Creating an Unrelenting Approach
Nov 30, 2015 | General, Softball, Volleyball
The Sports Performance Department plays a major role in the success of Texas A&M Athletics. Today, we highlight Raychelle Ellsworth, Associate Director of Sports Performance. Ellsworth's "unrelenting" approach to training and life has greatly impacted the student-athletes at Texas A&M.
Texas A&M is blessed to have five Master Strength and Conditioning certified coaches on its staff, more than any other school in the country. Becoming a Master Strength and Conditioning coach is the highest honor that a sports performance coach can receive. It is achieved by years of dedication, professionalism, expertise and true knowledge of the craft. There are 157 certified coaches in America today, and only 14 of them are women. Ellsworth is one of those 14.
"I am part of a very select few," says Ellsworth. "It is a very tough profession, and I think it is especially hard on women, being primary caregivers to children and such. So, it was nice to go ahead and reach that milestone."
Along with the Master Strength and Conditioning certification, Ellsworth also became the first non-head coach to win the Most Valuable Coach award at A&M back in 1999-2000. The award was voted on by all student-athletes based on the coach they found to be most influential.
"I primarily interact with two teams, volleyball and softball, so for me to gain the respect of all the student-athletes, or at least the athletes who voted that thought I brought something of value to our program, was very special," notes Ellsworth. "To me, that is the reason I do what I do. I'm trying to impact young lives, and I want to do that positively, so it was very special to receive that award."
Not one to focus on herself, Ellsworth frequently talks about the tremendous consistency of staff at Texas A&M. With multiple Master Strength and Conditioning coaches and numerous other certifications to their credit, the sports performance staff at A&M takes the time to learn from each other. Having four coaches with over 20 years of experience provides stability within the department, gives resources for younger coaches, and also assists in terms of recruiting top student-athletes to the school.
"We talk to every athlete and their parents when they come on campus," adds Ellsworth. "We try to sell ourselves as a product and let them know what we can do for their son or daughter to make them a better, well-rounded athlete. Our experience certainly helps. We're very consistent with our application of things, and that allows for a better training product."
When you talk with Aggie student-athletes, you quickly understand just how important sports performance is to them. You also get a feel for the respect they have for their coaches.
Kiara McGee and Angela Lowak, members of the Texas A&M volleyball team, look up to Ellsworth, as Ellsworth pushes them to their full potential. The athletes can't help but smile when they speak of how working with Ellsworth has improved their physical and mental strength during their time at A&M.
"She is someone we all look up to and aspire to be like," remarks McGee. "She is definitely intense, but it is positive because she wants to pull the best out of us, make us stronger and reach our full potential in everything that we do."
Ellsworth believes in making her athletes uncomfortable in the gym in order to make them grow. While some players can push themselves past their comfort zone, others cannot, and that is where Ellsworth takes her job to the next level in finding out how far her athletes can go.
"Ray wants you to get really uncomfortable in the gym," admits Lowak. "She challenges you to push yourself every single day, never taking a day off. She gets in the gym and goes after it and gets after us. But, at the same time, she makes 6 a.m. really enjoyable."
Ellsworth lives and coaches by the term "unrelenting," meaning never ceasing or settling for less. It's easy to see how her approach rubs off on her athletes.
"I think to have that kind of mindset, you have to be willing to be unrelenting in your pursuit of excellence," adds Ellsworth. "What I share with my athletes is that we've all been given gifts. All of our gifts are different, but it's really up to us to develop these gifts. That's what we have to do. It's such a disservice to not honor those gifts by not trying to develop them fully."
As part of the tremendous growth of Texas A&M, the West Campus Player Development Center is in full use by several Aggie athletic teams, including Ellsworth's primary sports. Built with nearly 13,000 sq. ft., 16 platforms and an adjacent turf field, teams have the room and flexibility to train at the same time with no conflict or overflow.
"We are so blessed because they went ahead and really did it right," acknowledges Ellsworth. "Hats off to the administration for doing a really good job of planning it out and executing it to give our student-athletes a real training advantage."
With the right approach, a high-quality staff and facilities that are second-to-none, Texas A&M Sports Performance looks to have a very bright future. We asked Ellsworth to give some final advice to current and incoming student-athletes.
"The scariest thing can be the fear of failure," says Ellsworth. "What if you try and don't make it? My thought process is that it's better to try hard to reach your goals and maybe fall short than to have never attempted in the first place. So, the biggest thing I try to impart on my athletes is to get uncomfortable. A comfortable athlete does not grow. A comfortable person does not grow. Be unrelenting. Dare to be great. Yes, it is scary, but it's worth it."
