Texas A&M Strength & Conditioning Internship
Sports Performance Internship
To apply - See Job Posting Number: R-061144
Texas A&M Strength & Conditioning (Olympic Sports) is now accepting applications for part-time program aide positions for the 2023-2024 school year. Program Aides will assist the strength and conditioning staff in all day-to-day operations at three Texas A&M Olympic weight rooms. Practical experiences will include but are not limited to: assisting staff in the implementation of strength and conditioning programs for Olympic sports, leading small groups independently, set up/breakdown of training equipment, and assisting in the maintenance and upkeep of the facilities. Program aides will participate and complete all assignment requirements through our formalized 2 semester graduate level education curriculum and attend all staff meetings.
Program aides will be subject to and must pass a criminal background check to be eligible for the position. This is a paid position and upon completion of both Fall and Spring semesters, interns will be qualified to sit for the SCCC exam from the CSCCa if they desire. Interns will also benefit from experiencing weekly structured education sessions and the opportunity to learn from 8 experienced and diverse strength and conditioning coaches.. Program Aide candidates must be certified by the NSCA or CSCCa upon applying to be considered for hiring.
Applications will be accepted from April 20, 2023 until filled. Dates of the internship are August 2023- August 2024. For more information view the attached link and/or contact Raychelle Ellsworth.
Read below to find out what graduates have to say about the program:
Sam Modrick | Assistant Director of Sports Performance | University of Northern Colorado:
"The Texas A&M Sports Performance internship is an opportunity to take your development as a coach and as a person to the next level. The Sports Performance staff is so diverse in the styles of training and coaching it provides a unique experience of being exposed to so many methodologies that create a well-rounded knowledge base for interns. However the coaches will challenge interns to critically think about the 'why' behind their craft, which allows room for one to grow into their own style of coach. Another point of emphasis is the elite level of communication and professionalism the staff upholds as they interact with the various Sport coaches and departments that surround a team. The habits and skills I learned at A&M are only second to the relationships I built with the staff there. Every coach and person you interact with on the daily cares and wants to invest in you. The people I met and worked with at A&M became family and are people I can always call on."
April DiGiannantonio | Assistant Director of Sports Performance | University of Illinois-Chicago:
"My internship at Texas A&M was second to none.
For an academic year, I worked directly with a diverse set of athletes, multiple strength coaches, athletic trainers, and sport coaches. During the fall semester I completed an immersive practicum with the Director of Sports Performance. It consisted of four days training on the weight room floor and one complementary lecture each week. Lectures consisted extensive curriculum surrounding in-season and off-season athlete programming for strength, speed, COD, agility, plyometrics, power, energy systems, and data collection and analysis. During my time I served as an assistant to one or more of the strength coaches. I was involved in daily warm-up for lifting, practices, and games. I coached in all lifting sessions, performed datal collection, attended games, and even traveled with teams to several away games.
The education and growth opportunity offered by an internship at Texas A&M are only outshined by the incredible people and athletes you work with. I would absolutely recommend this internship for anyone looking for invaluable step towards a full-time role!"
Kale Igboh | Asst. Director of Athletic Performance - Olympic Sports | SMU:
"The most important part of this program was being part of a family. The staff always cared about my well-being and how I was doing in and out of the weight room. The Texas A&M Baseball coaching staff also treated me as if I was a part of their family from my first day interning with the team. I learned things from them about being a great human being and coach that I still use today and will use forever, not only with the athletes I train, but with my children and their children as well.
The teaching was great, especially in practicum. The interns benefitted from going through very tough training cycles. The environment is great for learning. Working with the athletes also taught me how to handle different personalities and how to get the best out of those personalities on a daily basis.
The Texas A&M Sports Performance staff has been in the field for numerous years, and their knowledge of the field reflected that. From old to new training techniques, I felt as though they were well versed in those areas. As far as expertise goes, the A&M Sports Performance coaches are among the best that I've worked with.
I felt like I was prepared to go out into the professional world and succeed right away based on the training I received from the internship program at Texas A&M. They prepared me well, and I wouldn't have this opportunity I have now if it wasn't for them."
Dallas Skipper | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach | Rice:
"My time at Texas A&M as a Professional Intern was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve ever had. My time at A&M helped shape and prepare me for my first full-time position in collegiate Sports Performance. I was able to get valuable practical experience with a variety of teams and student-athletes, as well as learn about different training philosophies and styles with a variety of full-time staff members. Not only did I gain practical experience, but I was also submerged into continuing education on many different topics. From sports science, to contingency planning, you are constantly given opportunities to challenge and improve yourself.
