2019 National Conference

Isaiah Castilleja

Panel Member: Preventing Exertional Illnesses and Incidents in Athletes

A panel of collegiate strength and conditioning coaches will discuss initial health screenings for athletes, reducing risk in first year athletes, and how to adjust programming for returning athletes. There will be specific discussion on preventing exertional rhabdomyolysis, programming for athlete(s) returning from exertional rhabdomyolysis, reducing risk of exertional heat illness and approaches for post strength/conditioning recovery. The discussion will provide coaches with programming suggestions for at-risk environments and issues that should be part of their emergency action plan.

Isaiah Castilleja enters his sixth year as strength and conditioning coach at MSU Denver in 2018-2019. Coach Castilleja is responsible for the design and implementation of all Sports Performance training for all 16 Varsity sports, encompassing hundreds of athletes. The year-round development of all athletes is primary focus of training. Coach Castilleja’s Block Zero program is the primary factor to make sure all athletes can master basic movement effectively.

Previously Coach Castilleja worked at the University of Colorado at Boulder, helping the Buffaloes football, cross country and track & field teams, as well as the Ralphie handlers, chips, cheer, dance, and express teams. During his time there, the cross-country team won a national championship. He also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Colorado School of Mines in 2011-12, helping the football, volleyball and men's soccer teams. In 2011, Castilleja was a strength and conditioning coach with Landow Performance, assisting with Denver Broncos football team during the 2011 NFL Lockout. He also assisted with other NFL, NHL, UFC and MLB athletes as well as Olympians Missy Franklin and Kara Lynn Joyce.

Castilleja graduated from MSU Denver in 2011 with his bachelor's degree in human performance and sport (exercise science) and has his master's degree from AT Still University in Kinesiology (sports conditioning).