Strength and Conditioning
The strength and conditioning program at Long Island University is designed to help student-athletes maximize their athletic potential and performance while reducing the risk of injury.
Coordinated by Richard James, specialized workout programs are tailored to enhance athletes’ physical abilities in their specific sports as each sport places different demands on the body. Included in his regimen are weight-training, power and speed training, flexibility training, plyometrics and conditioning.
The weight-training room was recently relocated to the new state-of-the art Wellness, Recreation and Athletic Center. The facility houses not only a fitness center equipped with the latest equiment - from stationary bikes with built in televisions to a weight station -but also a separate weight room especially geared for student-athletes.
There is a full range of equipment to meet the diverse needs of each student-athlete from preseason conditioning to the offseason variety. Treadmills and stationary bikes, free weights and press machines are just some of the pieces of equipment whic make it the most complete facilities in the conference.
A former student-athlete and assistant coach on the track and field squads, James has a diverse background in the area of strength and conditioning. His responsibilities include developing and evaluating programs for each athlete in all 17 sports on the campus. The benefits of his structured programs can be seen through the new levels of physical development by nearly all LIU athletes within their first year of strength training at the school.
James graduated from Long Island in 2004, having been a 13-time Northeast Conference individual and relay champion on the track and field squad. He was named the 2003 Most Valuable Performer at the NEC Outdoor Championships and was named the Most Outstanding Performer four times. He became LIU's first male track and field performer to earn All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the 400-meter dash at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. James represented his native Jamaica at the 2004 Summer Olympics.