COACH
COACH RODNEY FOWLER
Coach Rodney Fowler
Coach Rodney is a National Strength and Conditioning Specialist(NSCA) and USA Weightlifting(USAW) Level I certified strength & conditioning coach with over 20 years of combined NCAA playing and coaching experience, working with professional, paralympic, and collegiate athletes such as Darnell Pumphrey, Damontae Kazee, Caleb and Cody Martin, Scout Basset, Max Rohn, and Alicia Guerrero in addition to working with individuals across all ability levels.
Coach Rodney is currently the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for Adaptive Athletics program at San Diego State University since 2023. He has also held the positions of Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at SDSU and Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at University of Nevada-Reno.
His coaching philosophy is built on the pursuit of higher achievement, while still factoring in adaptability, inclusion, non-traditional training methods, and respect for the individual. Helping people with athletic prowess, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and functional movement. Building confidence in their field of play, daily activities, and quality of life.
- Strength and conditioning principles
- Injury prevention and recovery
- Performance under pressure
- Individualized coaching approaches
A Life-Changing Turning Point
While coaching at the NCAA level, Rodney experienced the sudden onset of seizures and was later diagnosed with epilepsy.
This diagnosis forced him to step away from his role in collegiate athletics for a brief period, but it did not end his commitment to helping people through fitness. Instead, it reshaped how he viewed training, empathy, and adaptation.
From Community Parks to Purpose
After returning to San Diego, Coach Rodney continued coaching in non-traditional ways training friends in local parks during the pandemic.
As word spread, individuals within the community began seeking him out for personal training.
One of his most impactful experiences came when an 89-year-old woman asked him to train her.
“She forced me to think outside the box and train the same muscle groups in ways most traditional programs never consider.”
That experience became foundational to his adaptive coaching approach.
A Passion for Inclusion & Empowerment
Working with elderly, disabled, and para-athletes became both challenging and deeply rewarding,
Coach Rodney found purpose in:
- Challenging self-limiting beliefs
- Pushing individuals who had never been pushed before
- Breaking down societal stigmas around disability and fitness
- Creating space for inclusion within the community
This passion became the foundation of Restoring Synergy.
Coaching Philosophy
Coach Rodney believes
- Every body deserves access to quality training
- Fitness should adapt to the individual not the opposite
- Confidence is built through safety, trust, and consistency
- Inclusive fitness strengthens communities
His coaching style prioritizes
- Safety-first training
- Intentional progression
- Respect for physical and neurological differences
- Long-term balance over short-term results
Serving San Diego & the Adaptive Community
Coach Rodney provides adaptive personal training in San Diego, supporting:
- Disabled individuals
- Adaptive and para-athletes
- Youth and high school athletes
- Adults of all fitness levels
He also proudly supports individuals connected with the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) and collaborates with caregivers and support coordinators when appropriate.
