Samuel Roome is redefining what it means to be a Strength and Conditioning Coach. His career in strength and conditioning is extensive, having experience at the Division I, Division II and High School levels. Coach Roome grew up just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, and played football at Averett University in Danville, Virginia where he now works as the Head Sports Performance Coach.
At Averett, he integrates comprehensive training methods to enhance both the physical and mental performance of his student-athletes. His program focuses on maximizing student-athlete performance through specialized training techniques, educational engagement, and efficient time management strategies.
Training Beyond the Gym
Recognizing the importance of diverse and dynamic workouts for different sports, Roome integrates Olympic lifts, dynamic warm-ups, and sport-specific drills to enhance both strength and agility. These exercises are designed to replicate the physical demands of each sport, ensuring athletes are well-prepared for competition.
Like many strength coaches, Coach Roome goes beyond just physical training. His approach involves careful assessment of each athlete’s physical and psychological needs. By focusing on the whole person rather than just athletic capabilities, Roome fosters a supportive environment that encourages personal and athletic growth.
“I kind of serve as a dual role in strength and conditioning,” Roome says. “We have mental health coaches. And that’s kind of what my role is as well. I’m an active listener to our student athletes. I try to be the person that if they have an issue and they just need somebody to talk to, I’ll see myself under that umbrella as well.”
He is an educator and mentor first, teaching courses like weightlifting and principles of strength and conditioning. Drawing from his personal experience as an athlete who didn’t get much playing time, Roome emphasizes that being part of a team goes beyond just playing in games. He teaches his athletes that preparation, effort, and attitude are equally important. This mentality encourages athletes to focus on continuous improvement in all areas of their lives, not just on the field.
“There’s a direct carry over from classroom performance to playing performance,” Roome says. “Are you good in the weight room? That one is natural in our field. If you’re better in the weight room, you’re gonna be better on the field. Do you really understand nutrition? What you put in your body is going to affect all of those other areas. Do you sleep, hydrate, things of that nature? And that’s where where I performed at the highest level. In my opinion I was a really good student. I made sure that my grades were my number one priority. I loved the weight room and that’s grown into my career now.”
Advancing Coaching through Education
With multiple degrees and certifications, including a recent Master’s in Strength and Conditioning from Logan University in Chesterfield, Missouri, Roome’s background in academics is extensive. Pursuing an advanced education has helped him implement evidence-based practices in his own training programs. His commitment to continuous learning and professional development sets a standard for both his students and colleagues.
“For the first 5 years of my career here, I was not CSCS certified,” says Roome. “Logan, for me was a way to say, ‘okay, this is a master’s program that’s taught by NSCA coaches about NSCA Material, this is a no brainer in a way to study for the exam.’ That’s what I felt like I needed to not only give myself personal validation, but also get validation in the field.”
By pursuing an online master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning, Coach Roome exemplifies his commitment to advancing his coaching capabilities and knowledge of the field. The courses at Logan University, taught by industry-leading experts, provided him with deeper insights into advanced training techniques and the latest research in athlete performance optimization.
“One of the one of the pillars of the strength and conditioning industry is to never stop learning, so I believe that there’s no better time than the present to continually learn,” Roome says. “So I think the biggest piece of advice to coaches who are thinking about getting a master’s degree is just pull the trigger. Just do it.”
Nutrition and Technology
Roome’s training philosophy at Averett University is multifaceted. He ensures that training programs are not limited to the weight room and encompass many aspects of an athlete’s life. For instance, Roome serves as a liaison between dining services and the athletic department, ensuring that athletes receive proper nutrition tailored to their specific needs. This integration of diet and exercise is crucial for maintaining high levels of performance.
“I give them a general recommendation of what foods the dining hall serves, but I will always tell them if there’s something on this list that you don’t eat, change it,” says Roome. “Because at the end of the day, the calories are calories. It doesn’t matter if it’s a piece of chicken versus a piece of ground turkey. If the macros match, eat what you’re comfortable eating.”
Although, phones are strictly prohibited in the weight room to minimize distractions, Roome incorporates tools like TeamBuildr, Google Sheets, and MyFitnessPal for tracking progress and nutrition logging. This technology helps athletes and coaches quantitively monitor goals and visualize improvements over time.
Managing Long Hours
Coach Roome’s dedication to his athletes is evident in the long hours he puts into his program. Starting his days as early as 3:00 AM, Roome maximizes his time by structuring his schedule to include early morning study sessions, training times, and one-on-one mentoring.
“I felt like for me, the best time to get anything done was when there was nobody in our athletic building,” Roome says. “Unfortunately, that was at 3 o’clock in the morning. I would get up at 2:30, I would do what I needed to do in my house, make my coffee, my breakfast, and then I would get to my office and I would grind. I’ve actually done the 2:30 for the last 5 years. So it’s just natural to me. Now, I’m not gonna sit here and say that it doesn’t kind of catch up to you after time, it definitely does. But I’m used to it.”
Roome’s strategy for managing these long hours includes meticulous planning and time management. He prioritizes his tasks, uses a planner to organize his day, and ensures he has time set aside for both work and personal well-being. Maintaining a strong balance helps him remain energetic and focused to provide the best possible support to his athletes.
“There’s an old adage that we hear growing up in school, ‘If you want to remember something you have to write it multiple times.'” Roome says. “So when it comes to writing, I actually pride myself on having really good penmanship. It kind of plays in my favor. If something doesn’t look right written on a piece of paper, I crumble it up, and I rewrite it, and I’ll do that over and over and over again. So now writing something down, because I’m a perfectionist in my penmanship, it always lets me remember it.”
Coach Samuel Roome’s comprehensive approach at Averett University showcases the evolution of Strength and Conditioning into a multidisciplinary role that supports the overall well-being of student-athletes. His comprehensive training strategies and commitment to education serve as a model for how to integrate athletic performance with personal development and make a lasting impact on the lives of athletes.
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At Logan University, we know high-performing athletes deserve the most qualified, well-rounded athletic performance coaches. With a science-based, evidence-informed curriculum, our Master of Science in Strength and Conditioning is an industry-driven program developed and led by experienced, active leaders in athletic performance.
