George Mangum

Hi, George Mangum, M.A. I am currently a strength and conditioning coach at Victor Valley College (Victorville, CA), a sports performance coach, and the author of 10 Traits of Winning Athletes. I have written winning performance articles which were published in Bleacher Report as well as my local newspaper (The Daily Press). My coaching career involves winning track and field and girls' basketball teams at the high school level and strength/conditioning competitions at the post-high school level. My Master's is in Sport and Performance Psychology and am certified by Bigger Faster Stronger. My expertise is winning performance for athletes, mentally, physically, and strategically.

I played baseball at MiraCosta College in Oceanside, CA, a team coached by John Seeley, who won numerous state championships in his career. I had to work my way into the lineup by doing extra work beyond the required practices. This led me from being a college walk-on to receiving invites to free agent tryouts and several scholarship offers. It was a learning experience I pass on to those athletes I am fortunate enough to work with.

My session plan is not a physical performance session, but rather a lesson about winning performance. WIN means to be Way ahead, In the lead, and Never behind. Though the program does include world-class information about strength and conditioning techniques, the emphasis is how to translate that training into winning performance. An example would be a lesson on Conditioning based on Anson Dorrance's (UNC Soccer) quote... "You can never be fit enough for this game." We would establish what "winning conditioning" is, analyzing where the athlete is at, then decide if they are where they need and deserve to be. If not, we establish strength and conditioning protocols to follow in order to reach that level of "winning conditioning." The lesson could include habit and priority analysis, in addition to the nuts and bolts about conditioning techniques. Winning mental techniques are almost always weaved into each session.