(Dover, Del.) – Preparation, passion and purpose are the three key components that continue to push Delaware State's Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Adrian Briones.

Briones shared an inside perspective of his life, expressing how his upbringing helped him become the coach he is today.  Growing up in Huntsville, Texas – about 70 miles north of Houston - he knew from a young age that his passion for weight training would manifest and present better opportunities.

“Where I'm from, you graduate from high school, you go into the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and be a correctional officer, get a family, end of story,” said Briones.  “And I didn't want to do that. I wanted to be different.”

With his future goals in mind, Briones received some help along the way.  As a walk-on football player at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas, he met his soon-to-be best friend, Devin Wade, who asked him would he be interested in weight training.

“Devin said I could come live with him and his folks back in Lake City, Texas and there is a guy that does Olympic lifting, which I had no idea what it was.  From there, that's how it all started.”

The guy Wade was referring to was Tim Swords.  Under him, Briones not only learned specific motions and techniques of Olympic lifting, but it helped him become a better overall person.

“It was more about lifting weights,” added Briones. “I learned the core values of just helping me become a better person, which laid the foundation for my career.”

With that, Briones took on multiple volunteer opportunities, beginning at his undergraduate alma mater Belhaven University during his senior season.  After that, he volunteered with the U.S. Air Force Academy's Strength & Conditioning staff, in addition to gaining key experience working with some of the nation's best athletes at the United States Olympic Committee training center. 

As time progressed, Briones accepted an opportunity to become a graduate assistant at the prestigious University of Tennessee out of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).  There, Briones help developed notable NFL standouts such as Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs), Arian Foster (Houston Texans), Robert Ayers (New York Giants) and Dan Williams (Oakland Raiders). 

“Being a part of the Tennessee family - and I am still well connected with those guys - is that everything is about the family,” said Briones of his time as a Volunteer. “It's about always helping the next man race from the bottom to the top as you race to the top for yourself.”

Briones' next career opportunity came as an Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Bethune-Cookman, working directory with the football program, along with implementing training sessions for both basketball programs, softball, volleyball, track & field and cross country. 

In November of 2013, Briones was officially named DSU's Head Strength & Conditioning Coach. 

“It was a privilege, honor and blessing to help lead Delaware State's Strength & Conditioning Department to another level,” said Briones when he accepted the position. “It was and still is a phenomenal opportunity to grow professionally and personally.”

Despite Briones' success, he admitted to his struggles in the classroom leading up to his current status.  According to him, all odds were against him dating all the way back to his high school days.

“I made a 650 on my SAT, took my ACT twice, had a 2.88 grade-point average, took the minimal requirements graduating college and I almost failed high school my senior year,” he said.  “I had to take remedial math courses in junior college three times.”

Nevertheless, Briones overcame those deficiencies from not only becoming the first member of his family to go to college, but to holding two associate degrees, a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a master's degree in Kinesiology.

“I am not saying that to get brownie points,” stated Briones of educational accomplishments.  “But, what I am saying is that once you realize your purpose is greater than you, great things happen.” 

From a kid growing up in Huntsville, Texas to now serving as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Hornets, Briones has more than defied the odds of becoming the man who he is today.

And with that, anything can be done with hard and work dedication.

Don't believe it? Just ask Coach Briones.