Sport and Leisure Management, Class of 2012Holland College (HC): Tell us about this exciting position as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Morgan Campbell (MC): My position is a new role created by Cape Breton University (CBU) in partnership with The Cape Breton Eagles and the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic (CSCA). My primary responsibilities are to provide strength and conditioning and sport science services to the varsity athletes of CBU (Men’s & Women’s Soccer/Basketball) and the Cape Breton Eagles QMJHL hockey team. In addition, I work with the C.S.C.A. to help develop youth athletes on Cape Breton Island. My first major task was to help create and design a high-performance training centre, which was a very challenging, yet rewarding experience.
HC: How did you end up in this job? Tell us more about your journey.
MC: My journey started at Holland College in the Sport and Leisure and Management Program. From there I worked as a personal trainer until I finished my Kinesiology degree at UPEI. After graduating from UPEI, I earned my strength and conditioning specialist certification and worked as a strength and conditioning coach with local teams and athletes at Synergy Fitness & Nutrition. During my time at Synergy, I successfully applied for an internship at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific . Through that internship, I moved to to Whistler, BC to work with Canadian Winter Olympic athletes in sports such as luge, bobsleigh, ski cross, biathlon, and snowboarding under the guidance of some of the best sport performance practitioners in the world. The pandemic cut my BC journey short but led me to take my Masters of Science on a part-time basis, which was critical to my new role at CBU.
HC: How did your Holland College Education help you in getting this role?
MC: Without Holland College exposing me to the world of strength and conditioning and giving me valuable hands-on experience, I would not be where I am today.
HC: Any highlights of your time at Holland College?
MC: Learning how to properly lift and train from Sport and Leisure Management instructor, Wyatt Inman, was a great learning experience at Holland College. In addition, our class had a memorable trip to Colorado where we watched an NHL game and toured world class facilities such as the Pepsi Center and the US Air Force Academy.
HC: What advice would you give new alumni entering the work force?
I would also encourage alumni to remember that wherever life takes you, be the best that you can be. If you put positive energy out there and work hard, opportunities will come.
