Training athletes who are going into the military requires a completely different outlook on the affects of coaching and athletics. It demands an understanding of traits such as perseverance, leadership, and adaptability. As the Associate Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning at the U.S. Naval Academy, Bryan Fitzpatrick has a unique opportunity to instill these traits in the next generation of leaders.
Growing up in Seabrook, Maryland, Fitzpatrick developed a passion for sports and discipline early on as a multi-sport athlete. After earning a degree in kinesiology and sports studies from Towson University, where he also played college football, Fitzpatrick embarked on a career in strength and conditioning that took him from Penn State to the Minnesota Vikings. In 2012, he began working at the Naval Academy.
“I have an awesome job, a job that I’m really proud to have,” Fitzpatrick says. “I get to train some of the best and most elite kids in the country. I enjoy it. It’s not just one way. They also give back to me. I learn something every day from these kids, whether they’re sharing some of the stuff that they learned in their electrical engineering class or it’s some foreign policy class or foreign relations class. These midshipmen are outstanding. But they’re still 18 to 23 years old, so they still screw up. So I still have to coach the crap out of them. I have to love them up.”
Fitzpatrick’s Role
At the Naval Academy, Fitzpatrick is the head strength and conditioning coach for the men’s basketball team, but oversees strength and conditioning for over 35 varsity sports. Fitzpatrick emphasizes mentorship and collaboration to support the 13 strength coaches under his supervision. He fosters a culture of autonomy, trusting his staff to design and execute their own unique training programs while remaining available for guidance and support.
“I wouldn’t have hired them if I didn’t think that they could do the job,” Fitzpatrick says. “So I’m not a micromanager at all. I like to pick their brains at times and see what I can learn from them, how I can help them. I believe the majority of them want to be head strength and conditioning coaches or directors of a program also. So I feel like it’s my job to help build them up to that.”
Fitzpatrick conducts regular wellness checks, facilitates opportunities for professional development, and encourages cross-collaboration among his staff. By cultivating open communication and empowering his coaches to take ownership of their roles, Fitzpatrick ensures that every member of his team contributes to the overall mission of preparing midshipmen for excellence in athletics and leadership.
Building Leaders inside and out of the Weight Room
Fitzpatrick’s leadership extends beyond the coaching staff. He trains athletes not only to prepare them for competition in sports but to instill values that will help them lead sailors and Marines in the future. By integrating sound, evidence-based training, Fitzpatrick ensures that his midshipmen are equipped to serve as role models in the fleet. His philosophy emphasizes consistency, respect, and transparency. He believes in being demanding, but not demeaning, setting a tone of mutual respect and accountability in the weight room.
“If I’m doing bad stuff with them, they’re going to go on and do bad stuff with their sailors and marines, and we don’t want that,” Fitzpatrick says. “So the scope of coaching an athlete here is not just you coaching that athlete, that athlete is going to go on and lead. So you’re coaching a lot more people than you’re ever going to get in contact with.”
Nutrition plays a the critical role in athletic performance and Fitzpatrick recognizes that fueling the body is just as essential as training it. Since hiring a dedicated sports nutrition team in 2019, he has worked closely with the department to integrate tailored nutrition strategies into the strength and conditioning program. With readily available guidance from skilled dietitians, Fitzpatrick ensures his midshipmen understand the “why” behind their nutritional choices. He reminds his athletes how to fuel their bodies effectively during training, recovery, and competition to prepare them for the unique physical and mental demands of their paths.
Fitzpatrick on Mentorship
Fitzpatrick takes a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to evaluating the strength coaches under his leadership. He prioritizes feedback from athletes, sport coaches, and administrators to assess each coach’s performance, focusing on efficiency, preparedness, and the overall flow of workouts.
“If it’s a 45 min block, an hour block, a 30 min block of training, You have to be as efficient as possible with that block of training that you can possibly be. So I’m big on making sure that the coaches aren’t wasting anybody’s time, that the workout is flowing, there’s no hiccups.”
Fitzpatrick encourages mentorship within his team by urging younger coaches to seek guidance from more experienced colleagues, such as long-serving coaches Rett Warren and Clifford Dooman. He believes that fostering these relationships further educates his staff and allows everyone to grow professionally. By sharing knowledge and best practices, coaches are empowered to receive a deeper level of knowledge of their field.
“You learn pretty fast here as a strength coach when you have 8 exercises written down, and you have 45 minutes to get it done, Fitzpatrick says. “That time goes by quick. And you look up and you’ve only completed 4 exercises. So you have to adjust. Everything is done in pencil, nothing is set in stone here. You gotta be able to adjust on the fly.”
Balancing Tradition with Progress
Bryan Fitzpatrick is setting the standard for developing the next generation of leaders. With a team of 13 strength coaches across multiple facilities, Fitzpatrick’s emphasis on collaboration and mentorship encourages his staff to seek guidance while fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. By focusing on long-term health and performance, Fitzpatrick ensures that the Naval Academy’s athletes are not only prepared to optimize their own performance but also prepared to lead others in the field.
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