Luke Lancaster, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for the New Orleans Saints, joins the show to reflect on his first season with the Saints after more than seven years at Abilene Christian, where he most recently served as Associate AD of Athletic Performance while leading the football program.

We talk about the differences between working in the NFL and the collegiate setting, along with how the Saints approach key elements of performance such as speed and deceleration training.

But the most powerful parts of the talk come from Luke’s honesty about his own growth. He opens up about the challenges he faced during career transitions, the lessons he learned while being away from full-time strength and conditioning, and how those experiences reshaped his perspective as a coach and leader.

🔗Check out more from Luke 👇

Instagram: @lukelancastersc

This podcast evolved from my book, Strength In Numbers — the ultimate mentorship guide for coaches.

Featuring insights from 100+ ELITE coaches across every level and sport, it’s an encyclopedia of coaching wisdom built to help you grow your career, navigate failure, and find long-term coaching success.

👉 Grab your copy of Strength In Numbers [by clicking here].

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Luke Lancaster

05:06 Transitioning from College to NFL Strength Coaching

07:52 Utilizing Sports Science and Technology in Training

10:43 Building Relationships and Communication with Athletes

13:25 Differences Between College and NFL Training Environments

15:50 The Importance of Trust and Consistency in Coaching

18:26 Adapting Training for Different Athlete Experience Levels

21:15 Speed Training

24:02 Teaching Experience and Its Impact on Coaching Philosophy

28:48 Reigniting Passion Through Adversity

29:57 Learning from Leadership Transitions

36:30 Deceleration Training

39:46 LTAD

44:16 Leadership Challenges and Growth

48:31 Finding Purpose in Coaching

EP 48: Luke Lancaster | Rediscovering Purpose in Coaching Through Adversity and Humility

The Strength In Numbers Podcast

EP 48: Luke Lancaster | Rediscovering Purpose in Coaching Through Adversity and Humility