Meet Danny Blanchard, a current PhD student at CSP Global. Last year, Danny started teaching a dual enrollment course at South Terrebonne High School in Bourg, Louisiana, a tight-knit bayou community in Terrebonne Parish known for its shrimp boats, family-owned po-boy shops, and proximity to the Gulf. At this public high school, Danny serves as the Dual Enrollment Anatomy and Physiology instructor while also teaching biology and physical education. He coaches the school’s powerlifting team as well, applying his expertise to guide athletes in strength training and performance optimization.

A lifelong passion for sports and human performance naturally led Danny into the field of kinesiology. Over years of working with athletes, he witnessed firsthand how training and movement can enhance performance while building confidence, discipline, and resilience.

“Pursuing a doctoral degree was the next step for me because I wanted to go beyond just applying existing knowledge. I wanted to contribute to it,” Danny explains. “This degree has been both a personal challenge and a professional calling, and it has given me the opportunity to grow as a scholar and mentor.”

Elevating High School Education Through Doctoral Training

This past year, Danny was awarded a unique dual enrollment teaching role, an experience he describes as “incredibly rewarding to guide these motivated students through the intricacies of the human body.” The Human Anatomy and Physiology sequence partners with Nicholls State University in Thibodaux. Designed for high-achieving juniors and seniors, the program is transferable to most Louisiana universities and many out-of-state institutions. It serves as a transformative experience for many first-generation college hopefuls, providing a valuable head start on their degrees.

By applying the rigorous physiology coursework from CSP Global’s online PhD in Kinesiology, Danny secured this dual enrollment teaching role at South Terrebonne High School, demonstrating the direct career impact of the program’s curriculum.

“Now in my third year, I leveraged the program’s rigorous physiology coursework to secure my role at South Terrebonne,” Danny says. “The hiring committee valued my doctoral training for delivering university-aligned anatomy instruction to high schoolers.”

He was initially drawn to CSP because of its balance of academic rigor and practical application.

“I wanted a program that would allow me to take research and directly apply it to real-world problems in sports and performance. CSP’s faculty and program design made that possible,” he notes. “Along this journey, I’ve been challenged to think critically, design meaningful research, and communicate my work in a way that resonates with both scholars and practitioners.”

Danny also acknowledges the supportive network of mentors and peers who share his passion for movement science.

“Professionally, it’s sharpened my ability to ask better questions, to think strategically about athlete development, and to use research as a tool for creating meaningful change in the field of strength and conditioning.”

Balancing Career and Online Doctoral Studies

The online format was ideal for Danny’s location in rural Bourg, Louisiana, allowing him to pursue a doctoral degree without stepping away from his professional responsibilities. He found that the online environment facilitates collaboration, connecting him with peers nationwide while he remains present in his community.

“The key benefit is that it mirrors the reality of modern professional life. You learn to manage your time, stay disciplined, and engage deeply with the material while still being present in your career and community.”

Danny says, “I’ve also found that the online environment doesn’t limit collaboration. It actually expands it. I’ve been able to connect with classmates and professors from across the country, all of whom bring unique perspectives to kinesiology and research. That diversity of thought has been incredibly valuable in shaping my own approach to scholarship and practice.”

Researching Adolescent Speed Development

Danny’s dissertation focuses on “The Effects of Resisted Sled Training on Sprinting Speed in High School Athletes.” While sled training is prevalent in sports like football, research on its impact on adolescent speed development is limited. Unlike most studies that focus on elite athletes, his research centers on 40-50 high school athletes. This approach targets the unique needs of younger competitors and addresses a critical research gap in the field.

Advice for Future Kinesiology Scholars

Approaching the end of his doctoral program, Danny is especially grateful for the mentorship and supportive community he has found along the way.

“Even though it’s an online program, I’ve always felt connected to my professors and peers. The faculty at CSP are not only knowledgeable, but also genuinely invested in seeing students succeed,” he says. “They push you to think critically, but they also support you in refining your ideas and research.”

He deeply appreciates the ability to tailor his dissertation to his specific passions.

“That sense of ownership, combined with the ongoing encouragement from the CSP community, has been the most rewarding part of this journey.

Looking ahead, Danny is committed to empowering young athletes to build a foundation for lifelong strength, performance, and success, while continuing to contribute valuable research to the field.

“Ultimately, I see myself as a bridge between academia and applied practice. Someone who can take cutting-edge research and translate it into strategies that really work for athletes and coaches on the ground.”

Explore Your Future

Are you ready to bridge the gap between academic research and applied practice in your own career? Discover how the online PhD in Kinesiology at CSP Global can help you elevate your expertise and make a lasting impact in the field of human performance.