HOOD RIVER — In June, the National High School Strength Coaches Association (NHSSCA) selected Jeremy Dyal, who teaches at Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS), as the 2025 Oregon Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. A native of Sandy, Oregon, Dyal got his first job teaching physical education at McLoughlin High School in Milton-Freewater. He said he was lucky to get that first job because, at that time, hundreds of applicants would apply for a position and schools usually employ two or three physical education teachers.
“I’ve been very lucky that pretty much 99% of my teaching career has been in the weight room, and that’s exactly what I wanted. That’s very rare for that to happen,” Dyal said. In September, he will start his 20th year of teaching and coaching the football team at HRVHS. Dyal is the defensive coordinator for the Eagles, who have qualified for the playoffs in five consecutive seasons. During the school day, he wants to get students comfortable and active in the weight room.
“I’m trying to build a good foundation for kids, whether they’re varsity athletes or whether they have no idea what a weight room is,” he said. “I want to create a good, safe environment and have kids be able to get after it and build their confidence. Because I think this room is a is a great way to do that.”
Dyal also incorporates speed and agility into his workout classes.
HRVHS weight room.
Noah Noteboom photo
“My transitions are quick. My goal is to keep the kids moving for the whole class,” he said. “The majority of my kids who take this class, they love it because they know they’re going ... to get a good workout.”
During his tenure at HRVHS, Dyal estimates he has had thousands of students come through the weight room, many of whom continued on to achieve great things. Amy Hay (HRVHS class of 2009) is a weightlifter who has competed in the Olympic trials. Sebastian Barajas (class of 2016), Jestena Mattson (class of 2015) and Henry Buckles (class of 2017) all took Dyal’s Athletic Development classes and went on to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics. Mattson is currently training for a spot on the United States bobsled team.
Dyal said he was nominated by his regional representative in the NHSSCA, and this honor was not his first recognition. In 2023, he received the Program of Excellence Award for his dedication to the highest levels of professionalism. The NHSSCA Program of Excellence website says, “This initiative is considered the ‘Gold Standard’ in high school strength and conditioning assessments, utilizing a comprehensive rubric, requiring certification from school administrators, and incorporating a video submission component.”
In 2023, Dyal received the Program of Excellence Award for his dedication to the highest levels of professionalism.
Noah Noteboom photo
Dyal also took it upon himself to earn his USA-W Level 1 Coach Certification (National Olympic lift certification), USA-PL Club Coach Certification (National Powerlifting certification), and High School Strength Coach Certification (HSSCC) Strength and Conditioning Certification.
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