The fitness center for Colorado Christian University athletics measures out to roughly 1,200 square feet, and that's being generous. That space also includes a desk, water storage, and a few small refrigerators. By the looks of it, the weight room at CCU doesn't compare to the likes of Oregon, CU, or even a 24-Hour Fitness, but what we have that the others don't, is Taylor Lange.
 
Taylor has the honor and privilege, along with the daunting task, of being Colorado Christian's first full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach. Before he arrived, the athletes received some direction from coaches, but largely planned their own regimens for strength training throughout the year. Since Taylor joined CCU in the spring of 2017 as a contracted worker from RedLine Athletics, each team now has a personalized and detailed pre-season, in-season, and post-season routine, and the results are evident.
 
The 2017-2018 seasons were arguably some of the best in school history. CCU earned more conference Players of the Week and NCAA All-American honors than any previous single season in school history. That is not to say that Taylor is solely responsible for these accomplishments, he would never make that claim, but giving coaches better, faster, stronger athletes to compete with does make those achievements much more attainable. Head cross country and track and field coach Jon Poag echoes those thoughts. "Strength and Conditioning in the sport of Track & Field can be complicated as each event group has unique and often different needs. Taylor did a great job managing the nuances of each event group and was pivotal in shaping our athlete's performances. Taylor's program was big reason our athletes performed so well. We are lucky to have him at CCU." Poag would know, since three of CCU's five All-American awards came from his track and field team and saw this year's Men's Indoor Track and Field team be ranked nationally for the first time in school history.
 
Getting to this point in his career started before Taylor even finished undergrad. Taylor played baseball while attending Spring Arbor University, and while studying Exercise Science he got his first taste of his chosen field. SAU is a small, private university competing in the NAIA, and much like CCU, they did not have the resources for a full-time Strength and Conditioning Coach. So as a senior captain on the baseball team, his coach entrusted him and one other captain with the teams off-season conditioning regiment. He built on that experience after his senior year when the volleyball coach also handed him the reigns to the team's fitness.
 
Taylor has been fortunate enough to study under some of the most noteworthy and knowledgeable people in his field. He received his Master's degree from Central Michigan University in a program largely based in clinical studies rather than in the weight room, giving Taylor a deeper knowledge and understanding of the human body. While working on his Master's degree he also worked as an intern at Eastern Michigan University under the tutelage of the two-time Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year, Ron McKeefery. The time spent with McKeefery is noted by Taylor as, "the greatest thing that has ever happened to me." To top off his "who's who" of education and experience, Taylor spent a period in Colorado Springs after he received one of three intern spots with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. This program was a unique challenge and exceptional learning experience as Taylor worked not only with the highest caliber of athletes, but also training military, fire, and police units.
 
All this before the age of 26.
 
Now at 27, Taylor Lange has achieved a career goal of his of being the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for an NCAA program, and doing so at CCU brings an extra, small level of comfort to the job. "CCU and Spring Arbor were very similar circumstances. In terms of coming in here, a private Christian school, same beliefs that I believe in, Cougars, blue and gold, there were just too many signs to ignore that made this an easy choice and I knew I needed to be here."
 
But most Head Strength and Conditioning Coaches in the collegiate level aren't in their 20's, most aren't even in their 30's, so Taylor has had to overcome some assumptions to get to where he's at today. Despite his incredible resume, experience and trust are two of the most important factors in his line of work. His interview process did not consist of a simple sit down the Athletic Director Brian Wall, but rather, a group interview with all the CCU coaches. "I had to go up in front of all of them and tell them why I was the guy. Then it was basically an open forum for them to ask questions and I had to sit there and answer all those questions, and to this day it was the most nerve racking thing I have ever done." There were even coaches who have openly told Taylor that they were not on board with the ultimate decision to bring him on, but after just one year, those opinions have changed completely. Through constant communication and partnership with coaches and players, Taylor gained the trust of everyone in athletics.
 
But this job goes well beyond knowing muscle groups and understanding protein shakes, because there are no work-outs with the people. Taylor has a distinct ability to connect and build relationships which may be what makes him so successful at this position. Former Cougar baseball player Jerry Gallegos made that point clear saying, "Taylor is definitely looked at as more than just the strength coach. For me personally, and many other athletes, he has been a great mentor and friend. It is nice to have someone who has also competed at the collegiate level who understands the struggles and issues in the everyday life of an athlete. Taylor's door has always been open which I know people appreciate. He has changed people in the weight room but definitely has had his impact personally with people as well."
 
Though the article focuses on Taylor's awesome accomplishments and talents, his focus has never been about himself, he is in this for CCU. "This is the dream job, so now the dream of this job is to see CCU [athletics] be put on the map. I'd love to see Colorado Chrstian with big time facilities that rival those of a school like Mesa and competing with those big state schools, because there really aren't a lot of Christian schools that truly compete. I would love to see that because that would change everything."
 
Taylor Lange has done more for Cougar athletics in one year than many are able do in a lifetime, but he's just getting started. He has laid the groundwork for a successful program by getting his weight room dialed in, with more improvements to come, as well as having the athletes and coaches completely bought in. He has goals, aspirations, and dreams for the Cougars, but according to Head Volleyball coach Bobby Blanken, Taylors impact has already been felt throughout the Cougar family. "It has been exciting to see the level of buy-in we are seeing from our athletes as well as the marked physical gains each one of them have made in their training. Perhaps my favorite part about Taylor is his personal investment into the growth of each of our players. Taylor not only knows what our players need from a physiological standpoint but is well versed in his methods for motivation. I am truly grateful for his investments into our program and into the lives of our athletes."