ROCKLIN, Calif. – Across campus, student-athletes are working to be ready for another year in Jessup Athletics. That work is being seen in the classroom, on the practice field, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of Jessup's performance coaching staff, the work is also being done in the weight room.
 
There is no time like the present to be one of the Warriors. Classes have been underway for a week, and the first official NCAA Division II contest in Jessup history is slated for this Thursday. It's a new landscape around Jessup University, one that requires student-athletes to be more disciplined in all that they do. The message of discipline starts with Kori Polee and Alec Richmond, Jessup's two full-time performance coaches.
 
Polee earned her Master's Degree through Jessup and turned that into the first full-time Head Performance Coach role in Jessup history. She is also married to former Jessup guard Darrell Polee, who played two seasons on the men's basketball team.
 
During Polee's time with Jessup, the weight room has continued to grow. The university added logoed free weights, new racks, and other machines to provide student-athletes with the best setup for the needs of a college athlete.
 
With all they have at their disposal, the duo of Polee and Richmond have been putting in the time and effort to ensure when one of Jessup's nearly 400 student-athletes step foot inside the weight room, they are getting the most out of their time through specific workout plans for each team and student-athlete.
 
"It's a lot of work," says Polee. "All summer, we work on these plans and make tweaks throughout the year based on each team's progress. It's our goal to get the most out of each team and provide exactly what they need."
 
In doing so, each student-athlete gets a sheet with their work out on it. Athletes then track their progress as they go through the workout, allowing Polee and Richmond to later see how each student-athlete is progressing. The goal is to make progress, but not push them too far in doing so.
 
"Their sheets list each of their exercises, number of reps, and the percentage of their max they should be doing," added Richmond, who is in his second year as the Assistant Performance Coach. Richmond knows first-hand the demands of being a student-athlete, as he was a conference champion in the decathlon during his time on the track & field team. He is also the assistant coach of jumps and multi-events for Jessup Track & Field.
 
"We try to plan for the entire year so that we are not taking it one week at a time," added Richmond. "It's a lot of prep, so we start the planning early in the summer."
 
The preparation by the performance coaches does not go unnoticed. Not only does it make it easier for student-athletes to know what lies ahead of them when they step into the weight room, but it also lightens the load for Jessup's coaches.
 
"They make our lives easier as coaches," said Travis Timmons, an assistant coach on the men's basketball staff. "At my last job, I had to do a lot of the strength and conditioning for our team. (Kori and Alec) know what they're doing, and it's great to be able to rely on them."
 
Timmons was a collegiate athlete in his own right, playing for Division II program Southeastern Oklahoma State. He reiterated that a lot has changed since his playing days and that the performance coaching staff has done a great job adapting to the times.
 
"Back when I played, it was all about lifting as much as you can," added Timmons. "Today, the workouts are more sport-specific and less about maxing out."
 
One day in the weight room and it's clear that there is no cookie cutter workout for all of Jessup's athletes. For instance, while men's basketball spends the morning with Richmond working on things like bench presses and squats, sideline cheer at the same time is working on stretches with Polee on the sport courts next door.
 
During each workout, both of the performance coaches can be seen floating around and offering insight where needed. "We're watching their technique and making sure everyone stays on track," added Richmond. "We're also trying to keep up the intensity. It starts with us when they show up for their workout."
 
It's all about getting the most out of the Warriors. Whether that be in preparation for a game, recovery from an injury, or a cool down after practice on a hot day. The intentionality is there, and the work shows when it's time for Jessup to step into a competition.
 
The new landscape of Jessup in NCAA Division II is here, and to be ready for this new challenge, athletes are in a good spot thanks to the performance coaches who help make them stronger.
 
Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).