About Coach cordova
What you should know
Name:
Coach Leslie Cordova, M.A., C.S.C.S
Occupation:
Strength and Conditioning Coach
Education:
B.S. Exercise Science,
University of New Mexico
M.A. Education,
Loyola Marymount University
M.A. Kinesiology: Sports Management,
Cal State Long Beach
Occupation:
Founder, Owner, and Operator of
Xplosive Strength and Speed
Favorite WOrkout:
Beach Training
Favorite SPort to play:
Tennis and Volleyball
HELPING ATHLETES INCREASE THEIR PERFORMANCE
Although happy at USC, Coach Cordova wanted to help other athletes that might not have access to a Strength and Conditioning Coach. At the University level, she witnessed many freshman come in with poor movement patterns and weakness. This led to injuries and a struggle along their athletic journey. Her younger sister and cousin also experienced athletic injuries and she saw how frustrating this struggle was for both of them. Leslie decided to leave USC to educate parents, coaches, and athletes about the importance of proper mental and physical preparation to improve performance and reduce the chance of injury. She wants to help make the athletic experience a positive event, not a struggle.
COACH CORDOVA’S OWN ATHLETIC JOURNEY
A commitment to excellence and faith in the ability of the human spirit has helped Coach Cordova become one of the leading female athletic performance coaches in the country. As founder of Xceptional Athlete, she has created dynamic training programs that are devoted to empowering athletes to a higher level of performance. Through the power of mentorship and coaching, she has helped hundreds of athletes win Championships, earn scholarships, recover from injury, and increase their awareness of what is truly possible in their lives.
THE START OF THE ATHLETIC JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE
Leslie’s quest for excellence in athletic performance started in high school when she had coaches that were constantly negative and laughed at her dreams of taking her performance to the next level. Her coaches could not tell her how to improve and didn’t believe that she could realize her dreams, so Leslie started to do her own research. She read books and magazines about improving vertical jump and strength. There was no professional guidance and she didn’t have access to an athletic performance coach. She found herself frustrated in dealing with negative and unknowledgeable coaches.
It wasn’t until college that Leslie was exposed to positive and knowledgeable coaches. Her tennis coach told her that she would have a chance to compete with the best if “she worked hard and dedicated herself to improving everyday.” That was the first time someone told her that she was in control of her athletic potential. Also, college was the first time that she had access to a Strength & Conditioning Coach that inspired and empowered her to improve her performance through proper training. Leslie started reading books on improving the mindset, earned her degree in Exercise Science, and dedicated herself to the performance training. She raised her level of greatness and earned “The Most Spirited Award” while playing Division I Collegiate Tennis at the University of New Mexico.
Experiencing what was truly possible when you have access to the proper tools, guidance, and support, Leslie decided she wanted to help other athletes along their journey. She became an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Loyola Marymount University, while earning a Master’s in Education at LMU and a Master’s in Kinesiology: Sports Management at Cal State University of Long Beach.
In 2003, Coach Cordova became an Assistant Strength Coach at the University of Notre Dame where she trained all athletes (specializing in tennis and golf). She trained under Coach Mickey Marotti, who has won National Championships in Football at the University of Florida. In 2004, Coach Cordova became an Assistant Speed, Strength, and Conditioning Coach at the University of Southern California. She was in charge of Women’s Basketball, Soccer, and Golf; as well as assisting with all aspects of Football. While training at USC, the Football team won the National Championship, two athletes won the Heisman award, the basketball team went to the NCAA tournament, athletes earned All-American awards, and she experienced the techniques and training methods the athletes used to raise their level of performance and turn their athletic dreams into reality. She trained under Coach Chris Carlisle, who has won many National Championships at USC and Tennessee.
TAKING HER PERFORMANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Coach Cordova believes in commitment to excellence, passion and love for what you do, and persistence and effort to find success if you truly want it. In order to help more athletes with the best information, she decided to raise her own level of performance by working on her PhD in Sports Psychology and working toward being a Master Trainer in the Z-Health Performance Training System. She trains athletes at the Yard Training Center with Elite Training Coach, Troll Subin and is a member of the Todd Durkin Mastermind Group who “are a tribe of pioneers who collaborate on the most effective ways to shape the fitness industry and improve the lives of the people around us.” By raising her own level of excellence, Coach Cordova is more powerful to help others. She knows she was born to do this and is very passionate about helping others, especially athletes that are recovering from injury or any negative experiences in their lives. The athletic journey is a wonderful experience, and when working toward excellence, she teaches her athletes to enjoy the process, and know that the best is yet to come.
TEACHING EXCELLENCE
Coach Cordova knows that great coaches are teachers of human potential. She studies and lives by the teachings of great coaches, especially Coach John Wooden. Also, the best way to improve coaching is to teach. She has spoken at numerous clinics and camps on various subjects related to athletic performance and injury prevention. She also teaches Health and Physical Education at Los Angeles Harbor College. Coach Cordova is committed to being a lifelong student and a lifelong teacher.
EXPANDING OUT
Coach Cordova became frustrated that because of busy schedules, and geographic barriers she was not able to assist as many athletes that sought her expertise. She was inspired to start Inspired Female Athletes, the highly successful mentorship and coaching program for athletes who are serious about raising their level of performance. After several years of coaching hundreds of athletes, it was time to establish a mentorship club for athletes to inspire one another and raise each other up along their journey. In January of 2010, the Inspired Female Athletes program is launching.
With this program, there is no boundaries for her passion of helping other female athletes succeed. Although she has been a part of many successful teams, what excites Coach Cordova the most is when she sees the light goes on in her athletes and they realize how amazing they are. She loves when they achieve not only in athletics, but in any area in the journey of their life. The program allows them to all support one another in times of struggle and celebrate in each other’s successes. This way, no athlete will ever have to feel alone or negative along their athletic life journey. Through support and mentorship, they learn that anything is possible and achievable when they properly work for it.
