifter, he boasts a 275-pound squat, 308-pound deadlift, and SHW bench. As an athlete, Matt excelled in two sports at the college level and three at the high school level, combining performance expertise with first-hand athletic experience.

5:30-6:00 pm – ROUNDTABLE

6:00-6:10 pm – CLOSING REMARKS