What’s that shouting at the SAW?

March 28, 2023

If you’re ever walking past the Meyer Strength Training Area in the SAW, it’s likely you’ll hear Curt Lamb’s voice echoing through the space.

Lamb watches as the lacrosse team trains in the weight room.
Lamb watches as the men’s lacrosse team trains in the weightroom.

“Use those legs! Use those legs!”

“Good job guys. Good work. Give me another set!”

It’s not the kind of shouting that students avoid, it’s the motivating kind. The kind that encourages students to find their strength.

“Just building confidence is a victory,” Lamb said.

Lamb is a full-time strength and conditioning coach at the recently renovated and expanded Richard and Norma Small Athletic and Wellness Center. He’s also one of many working on the administrative side of making the SAW all that it can be. His official title is assistant athletic director for sports performance and wellness center coordinator. 

“My title doesn’t fit on a business card anymore,” he says with a laugh.

Lamb writing on a white board with the training plan for the day.
Lamb writes out the training plan for the men’s lacrosse team.

He’s currently coaching 17 of Cornell’s 20 NCAA Division III athletics teams, both during their seasons and their off-seasons. When he’s not doing that, he’s working on organizing schedules, exploring new intramural options, finding ways to build the fitness classes, putting policies in place within the new building, creating webpages, tracking usage of the building, and making the SAW a wellness hub for the entire campus community. 

To do all that, his day starts very early.

Here’s what a day in Curt’s life this spring looks like: 

4:15 a.m. Alarm goes off

Lamb working at the check-in desk and greeting people who are coming to the SAW.
Lamb works at the check-in desk, greeting people who are coming to the SAW.

5:15–5:20 a.m. Arrive on campus

5:30 a.m. Put equipment away from the night before, flip the sign-in sheet, prep the training workout for the first team, write exercises on the whiteboard in the Strength Training Room.

6 a.m. Train the men’s basketball team

7 a.m. Train the women’s soccer team 

From 8 a.m. to noon, Lamb puts on his administrative hat. He attends meetings, works on new policies for the SAW, and works at the front desk.

“My favorite part about the SAW is the interaction I get with all the people who come in,” He said. “I’ve spoken to professors, people from the Business Office, the president, and random students. I am often here at 8 a.m. greeting people as they come to work or come to work out.”

In the afternoon, you’ll spot him with an energy drink in hand. He’s preparing for his

Curt working wit a volleyball player on the training plan for the day.
Lamb working with a volleyball player.

afternoon and evening workouts. 

“At 3:30 here we go again.”

3:30–4:30 p.m. Train the men’s lacrosse and JV basketball teams

4:30–5:30 p.m. Train the women’s lacrosse team

5:30–6:30 p.m. Train the volleyball team

6:30–7:30/8 p.m. Clean up, answer emails, prep next round of training workouts

“I go to bed around 9:30 or 10 and do it all again the next day.”

But the long days don’t bother Lamb. He’s dedicated to Cornell athletes and knows that doesn’t always mean just focusing on the physical aspect.

Curt joking with a volleyball player before their training session.“Sometimes the best training session is just asking an athlete how their day is going, getting to know them, or asking if they need to talk about something when I notice they are a little distracted,” Lamb said. “It’s simple–no one cares what you know unless they know that you care.”

Lamb is excited about the future of Cornell athletics and the SAW. He continues to spread the word that everyone is welcome and everyone can participate in something in the new building. 

So now as you hear the familiar sound of “give me another set,” coming from the lower level of the SAW, you’ll know Lamb’s enjoying each minute of his (long) day and helping others to do the same.