Written by: Quincy Bentley | Sports Editor
Cori Metzgar, the Wolves’ respected strength and conditioning coach, began her journey in sports at an early age. Growing up, the Alaska native excelled in sports, which initially introduced her to strength training. She continued her athletic career at Fort Lewis College, an NCAA Division II school in Colorado, where she further developed her passion for fitness and competition.
Metzgar’s early exposure to training started with her love for sports. At Fort Lewis College, Metzgar was a downhill ski racer as well as a soccer player. She competed in both sports from freshman to junior year, until a significant turning point redefined her path.
Going into her senior year, Metzgar suffered two broken vertebrae in her back, hindering her from continuing to participate in sports. During the recovery period, she began working under her coach at Fort Lewis College, assisting him for two years which eventually solidified her path toward a career in strength and conditioning. She also drew inspiration from her father, a cross-country and track coach, who instilled a deep appreciation for sports and training.
Metzgar began her career as a graduate assistant at Western Michigan University. After completing her master’s degree, she joined Ohio State University as a professional intern. Following a year at OSU, she spent the next five years at Colorado State University, serving as the head assistant for football while also overseeing training for volleyball, swimming & diving, softball, tennis and track. Metzgar then moved to Washington State University, where she worked for five years — first as an assistant and later as the associate head strength and conditioning coach — leading programs for baseball, volleyball, swimming, soccer and rowing. In 2011, she embraced the role of head strength coach at Western, where she has remained since.
A typical day in Metzgar’s role starts as early as 6 – 6:30 a.m. She runs training sessions for various teams every 45 minutes until about 11 a.m., followed by a lunch break. Her afternoons aren’t any slower though, packed with even more sessions from 1 to 3 p.m. Despite the demanding schedule, Metzgar still manages to carve out time for her own workouts, while also prioritizing her responsibilities as a mother. Her role requires a ridiculous amount of organizing, as she also has to fit everyone’s training schedules in cohesively. She develops and programs workouts for all the athletes she trains, which include Western’s football, men’s basketball, men’s soccer, baseball and softball programs.
When not immersed in her professional responsibilities, Metzgar lives an active and fulfilling life. When asked about what she likes to do with her free time, Metzgar shared, “I love to train, run and spend time with my daughter.” She also mentioned that she enjoys traveling, cooking and exploring local wineries such as Brynmawr, Ankeny and West Hills.
What truly sets Metzgar aside from other people in her field is her approach to coaching. “I think what leads to my success is that I’m very passionate about what I do and the people I work with,” she explained. Understanding the unique needs of each athlete, she tailors her training styles accordingly, recognizing that motivating a basketball player might differ from motivating a football player. Her priority is to establish trust: “I want everyone to know that I care. Once they know that you care, they’re going to trust you more.” She embraces the challenge of reaching every athlete, acknowledging that while it may not always be possible, it remains her goal.
Supporting Metzgar here at Western is Josie Boucher, a dedicated strength coach from Austin, Texas. Boucher’s career began with training high school athletes, eventually leading to a role at the University of Texas at Austin for seven months and then a year at Texas A&M. Now in her second year at Western, Boucher is motivated by her collegiate powerlifting days and a significant injury that sparked her interest in the science of training. “I wanted to be everything I didn’t have,” she says, inspired by a lack of guidance during her own athletic journey.
Boucher’s day often starts around 7 a.m., where she finalizes programming before going into training sessions with women’s soccer, freshman football, volleyball and track. Beyond the gym, Boucher enjoys spending time outdoors with her German shepherd, Roy, reading — currently the third Lord of the Rings book — and staying connected with her family in Texas.
When asked what advice they would give to someone aspiring to follow a similar path, both Metzgar and Boucher emphasized the importance of building connections. Metzgar advises upcoming strength coaches to volunteer and spend time in weight rooms to gain experience firsthand, while Boucher highlights the value of building relationships with mentors and continuous self-education in sports science. “Building connections with people who are willing to help and know what they are talking about is key,” Boucher adds.
Together, Metzgar and Boucher bring a great combination of experience, passion and mentorship to the Wolves’ strength and conditioning program. Their commitment to both the athletes and their craft makes them an exceptional team in collegiate sports training.
Contact the author at howlsports@mail.wou.edu