"The practicum and professional internship program that Ray has built at Texas A&M is one of the best in the country. You are given the opportunity to learn and excel in every aspect of Sports Performance, and become a well-rounded individual prepared and qualified for the next step in your career. My experience with Ray was invaluable, and I can’t recommend this position enough for anyone looking to become a true professional."
Cody Dukquits | Strength and Conditioning Assistant Director | SFA:
"I believe the internship experience at Texas A&M is second to none in the country. My time working with Coach Darby Rich and Coach Ray Ellsworth proved to be far more valuable than any amount of classroom experience could provide in preparing me to be a strength and conditioning coach. It’s true that you “get out what you put in” with any internship experience, but being able to work alongside Coach Rich for two years laid a foundation of success that I carry with me now and always. My experience at Texas A&M will always be a part of me."
Kati Wubben | Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach | Loras College:
“My successful start in the strength and conditioning field came from my internship at Texas A&M. Ray took me under her wing and taught me what it takes to be a great coach in this field. I was in the gym every time she was, so it gave me insight into the time and energy that goes into working a full-time position. I spent an extensive amount of time working with the athletes which helped me figure out my coaching style and be able to properly teach and correct lifting techniques. I worked with athletes in a team setting as well as a 1-on-1 setting which gave me experience in both coaching situations. We had weekly lectures where Ray broke down the different types of periodization and exercise selection and how they come together to make a successful program. I have a full-time position now and I’m confident in my abilities to better my athletes and push them in a competitive yet safe environment.”
Scott Battley | Assistant Sports Scientist | Texas A&M University:
“Going through the Texas A&M Sport Performance Internship Program was one of the most valuable experiences I've had in the strength and conditioning field. Getting to work under the experienced, knowledgeable and passionate staff at A&M has been essential for my development as a coach. Learning from Coach Ray’s years of knowledge in the strength and conditioning field while gaining hands-on coaching experience assisting with the A&M volleyball and softball programs laid the foundation for the internship. With the skills and connections I gained during my time with Ray, I was very fortunate to move over and intern with the newly created Sport Science department. Director of Sport Science Howard Gray and Assistant Sport Scientist Dr. Jacob Reed were extremely helpful with teaching me the fundamentals of the athlete monitoring methods they use with the football team and how it can help with performance. Everyone here at Texas A&M genuinely cared about my devolvement and wanted to see me succeed not only as a coach in the sport performance field but also as a person. With the experience I gained from the internships, I was able to enter the professional world confident in myself and my skills as a coach, and was prepared for whatever challenges lied ahead. Without this experience and mentors guiding me along the way during the Sport Performance Internship program, I wouldn’t have made it to my current situation back at Texas A&M University."
Ryan Lehman | Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning | Purdue University:
“The Texas A&M Sports Performance Internship program is unique and unlike any other Internship program in the country. The practicum class under Ray is the best experience I have had in this field. I am not aware of any other internship in the country where a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach takes 10 hours a week out of their schedule to teach and mentor young coaches. It is the best combination of learning how to program, learning how to coach, and under the bar experience that you will get. The practicum class is a priceless experience.
My experience at Texas A&M as a Sports Performance Intern will always be a part of who I am as a coach. I am forever grateful to the Texas A&M Sports Performance Staff for everything they did to help me get to where I am today.”
Demi DeLorenzo | Assistant Strength Performance Coach | University of Houston:
“I left my graduate assistantship to seek out mentorship in the field. With such a diverse and large staff, Texas A&M gave me exactly what I needed- programming knowledge, professional development, and lastly, eight mentors that made a special effort to ensure that I left the program fully prepared to be a full-time sports performance coach.
By far the greatest element of the internship program is getting the opportunity to train and learn from Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, Raychelle Ellsworth. Ray trains her practicum class just as she would her athletes and allows for practical learning and hands-on coaching. In addition to practical experience, I also gained programming knowledge. I have never had a coach outline programming with explanations on why and how things are done with logical reasoning and Ray provided this for me. I got the opportunity to travel with the volleyball team, run team workouts, participate in an organized curriculum, and all while having endless support from experienced coaches throughout the program.
Being a professional intern at Texas A&M was truly the best decision I have made thus far in my career. The relationships built with coaches put me on a path to succeed in this field and I will be forever grateful for the growth the A&M internship program provided me with.”
