In high school strength and conditioning, few names carry the same weight as Joey Sheppard, the esteemed Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Stratford High School in Goose Creek, South Carolina. With a career spanning over two decades, Sheppard has not only sculpted the physical prowess of countless young athletes but has contributed significantly to their personal growth and character development. Coach Sheppard’s dedication at Stratford High School goes beyond the weight room; it’s about shaping the future of students and instilling upstanding human beings.
Sheppard’s Career Journey
Sheppard’s interest in strength and conditioning began in high school when he started weight training for baseball and football. He continued playing baseball and football in college, but after college his enjoyment persisted in weight training. So he transitioned into strength coaching, taking a role that would evolve from an assistant strength coach in 1999 to the head position in 2004 at Stratford High School. This passion laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong commitment to the weight room.
Beyond his professional coaching responsibilities, Sheppard has played a pivotal role in the broader strength and conditioning community. He is deeply involved in the South Carolina High School Strength Coaches Association, currently serving as the association historian. He previously served as the vice president, secretary, and even spent a 3-year term from 2018 to 2021 as the President of the organization. He was honored by the opportunity to represent his peers and spearhead initiatives to enhance the field across the state.
“Personally, I thought it was a great honor,” Sheppard says. “It’s an honor to be selected by some of your peers and them thinking enough of you to put you in position to help organize and run an association like we have here in South Carolina, which, in my understanding, is one of the best in the Southeastern United States.”
Sheppard’s Coaching Method
At the core of Sheppard’s approach to training young athletes is a commitment to foundational knowledge and safety. He progresses students gradually through a sequence of workouts to ensure their well-being and establish a solid foundation to build upon. By teaching students the proper techniques from the outset, it sets them up for good habits and further success later on.
“I’m fortunate, blessed enough to work with a lot of seventh grade and eighth grade middle school kids and really start off from ground 0.” Sheppard says. “We do a lot of body weight movements, functional strength exercises, and then progress to dumbbells and plates, and then eventually to a barbel.”
This approach does not only promote safety, but also a healthy mindset for how to approach weight training. It encourages slow, but gradual effort until progress is seen. Sheppard’s approach extends beyond physical training; it’s about instilling discipline, perseverance, and a sense of pride in his students, traits that will be valuable in all aspects of their lives.
“Your actions speak louder than words,” Sheppard says. “When students see you still doing it personally, 25 years later, but you still take interest in it and you still live it in your everyday life, I think that goes a long way with high school kids.”
Making a Lasting Impact
Sheppard’s coaching has left a profound impact on many of his students. Through his guidance, they learn not just how to lift weights but how to push themselves and each other in times of challenge and success. The long-standing relationships that he maintains with his athletes, even after they graduate, speaks volumes about the trust and respect he garners.
“I build relationships with kids, and I let them know ‘I’m here for you anytime you need me. I’m here,'” Sheppard says. “And I’m fortunate enough, 25 years down the road, to have kids that have moved on to college, some that are in college now, and some that are out of college athletics, that still reach out and stay in touch. So I’ve been blessed to have those type of kids train under me.”
Joey Sheppard’s journey in strength and conditioning is more than a career; it’s a testament to the power of passionate dedication to a field and its future. Through his leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment, Sheppard has not only shaped the physical capabilities of countless young athletes but has also played a crucial role in crafting their character, resilience, and success, both on and off the field.
