THE COACH
jack strauss
I grew up playing hockey and competed through college at Skidmore (NCAA DIII). Like most athletes, I worked hard—but I didn’t have a real system. I was guessing on training, conditioning, and recovery, hoping it would translate.
That’s why I built FormState Athletics.
After my playing career, I became CFSC certified and started coaching athletes who wanted more structure and better results—especially hockey players and hybrid athletes.
My approach is simple:
Train with purpose. Build systems that translate. Stay consistent.
What makes this different is that I don’t just coach it—I live it.
After knee surgery, I rebuilt my body and trained for my first Ironman 70.3 in 2025—completing it just 7 months post-op. That experience reinforced what I believe:
The right system changes everything.
Outside of coaching, I’m based in Scottsdale, Arizona, continuing to train, compete, and work with athletes remotely around the world.
Find your form. Perform at your highest level.
Strength & Conditioning Coach · Founder · FormState Athletics
CREDENTIALS
CFSC Certified
20+ years of hockey experience
Multiple triathlete/hybrid events
Skidmore College Graduate
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
the formstate approach
01
Specificity Over Generality
A hockey player and a marathoner have almost nothing in common physiologically. Training that ignores sport demands is wasted adaptation. Every FormState program begins by asking: what does this sport actually require, and how do we systematically build it?
02
Structure Produces Results
Random hard work produces random results. Periodized, structured training — built around progressive overload, recovery, and well-timed intensification — produces consistent, predictable improvement. FormState athletes don't just train hard; they train smart.
03
The Athlete Comes First
Programs are adjusted to the athlete, not the other way around. Life, fatigue, travel, and in-season demands are all real — the best programming in the world is worthless if it can't be executed. FormState builds resilient, adaptable systems that work in the real world.
WHO WE WORK WITH
BUILT FOR SERIOUS ATHLETES
FormState isn't for everyone — and that's intentional. The athletes I work with are competitive, goal-oriented, and ready to follow a structured system. If that's you, we're going to do great work together.
16U/18U MIDGET HOCKEY
JUNIOR HOCKEY (USHL, NAHL, & MORE)
COLLEGE HOCKEY
SEMI-PRO & PRO HOCKEY
COMPETITIVE RUNNERS
IRONMAN TRIATHLETES
GET STARTED
READY TO WORK TOGETHER?
Reach out through the contact form and we'll set up a free call to see if FormState is the right fit for your goals.