Former NBA Head Strength Coach Who Also Trained Kevin Durant in HS - feat. Coach Blair O'Donovan
Channel: PREP Athletics
Date: 2021-11-01

On this week’s episode I had the pleasure to interview former NBA strength and conditioning coach, Blair O’Donovan.  Blair has worked in the NHL, NFL, NBA, as well as for the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonalds All American Game.  Blair and I coached together at Gonzaga College High School in Washington DC under Gatorade National Coach of the Year, Steve Turner.  In this podcast Blair talks about being Kevin Durant’s strength coach in high school, the other future NBA players on the Montrose Christian team, characteristics of an NBA player, the importance of nutrition/sleep, and the exercises he recommends to young athletes.  Blair is one of the best in the business and you will learn a lot of valuable information in this episode.  

What You Will Learn:
[4:00] When Blair decided to get into the strength and conditioning industry.
[9:00] How strength coaches can make an impact.
[10:10] Kevin Durant’s work ethic and how that got him to where he is today.
[15:43 ] What attributes got Kevin Durant to the NBA?
[19:54] What qualities do the NBA players Blair works with possess? 
[24:59] Benefits and challenges working as the head strength coach with the Washington Wizards.
[27:57] Three best lifts for basketball players.
[30:54] Mistakes athletes make in the weight room.
[32:24] Do players need a weight room, trainer and/or specific equipment to get where they need to be?
[35:05] Nutrition and sleep tips
[41:42] Best convenience store options for players on the run.
[46:33] What did Blair do 10 years ago that he no longer does?
[50:03] What do other countries do better in strength and conditioning than the USA, and what do they not do as well? 
[53:01] Favorite/least favorite workout/lift?
[57:04] Best player ever played against?
[58:45] Hobbies
[1:01:13] Favorite Movie

Connect with Blair
Twitter | https://twitter.com/HealthyBaller
Website | https://www.healthyballer.com/
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_5tYaJKsWZ4UKulTp9GYFw
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/healthy_baller/

Connect with Cory:
Website | https://www.prepathletics.com
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/prep_athletics/
Twitter | https://twitter.com/PREP_Athletics
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/PrepAthletics
Email | coryheitz@gmail.com
Phone | 859-317-1166

Subscribe to the PREP Athletics Podcast:
iTunes | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prep-athletics-podcast/id1546265809?uo=4
Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/6CAKbXFiIOhoHinzsReYbJ
Amazon | https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/3c37179d-3371-47f9-9d97-fd569e8802a7/prep-athletics-basketball-podcast #AmazonMusic 
Google Podcasts | https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy80M2YwZTZkMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw

About Me
Cory Heitz is the Founder and President of PREP Athletics. He has been helping place players into the right fitting prep schools since 2008. Cory completed a post grad year himself before playing in a D1 basketball program, so he knows the pressures that players and families face when trying to get to the collegiate level. That’s why he started this podcast, which is to share his wealth of information to those looking to reach their college basketball goals.