Today I sat down with Nick O’Brien, who is a Tactical Strength and Conditioning Specialist with Air Force Special Operations.
Nick began working with AFSOC in 2025 after previously serving as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of North Florida since 2023. Prior to UNF, he spent the previous two years as the Assistant Director of Sports Performance at Jacksonville University. Before JU, he served as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Fresno State University from 2016-2021, at Loyola University Maryland from 2014-2016, and as a Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Salisbury University from 2012-2014. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Salisbury University, as a volunteer assistant (2009-2012) in addition to completing internships at American University (2015), San Diego State University (2014), Loyola University Maryland (2013), and Georgetown University (2011).
A native of Oceanside, CA, Nick earned his Master’s degree in Applied Health Physiology with a concentration in strength and conditioning in 2014 and his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Athletic Coaching in 2012 from Salisbury University.
A member of the CSCCa and NSCA, he currently holds the SCCC, CSCS, TSAC-F, H2F-I, CF-L1, FMS, USAW-L1 and USAPL-CC professional certifications. In addition to his coaching experience, Nick is a national-level strongman competitor and Highland games athlete. He is a committee member serving on the NSCA Strongman Special Interest Group, a contributing author to Samson Equipment’s article/blog posts, and the Host of "The Strength Game" Podcast. He enjoys outdoor activities, training and competing, longboarding, travelling, and spending time with friends and family. Nick is also a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve and currently resides in Destin, FL.
We discussed
00:58 — Falling Into Coaching
03:27 — College Politics And Burnout
08:56 — Seeking Multiple Mentors
17:36 — Military Program Structure
24:57 — Top-Down Vs Bottom-Up
34:19 — Building Self-Sufficient Athletes
43:34 — The Strongman Journey
48:05 — The Outdoor Weight Room
52:42 — Discipline Is Everything
55:32 — Who To Interview Next
Find Nick
Website: https://coachobrien.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_n_ob/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/_N_OB
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachnobrien/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@coachNobrien
Podcast: https://thestrengthgame.buzzsprout.com/
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Paul's singular goal is to raise the bar for coaching. He is committed to being the signal through the static of the fitness and health industry.
If you're a coach looking to take their education to the next level, make sure to visit www.coachescorneru.com.
If you're interested in coaching from Paul and his team, please visit www.masterathletic.com
Find him on Instagram: @pauloneid, @coachescorneru, @masterathleticperformance
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www.coachescorneru.com
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Who am I and why should you listen to me?
Paul is a Coach, Educator, Mentor, and Athlete with a single goal - to raise the bar for online coaching. He holds Master of Science Degrees in both Exercise Science and Sports Management. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Exercise Physiologist, and Certified Olympic Weightlifting Coach with 15 years of experience as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in varying capacities from youth to professional athletics.
RAISING THE BAR FOR ONLINE COACHING!
