Matt Rhodes

Matt Rhodes is a tremendous resource for our readers. He brings that hard-to-find mix of real-world playing and coaching experience. Rhodes started his collegiate career as a lacrosse player at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from 1994-1996. He later transferred to the University of Arizona, where he played football from 1996-1998. After college, he played arena football for the Richmond Speed before suffering a career-ending neck injury. After his playing career, Rhodes coached football at the University of Richmond and later interned for Buddy Morris at the University of Pittsburgh. After eight years as a personal trainer, he is back in the collegiate ranks as a strength and conditioning coach with stops at Yale, the University at Albany, and the University of Rhode Island, where he worked with Dan Hurley. Rhodes competed in powerlifting from 2001-2014. His geared numbers include a 930 squat and a 605 bench. His raw numbers include a 650 squat, 485 bench and a 760 deadlift, all done in the 308-pound class. Currently, Rhodes oversees the strength and conditioning program at Morehead State where he works directly with football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball. He also oversees all injured athletes and handles their rehab programs as they make their way back to "return to play" status.

 
Some Thoughts on Testing
Some Thoughts on Testing
A few testing numbers and some thoughts.
Adjusted Training
Adjusted Training
I've been good about squatting and deadlifting.  I'm not really following any specific numbers.  I kind of know where I am and if I feel good I take an extra set or two.  I'm finding it hard to stay focused because the shoulder/biceps tendon is hindering me.  But, I'm getting my squat and deadlift work […]
Rhodes' Advice for Young Coaches Applying for Jobs
Rhodes' Advice for Young Coaches Applying for Jobs
Some random advice for young interns/GA's
My Training... Hahahahahahahahahaha!
My Training... Hahahahahahahahahaha!
Ice, pain and the luck I'm creating for myself.
Football Phase 1 and Phase 2
Football Phase 1 and Phase 2
Phase 1 recap and Phase 2 of football training.
Sunday and Tuesday Training
Sunday and Tuesday Training
Slightly tweaked workout plan kicking my ass.
Football Training: Week 1
Football Training: Week 1
Football Training and some random thoughts that popped into my head this morning.
Thursday and Saturday Training: Bench/Squat
Thursday and Saturday Training: Bench/Squat
Good week of training under my belt. Progress is slow, but it's happening.
Training Update
Training Update
Training catch-up.
Training at Wendler's
Training at Wendler's
Back after time off.
Monday and Wednesday Training
Monday and Wednesday Training
Great end to a training cycle.
Coaching: It's hard to go along when you know they're doing it wrong
Coaching: It's hard to go along when you know they're doing it...
The joys of coaching. It sucks when you have to answer to people.
Friday Training: Squat
Friday Training: Squat
Progress is mostly pain free. This is joyous.
Wednesday Training: Deadlift
Wednesday Training: Deadlift
Making progress.
Monday Training: Squat (new 5/3/1 cycle)
Monday Training: Squat (new 5/3/1 cycle)
Making progress and getting back on an everyday routine.
Training Day 2 - Deadlift
Training Day 2 - Deadlift
Quick workout and positive progress with the nerve.
Some Thoughts on Coaching
Some Thoughts on Coaching
Some Thursday afternoon thoughts because I have spare time.
Training Day 1 - Squat
Training Day 1 - Squat
Back on the horse and feeling good.
NOV Meet
NOV Meet
Awesome deadlift day at Wendler's this weekend.
Training Day 3: Squat
Training Day 3: Squat
Squat PR 3 days before my NOV Meet with Wendler.
Adapting to Needs — Phase 1 of Winter Strength and Conditioning for Football
Adapting to Needs — Phase 1 of Winter Strength and Conditioning for Foot...
Our team is pretty strong in the weight room and it has transferred to the field, but we're not a big team. The head coach and I have come to an agreement on changes we're going to make, with a phase that starts January 16.
Training Day 2 - Deadlift
Training Day 2 - Deadlift
Continuing to find ways to keep training moving forward.
