About Me
Hi! I’m Dr. Denise Wood, CSCS, USAW2—and I’m here to help you Build Better Athletes Faster.
With over 50 years of experience as an elite athlete, performance coach, professor, and sport science educator, I’ve dedicated my career to helping athletes reach their full potential through smarter, research-backed training.
From Trial and Error to Game-Changing Results
Like many athletes, I started by training myself—and I made my fair share of mistakes. Progress was slow until I made two pivotal decisions that changed everything:
First, I began training with people who knew more. That meant stepping into the gym with Olympic weightlifters like Phil Grippaldi, Bruce Klemens, and Bob Giordano and learning Eastern European training methods from a former Soviet coach. I discovered how proper technique and specialized exercises could dramatically improve speed, power, and coordination for sports.
Second, I studied the why behind these results—earning a doctorate in motor learning, sport psychology, and research design & statistical analysis. That knowledge allowed me to understand how athletes actually learn and master skills. As Women’s Head Strength Coach, I designed sport-specific training programs for collegiate athletes and Olympians at the University of Tennessee, working alongside legendary coaches like Terry Crawford (track and field) and Pat Summitt (basketball).
Blending Science and Real-World Coaching
My career spans both coaching and academia. I’ve served as a graduate dean, professor, fitness program director in PT, and head strength/throws coach at NCAA Div. 1 and local high schools. I’ve taught graduate courses in research, exercise and health sciences, applied nutrition, and leadership.
As Director of Sport Science Curriculum and Instruction with USATF Coach Education, I have developed and taught courses in motor learning and sport psychology at Levels 2, 3, and the Instructor Training course. I also serve on the National Committee for the Accreditation of Coaching Education.
Throughout my journey, I’ve helped athletes at every level train more effectively by combining cutting-edge sport science with hands-on coaching strategies.
Why I Created Build Better Athletes Faster
I launched this website to make elite training methods accessible to coaches, athletes, and educators everywhere. By integrating motor learning science into sport-specific training, you can get better results—in less time—with tools that actually transfer to performance.
Whether you’re developing a team, coaching individuals, or managing your own training, you’ll find:
Evidence-based tips
Specialized exercise and workouts
Practical tools and downloads
(And soon!) Courses designed to help you level up fast.
If you're ready to stop guessing and start coaching with purpose—welcome! You’re in the right place.