Youngstown State University

Speaker Lineup

Hunter Pembleton
Youngstown State University, Director of Sport Science/Assistant Sports Performance Coach

Mya Mendoza
Youngstown State University, Assistant Sports Performance Coach

Justin Ochoa
Owner of Gem Sessions Training

Rebecca Freiburger
Ohio State University, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

Devin Young
University of Pittsburgh, Senior Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach

Conference Agenda

• 8:15 a.m. – Sign in and socialize
• 9:00 a.m. – Opening remarks
• 9:10 a.m. – Hunter Pembleton – "You Can Smell a Weight and Get Stronger"
• 9:55 a.m. – Intermission
• 10:05 a.m. – Devin Young – "Omni-Contraction Training in a Team Setting – Four Years of Building at System"
• 10:50 a.m. – Intermission
• 11:00 a.m. – Rebecca Freiburger – “Load Management in Athletics: From Season Planning to Peak Performance"
• 11:45 a.m. – Lunch and socialize
• 1:00 p.m. – Mya Mendoza – "Building a Winning Environment: The Role of Communication, Coaching, & Accountability in S&C"
• 1:45 p.m. – Intermission
• 1:55 p.m. – Justin Ochoa – "Connecting the Court to the Weight Room in Basketball Performance"
• 2:40 p.m. – Closing remarks

Summary of Speaker Topics

You Can Smell A Weight and Get Stronger

Speaker: Hunter Pembleton

• Practical programming systems and advice.
• Examining the importance and effectiveness of basic systems with low-training-age athletes.
• Following well-established principles and methods in team settings.
• Navigating the Dunning-Kruger Effect as a young strength and conditioning coach.

Omni-Contraction Training in a Team Setting – Four Years of Building at System

Speaker: Devin Young

• What is Omni Contraction training and why does it fit the teams?
• How to manage the collegiate school calendar into programming.
• How to evaluate training on a weekly, monthly, and semester timeline to adjust to training.

Load Management in Athletics: From Season Planning to Peak Performance

Speaker: Rebecca Freiburger

• Describe how to map out a season using a backward planning approach based on team goals and big competitions.
• Demonstrate strategies for organizing weekly training loads, including the use of data visualization tools to guide decision-making.
• Explain the role of tapering in end-of-season programming and its impact on performance optimization.
• Identify best practices for communication and collaboration between strength and conditioning staff, sport coaches, and sports medicine teams to support load management.

Building a Winning Environment: The Role of Communication, Coaching, & Accountability in S&C

Speaker: Mya Mendoza

• Describing effective communication that sets the performance standard.
• The ins and outs of building relationships that serve as the foundation of performance.
• Handling problems with intent, not emotion.
• How to adapt to new environments and roles.

Connecting the Court to the Weight Room in Basketball Performance

Speaker: Justin Ochoa

• How to build training that transfers to basketball performance instead of just improving weight room numbers.
• Key principles for aligning strength, power, movement and on court demands within a complete basketball development model.
• Ways to use testing, profiling and performance data to make smarter training decisions without losing the human side of coaching.
• Strategies for bridging skill development, movement quality and physical preparation so the athlete’s full program works together.