What are the responsibilities and job description for the Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach - Memphis, Tennessee position at St. Louis Cardinals?
Job Summary:
The Minor League Strength & Conditioning Coach is responsible for implementing comprehensive physical development programs within the St. Louis Cardinals player development system. This position delivers preparation routines prior to on-field practice, strength training, energy system development, nutrition guidance, and recovery interventions to enhance athletic performance and support player progression with our Triple A team. Working collaboratively with sports medicine staff, the coach executes performance testing, individualized programming, and assists directly with return-to-play while ensuring seamless integration of performance department protocols.
Job Duties:
- Program Implementation: Execute Cardinals performance protocols during Spring Training, in-season with Triple A team, and during off-season camps
- Physical Development: Design and prescribe strength, power, and conditioning programs for 40-man roster and minor league players
- Performance Testing: Organize and conduct testing sessions in collaboration with sports medicine and performance science staff
- Energy System Development: Implement position-specific conditioning programs that address baseball-specific demands
- Workload Management: collaborate with affiliate staff on practice plans via game and/or training loads and aid sports medicine and performance nutrition to optimize player readiness and optimize performance
- Data Integration: Make use of organizational resources to aid in utilization of objective metrics to guide programming decisions and track player development
Additional Job Duties:
- Implement the Cardinals performance program with the Triple A team, organizing all testing sessions and ensuring protocol adherence across training, conditioning, nutrition, and recovery interventions
- Design individualized and team-based training programs addressing physical development, energy system demands, movement quality, and position-specific performance requirements for minor league baseball athletes
- Collaborate daily with team manager, uniform staff, and athletic trainers to integrate workload monitoring, training modifications, and recovery strategies into competitive schedules
- Conduct movement screenings identifying dysfunction and risk factors, utilize biomechanical analysis when applicable to design targeted interventions, and integrate preparation strategies into training programs
- Utilize sports science technologies monitoring training loads, recovery status, and readiness to implement workload progressions, track objective performance metrics, and provide data-driven recommendations for program adjustments
- Assist sports medicine with immediate injury support, first aid, stabilization procedures, and support crisis management protocols
- Maintain consistent communication with performance leadership group regarding player progress, program effectiveness, and affiliate operations to ensure development pipeline consistency
Education/Experience Required:
- Master's degree Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, or related discipline
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC)
- Current CPR/AED certification and basic life support training
- Minimum 5 years of strength and conditioning experience in elite-level individual and team programs
- General knowledge of Microsoft Windows Suite, Google Workspace, and Slack
Education/Experience Preferred:
- 7 years of experience working in strength and conditioning and the development of individual and team programs
- Functional Movement Screen (FMS) certification
- OnBase U hitting and pitching certifications
- Precision Nutrition certification
- Mental Health First Aid
- Practical return-to-competition experience
- Bilingual capabilities (English/Spanish) strongly preferred
- Understanding of professional baseball operations, travel demands, and scheduling constraints