By Cristian Reyna\/\/<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood College\u2019s strength and conditioning program added a new face to the weight room in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The head strength and conditioning coach, Gregory Powers brought in Tyree Leonard after his previous graduate assistant, Cody Toler, graduated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonard and Powers both attended Howard University which created a connection before Leonard even stepped on campus. \u201cLike off the rip he took me under his wing,\u201d Leonard said. Leonard described his relationship with Powers as a big brother kind of relationship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonard graduated from Howard University with a bachelor\u2019s in human performance with a concentration in sports medicine and a minor in psychology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonard played football at Howard for two years before suffering two concussions during his sophomore year. \u201cMy coach sat me down and gave me three options. Go back home, take a medical redshirt, and be an intern or take a redshirt year,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, I decided to medically DQ myself,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since he was a kid Leonard was always curious about how athletes, especially football players, could withstand impact and still maintain their physical stature. \u201cI fell in love with the weight room outside of football,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonard said he chose Hood because it was able to offer him a position as a trainer and a chance to receive his MBA. Hood is also a place he felt like God wanted him to be. \u201cI feel like God places people in your life even if it is for a short period of time,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leonard always has the athlete\u2019s interest in mind, and he wants to get the athletes to know that they don\u2019t have to go the MLB, NBA, or the NFL to continue their passion. \u201cAt the end of the day your passion may have started with the sport, but it doesn\u2019t have to die with the sport,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"