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SPORTS

The Norwich Guidon
Dec. 11, 2003

Goulet hired as new strength, conditioning coach

By Adrian Ackles
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

New this year to the university, Norwich has hired strength and conditioning coach Justin Goulet to help monitor and train student athletes. (Plourde photo)

Since the middle of October, students who came into the weight room, located in Plumley Armory, would see groups of athletes doing a number of exercises while being yelled by an unfamiliar face.

The first to become familiar with this new coach were members of the men's and women's basketball teams.

"I didn't know what to expect when I was told that we were getting a strength and conditioning coach," said Matt Johnson, captain of the men's basketball team.

Johnson, along with many other athletes, has had the experience of being coached by the new strength and conditioning coach, Justin Goulet.

"Coach Goulet has helped us to get a much stronger lifting schedule during the season to maintain strength," Johnson said.

"Norwich has such a great reputation," said Justin Goulet, the 24-year-old coach from Royalton, VT. "The whole school is excited about athletics and physical fitness as a whole, a good fit for me."

Goulet was chosen from many applicants to fill the new position of strength and conditioning coach, according to Paul Booth, coach of men's basketball team and head of the committee that hired Goulet.

"We felt the successful candidate had to have some formal education."

Goulet finished four years at the University of New Hampshire, where he worked with the football team there. During that time, he also worked at a power lifting gym called Galaxy Gym, a world-class power lifting gym. After that, he worked with the athletes at Siena College, and then he went to the University of Rhodes Island, working with women's soccer along with men's and women's basketball. All this was done before his twenty-fourth birthday, according to Goulet. Goulet is also CSCS certified National Conditioning Coach.

The other members of the committee which brought this highly experienced coach to Norwich was Meghan Bress, assistant trainer, and Mike Yesalonia, head football coach. Athletic Director Tony Mariano formed the committee in the middle of September in order to review some resumes for the position of wellness coordinator, according to Booth.

"I really think what we need is someone to regulate how people are lifting, to work with form and the coaches, to get their teams strong," said Bress, the lone trainer on the committee.

There have been many strength and conditioning coaches who have helped in the past, but, according to Bress, "I think that one person to come down and coordinate that is very important."

Since Goulet came to Norwich in the middle of the fall season, he has not been able to meet with those teams, but has started his programs with the winter sports.

"Right now, I am starting with men's and women's basketball, lacrosse and baseball," said Goulet. "I would like to be here to help all teams, eventually."

Johnson, one of the members who has been a part of this program through basketball, said, "I am glad that the university added Coach Goulet; it shows dedication not only to the athletics, but the students."

Goulet is here not only for varsity sports, but for the community, according to both the committee that selected him and Goulet, himself.

"He is our weight room Guru," said Yesalonia. "If a faculty member wants to lift or learn how, they just come down, and he will guide them."

Even though Yesalonia's team has not yet reaped the benefits of having Goulet for a season, he is highly optimistic that it will help the team get better workouts.

"This gives some of our kids time to get a lift in at different times. We used to have to all lift together."

Along with Goulet's experience and knowledge, he is expected to make different programs for different sports and to fit different people.

"We try to tailor the strength training and conditioning to the metabolic needs of each sport," said Goulet.

The committee is very excited to have this new position and to have it filled by Goulet.

"I think it is a tremendous opportunity for a Division III school like Norwich," Booth said. "But equally important, to help the overall community to become more involved with wellness."

Excitement grows to see how the guy who describes himself as "easy-going" will help Norwich University in the future.

"I would hope people would come and ask me questions, and I invite people to do so," said Goulet. "I am serious about weight training; I take interest in it, and it is my life."

The Norwich Guidon is a twice-monthly student newspaper distributed at Norwich University. It provides laboratory experience for students in the Communications program. Claims asserted by letter writers, editorials and other articles do not represent the positions of Norwich University. The Norwich Guidon welcomes signed letters to the editor. They should be no longer than 300 words. Unsigned letters will not be printed, but names may be withheld upon worthy request. All letters are subject to editing for length and good taste. Mailing address: The Norwich Guidon, Communications Center, Norwich University, Northfield, VT 056632. www.norwich.edu/guidon. If you have any questions or comments about the paper, please contact Professor Ken Bush at kbush@norwich.edu.