MSCC Class of 2008

Barry Kagan

Assistant, University of Maryland

Barry Kagan began his career as a strength and conditioning coach while completing his degree in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. He was hired full-time by his alma mater in 1995. During his 13 years of full-time coaching, his oversight has varied across 23 different sports. For some time, Coach Kagan has been directing all strength and conditioning needs for Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Gymnastics, Field Hockey, Women's Lacrosse, and Track and Field, while assisting on an "as needed" basis with the Terrapin football program.

Outside his time with UM, Coach Kagan has worked as an intern in 1993 with the Washington Capitols, has served as a consultant with Australia Women's Lacrosse developmental and senior level programs from 2001 - 2003, and has presented at several strength and conditioning seminars, as well as conferences for sport coaches in soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey. Barry earned his CSCS from the NSCA in 1996, his SCCC Certification from the CSCCa in 2004, and is excited to receive the Masters Certification from the CSCCa in 2008.
In addition to his strength and conditioning exploits, Coach Kagan became a Certified Massage Therapist in 2006. He has just completed an intensive Orthopedic and Sports Massage training program at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Boulder, CO. Coach Kagan looks forward to integrating his knowledge of Strength and Conditioning with his appreciation for the in-depth approach to recovery covered in the field of manual therapies. This will allow him to take new steps in enhancing athletic performance in the future.
Coach Kagan's strength and conditioning career has been centered upon the University of Maryland, but his training and coaching style is indebted to many mentors he has met along the way. His career got its start under the tutelage of the innovator Frank Costello. It expanded under the influence of Evan Marcus and Damian Stephens, who taught him the basics on how to coach and teach in the weight room. Barry was influenced by Craig Ftizgerald's insatiable approach to coaching with intensity and integrity. And when it comes to sharing ideas, there has always been Corliss Fingers--a fellow Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, to whom Barry is indebted for a friendship that can only be understood by those who have shared an office with the same person for 11 years. Finally, Coach Kagan would not be in a position to work with national championship teams, internationally competitive athletes, or, most importantly, with the athletes that make the day-to-day job of coaching so fulfilling and rewarding, had Dwight Galt not filled the role of mentor, motivator, administrator, and most importantly, friend in the field, as well as in life.