Training: Day 1 - Squat
Training: Day 1 - Squat
Back to training and feeling better. My off-season begins.
Winter Training: Phase 1
Winter Training: Phase 1
This phase will start on January 16th and run for three weeks.  It's a continuation of the take home program.  The difference between our athletes and real Division 1 athletes is that I won't have my hands on them for almost two months.  I have to assume they'll do the work while they're at home […]
ACL Rehab Phase One — Returning to the Weight Room
ACL Rehab Phase One — Returning to the Weight Room
After an ACL injury, the athlete is first rehabbed exclusively in the training room. Once they're released to me, we start this phase of the recovery process.
Deadlift and a lesson for eveyone
Deadlift and a lesson for eveyone
Training and a lifting lesson learned the hard way.
Conditioning and Getting Old
Conditioning and Getting Old
I did some bike riding like a gerbal on a wheel on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I'm not sure if I mentioned, but two games ago I got "bumped" on the sidelines and it reaggravated my pinched nerve in my neck, bringing back all the fun.  It rained yesterday and everything hurt so I opted for […]
Monday Training: Press
Monday Training: Press
Training is getting tedious, but it continues.
Adapting to Needs
Adapting to Needs
It's been an interesting year with football.  The team has grossly underachieved.  Some of it is out of my control, but some is within my wheelhouse. After talking with my GA's and taking notes I met with the head football coach to talk about our winter training (it's that time of year when classes for […]
Thursday Training: Squat
Thursday Training: Squat
Good workout today.  I felt pretty strong.  My back is still not fully recovered and I notice that I shift when I press/push. SSB Box Squat: 185x5/210x5/235x5 Ab Rollouts: 5x10 Face Pulls: 4x25 FSL: 10x5@185 Dips/Pushdowns: 5x5/20 KB Row: 5x10 The pushdowns were added because of the shifting.  I noticed the same thing once I […]
Tuesday Training: Bench
Tuesday Training: Bench
I decided to use the straight bar to bench.  I had great success (no pain) using it to Press so I figured I'd give it a ride. Hang High Pull: 5x5 w/95-115 Hurdle-unders: 5x3 each Bench (w/Squat Bar): 145x5/165x5/190x5/210x4 (w/suicide grip)/210x6 (w/thumb wrapped) Side Raises: 5x10 Bench FSL (BBB): 10x5@165 Pull-ups: 5x5 Hammer Row: 2x25 […]
My Training Update
My Training Update
Overall, training is going pretty well.  I've been pretty consistent.  Everything I'm doing could be done better, but I'm not very concerned right now.  We have one month left during football season.  As long as I just stay consistent I'll be fine.  More free time is right around the corner - the light at the […]
ACL Rehab - Phase 1 (Return to Weight Room)
ACL Rehab - Phase 1 (Return to Weight Room)
As you know, ACL injuries are a part of sport, unfortunately.  We deal with 3-5 a year.  Some are contact related, but most are not.  It's very frustrating because prevention is a huge part of the training philosophy.  Sometimes a kid just puts their foot down wrong or has to move (react) in a way […]
Week of Training
Week of Training
Training update. Feeling good and rolling along.
I suck at keeping up with my log
I suck at keeping up with my log
Old man shoulders are not cool.
Agility/Speed Work
Agility/Speed Work
Simple ideas that have brought some great improvements in speed and agility.
Training
Training
Getting back in the weight room felt good today.
