Gerry DeFilippo serves as head trainer and owns and operates Challenger Strength while also serving as the strength coach for the Jersey Hitmen. He orchestrates the programming and training for eight different Hitmen teams, which range all the way up to the Elite and Premier Junior's Level Programs.
Since founding Challenger Strength in 2016, Gerry has worked with college and college-bound athletes across multiple sports. In addition, he has had numerous articles published on EliteFTS, Muscles and Strength, and Elite Baseball Performance. He specializes in getting athletes bigger, stronger, and faster with a blend of strength and speed training.
Gerry has studied under and is certified by industry legends Joe DeFranco and James Smith. As a Certified Physical Preparation Specialist he specializes in athletic performance, pre-movement preparation, strength, power, speed, core training, program design, and mental toughness, all built on the seven pillars of athletic performance. Aside from being a Certified Physical Preparation Specialist, he is also an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, with a background in personal training and general fitness.
In addition, Gerry has a B.S. in Management from Rutgers Business School and spent three years as a college baseball player at Babson College in Massachusetts, and Rutgers University-Newark in New Jersey.
Gerry and I discuss the positive impact of his podcast on the world of sport’s performance. Coach DeFilippo discusses his development and molding his career through his mentors. Coach then stresses the importance of investigating the experience and education of other use admire as guideposts to help inform your own coaching. Gerry then enlightens us on how important an entrepreneurial college course changed the trajectory of his entire life. He then educates the audience about the power of a vision board and looking back on how it might have changed over the years. Gerry informs us about the benefits and challenges of being in northern Jersey, a hotbed for sports performance practitioners. Coach expands on the topic to explain why he thinks Challenger Strength has been able to separate the organization from the competition. DeFilippo discusses the importance of tracking and attention to detail for the individual client. Coach lays out a number of examples that S&C people should be tracking in their programs right now and how the root of all of it is quality testing. Gerry champions having a system so the athletes know what to expect and how to do things within the culture of the program. We drill down together why and what tests should be used to establish a profile for the athlete. Gerry and discuss when is it time to let a test go to streamline the process. Coach continues this conversation on cueing and when or when not it's needed. DeFilippo educates us next on his philosophy on unilateral and bilateral training. Gerry explains to us his work and ideas on the Conjugate System.
