My first interaction with Nate Harvey was when we conducted our Three Questions Interview back in October of 2013. Harvey is the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Olympic Sports at State University of New York at Buffalo and has dedicated all his efforts to ensure his athletes have the best opportunity to improve.
The diamond plated steel doors that lead into the Buffalo University Olympic Sports weight room have one word on them: Strong(er). To say that Nate Harvey has been a disciple of the WSBB methods, an innovator of conjugated periodization for athletes, and loyal to Elitefts are all understatements. Harvey, above all else, believes in getting his athletes strong. The bi-products from physical strength being resiliency, confidence, and competitiveness are intentional in Harvey's programming. The athletes have adopted Vincent Dizenzo's SFW acronym.
Fast forward to over a year later and I finally got to meet the man I had been corresponding with about training... and life. Nate and I presented at the Strength and Speed Clinic at Robert Morris University. Nate's presentation on maximum effort training while utilizing the WSBB method of training was eye-opening for two reasons. First, smart coaches know how to make the complicated concepts, simple. Secondly, it was evident how much time Harvey spends on teaching the basics and critiquing, adjusting, and evaluating technique for all his athletes. Not sure how conjugated periodization would work in an athletic setting? Nate Harvey has figured it out.
Don't worry about what exercise variation your athletes are doing, worry about how your athletes are doing it @suNYubSTRONG @NateHarvey2600
— Mark Watts (@Elitefts_EduDir) December 14, 2014
Topics Covered in this Podcast
- How Coach Harvey got started in coaching
- Transitioning from Football to the Olympic Sports
- The SUNY Brockport connection; D3 to Big Time S&C
- A typical template at SUNY Buffalo
- Adjusting the template based on sport
- Biggest misconceptions with the Conjugate system
- How the conjugate system fits in the collegiate setting
- How the conjugate system can help beginners
- Dynamic Effort Movements
- Go to movements for Max Effort work
- In-season considerations
- Developing rapport with sport coaches
- Assessing athletes
- Adding volume in a team setting
- Why coaches need to train
- Advice for young strength coach
- Building confidence in the weight room that a carries over to the field
- The RMU Strength & Speed Seminar
- How to reach Coach Harvey
Elitefts™ Sports Performance Podcast on iTunes
The Nate Harvey File
Harvey is entering his third year in the Sports Performance Program at the University at Buffalo. During this time he has either assisted in or directed the training of each one of UB’s athletic teams at one time or another.
Harvey holds a Master's Degree in Applied Physiology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. During his time in graduate school at UB he also served as a volunteer assistant in the sports performance department.
Prior to his time at the University at Buffalo he spent time as a high school football coach, sports performance coach in the private sector and a Fitness Director for Xerox Recreation Association in Rochester, NY.
Harvey’s undergraduate work was completed at SUNY Brockport in Exercise Physiology and Physical Education. At Brockport he was a four year letter winner in football and eventual Usafootball.com All-American selection. He completed his undergraduate work with an internship in the Buffalo Bills strength and conditioning department.
He has been training himself for twenty years and uses this ‘under the bar’ experience to help his athletes reach their maximal potential. Recently, he earned his Elite Powerlifting status in August of 2009 in only his third competition entered.
Harvey resides in Buffalo with his wife Hillary and two children Natalie and Rocco.
Follow Coach Harvey on Twitter @SUNYUBStrong
