The Best $1000 I Ever Spent

Like any strength and conditioning program, our facility relies on a variety of technologies to optimize training and track performance. We use Tendo Units for velocity-based training, Dashr for speed assessments, jump mats and OVR for vertical testing, and, of course, iPads at every rack with TeamBuildr loaded for programming and tracking. While these tools are essential and valuable, none of them represent the best $1,000 I’ve ever invested in our program.

The best $1,000 I ever spent had nothing to do with barbells, racks, technology, or facility upgrades. In a field where every budget dollar is usually stretched toward equipment, I chose to invest that money somewhere unexpected,  directly into the people who help make our program run.

That single decision ended up creating more impact than any piece of equipment I could have purchased.

As most strength and conditioning coaches know, especially in the high school setting, a side income is often essential. I run camps throughout the year, and during one particular summer, I found myself with roughly $1,000 left over in the camp budget. In previous years, that money had gone toward new timing systems, testing equipment, or other small upgrades that improved our facility.

But that year, I asked a different question:

What investment would have the greatest impact on how we coach, communicate, and connect with athletes?

The answer wasn’t equipment, it was people.

Investing in the Staff Behind the Mission

Our volunteer assistants and interns, people who show up day after day without compensation, form the backbone of our program. They help teach movements, manage groups, organize equipment, and keep the room running smoothly. Their work is critical, yet often goes unnoticed.

Instead of buying another tool or piece of technology, I divided the $1,000 between two staff members who had shown unwavering dedication and professionalism. While the amount wasn’t huge, the reactions made the true value clear.

One volunteer assistant had been with me for nearly a year. He was a full-time college student juggling a demanding academic schedule, yet he showed up four afternoons a week without fail. He didn’t need the internship hours, and he wasn’t doing it for credit, he was here because he believed in what we were building. This field is where he wants to build his career, and every session was a chance for him to grow.

I remember one afternoon in particular: he walked in straight from his classes, backpack in hand. Within minutes, he had changed into coaching gear and was coaching cleans with precision and energy. Every athlete in the room could feel the difference, his presence was calm, confident, and engaged. When I handed him his portion of the $1,000, he looked at me for a long moment before quietly saying,
“Coach… are you sure? I do this because I love being here.”

That pause, that sincerity, said everything. The money wasn’t important. What mattered was the acknowledgment, the recognition that his time, effort, and passion were seen.

The other staff member was a graduate student early in his coaching journey. He was completing the internship for credit and hands-on experience, but it didn’t feel like work to him, it felt like purpose. Despite juggling a full course load and research responsibilities, he showed up consistently, ran small groups, set up equipment, and observed every lift in detail.

One evening, after the last team had left, he stayed an extra 30 minutes working with an athlete who struggled with his squat form. He carefully broke down each cue, corrected small technical flaws, and guided the athlete through repetitions until the movement felt right. He wasn’t asked to stay, he saw a need and acted. Later that evening, he sent me a message:
“No one has ever paid me for coaching before. This truly means a lot.”

For him, it wasn’t about the money; it was about acknowledgment. It validated the time, effort, and dedication he had already invested, and it fueled the energy and care he brought to every session thereafter.

These moments underscored something important: the value wasn’t in the dollars, it was in the recognition. Their time mattered, their contributions mattered, and they felt it.

A Ripple Effect Across the Entire Program

The impact was immediate. When people feel valued, ownership and initiative naturally increase. Over the next few weeks, I noticed significant changes:

• Interns started taking responsibility for warm-ups without direction.
• Assistants offered suggestions to improve sessions rather than waiting to be asked.
• Coaches communicated with athletes with renewed clarity, purpose, and confidence.
• The environment shifted from my program to our program.

This pattern holds true across all levels of strength and conditioning:

• High schools: Recognition and small gestures significantly boost retention and energy.
• College programs: Graduate assistants and interns often need reassurance that their work matters.
• Private facilities: Investing in part-time coaches creates loyalty that branding alone cannot achieve.
• Tactical environments: Valuing support staff strengthens trust, cohesion, and efficiency.

Equipment wears out, tech becomes outdated, but the impact of investing in people compounds every day.

Why People Are the Most Important Upgrade

Athletes rarely remember the exact racks or platforms they used. They remember the coaches who guided, challenged, and believed in them.

That includes interns, graduate assistants, and volunteers, those who contribute so much but often receive the least recognition. Investing in them sends a simple yet powerful message:

“Your work matters, and you are part of something meaningful.”

That kind of recognition builds long-term alignment, strengthens communication, and reinforces a shared mission far more effectively than any piece of equipment.

A Lesson in Sustainable Leadership

Passion drives the strength and conditioning profession, but passion alone isn’t sustainable. Recognition and support are essential to keeping the next generation of coaches engaged and motivated.

That $1,000 showed me that the long-term stability of a program depends not on physical upgrades, but on the development and empowerment of the staff delivering the message every day.

If you want athletes who are consistent, you first need coaches who are consistent. By investing in the people who support our athletes, I not only strengthened our daily operations but also reinforced the culture and standards that define our program.

Conclusion

The best $1,000 I ever spent didn’t enhance our facility, upgrade technology, or improve equipment. It strengthened something far more important: the people responsible for shaping the athletic experience.

Coaching has always been, and will always be, about people first. When you invest in your staff, they return that investment every day through improved communication, leadership, and commitment.

When the opportunity arises to reinvest in your program, ask yourself:

“What will truly make us better?”

For me, the answer was simple:

Invest in the people who invest in the athletes.

That is an upgrade that will never lose value.