"The causes of injury and great performance are both multifactorial. Sustainable high performance requires a systems approach where strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition, psychology, and data-informed decision-making work together. My goal is always the same: help keep players on the court, healthy, and performing at the highest level."
Portfolio · Milwaukee Bucks Application
Chris Cothern
Performance Systems Science — integrating strength and conditioning, sports medicine, athlete monitoring, and data-informed decision-making to keep players available and performing at the highest level.
Strength & Conditioning Coach · Milwaukee BucksApproach
Selected Work
01 – 0601
Basketball
Catapult
VALD ForceDecks
R Studio
WNBA Case Study: Athlete Monitoring & Readiness
Independent Applied Sports Scientist
Focused on a point guard with recurring Achilles soreness and reduced explosiveness. Interpreted Catapult and ForceDecks data in R to examine load trends, jump testing, and movement asymmetry in relation to soreness and performance.
OutcomeProduced actionable recommendations across training emphasis, braking mechanics, recovery strategies, and athlete education.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeDirectly relevant to basketball performance support, daily readiness interpretation, and the use of monitoring data to inform training and recovery decisions in a practical way.
02
NBA
Return to Play
Movement Screening
Manual Therapy
NBA Offseason Performance, Rehab & Return to Play
Private Performance Coach & Physical Therapist
Privately supported an NBA athlete during the offseason following a recurring hamstring injury. Combined movement assessment, hands-on care, readiness evaluation, and individualized progression through return to full performance.
OutcomeThe athlete entered the NBA season healthy and completed a full year without injury.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeDirect experience with return-to-performance in professional basketball — reflecting the blend of movement assessment, communication, individualized progression, and performance training that matters in an NBA environment.
03
Live Platform
Python
Streamlit
R Studio
InnerAthlete: Integrated Performance & Readiness
Sports Scientist · VP of Human Performance & Innovation
Live Streamlit platform integrating health, readiness, recovery, and performance inputs into clearer interpretations and recommendations — built to help practitioners move beyond isolated metrics.
OutcomeCreated live examples of integrated athlete reporting that organize complex sport science information into clearer recommendations for planning and support.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeDemonstrates advanced sport science thinking and the ability to turn integrated data into actionable performance support — helping align staff, improve communication, and support individualized athlete management.
04
Pro Team
Catapult
VALD
Firstbeat
R Studio
Kansas City Royals: Pro Team Monitoring
Applied Performance Scientist
Worked alongside performance, medical, and coaching staff to support daily athlete monitoring and data-informed decisions. Translated GPS, force plate, and heart rate data into practical updates supporting real-time decisions and cross-staff communication.
OutcomeImproved clarity of daily reports and helped integrate testing and monitoring data into training and recovery discussions.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeReflects the same multidisciplinary communication, monitoring support, and daily performance decision-making required in elite team sport.
05
Live Platform
Python
Streamlit
API Integration
WAIMS: Monitoring & Decision-Support
Applied Sport Science & Reporting Platform
Live Streamlit dashboard integrating athlete monitoring, readiness, and performance information into a practical decision-support tool. Organizes complex sport science data into clearer views for interpreting workload, recovery, and readiness.
OutcomeCreated a live reporting tool that improves clarity, communication, and readiness interpretation.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeShows how advanced sport science data can be turned into practical decision-support for daily performance settings.
06
Graduate Research
ForceDecks
CMJ
R Studio
Fatigue & Recovery Assessment — NBA Case Study
Graduate Project · Australian Catholic University
Analyzed fatigue, recovery, and readiness trends using CMJ metrics, RSI, peak power, and wellness data. Built practical reporting in R using z-scores, weekly trends, and athlete-specific baselines.
OutcomeIdentified meaningful changes in readiness and supported training and recovery adjustments using both objective and subjective data.
Why It Matters for MilwaukeeShows how force plate and wellness data support readiness, recovery, and player availability in a practical performance setting.
Additional Work
Performance Video Analysis — Guard Development
Open PageAcceleration & Deceleration Monitoring in Pro Basketball
Open PageMoses Moody: Recruiting & Performance Video Analysis
Watch VideoJoel Embiid Basketball Performance Analysis
Open PageMany candidates will bring the required strength and conditioning qualifications to this role. What sets me apart is the combination of those credentials with leadership experience, multidisciplinary perspective, basketball understanding, and the ability to connect information across systems in a way that helps athletes stay available and perform at a high level.
Chris Cothern
PT · CSCS · CPSS
479-200-7024
chris@chriscothern.com
Fayetteville, AR
479-200-7024
chris@chriscothern.com
Fayetteville, AR