The world sees the wins. The transformation stories. The high-performance moments that get posted and praised.
What they don’t see, and what most will never fully understand, are the sacrifices that strength and conditioning coaches make to build those moments.
I know because I’ve lived it, and I know many of you reading this are living it, too.
From the NBA to college hoops, I’ve held some of the most sought-after jobs in the performance world.
But behind the professional accolades is a truth that deserves more attention: this field demands more than just your expertise.
It often demands every part of your life.
Connecting, Not Complaining
I wrote this article from my perspective as an S&C coach, but most people who work in team sports deal with the exact same things.
This isn't a list of complaints.
It's an acknowledgement.
This career has taken me all over the world and afforded me experiences I would not otherwise have, such as attending NBA global games in China, presenting at conferences in England, and bringing my family to the final four to watch us win the National Championship.
I have stayed at hotels I cant afford, and sat courtside at hundreds of NBA games.
But I would trade every night stayed at the Ritz-Carlton for a day with my family.
I am beyond grateful for all of it, but I wanted to shine a light on what goes on behind every top 10 moment.
Let’s talk about it.
Job Instability: Living Year-to-Year
In strength and conditioning, there’s no such thing as “job security.”
You’re often one coaching change, losing season, or budget cut away from starting over.
When I was in the NBA, even at the top of the profession, I saw how quickly things could shift. New GM? New coach? Suddenly, your role and your identity is on the chopping block.
And it’s not always about how well you performed.
In college athletics, the turnover can be just as fast, and the contracts just as short.
Many coaches bounce from school to school, program to program, chasing opportunity but living in uncertainty.
This reality weighs on you, even when things are going well.
Relocation: Uprooting to Keep Growing
In this career, you don’t just change jobs, you change zip codes, support systems, and routines.
In 2019, I moved across the country to join Kansas Basketball, leaving behind proximity to family, friends, and a life I knew well for the uncomfortable, challenging, yet exciting new chapter.
And I know many who have had to do the same, multiple times.
For coaches with families, the weight is even heavier.
Your kids change schools. Your partner restarts their career. Your entire life becomes subject to the demands of your next opportunity.
It’s part of the deal, but that doesn’t make it easy.
Time Away: Missing Family, Friends, and Life’s Moments
The schedule doesn’t care about your life.
Birthdays. Holidays. Weddings. Your niece’s recital. Your best friend’s bachelor party.
I’ve missed all of them, not because I wanted to, but because the team needed me, the calendar demanded it, and the job doesn’t come with timeouts.
You give your time to the athletes. You travel on holidays. And while others unwind on weekends, you’re in the gym, on the field, or getting ready for the next trip.
Many coaches silently carry the guilt of absence, being physically away or mentally preoccupied, even when they're home.
The Emotional Toll: Uncertainty, Losing, and Living in the Gray
There’s a part of coaching that never gets put on a resume or talked about.
The emotional weight you carry.
The sting of losing despite pouring everything into preparation.
The helplessness when an athlete gets injured. The late nights replaying what you could’ve done differently.
The mental fatigue from being locked in year-round, with no real “off” button.
Then, we layer in the unpredictability that we are all accustomed to.
Schedules that change last-minute. Impromptu staff meetings that run long. Calls that come in after dinner. A career that constantly lives in the gray.
Even when the season ends, your mind doesn’t. There’s recruiting, planning, reviewing, and rehabbing.
You might get a few days off, but rarely a true reset.
Burnout: Giving Everything Until You’re Empty
This work is emotionally and physically taxing.
You pour your energy into others. You’re the steady presence, the motivator, the educator, the problem-solver.
Over time, that selflessness catches up.
Burnout isn’t always a crash. Sometimes it’s a slow fade, where your passion is still there, but your bandwidth is gone.
You’re still showing up for everyone else, but you feel like you are failing yourself.
These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signals.
Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It’s sustainable.
And more coaches need to hear that.
Financial Realities: Especially at the Start
This field doesn’t pay well in the beginning.
Internships and entry-level jobs are often unpaid or barely cover living expenses.
Many young coaches take side gigs, live with roommates, or grind through years of sacrifice with no promise of “making it.”
Even now, with years of experience, I remember those early days clearly.
I had a master's degree, yet I slept on an air mattress to make it work.
You have to love this work. Otherwise, you won’t last long enough to earn a livable wage, let alone a good one.
Our impact can be life-changing, but many coaches feel underpaid, undervalued, and overlooked.
The money at the top can be good, but the journey to achieve it will require long days with short pay.
So Why Do We Stay?
Because the work matters.
Because we believe in helping people grow, not just as athletes, but as humans.
Because there’s something deeply meaningful about being part of someone else’s breakthrough.
Because when done right, this job becomes a calling.
I’ve coached pros and future pros. I’ve led in the NBA and in elite college basketball. I’ve built educational programs and online communities to serve our field.
And the one thing I know for sure?
This profession is full of givers. Coaches who sacrifice their comfort to help others reach their potential.
You’re Not Alone in This
If you're a strength and conditioning coach, know this:
You're not the only one who's felt the weight. The doubt. The uncertainty.
You’re not the only one who’s wondered if it’s all worth it.
But it is. Because what we do matters. Not just in performance, but in people’s lives.
So keep pushing. Keep showing up. And when the burden feels heavy, don’t carry it alone.
This profession demands a lot, but it also gives us a lot.
Cheers to your success and strength when you need it.
Sincerely, a coach just like you,
Ramsey
