In the last year, Santa Fe Christian added a unique coach to their athletic department—a full-time strength and conditioning coach.

In a recent episode of the Eagle Perspective podcast, Dean of Students Mike Siciliano sat down with Dr. Mitch Lederer to discuss the role a full-time strength and conditioning coach plays in shaping athletes.

“I coordinate and work with the coaches of all the different sports teams,” said Dr. Lederer. “I program the workouts for the sports teams, and I try to make it as specific as possible for that sport,” said Dr. Lederer.

Because of Dr. Lederer, SFC athletes have access to tailored workouts for their sport that keep injury prevention as a top priority. When designing these workouts, Dr. Lederer understands the specific needs of each sport, like preventing ACL tears in sports like football, basketball, and soccer.

Dr. Lederer also runs his chiropractic practice, which he seamlessly integrates into his work at SFC.

“I run my chiropractic office where I do a lot of movement-based therapies,” said Dr. Lederer. “I do a lot of sports-specific injury recovery as well, which is cool because I get to incorporate what I’m doing here at the school with what I do in my office and vice versa.”

His ability to navigate the nuances of diverse sports, from baseball to volleyball, showcases a depth of knowledge that benefits athletes across various disciplines. Dr. Letter’s commitment to staying informed and adapting his approach based on individual needs ensures that each student-athlete receives personalized attention.

One of the remarkable aspects of Dr. Lederer’s coaching philosophy is the incorporation of prayer into every workout.

“I pray before every workout, and then we’ll have a student pray after the workout,” said Dr. Lederer.

“There’s a lot of parallels in the struggles that we go through and what Jesus taught. The struggles that we have to go through to get to the end goal, which is to win championships. And we are not just going to have an easy road to championships. You’re going to go through struggles. You’re going to have to go through hard workouts. You’re going to have to go through those things where it’s not easy—life isn’t easy. But as Christians, we are called to work through our struggles on a daily basis.”

Dr. Lederer’s approach transcends traditional coaching, fostering an environment where athletes not only enhance their physical discipline but also deepen their understanding of faith.

“The drive and the passion that the majority of these kids have when it comes to workouts, when it comes to their sport, is absolutely incredible,” said Dr. Lederer. “I’m blown away by their work ethic and the passion that these kids have.”

The expertise of coaches like Dr. Lederer serves as a testament to the school’s commitment to holistic development, empowering students to excel not just in sports but in life.