Living Inside the Boundaries
Boundaries can be seen from two different perspectives. They can be seen as restricting, confining, stifling, limiting and unfair, or they can be seen as a safe space to be able to freely operate. The boundaries created by the Return to Training 50/30/20/10 Conditioning and Testing Rule, and the F.I.T. Rule for Weight Training Activity were designed to create safe space for Strength and Conditioning Coaches to freely operate. This space allows for Strength Conditioning Coach to be who they are, while protecting the athlete, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Sport Coach, and University.
Questions that will be answered: Who cares if you’re living inside the boundaries? How do these rules affect you? What are the advantages? Is there a disadvantage?
Don Decker started his strength and conditioning career as a graduate assistant at the University of Arkansas where he earned his master's degree in exercise science.
He has been a strength and conditioning coach at the Division 1 collegiate level for 31 years and 21 of those years as a head strength and conditioning coach. He spent 21 years in the SEC at the University of Arkansas and the University of Mississippi. During his tenure he helped teams go to 12 Bowl Games, was a part of 4 SEC Western Division titles, experienced a National Championship title win in Basketball at Arkansas beating Duke in 1994 and helped them play for it again the next year against UCLA.
He has coached 90 All SEC Football players, 20 first team All-American Football players, a two Time Runner-Up for the Heisman, 8 first round NFL picks, and in 2010 was selected as the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the year from the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
Decker is now entering his eighth season as the Director of Sports Performance at New Mexico State University. In 2016, he helped develop the 1st AP All-American since 1974, and in 2017 was a part of New Mexico State’s first bowl game in 57 years where they beat Utah State. In 2017 and 2018 New Mexico State was able to send only their 5th and 6th players ever to the Reese’s Senior Bowl.
In 2004, he earned the designation of Master Level Strength Coach, and he has been published twice.
In 2014, Decker was elected to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the CSCCa and again in 2017.
As we all know, all these things will perish. It is what we do that has eternal value that will last. So, the Bible studies for the football coaching staffs and players, at each university he has coached at, is his most valued accomplishment.
Decker has been married to his wife Stacey for 31 years, and she has been a key component of his success.
