# Stick to Your Guns: How Ash Samaniego Won a National Title Without Changing Who He Was

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cheeky-mid-weeky-6384778/stick-to-your-guns-how-ash-samaniego-won-a-national-title-without-changing-who-he-was.md
Podcast: [Cheeky Mid Weeky](https://stenobird.com/podcast/cheeky-mid-weeky-6384778)
Published: 2026-04-29T07:07:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/cmw/2776142
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/210220/2776142/cmw/2026_04_28_21_07_10_7226f2d7-a279-4e6e-b1c0-5c4472592ae5.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3592

## Resource

UCLA strength coach Ash Samaniego shares how he maintained his authentic coaching identity while leading a national championship-winning program. He details the transition from pure performance training to a resilience-focused model centered on injury prevention and stakeholder collaboration.

## Highlights
- Main idea: Success comes from staying true to your foundational coaching principles rather than chasing trends
- Practical takeaway: Use force plate data and symmetry tracking to implement micro-dosed interventions for tendon health
- Failure mode: Avoiding collaboration with sports medicine staff can lead to missed opportunities for injury mitigation
- Main idea: Shift the training focus from maximizing raw power to maximizing athlete availability and longevity
- Practical takeaway: Build trust with athletes by being present and accessible during daily routines, not just during training sessions

## Topics

Strength and Conditioning, Athletic Performance, Injury Prevention, UCLA Athletics, WNBA Training, Sports Science, Force Plate Data, Athlete Resilience

## Chapters
- 1:00 — Professional Development: A discussion on maintaining NSCA and CSCCA certifications through continuous education.
- 5:00 — Personal Journey: Ash reflects on his upbringing in the Philippines and Guam and his move to Los Angeles.
- 10:00 — The UCLA Interview Process: Navigating the rigorous multi-stage interview process for a high-profile collegiate position.
- 14:00 — Maintaining Coaching Identity: How to implement effective team-building without losing your professional edge or authenticity.
- 19:00 — Integrating Military Discipline: Leveraging Marine Corps principles to foster toughness and presence within a sports program.
- 23:00 — Building Mental Toughness: The philosophy of incremental physical and mental challenges to expand athlete capacity.
- 28:00 — Managing High-Stakes Pressure: Focusing on daily routines and operational excellence to mitigate the stress of elite competition.
- 32:00 — The Power of Presence: Adopting a mindset of being present in every moment to build long-term confidence.

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## Transcript

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