Training Update
Training Update
With the start of football season my training has been a bit off.  Couple that with my pinched nerve because of a muscle spasm in my back and life's kicking me in the junk.  But, I've been pretty good about staying on top of things. Tuesday Press: 5x5@105 DB RDL: 5x10 w/70's Press FSL: 5x5 […]
In-Season Football (Travel Team)
In-Season Football (Travel Team)
Not much has changed in my In-Season program.  I always try to hit the big stuff and make sure they get a variety of movements throughout each workout.  I have a tendency to throw a lot (too much) little stuff in to ensure they go through a lot of different motions.  With the help of […]
Training
Training
This is last week's array of training fun. Monday Conditioning: Walk around campus with weighted vest Tuesday SSB Box Squat: 185x5/210x5/235x5 Pull-ups: 5x5 FSL: 10x5@185 Dips: 5x10 Curls: 5x10 Neck: 50 Wednesday Conditioning: bike 30 minutes Thursday FBB Press: 105x5/115x5/125x5 KB Swing: 5x10 FSL: 5x5@105 Side Raises: 5x10 KB Row: 5x10 I dropped my 10x5 […]
Thoughts on In-Season Training
Thoughts on In-Season Training
Some In-Season training thoughts. Nothing revolutionary, but hopefully helpful.
Football Training
Football Training
Some thoughts on In-Season training with the football team.
Training
Training
Keeping up with my training as we get into football season. Feeling good.
Last Week's Training Update
Last Week's Training Update
Although I haven't been posting I have been training.  Despite camp, I had a good week and stayed on track. Monday Training Trap Bar: 210x5/240x5/270x5/FSL: 5x5@210 Dips: 5x10 KB Row: 5x10 w/70 Tuesday Training Conditioning: 30 minutes on bike Wednesday Training FBB Bench: 160x5/180x5/205x13/FSL: 5x10@160 DB Squat: 5x10 w/100 KB Row: 5x10 w/70 Friday Training […]
Football Lifting During Training Camp
Football Lifting During Training Camp
We have two weeks of camp.  With the NCAA ruling of only one practice a day the  guys certainly aren't nearly as beat up (or as tough) as they usually are, which is beneficial all around. During the two weeks of camp we'll be lifting four times.  I've decided that we won't be squatting (with […]
Wednesday Training: Squat
Wednesday Training: Squat
I've been at it pretty hard.  I've been playing around a little bit - doing things in different order, doing timed sets... kind of doing what I feel like at the time. I decided for some reason to actually set up numbers instead of just following my set progressions.  Not sure where I'm going with […]
Training (Deadlift)
Training (Deadlift)
Training update. Nothing fancy, just plugging away at it.
Training (Squat/Press)
Training (Squat/Press)
Training catch up. This train is rolling like the Little Engine That Could.
Trap Bar Deadlift Training
Trap Bar Deadlift Training
Training update on my quest for mediocrity.
My Training
My Training
My Training and some more ramblings.
Football Training Week 8
Football Training Week 8
We have a few more returning players back on campus.  Not nearly enough, but a few more.  Their workouts will remain the same with a few slight changes. They do the 3-Set Progression instead of the 4-Set.  The idea is as we get closer to camp I need to keep their legs fresh.  With an […]
Freshmen Football Summer Training - Developmental
Freshmen Football Summer Training - Developmental
Freshmen Football Developmental Program. Teaching and emphasizing the basics from the start.
Football Training Week 5 and 6
Football Training Week 5 and 6
Weeks 5 and 6 of football training and some general thoughts about this time of year in strength and conditioning.
Training: Light Week
Training: Light Week
Back to my light week numbers. Working on the lower box is still lighting me up.  Very sore in the hamstrings and glutes.  Nothing wrong with this, just very noticeable.  Couple the lower box with no box for DB Squats and it's leading to some sore mornings.  Oddly, it feels good. Monday: Squat SSB Box […]
Football Training: Week 4
Football Training: Week 4
Week 4 of Football Training. It's a bit of a deload week, as far as weights go. Total workload remains high, however. Running will stay the same.
My Training
My Training
Getting back into a good routine with my training.
My Training
My Training
Update on my training
Football Week 3
Football Week 3
This will be their heaviest week, thus far.  They'll use 80% as their top set for Squat, Bench and Trap Bar.  They'll take their top set for a Rep Max.  Their results will have no effect on their Training Max.  I just want to get an idea of where they are and let them have […]
Football Week 2
Football Week 2
Week 2 of football workouts

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