Texas A&M is blessed to have five Master Strength and Conditioning certified coaches on its staff, more than any other school in the country. Becoming a Master Strength and Conditioning coach is the highest honor that a sports performance coach can receive. It is achieved by years of dedication, professionalism, expertise and true knowledge of the craft. There are 157 certified coaches in America today, and only 14 of them are women. Ellsworth is one of those 14.
"I am part of a very select few," says Ellsworth. "It is a very tough profession, and I think it is especially hard on women, being primary caregivers to children and such. So, it was nice to go ahead and reach that milestone."
Along with the Master Strength and Conditioning certification, Ellsworth also became the first non-head coach to win the Most Valuable Coach award at A&M back in 1999-2000. The award was voted on by all student-athletes based on the coach they found to be most influential.
"I primarily interact with two teams, volleyball and softball, so for me to gain the respect of all the student-athletes, or at least the athletes who voted that thought I brought something of value to our program, was very special," notes Ellsworth. "To me, that is the reason I do what I do. I'm trying to impact young lives, and I want to do that positively, so it was very special to receive that award."
Not one to focus on herself, Ellsworth frequently talks about the tremendous consistency of staff at Texas A&M. With multiple Master Strength and Conditioning coaches and numerous other certifications to their credit, the sports performance staff at A&M takes the time to learn from each other. Having four coaches with over 20 years of experience provides stability within the department, gives resources for younger coaches, and also assists in terms of recruiting top student-athletes to the school.
"We talk to every athlete and their parents when they come on campus," adds Ellsworth. "We try to sell ourselves as a product and let them know what we can do for their son or daughter to make them a better, well-rounded athlete. Our experience certainly helps. We're very consistent with our application of things, and that allows for a better training product."
When you talk with Aggie student-athletes, you quickly understand just how important sports performance is to them. You also get a feel for the respect they have for their coaches.
Kiara McGee and Angela Lowak, members of the Texas A&M volleyball team, look up to Ellsworth, as Ellsworth pushes them to their full potential. The athletes can't help but smile when they speak of how working with Ellsworth has improved their physical and mental strength during their time at A&M.
"She is someone we all look up to and aspire to be like," remarks McGee. "She is definitely intense, but it is positive because she wants to pull the best out of us, make us stronger and reach our full potential in everything that we do."
Ellsworth believes in making her athletes uncomfortable in the gym in order to make them grow. While some players can push themselves past their comfort zone, others cannot, and that is where Ellsworth takes her job to the next level in finding out how far her athletes can go.
"Ray wants you to get really uncomfortable in the gym," admits Lowak. "She challenges you to push yourself every single day, never taking a day off. She gets in the gym and goes after it and gets after us. But, at the same time, she makes 6 a.m. really enjoyable."
Ellsworth lives and coaches by the term "unrelenting," meaning never ceasing or settling for less. It's easy to see how her approach rubs off on her athletes.
"I think to have that kind of mindset, you have to be willing to be unrelenting in your pursuit of excellence," adds Ellsworth. "What I share with my athletes is that we've all been given gifts. All of our gifts are different, but it's really up to us to develop these gifts. That's what we have to do. It's such a disservice to not honor those gifts by not trying to develop them fully."
As part of the tremendous growth of Texas A&M, the West Campus Player Development Center is in full use by several Aggie athletic teams, including Ellsworth's primary sports. Built with nearly 13,000 sq. ft., 16 platforms and an adjacent turf field, teams have the room and flexibility to train at the same time with no conflict or overflow.
"We are so blessed because they went ahead and really did it right," acknowledges Ellsworth. "Hats off to the administration for doing a really good job of planning it out and executing it to give our student-athletes a real training advantage."
With the right approach, a high-quality staff and facilities that are second-to-none, Texas A&M Sports Performance looks to have a very bright future. We asked Ellsworth to give some final advice to current and incoming student-athletes.
"The scariest thing can be the fear of failure," says Ellsworth. "What if you try and don't make it? My thought process is that it's better to try hard to reach your goals and maybe fall short than to have never attempted in the first place. So, the biggest thing I try to impart on my athletes is to get uncomfortable. A comfortable athlete does not grow. A comfortable person does not grow. Be unrelenting. Dare to be great. Yes, it is scary, but it's worth it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
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/ VolleyballMedia Availability: Jamie Morrison
Monday, December 22
Media Availability: Logan Lednicky
Monday, December 22
Media Availability: Ifenna Cos-Okpalla
Monday, December 22
NCAA Championship Postgame: Morrison, Cos-Okpalla, Lednicky, Stowers
Sunday, December 21
