Strength & Conditioning Vision, Mission, Contact Information, Hours of Operation, Facilities, Forms & External Links
Vision
Our vision is to cultivate a culture of excellence where every student-athlete is empowered to reach their full potential in sport, academics, and life. We strive to be a leader in holistic athletic development, fostering resilience, discipline, confidence, and personal growth. By building strong physical and character foundations, we aim to develop high-performing athletes and well-rounded individuals who are prepared for success both during and beyond their collegiate careers.
Mission
The Alfred University Strength & Conditioning program supports the mission of the Athletic department and the University by enhancing student-athlete performance and reducing injury risk through evidence-based training. We develop strength, power, speed, agility, change of direction ability, work capacity, and movement quality while promoting safe and efficient movement patterns. Through purposeful coaching, education, and accountability, we prepare student-athletes to meet the physical demands of competition, achieve their athletic goals, and build habits that support lifelong health and well-being.
Goals & Philosophy
The primary goals of the Alfred University Strength & Conditioning program are to reduce the risk of injury, enhance athletic performance, and support the long-term development of our student athletes. We strive to build well-rounded athletes and proficient movers who possess the strength, power, speed, work capacity, change of direction ability, and movement efficiency necessary to excel in competition and everyday life.
Our training philosophy is centered on developing athleticism through multi-joint, compound, and Olympic-based movements while building strength in fundamental movement patterns that correlate to success in sport. Through progressive, evidence-based training methods, we prepare student-athletes to meet the physical demands of competition while promoting durability, resilience, and peak performance.
Our coaching philosophy is to bring out the best in every student-athlete and team by fostering confidence, accountability, energy, effort, and execution. Through consistent dedication to the strength and conditioning process, student-athletes develop trust in themselves and their teammates, creating a culture of commitment and excellence. We believe that quality physical preparation not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens team cohesion, leadership, and the pursuit of collective goals. Through this process, student-athletes learn the value of discipline, teamwork, and continuous improvement, helping them reach their highest potential both on and off the field of play.
Reduction of Injury in Sports:
● Decreasing the rate of non-contact injuries while enhancing movement efficiency, rate of force development, and strength.
Movement Preparation:
● Warm up athletes through a full range of motion in many movement patterns.
Performance Enhancement:
● Train our student-athletes in ground-based movements in the same position as they compete. This teaches our student-athletes to apply force through the ground–increasing power, speed, and strength. Olympic lifting variations, jumping variations and the use of medicine balls help develop power in both the upper and lower body.
● Three-dimensional exercises, meaning training our athletes in all movement planes, especially movement patterns they perform on the field, court, and pool.
● Train movements, not muscles. All movement patterns involve multiple joints simultaneously while competing. Squat variations, hip extension/knee flexion, Pull-up/vertical pull variations, vertical push, horizontal pull, and horizontal push variations.
Contact Information
Thomas Welch - Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
welcht@alfred.edu
Mike Bassage - Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
bassage@alfred.edu
Social Media
For more information regarding the Strength & Conditioning program at Alfred University, please visit our
Instagram page.
