If you’ve been to the gym lately…chances are you’ve seen Hobart and William Smith athletics new strength and conditioning coach, Jake Alvarez. Jake, who worked as an assistant under Coach Dorn last year, is back on campus as a full time trainer. He’s excited to continue working with Coach Dorn and can’t wait to see what’s in store this season for all HWS athletes.
Basics:
Name: Jake Alvarez
College: Ithaca College
Major: Exercise Science
Hometown: Rochester, NY
HC: Why did you choose to work at HWS?
JA: I went to a weight lifting clinic in Lake Placid at the Olympic Training Center in October 2014. We had to pair up with other trainers and my partner was Coach Dorn. We got to talking and he said he was looking for an assistant so I gave him my info.
HC: How long have you been training?
JA: I’ve been a personal trainer for 3 years and that led into group, and now team training. I’ve been doing team strength and conditioning for one year.
HC: Did you always want to be a trainer?
JA: I originally wanted to be a psychologist, but in college I switched my major and realized that it wasn’t for me. I didn’t always think that I would be in this position right now but I’m very happy where I am and I now know I want to learn more. I especially want to learn more about nutrition. I think that that’s very important and is a key aspect that a lot of athletes miss.
HC: What’s your favorite part about training HWS athletes?
JA: I love when the athletes get in their zone and they are so focused on whatever task it is at hand. I love when that happens because you can feel the energy in the weight room. The team energy that they create and feed off of is awesome.
HC: If you could be training anyone or any team in the world who would it be?
JA: The Buffalo Bills. I’ve been a Bills fan my whole life and being able to train a professional team would be an incredible experience. My job is already awesome but being able to train athletes at that level would be incredible. I wouldn’t have to do much either, I would mostly facilitate the workouts and probably learn a lot from them.
HC: Did you play any sports while growing up?
JA: Yes, I played lacrosse for 11 years. I played all while growing up and then at Ithaca I played one year on their varsity team and then club.
Favorites:
Thing About HWS: The Harris House, that’s where I would stay a lot when I traveling back and forth from Ithaca to Geneva
Movie: The Butterfly Effect
Food: Chicken Parm
Workout: Any Olympic lift
Stretch: Hamstring
Celebrity Crush: Mila Kunis
Team to Train at HWS: I can’t pick one, all of them!