Get to Know Tanna Burge - Texas A&M Director of Sports Performance
Sep 22, 2015 | General
What were the things that most attracted you to Texas A&M and this position?
"I grew up in Central Texas so being close to home and family is definitely what first piqued my interest.I could give the expected answer, like the position is for a director at a major Division I school in the SEC, but the things that honestly drew me in the most were:
- The opportunity to work with and learn from the high caliber coaches and administrators who are on staff
- Being in an environment with such a strong culture of excellence and undeniable tradition
- Working on a campus with 50,000+ students that still feels like a small, close-knit family
- The passion and respect that so many people hold for this university
- The weather…I loved Northwestern, but I was DONE with all that snow, icy wind, and negative temperatures!"
How do you feel about the Sports Performance facilities at Texas A&M?
"I have full confidence in telling recruits that our facilities are in the top percent of collegiate Sports Performance facilities."
How would you describe the job of the Texas A&M Sports Performance Department and individual Sports Performance coaches?
"I heard a story last week of a man who was doing leadership training for the top management executives from a Fortune 500 company. Out of 15 people, not one of them could tell him what their job was.To keep it simple, our job is to serve. We serve our student-athletes and coaches with well-planned, sharply organized, clearly communicated, and intensely executed training programs. We serve our student-athletes by building lasting relationships with them, creating a positive environment of growth, mentorship, enthusiasm, respect, hard work, camaraderie, and teamwork. We serve our department by continuously increasing our knowledge and education, and collaborating with other members of the Performance Triangle to provide the most well-rounded approach to maximize performance.
There are so many tangible responsibilities we take on every day, and I built an acronym out of 'Building Champions' to outline just a touch of what we do (see below). There are immeasurable intangible qualities we hold as a department and individual coaches that make such a huge difference in the lives of the student-athletes we get to work with every day."
Texas A&M boasts one of the most experienced Sports Performance staffs in the country. Besides that experience, what do you see as the best qualities and attributes of your staff?
"This staff is fantastic! Any time you can blend solid experience, knowledge, youth, creativity, passion for training athletes, character, and integrity, you have a winning combination. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we have the ability to work together, fill in the gaps, and grow stronger as individuals and as a staff."
Looking forward, what is your vision for Texas A&M Sports Performance?
"It's laid out in the 'Building Champions' acronym. We will pursue excellence in each of these qualities and provide our student-athletes, coaches, and athletic department with an unmatched environment of leading, training, and educating."
Be the standard
Unrelenting pursuit of excellence / Utilizing science & technology
Injury reduction
Leadership
Developing fundamental movement / Driven to develop
Intuitive adaptation
Nutrition – assist in education
Growth – mental, physical, emotional
Collaboration with sports medicine, sports nutrition, sports physiology
Healthy habits / Holistic approach
Advanced training techniques (methods)
Mental acuity
Performance testing
Intentional education
Optimize performance
No excuses
Strength & speed / Scientific research / Strategic programming
