Dodgers Strength & Conditioning Symposium

Brandon McDaniel enters his 16th season in professional baseball. He currently is a Vice President, Player Performance for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has been in the field of Strength & Conditioning for 17 years and has previously worked for the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Minor League level and EXOS (formerly Athletes Performance) in their Military Strength and Conditioning department with the Department of Defense.

Brandon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science from Wayne State College (NE) where he was a member of the baseball team. He holds a Master’s Degree from A.T. Still University in Human Movement. He also holds many certifications including his Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as well as FMS, SFMA, USAW, DNS, PRI and Strong First Kettlebell. He has a strong belief in the importance of sound training and optimal recovery for high-level performance not only in the world of professional athletics, but also in general human performance. Brandon has been married to his wife Andrea, who also is a registered dietitian. They have three young sons and currently reside in Burbank, CA.

Travis Smith is a Major League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, where he is responsible for designing and implementing team training, nutritional and recovery programs. Prior to his current role, Smith spent three seasons (2016-2018) as the Major League Assistant/Minor League Strength Coordinator. From 2012-2015, Smith served as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Dodgers. Previous experience includes strength and conditioning positions with the Miami Marlins organization, Mazatlan Venados Mexican Baseball Organization and Lara Cardenales Venezuelan Baseball Organization.

Travis has earned his license in massage therapy, Master’s in Applied Exercise Science from Concordia University Chicago and Bachelors in Exercise Science from Taylor University. While attending Taylor, Smith played defensive back for 4 years. In 2017, Travis presented at the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society conference on Technology in Strength and Conditioning (Athlete Assessment and Monitoring). In 2018, Smith had the opportunity to run a baseball strength and conditioning mentorship in Okinawa, Japan for both Korean baseball organizations and Japanese baseball organizations. Presenting on Movement Assessment, Athlete development and systematic approach to weightlifting.

• Master of Science in Exercise Science- Concordia University Chicago
• Certified Massage Therapist - South Bay Massage College
• Bachelor of Arts in Exercise Science - Taylor University
• National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
• National Academy of Sports Medicine: Performance Enhancement Specialist
• National Academy of Sports Medicine: Corrective Enhancement Specialist
• Strong First Girya Level 1
• Precision Nutrition: Level 1 Certification • Functional Movement Systems: FMS level 1 & 2, SFMA Level 1, FCS
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Level 1
• Fascial Distortion Model
• OnBaseU: Hitting Level 1
• Strong First Girya Instructor: Level 1

Eric is the Director of Performance Scouting and Major League Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Eric is currently in his 6th year with the organization. Prior to the 2019 season, he served as a Minor League Performance coach at various levels. His current role splits time within both the Performance and Amateur Scouting Departments. Within Performance, he works directly with the players on the Major League side. Within Amateur Scouting he creates the physical evaluations for all players that have been identified as potential draft picks. Prior to the Dodgers, Eric spent time in the private sector of Strength and Conditioning. He completed an internship at Cressey Sports Performance (Hudson, MA) before working at Ranfone Training Systems (Hamden, CT). He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Connecticut where he was a 4-year member of the baseball team. While at UConn, he completed an internship with the Sports Performance Department. These experiences have offered him the opportunity to work with athletes across many different ages and sport demographics.

• Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science w/ Concentration in Strength and Conditioning University of Connecticut
• National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
• Functional Anatomy Seminars: FRCms, FRA
• Functional Movement Systems: FMS Level 1, SFMA Level 1
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization: Level 1
• Postural Restoration Institute: Baseball
• OnBase University: Hitting Level 1
• National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association: Biomechanics
• Certified Massage Therapist in the state of California

Dunaway begins his 4th year as the Director of International Athleticism & Performance working with the International Scouting Departing in creating athletic profiles while overseeing the Performance Department at Campos Los Palmas. Dunaway returns for his second stint with the Dodgers after spending 2015 as a Major League Strength Coach and Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. He worked the 2014 season as the minor league strength and conditioning coordinator as well. Chris was the minor league strength and conditioning coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2003 to 2009 and was the strength and conditioning coach for the 2006 Futures Game held in Pittsburgh.

Dunaway started his professional career with the Baltimore Orioles spending the 1996 and 1997 as a Gulf Coast League intern, and then from 1998-2002 as the Assistant Minor League Coordinator. Dunaway spent the 2016 and 2017 season at West Virginia University as the baseball strength and conditioning coach which saw its first NCAA Tournament bid in over 20 years. In addition to baseball, he was responsible for the women’s cross country and track and field program. Dunaway earned a BS degree in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University in 1997, during which time he was a 4-year letter winner on the men’s varsity track & field team. Chris later earned his Master’s degree in 2006 in Kinesiology from the University of Texas-Tyler. He resides in Wheeling, WV with his wife Dawn and two children Luke (19) and Julia (17).

• National Strength and Conditioning Association: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
• Functional Anatomy Seminars: FRCms
• Functional Movement Systems: FMS Level 1, SFMA Level 1
• OnBase University: Hitting Level 1; Pitching Level 1
• International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry: ISAK Level 1
• US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association(USTFCCA): Sprints, Hurdles, & Relay Event Specialist

Thomas Albert returns in his 7th season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the Medical/Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Cleveland Indians for 4 years. A native of Burlington, IA, Thomas earned his Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy from A.T. Still University. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, Sports Science, and Fitness from Upper Iowa University. He is certified in Spinal Manipulation and Dry Needling through the Spinal Manipulation Institute. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA.

Thomas resides in Chino, CA with his wife Mandi and three children Chloe, Adelyn and Juliet.

Dan Byrne enters his third year with the Los Angeles Dodgers and 13th season in professional baseball. Prior to joining the Dodgers organization, Dan spent one year as an intern Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Milwaukee Brewers, nine years with the San Diego Padres as a Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coach, Minor League Strength and Conditioning Coordinator, and Director, Strength and Conditioning.

Dan has a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Loughborough University in England (2012) and received a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois at Chicago (2010). Dan has been married to his wife Meg, who is a Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, for five years and currently live in Glendale, AZ.

Jo Clubb is an international Sports Science Consultant, with extensive experience in elite professional team sports. As the founder of Global Performance Insights, her company delivers comprehensive sports science support to professional teams, practitioners, governing bodies, and sport tech companies worldwide. Before establishing Global Performance Insights, Jo gained her expertise as an Applied Sports Scientist over more than a decade. Notably, she worked across a number of different sports, serving the Buffalo Bills in the NFL, the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL, and Chelsea FC and Brighton and Hove Albion FC in English football. Jo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sport and Exercise Science from Loughborough University in the UK, and a Masters in High Performance Sport from the Australian Catholic University. She has since contributed to various academic program across the globe. Driven by a passion for open science and education, Jo actively shares her sports science insights through her website globalperformanceinsights.com, the Global Performance Insights YouTube channel, as well as scientific publications and textbooks. Her mission is to make sports science digestible.