IGCT Episode #120: Mike Favre - "It's a Relationship Business"

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Mike Favre (pronounced FAV-or), the 2011 NSCA College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, is in his sixth year as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports at the University of Michigan, where he oversees the strength and conditioning services for 30 sport programs. Favre manages a staff of eight full-time coaches, two graduate assistant coaches, two S&C Fellows and up to four volunteer interns per semester. He is also the strength and conditioning coach for volleyball and wrestling. In addition, Favre received the inaugural Maize and Blue Driving Change award by the University of Michigan Athletic Department in 2012.

Favre joined the Wolverines after spending five-plus years as strength and conditioning coach at the United States Olympic Committee Sports Performance Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was the head strength and conditioning coach for the national Greco-roman wrestling, men's and women's freestyle wrestling squads and select taekwondo and fencing athletes with the USOC. During his tenure, he worked with eight Olympic medalists and five World Championship medalists along with the historic 2007 world champion Greco-Roman wrestling team.

Prior to joining the U.S. Olympic staff, Favre spent two-and-a-half years as the lead strength and conditioning coach for The Scottish Institute of Sport (November 2001-March 2004). He worked with athletes in judo, track and field, rugby, swimming, field hockey, taekwondo, curling, badminton, skeleton bobsled, skiing and tennis while in the West of Scotland.

Favre was the head strength and conditioning coach at La Salle University from December 1999 through January 2001. He was in charge of implementing programs for the football, baseball, softball, volleyball, women's basketball, women's soccer, women's lacrosse and field hockey teams. Concurrent to his stint with the Explorers, Favre worked in the Philadelphia area at Temple University for two years. He was a full-time assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 2000-01 academic year after serving as a graduate assistant during the 1999-2000 school year. He coordinated the strength and conditioning program for the baseball, men's basketball, men's and women's soccer, field hockey and men's and women's rowing programs. He also assisted with the football team, women's basketball and women's volleyball teams. During his tenure, Favre worked with the men's basketball team that made it to the Elite 8 of the 2001 NCAA Basketball Tournament and the 2001 Atlantic-10 Conference Champion baseball team.

Favre spent seven months as the strength and conditioning coach for the High Desert Mavericks, a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 1998 season. He also worked with the Major League organization as an intern during spring training. Prior to his position with the Diamondbacks, Favre was an undergraduate and graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Arizona State University (1996-98), working with the football (1996 Pac-10 champions, 1997 Rose Bowl, 1997 Sun Bowl), baseball, softball, tennis, track and field, soccer, basketball, swimming, golf and wrestling teams.

Favre was an infantry soldier with the United States Army from August 1989 to February 1992, serving in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm. In addition, Favre also served in the Colorado Army National Guard from 2005-07.

In addition to his current duties, Favre is also involved with several national governing bodies, to include: National Strength & Conditioning Association - Certification Committee, Advisory Committee for Military Fitness Readiness, CSCS Exam Development Committee, Advisor for Coaching Performance Committee, Advisory Board member for Volt Athletics (replaces the SIG chair), along with the United Kingdom Strength & Conditioning Association - Certification Assessor and Member of Editorial Panel. He regularly presents on sports performance related topics at both the national and international levels. Favre has also been published in numerous journals, magazines and newspapers.

Favre and his wife, Bridget, have three children, Lindsay, Liam and Matthew.

In This Episode We Discuss:

His journey into the Strength and Conditioning field.

What he learned while working with many different sports at the Olympic Center.

Creating buy in with combat athletes.

What a typical training session looks like.

How he manages his staff.

Best piece of coaching advice he has ever received.

His favorite quote, Book/App/Website recommendation.