BEHIND THE EVENT: SCHSSCA State Clinic │Joe Kenn, VP of Performance Education
- Dynamic Fitness & Strength
- 7 days ago
- 4 min read
South Carolina High School Strength Coaches Association (SCHSSCA)
State Clinic | December 16, 2025
Dorman High School | Spartanburg, South Carolina Coach
Joe “Big House” Kenn
The South Carolina High School Strength Coaches Association (SCHSSCA) hosted its annual state clinic on December 16, 2025, at Dorman High School in Spartanburg, South Carolina. SCHSSCA is widely regarded as one of the oldest state strength and conditioning associations in the country, unofficially second only to the NSCA, with roots tracing back to the early 1980s.
Dorman High School has served as the host site multiple times over the past six years I’ve attended this clinic, and as always, Coach Eric Cash did a tremendous job welcoming coaches from across the region. Dorman is an ideal venue, easily accommodating more than 100 coaches each year. While labeled a “state clinic,” the reach of this event extends far beyond South Carolina—this year, coaches traveled from as far away as Michigan to attend.
One of the most impressive aspects of the SCHSSCA clinic is the loyalty and consistency of both attendees and clinicians. The event is typically held during a school day near the end of the semester, yet year after year attendance reliably exceeds 100 coaches, with 8–10 sponsors on site. That level of commitment speaks volumes about the value this clinic provides.
From a logistical standpoint, the clinic is a well-run, half-day event. Registration begins at noon, lunch is available upon arrival, and four speakers present on the hour. The day concludes with a catered dinner at 5:00 p.m. It’s a simple, efficient format that maximizes learning while respecting the time constraints coaches face.
Each year, my goal with this blog series is to highlight one speaker from every clinic I attend. This year, I chose to spotlight Dylan Horne, Director of Strength & Conditioning and Nutrition for Football at East Tennessee State University (ETSU).
Coach Dylan Horne – ETSU Football
Coach Horne delivered an outstanding presentation detailing ETSU’s preseason camp and in-season training structure, with a particular focus on the Competitive Stage of training. He clearly outlined daily, weekly, and session-by-session organization, providing practical insight that coaches at all levels could immediately apply.
What stood out most was his detailed analysis of player availability data—specifically tracking athletes lost to injury versus those actively participating in weekly preparation and game-day availability. Over the course of the season, ETSU maintained active participation rates above 90% nearly every week, with only one late-season dip below that mark. This was a strong indicator of how well their athletes were prepared both on and off the field.
ETSU Weight Room Principles
One of the most valuable takeaways from Coach Horne’s presentation was ETSU’s clearly defined Weight Room Principles, organized into three pillars:
Cultural Principles
Trust – Built by facing challenges together through honest communication and consistency
Challenge – A demanding, disciplined training program that determines the level of commitment
Identity – “TNT: Toughest and Tightest Team in the COUNTRY”
Behavioral Principles
Discipline – Relentless attention to executing the little things consistently (training information, cleanliness, body language)
Leadership – Be worth listening to. The standard is the standard—be consistent
Professionalism – Communicate clearly, train like a professional, carry yourself as a pro, and earn extra work
Technical Principles
Injury Reduction – Availability is the best ability; train, eat, rest, and sleep—we’ll handle the rest
Strength – The foundation of all athletic movement; get comfortable being uncomfortable—it’s a physically demanding game
Speed – A limiting factor in most football games; create space on offense and close space on defense
Tip of the Sword
Tough. Fast. In Shape. We are behind mentally. Do not wait to play catch-up. We will go with the guys ready to win.
These principles were not just slogans—they were clearly tied to daily training decisions and competitive outcomes.
ETSU In-Season Weekly Structure
ETSU’s in-season work week differed from many traditional models I’ve been exposed to over the years:
Saturday – Game Day
Sunday – OFF
Monday – Walk-throughs and Team Lift
Tuesday – Red Zone Emphasis
Wednesday – Full Field Emphasis and Team Lift
Thursday – OFF
Friday – Tempo Practice and Developmental Lift
This structure effectively balanced recovery, preparation, and performance while maintaining weekly physical readiness.
GPS Monitoring Takeaways
Two additional points from Coach Horne’s presentation were particularly noteworthy:
High-Speed Running (HSR) Definitions Matter
Coaches must understand how their GPS systems define HSR. At ETSU, HSR is based on a percentage of each athlete’s fastest recorded miles per hour. During my time with the Carolina Panthers, HSR was defined using a combination of MPH, accelerations, and decelerations. These systems are not interchangeable, and data should never be compared across programs without context.
Supplemental Speed Exposure
For athletes not participating in special teams who still need to hit speed thresholds, Coach Horne implements flying hash-to-hash sprints after practice to ensure required MPH metrics are met.
Final Thoughts
If you’re located in North Carolina, South Carolina, or northern Georgia, the SCHSSCA State Clinic is one I highly recommend. The speaker lineup is consistently strong, and having presented at this event myself in the past, I can confidently say that clinicians take their role seriously and deliver high-quality, practical information.
Best success and #WORDSWIN,
Coach Joe Kenn
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