Dr. Michael Richards (center) warming up the Bismarck Bucks football team for practice.
From the Weight Room to Doctoral Research
For Dr. Richards, the pursuit of a doctoral degree was a natural extension of more than a decade spent empowering others to reach their physical and mental potential. With 12 years of experience as a strength and conditioning coach, his professional journey has taken him from working with youth athletes as young as six to training collegiate competitors, football players, and members of military special forces. Throughout his career, he has built programs from the ground up, including the creation and complete renovation of a high school and middle school strength and conditioning facility.
His passion for optimizing performance and preventing injury has been the cornerstone of his work across every level of athlete development.
“I’ve always relied on research studies and best practices to guide my coaching and decision-making, and I felt a desire to make meaningful contributions to the field, which led me to pursue my doctorate.”
A Self-Paced EdD Designed for Working Professionals
Dr. Richards initially earned his master’s degree at CSP Global, where he had a “phenomenal experience with the content and staff.” During his master’s capstone, Program Director Dr. Matthew Buns inspired him to continue his academic journey. Mentorship is a cornerstone of the EdD in Kinesiology program at CSP Global, and Dr. Richards experienced this firsthand. He had the unique opportunity to work with Dr. Buns as both his capstone advisor and dissertation chair, noting, “The experience has been just as great.”
Balancing a demanding career as an elite strength and conditioning coach with doctoral studies requires ultimate flexibility. He acknowledges the level of professionalism he experienced throughout the program, admitting that the “self-paced nature of the program was really the only way” he could earn the doctorate degree. He also recognizes “the breadth of experience and knowledge across the faculty allowed me to better understand the material and kept my interest more than if that were not the case.”
Applied Research in Elite Athletics and Military Performance
Since graduating, Dr. Richards has taken his expertise to an elite level as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 149th Fighter Wing Squadron. His role focuses on improving performance and reducing the risk of G-force-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) among pilots and crew. He also provides education on advanced strength and conditioning, nutrition, and sleep and stress management.
In addition to his military work, he serves as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the San Antonio Gunslingers, a professional Indoor Football League (IFL) team. He leads programming, assessments, and wellness education while also overseeing the planning and construction of the team’s future performance facility. Beyond these positions, he provides online coaching and educational resources for emerging strength and conditioning professionals, helping the next generation of coaches learn evidence-based methods and career development skills as a way to give back to his community.
Dr. Richards’ dissertation investigated the effects of music on perceived effort in the weight room using Division 1 softball players. His results indicated that the type of music that athletes enjoy yields the best outcomes, with volume playing a minor but significant role. As a strength and conditioning coach, he had the unique opportunity to work hands-on with his athletes to conduct this study.
Advice for Future Kinesiology Scholars
Moving forward, Dr. Richards will continue coaching and pursuing research projects as long as he can. Eventually, he would like to transition to teaching, but for now, he is focused on building knowledge and presenting at future conferences. Reflecting on his journey, he provides practical advice for future doctoral students:
“Stick it out and communicate with your committee and advisor. The coursework is straightforward; however, it is more important to stay focused and organized and be in constant communication with your committee and advisors so you can be successful with your dissertation defense.”
Explore Your Future
Are you ready to elevate your career in human performance and sports science like Dr. Richards? Discover how the online EdD in Kinesiology at CSP Global can help you achieve your professional and research goals. Our flexible, self-paced format is designed for working professionals who want to make a lasting impact in the field.