As a lifelong athlete, the field of sports science always intrigued Colin Doherty, M.S., LAT, ATC, CSCS, CPSS, CES, ITAT, PES.
During his career as an athletic trainer, Colin spent time learning about strength and conditioning programs and how the professions overlap with athletic training. In 2020, he decided to enroll in Logan’s Master of Science in Sports Science and Rehabilitation (MS-SSR) program to further his education and give himself a competitive edge in the industry.
“I hadn’t been in school for twelve years and was really stressed out at first about my decision to go back,” said Colin. s
Earning a master’s degree while juggling a full-time job is no simple task, but Colin made it all happen.
“The MS-SSR program was a perfect fit for me,” said Colin. “It allowed me to pursue various topics such as sports medicine, physical therapy, strength and conditioning and nutrition while continuing my athletic training career.”
While in between semesters at Logan, Colin completed the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists (CSCS) exam, validating his application of scientific knowledge while training athletes with the primary goal of improving the athlete’s performance.
After completing the CSCS exam, Colin decided to take the Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS) exam as part of its inaugural class, demonstrating the specialization in the process of improving individual and team athletic performance, while decreasing the risk of injury.
“I tend to see athletes once they are already hurt, but now I encourage them to see me before an injury occurs,” explained Colin. “Now, I can use my CPSS knowledge to identify their body’s weaknesses that could potentially lead to an injury before that injury even occurs.”
Colin enjoys putting this new knowledge to work, as he is always looking for ways to help his athletes stay healthy and improve their performance.
“For example, we can test the metrics of a baseball player’s grip strength with a hand dynamometer,” Colin said. “This helps us determine what potential injuries they may experience due to weak points. Then, we are able to add workouts and exercises tailored to building strength in the specific areas they need help with.”
Colin completed the MS-SSR program in 2022. He is excited to continue his career helping athletes perform at their very best, while keeping them physically safe and healthy.
For individuals interested in pursuing their MS-SSR degree, visit https://www.logan.edu/academics/online-masters-sports-science-rehabilitation/.