Daniel Kiernan

"Get yourself out in the field working, volunteering, helping in whatever way you can"

Tell us about your current role at Coventry City FC

As YDP Academy Physical Performance Coach (U9-16), I’ve been in this role for nearly 2 years and no two days are the same. I’m constantly learning, facing different challenges and using different skills. The nature of football is ever-changing; at the end of the week, I will be looking over the previous week’s data (both GPS and gym) and chatting with coaches of corresponding age groups.

From there, I look to plan the following week, for target metrics to be achieved each session, accounting for possible fixtures and individual players' needs. I write my gym sessions at the start of each 6-week mesocycle; however, at the start of each week, I will review these and adapt them as needed to account for variables. Day-to-day, there will be GPS downloads, clipping of sessions and review of the data, leading gym sessions, pitch-based warm-ups, top-up running (if required, mainly on a matchday), pitch-based and gym-based rehabilitation (writing and leading).

What inspired you to pursue a career in Strength and Conditioning, and how did it lead you to professional football?

Having always wanted to be involved in sport or football in some aspect, I did a 4-week stint volunteering at a professional football club during pre-season while I was in college. Here I saw a range of different departments within football. I really liked how the Performance department (Physiotherapy, Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, Psychology) all worked together. After further research into each role, I realised I had the biggest passion for S&C. Working closely with athletes to improve athletic performance is something I felt confident I could do, given my own sporting and gym background. When completing my BSc, I did a season-long placement in football, cementing my belief that this was the industry I wanted to work in.

How did the MSc Strength and Conditioning course at Essex prepare you for your career?

The course was written in such a way that I wouldn’t have any gaps in my knowledge when preparing for an interview and would be confident when coaching in a practical environment, both gym and pitch-based. The inclusion of Olympic lifting helped me approach the UKSCA qualification with a basic understanding of the movement patterns required and how to coach and perform the lifts.

What skills and qualities do employers in elite sport and performance environments look for in graduates today?

Experience is something that is highly sought after, and so my biggest advice would be to get yourself out in the field working, volunteering, helping in whatever way you can. This can be in any sport at any level; it is just important to be practising your skills but also learning more outside of the classroom.

If you look at 99% of job applications, an MSc in Strength and Conditioning will be at least in the ‘desirable’ category if not ‘essential’, so it’s definitely worth considering the course, given the hybrid learning approach, which gives you time to get experience as well!

A few key traits which we look for when hiring are adaptability, being personable and initiative. These are all needed in football with its ever-changing environment.

What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far, and what challenges have helped you grow professionally?

It’s still early days, but I’ve been lucky to have some great experiences, such as working in non-league football with footballers of all different backgrounds, working in netball with an international-level player, and my work at Coventry implementing the physical performance programme. But most recently, going out to work in America to deliver strength and conditioning sessions at showcase events in January, and then again in June. Working with different players, in a different country, where football is played differently and therefore adapting and showing them a different way of coaching was really interesting for me and helped to develop me a lot as a coach.

The hardest part so far was getting into the industry. Once I finished my BSc, I applied for lots of jobs and was unsuccessful with all applications. After completing the MSc course, I had more knowledge and more hunger to get into the field, but it was still difficult. I got my break in the National League, the highest level of non-league football, voluntarily before becoming paid. This was a great learning experience, working as part of a small medical department on a shoestring budget to help the players and coaching staff. This all came about through perseverance and determination, and building up a great connection of people in similar industries on LinkedIn.

What advice would you give to someone considering MSc Strength and Conditioning and hoping to work in professional sport?

Use the course to develop yourself. For me, some gaps in my knowledge needed filling, and confidence in coaching. The lecturers were fantastic, always willing to help and chat, and I tried my best to take advantage of that, getting as much information as I could from them. From there, it created good relationships which have helped me with other opportunities since completing the course, which I am grateful for.

While on the course, make the most of your time! Given that a lot of lectures are online, this gives you ample time to pick up voluntary or paid work within the Strength and Conditioning field, to put into practice what you’ve learnt and learn in a real-world environment – often with more pressure, as this could be the difference between winning and losing.

Make as many contacts and connections as possible, in person and on LinkedIn. These may be valuable for you at different points in your career. Or you may just be a useful contact for them!