Lance Sewell

In twenty years time, Lance Sewell has graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness, and has transitioned to working as a strength and conditioning coach with one of the top athletic programs at the University of Texas. While attending at class at Baylor, (then) Head Strength Coach Rob Rogers came to speak about strength and conditioning, and Sewell began to think about his future. 

Sewell began volunteering for Coach Rogers, and after two years under Rogers, he was offered a paid position as a strength and conditioning intern with the Chicago White Sox under former strength coach Vern Gambetta.  Sewell’s relationship with Gambetta allowed him to experience various levels of professional baseball, from the Prince William Cannons in northern Virginia, to the Bristol White Sox in Bristol, Virginia.  After volunteering with the White Sox, Sewell was hired as a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning under former coach John Stuckey at the University of Tennessee.

After his time in Knoxville, Sewell reunited with Gambetta as the Director of Conditioning with the Cincinnati Reds.  He began to educate professional athletes on the importance of strength and conditioning from an injury prevention standpoint, compared to that of bodybuilding. His experience with the ranks of Major League Baseball presented him with an opportunity to become an assistant strength coach with the University of Miami at the end of the 2001 season.  Sewell was primarily assigned to train the baseball team, but he was also able to help with football, track and field, and swimming during his time at Miami.

 In 2004, Sewell was hired as an assistant strength coach at the University of Texas, a position he still holds today.  For the first four years of his tenure, he was able to assist Coach Madden.  Throughout his time at Texas, the main team he has trained is baseball, however he has also coached women’s golf and cheer and pom.  As of late, he has also begun to coach the softball team. 

As a strength coach, Sewell’s philosophy consists of improving athletic performance through sport specific exercises that supplement injury preventive movements.  His emphasis on tri-planar (i.e saggital, frontal, and transverse) exercises allows his athletes to become better prepared for competitions. Furthermore, Sewell’s training theory is to train athletes on their feet because “most sport is played standing,” which allows for a more functional athletic environment. 

Part of his philosophy stems from traditional linear progression, while his main muscle movements are based around the central nervous response of the individual athlete.  As a result of his coaching and training methodology, Sewell has helped the Longhorns to one National Championship in 2005, three trips to the College World Series in 2004, 2005, and 2009, as well as six Big XII Conference Championships.