BEHIND THE SCENES: Kansas Sports Performance Clinic
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
February 27-28 2026
Joe “Big House” Kenn
VP Performance Education
The Kansas Sports Performance Clinic has rapidly become one of my favorite events of the year. Attendance continues to grow, with more than 200 coaches on site this year alone. Another strong indicator of the clinic’s momentum is the number of sponsors who now recognize this as a must-attend event on their annual conference calendar.
Coach Matt Gildersleeve has done a masterful job assembling one of the strongest speaker lineups I have seen in years. Coach Chula Loomis, serving as the on-site coordinator, is the engine behind the operation’s smooth execution. The entire Jayhawk staff takes pride in delivering a first-class event.
A super #WordsWin to them all.
One of the best parts of this clinic for me is that I am able to sit in on every presentation. With exhibitors housed in the same indoor facility as the presentations, the focus remains on learning. Coaches are engaged, and there is no downtime wandering an empty exhibit hall. Sponsors also receive dedicated time during lunch to present or demonstrate their products — a great value-add for everyone involved.
This year’s lineup did not disappoint. The event opened with Dr. Nick DiMarco of Elon and concluded with Coach Loren Landow of Notre Dame — and the depth between those two bookends was outstanding.
Below are a few key touchpoints from each presentation:
Dr. Nick DiMarco – Elon University
Leadership begins with you.
“Today’s favors are tomorrow’s obligations.” Be careful in your choices.
Can the program live without you? If not, you haven’t built it correctly.
Develop a high-level internship model that becomes your future hiring pool.
Dr. Justin Lima – Strength Coach Network
One of our primary roles is reducing the potential severity of injury.
The “Power Complex”: a medley of three movements —
Deadlift variation
Jump variation
Landing variation: An effective alternative to Olympic lift variations in programming.
Record. Rank. Publish. Motivation increases when KPI’s are visible and measurable.
Jim Kiritsy – Navy
You are a CRO — Chief Reminder Officer.
Prioritize and execute.
How do you spell love? T-I-M-E.
Trumain Carroll – University of Southern California
“You can only push people as far as they trust you.”
Establish REAL-ationships.
How can we do basic better?
Matt Gildersleeve – University of Kansas
Pre-training expectations: come into the gym like hot maple syrup — already warm and ready — because we are hitting the ground running at the whistle.
Detailed practical session on Participant-Based Game Speed.
Bobby Stroupe – Athlete Performance Enhancement Center
Elite athletes can overcome almost anything.
Attain skills versus nourish traits.
Train asymmetrical movements.
If more than 5% of your team has the same injury, that’s a YOU problem.
Loren Landow – University of Notre Dame
Return to Play begins with developing high-quality movement — locomotion.
Comprehensive breakdown of his return-to-play model.
Extensive field-based ACL return-to-play practical.
These are just touchpoints from pages of notes and slide pictures I captured throughout the clinic.
If you want the full experience, start planning for next year.
Coach Sleeve, Chula, and the entire Jayhawk staff won’t disappoint.
Coach Joe “BIG HOUSE” Ken
60 Second Strength Coach
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