Liam Hennessy (coach)

Liam Hennessy FRAMI^[1] is an Exercise Physiologist, Strength and conditioning coach and former international athlete, who competed in the Pole Vault. Dr. Hennessy is from Cappawhite, Tipperary, Ireland and has worked in sport for over 25 years, with a host of professional athletes and teams as well as being an active contributor to the academic knowledge base through published research and through his founding of distance learning institution Setanta College.

Athletics

Dr. Hennessy is a retired international athlete,^[2] who competed and holds records^[3] at the Pole Vault in international competition representing Ireland^[4][5] on more than 55 occasions, the first occasion being at the age of 15.^[6] Decades after ending his competitive involvement Liam is still listed amongst the best Irish performers in international competition.^[7] Hennessy broke his first Irish record in 1977 "Liam Hennessy, an 18-year-old from Tipperary, leapt to the top of Irish Pole-vaulting."^[8] One of Hennessy's records that still stands today is his Munster U-23 Men's Indoor record, set in 1978, of 4.70,^[9] with his career personal best at 4.96.

Coaching

Dr. Hennessy has been involved in coaching for over 25 years, and has been involved with some of the world's most prestigious sporting individuals and teams.

Dr. Hennessy has worked with several GAA teams in nearly all codes of the game, including Tipperary GAA, victorious All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship team 1991.^[10]

Hennessy was Director of Fitness with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)^[11] for ten years,^[12] where he oversaw numerous Triple Crown (rugby union) wins and the coveted Grand Slam (rugby union) Six Nations Championship win in 2009.

Hennessy was involved with a number of the world's leading Football clubs in England, Germany and Italy, including Blackburn Rovers F.C., Liverpool F.C., S.S. Lazio,^[13] and FC Bayern Munich.^[14][15]

Hennessy became National Jumps Coach in Ireland after he finished competing and also acted as Irish team manager at the first IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics in Athens in 1985. Also, Hennessy has worked with many Irish Olympics Athletes throughout the years. At Atlanta 1996, he was the Chief Exercise Physiologist to the Irish Olympic Team.^[16][17]

Hennessy was part of Pádraig Harrington's^[18][19] coaching staff for his Major wins; The Open Championship 2007 & 2008 and PGA Championship in 2008.

Academics

Dr. Hennessy is a much published author and researcher in the scientific fields of Exercise Physiology and Strength & Conditioning. He published in British Journal of Sports Medicine,^[20] Sports Biomechanics,^[21] and The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research^[22][23][24] to name but a few. Dr. Hennessy has studied in numerous Universities, including, University of Limerick, East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, New Mexico State University, and Loughborough University.

Setanta College

Dr. Hennessy founded Setanta College, a distance learning college, which offers Sport related courses from Higher Certificate to Bachelor's Degree level. All of the College's qualifications are accredited by Quality Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and have international recognition. The college provides courses in Strength & Conditioning for both beginner and experienced coaches for all sports.

Other

Dr. Hennessy worked in the Cardiopulmonary Department at the Blackrock Clinic, Dublin^[25] and also was a P.E. teacher at St Columba's College, Dublin.^[26] In 2003, Hennessy developed Club Energise,^[27] an Isotonic drink, that has seen considerable success, and consistently ranks among the best-selling isotonic sports drinks in Ireland.

External links

• http://www.setantacollege.com - Setanta College official homepage
• http://www.thestrengthandconditioningblog.com - A blog on topics relating to Strength & Conditioning written by Hennessy
• http://www.golfperform.com - Golf Performance website - articles on golf fitness written by Hennessy^[28]

References