Thank you for your interest in WCS Sports Performance!
WCS Sports Performance is dedicated to developing and operating programs and facilities that offer a one of a kind athletic/physical development experience to aid our athletes in the achievement of their maximum personal performance.
We are sure you will find that our passion and commitment to increasing all facets of human performance is second to none.
In our programs every athlete is treated as an individual. We perform a comprehensive evaluation on each of our members, and plan every training program with the personal needs and developmental level of the athlete in mind.
Our programs are based on the latest in Sports Science and Sports Medicine.
Our staff is comprised of Strength and Conditioning professionals with experience at all level of athletics from High School to Olympic and Professional athletes.
WCS Sports Performance is also able to utilize the expertise and experience of WCS Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine staff and facilities. The unique combination of resources available to us allow for the design and implementation of comprehensive development programs that will help the athlete of any level, or stage of development, as well as dealing with individual problems such as return from injury.
Further information about our programs and staff are attached below.
Coaching Staff:
Roger Nielsen
Olympic Weightlifting Coach
Experience:
- FBI Special Agent (retired) – Physical Fitness Coordinator, Firearms Instrutor, Tactical Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor;
Certifications/Personal Achievements:
- Head Coach, 1992 USA Olympic Weightlifting Team;
- Head Coach, USA World Championship Team 1989 – 1991;
- National Junior Weightlifting Coach 2001 – Present;
- Head Coach, USA Junior World Championship Team 2002 – 2003;
- Assistant Coach, USA World Championship Team 2003;
- Personal Coach of team members for Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan-American Games, and Junior World Championships;
- Personal Coach of Numerous National and Junior National Champions;
- Senior International Coach – USA Weightlifting’s highest level of coaching achievement;
- Presenter/Speaker at Strength and Conditioning and USA Weightlifting seminars nation-wide;
Contributing Author - USA Weightlifting Coaching ‘Education Series
Senior Coaching Advisors:
Michael Gattone, CSCS
Experience:
- Manager of Coaching Development and Education, United States Olympic Committee – Responsible for developing and implementing programs and initiatives to recruit more coaches into the Olympic sports, and making our coaches better and more successful in the international arena;
- Staff Member at Team USA High Performance Center - Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympic Games – Worked as part of support team for our USA coaches and athletes as they won a USA Winter Olympic record of medals;
- Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chicago Bulls Basketball/Vermeil’s Sports – Assisted or directed all facets of sports performance development for the Chicago Bulls Basketball team and other professional, collegiate, and high-school athletes in several sports;
- Weightlifting Competition Manager, Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games – Responsible for all facets of management and coordination of the most successful competition in Olympic Weightlifting history;
- Director of Performance, Great Plains Sports Science and Training Center – Developed and directed not for profit outreach geared at developing future Olympic, international, and national level athletes, and for directing several national and international weightlifting competitions in Peoria;
- Strength and Conditioning Coach, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Bradley University – Designed and implemented strength and conditioning programs for the men’s and women’s basketball teams;
- Assistant Fitness Director, Centre Club – Condell Hospital;
- Graduate Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach for Football, Basketball, Volleyball, and Track & Field – University of Kansas – Assisted in designing and implementing performance enhancement programs for several NCAA Division 1 athletic teams;
Certifications/Personal Achievements:
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist – National Strength and Conditioning Association;
- Senior International Coach – USA Weightlifting’s highest level of coaching achievement;
- Personal Coach of Tara Nott – First female to win a Gold Medal in Olympic Weightlifting, 2000 Sydney Olympic Games;
- Head or Assistant Coach for several USA Weightlifting international event teams;
- Author of multiple articles for numerous professional Strength and Conditioning and coaching development journals including Strength and Health, and Olympic Coach;
Presenter/Speaker at Strength and Conditioning seminars nation-wide, and internationally including – “Coaching Educators Workshop”, US Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, and “Strength and Conditioning 02’ & 03’”, Sports Scotland Training Center, Largs Scotland