ABOUT THE GUEST
Cristi Bartlett is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at North Carolina State University, where she manages six strength coaches and programming for 500+ athletes. Her prior stops include the XFL’s New York Guardians, the Tennessee Titans, and nine years at the University of Pennsylvania.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How a D1 program organizes off‑season, pre‑season, and in‑season training across many sports.
Practical equipment layouts that speed athlete flow while improving safety and coaching visibility.
Communication tactics that align S&C, athletic training, and sport coaches for consistent outcomes.
What to prioritize when budgets are tight: racks, bars, plates, platforms, flooring, and storage.
KEY TOPICS
Multi‑sport periodization, testing, and KPI tracking for strength, speed, and conditioning.
Weight room design: throughput, exercise menu, coaching angles, and durable gym flooring.
Staff development: roles, standards, progression, and building a sustainable athlete‑first culture.
QUICK ANSWERS
Q: How should in‑season training change for college athletes?
A: Keep intensity touches for key lifts, trim volume, and bias speed/technique while matching work to game schedules and travel loads; avoid wholesale program changes.
Q: What are the essential pieces for a collegiate weight room?
A: Power racks with integrated platforms, Olympic barbells and plates, adjustable benches, dumbbells, cable/selectorized stations for assistance work, and resilient rubber gym flooring.
Q: How do large programs maintain quality with hundreds of athletes?
A: Standardize session templates and coaching cues, set clear station flows, and use simple KPI checks (bar speed, rep targets, wellness flags) to guide daily adjustments.
SHOP THE EPISODE
Strength training equipment for college and high school weight rooms
https://www.ironcompany.com/strength-training-equipment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
Free weight equipment: Olympic barbells, plates, dumbbells, kettlebells
https://www.ironcompany.com/free-weights?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
Rubber gym flooring for weight rooms and performance spaces
https://www.ironcompany.com/rubber-gym-flooring?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
Cardio equipment for conditioning and return‑to‑play
https://www.ironcompany.com/cardio-equipment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
Articles & training guides for coaches and athletes
https://www.ironcompany.com/articles?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
FULL EPISODE LIST & RESOURCES
https://www.ironcompany.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_ep153
IRON COMPANY — trusted gym equipment & flooring since 1997
Full episode list & resources:
https://www.ironcompany.com/podcast?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
Shop Cardio Equipment (treadmills, ellipticals, bikes):
https://www.ironcompany.com/cardio-equipment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
Shop Free Weights (dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells):
https://www.ironcompany.com/free-weights?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
Shop Gym Flooring (rubber rolls, mats, tiles):
https://www.ironcompany.com/rubber-gym-flooring?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
Shop Strength Training Equipment (benches, racks, cages):
https://www.ironcompany.com/strength-training-equipment?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
Government & GSA Buyers (contract & bids):
https://www.ironcompany.com/gsa-and-cmas-bid-information?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
RAW Articles & Training Guides:
https://www.ironcompany.com/articles?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=notes&utm_campaign=raw_all_eps
