2026 NHSSCA Idaho State Clinic

8:00-9:00 am – CHECK-IN/REGISTRATION

9:00-9:15 am – WELCOME
Overview of Day’s Activities & Presentations

9:15-10:30 am – LECTURE
Culture & Leadership by Armando Gonzalez

OVERVIEW: Armando Gonzalez is the head football coach at Rigby High School and a 5x Idaho state champion, widely regarded as an expert in building elite culture and sustainable championship-level programs. He holds a master’s degree in Leadership Studies from Vanguard University of Southern California. He will speak on building sustainable culture and leadership. He is the founder of Cornerstone Coaching, providing consulting for small businesses and high school sports programs drawing on his career-long work in organizational development.

10:45 am-12:00 pm – LECTURE
Nutrition and Performance by Natalie Christensen

OVERVIEW: Natalie Christensen, a registered dietitian at Idaho State University, will present on how intentional nutrition can enhance athletic performance at every level, from developing middle school athletes to elite collegiate competitors. Drawing on her experience working with a wide range of sports, she will break down the fundamentals of fueling for training, competition, and recovery in a practical, easy-to-implement way. Coaches and athletes will learn how to structure meals and snacks around practice times, understand hydration needs, and avoid common nutrition mistakes that limit performance. This session is designed so any coach—regardless of sport or background—can walk away with clear strategies to help their athletes feel better, perform better, and recover faster.

12:00-1:00 pm – 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

1:00-2:15 pm – LECTURE
Training For Performance by Brandon Rodewald

OVERVIEW: Brandon Rodewald, a strength and conditioning coach at Idaho State University, will present on how to train for performance at any level, from developing youth athletes to advanced collegiate competitors. In this session, he will outline key principles of effective program design, including how to build strength, power, and movement quality in ways that transfer to sport. Coaches will learn how to train their athletes around the big rocks that shape performance, seasons, and sport demands, so that every athlete in their program can progress safely and efficiently. Brandon will also highlight practical strategies for organizing the weight room, teaching key lifts, and integrating speed and agility work into a comprehensive performance plan. Attendees will leave with adaptable frameworks and drills they can immediately plug into their own programs, regardless of sport, school size, or resources.

2:30-4:00 pm – DUAL (HANDS-ON/LECTURE)
Speed and Sprint Training for Athletes by Darren Hansen

OVERVIEW: Darren Hansen, owner and performance coach at Hansen Athletics in Pocatello, is a leader in the private sector speed and athlete development with over a decade of experience coaching athletes of all levels. In addition to his hands-on coaching background, he serves as a Regional Director with Universal Speed Rating (USR), helping implement evidence-based speed systems used from youth through professional sport. Darren holds a BS in Exercise Science and is certified as a CSCS, Power Athlete Block One coach, USAW National Accredited Coach, USR Level 1 Coach, and FreeMotion trainer, reflecting a deep, multidisciplinary foundation in performance training. In this session, he will show coaches how to apply world-class speed and movement principles in practical, field-ready progressions so their athletes can move better, run faster, and perform at a higher level—regardless of sport, position, or current ability.

4:00-4:15 pm – CLOSING REMARKS
Sweep The Shed