How did you get into sport?
This is the “How did you get into sport?” podcast where we explore the ins and outs of working in high performance sport.
These are conversations with leaders in the industry about their journey and most importantly how they got to where they are. Working in professional sport is one of the most sought after yet highly competitive industries with limited professional organisations offering opportunities to work at the highest level of their respective sports.
This podcast was created on the back of countless conversations with a diverse range of experienced professionals overly frustrated yet still highly motivated to work in their dream role and asking the question “How did you get to work in professional sport and what did you have to do to get there?” Host Luis Resa is a Sports Physiotherapist who has worked in various elite professional organisation both in Australia and internationally.
In each episode, Luis has deep conversations with Sports Physiotherapist, S&C coaches, Head coaches, High Performance Managers and other leaders in the field of elite sport to discuss what it takes to excel in the world of sport as well as diving deeply into the intricacies of what got their foot in the door of some of the world’s most desirable roles.
Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. In the meantime, enjoy a deep conversation and learn the specific do’s and don’ts of both securing and surpassing expectations in the field of high performance sport.
How did you get into sport?
Dr. Chris McLellan - Vice President of Sports Performance, Florida Panthers, NHL
Dr. Chris McLellan is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced practitioners in collision sports. Chris has worked in the industry for over 25 years and has worked for the likes of Gold Coast Titans (NRL), Gold Coast Suns & Brisbane Lions (AFL) as well as spending 7 years overseas across several clubs in Japanese Rugby. In addition, Chris has also been a fully tenured university professor and has completed a PhD in researching the affects of collision sport on athletes. This was an incredible conversation of someone who started his career as a police officer and went on to successfully navigated a wide ranging career to now being responsible for the health and performance of one of NHLs destination franchises, the Florida Panthers.
Highlights from the episode…
- Once a player of the Brisbane Broncos youth system, Chris was initially inspired by the great Kelvin Giles.
- How Chris went from 8 years in the police force to working in Japanese Rugby.
- “What separates those in the industry are not clinical skills it’s communication”.
- Chris shares his first experiences as being the first foreign S&C rugby coach in Japan and the funny stories of his first few days in the country.
- After 7 years in Japan Chris returned to Australia for family reasons but soon found himself giving up lucrative roles in Japan to having no roles in sport in Australia.
- After 3 years out of sport Chris shares how he got his next opportunity with the newly appointed NRL club Gold Coast titans.
- Chris competed his PhD and provides some cautionary tales and recommendations for those considering doing one…and it’s not for everyone!
- Chris shares some of the trappings of working in sport and how it can affect marriage, personal life, family etc.
- After a successful stint in Rugby. Chris share how he made the transition into the sport of AFL with the GC suns and Brisbane Lions.
- The differences in resources, staff, approach to injury management, performance etc. with rugby vs. AFL.
- After Chris’ time at the Lions he spent time away from sport pursuing an academic career as a tenured professor and soon found himself pulled back into sport this time in ice hockey.
- Chris shares the process involved in securing a role in the NHL.
- How Chris successfully navigated arriving from overseas 10 days prior to the start of the season, now being responsible for managing the performance department of an organisation his never worked for in a sport his never worked in.
- How Chris applies innovation in sports and also managing the risk.
- We conclude with athlete profiling and what Chris is currently working on to determine ideal Athletic readiness to perform.
Chris McLellan contact details:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-mclellan-37579838/
- Horyzen Perfromance: https://horyzenperformance.com/about-us/
People mentioned:
- Kelvin Giles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvin-giles-225b9818/
- Aaron Wellman: https://www.giants.com/team/coaches-roster/aaron-wellman
- Matt Hass: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hass-80203a39/?originalSubdomain=au
- Andy O’Brien: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-o-brien-02422219/details/experience/
Host: Luis Resa
Contact me on:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
- Email: luis.resa@outlook.com
Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.
