Carthage College Athletics

"My time as a Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant at Carthage College was instrumental in my growth as both a coach and a leader. Coach Molinaro and the entire Strength & Conditioning department created an environment that prioritized learning, mentorship, and growth, while allowing me the autonomy to develop my own coaching identity. Through open conversation, consistent feedback, and trust, I was able to sharpen my programming, communication, and leadership skills in an extremely hands-on environment.

Working closely with sport coaches across multiple teams provided me with essential insight into the proper implementation of training techniques within each program’s culture. The athletic facilities and high-quality technology in the S&C department allowed me to deliver quality, data-driven training programs to our student-athletes. The constant support from all members of the staff made it clear that my development truly mattered.

What truly sets Carthage apart is the commitment and dedication of the athletics department as a whole, not just within strength and conditioning. From coaches to administrators and support staff, there is a strong, consistent belief in executing operations the right way and ensuring student-athletes are being developed not only as better athletes, but as better people as well. The S&C department prides itself on its culture pillars for success, which Coach Molinaro has implemented and ingrained into the DNA of the department. These pillars serve as the North Star for all decisions made by coaches and athletes, and we all strive to live by them in everything we do.

I’ve always said that the people make the place, and the strength staff at Carthage certainly made it feel like home. This was especially important during such a pivotal, growth-centered part of my career. I will always be eternally grateful for my time spent with this staff and for the key role it played in helping develop me into the coach I am today."

University of Pittsburgh 
Strength & Conditioning Fellow
CSCS MEdFeuchtllin Co

"My time as a Strength and Conditioning Graduate Assistant at Carthage College was incredibly valuable to my growth as both a coach and a professional. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside such an amazing staff. Coach Molinaro played a huge role in my journey in strength and conditioning, and I will always be grateful for the impact he had on my development.
 
One of the things I valued most was being part of a staff that was willing to teach me, provide guidance, and challenge me, while also giving me the freedom to navigate challenges on my own. I was given the opportunity to make decisions, learn from my mistakes, and develop my own coaching philosophy rather than simply being told what to do. This experience not only improved my coaching and programming skills, but also helped me become a more confident, independent, punctual, dependable, and hardworking professional.
 
I also greatly valued the opportunity to work closely with our sport coaches and athletic training staff. Throughout my time at Carthage, I was able to implement training strategies specific to each team while receiving valuable feedback from those around me. Building relationships with our coaches was one of my favorite parts of the job. I always looked forward to meeting with them, not only to understand what their teams needed from a training perspective, but also to have meaningful conversations and build strong relationships. Moving from Texas to Kenosha, having a staff and community that made me feel welcomed was incredibly important to me.
 
Carthage’s commitment to athletics and the Strength and Conditioning Department also provided an incredible learning environment. The facilities and technology available to us allowed me to gain hands-on experience with tools that I continue to use in my career today. I especially appreciated our emphasis on data-driven training, which allowed us to track progress, evaluate results, and make informed decisions while removing much of the guesswork from our programming.
 
What stood out to me most, however, was the dedication everyone on staff had to providing our athletes with the best possible experience and care. It was about more than simply completing a job; it was about making sure our athletes received exactly what they needed, whether that meant providing the best training possible or simply being someone they could talk to. Our culture pillars were something I carried with me from my time as an intern with Coach Molinaro, and they became an important part of my development. They were not just words we expected our athletes to follow, we were expected to live them every day and hold ourselves accountable to the same standards.
 
Ultimately, the most important part of my experience at Carthage was the people and the community we built. The staff became like family to me, and I am incredibly grateful for the support system they provided. My athletes were everything to me, and the relationships I built with them were a major reason I continued to push myself and grow as a coach. Now, in my full-time position, I realize even more how much Carthage taught me about the importance of community, hard work, accountability, and giving 100% to the people around you because they deserve nothing less.
 
I am eternally grateful for everything Carthage College, Coach Molinaro, and the entire staff have done for me throughout my journey as a coach. The lessons, relationships, and experiences I gained there will continue to shape the coach and person I strive to be every day."
 

-Efren Ugarte
Ets Performance Head Coach