Vanguard Welcomes Doug Katona, Strength and Conditioning Coach

Doug Katona has began coaching at Vanguard as the new strengths and conditioning coach. While Katona has been at Vanguard for only a few months the former Olympic torch bearer has already made quite a difference in the athletic program.

First of all, he is spearheading the student athlete ministry at Vanguard called BAM (Beyond Athletics Ministry). Katona is here to blend his passion for athletics, strength and conditioning, with leadership, faith, and ministry. “Justin McIntee and I have a vision for helping to make a cultural shift and lift Vanguard to the forefront not just in the GSAC and the NAIA but to the community” he says.

Katona aspires for the athletic department to thrive even more this year. He will continue with his high energy to build, develop and establish the Vanguard Strength and Conditioning program as the leader in GSAC . Katona says, “Our athletes will not only be the most physically prepared, but we will be the most powerful in our walk with God.” Under his coaching Vanguard athletes are taking strength and conditioning to another level of hard work whether it is in the weight room, field, track, or the court. “I wake up at 4:30am every day on fire in driving hard to serve the athletic department so Vanguard can show true Gold Pride” he says.

Katona grew up playing sports and found that he enjoyed training just as much as he did competing. Katona played baseball for one year at Chapman University and recalls playing Vanguard. Since then he has always appreciated the Champions of Character initiative and the work that Bob Wilson has done. His appreciation for the initiative is big part of why Katona is here at Vanguard today.

After being team captain for U.S.A. Ambassadors Baseball Team in Taiwan he then transferred to USC. Katona was awarded Student of the Year in the Sports Information Department at USC. He was also selected to carry the US Olympic Torch in 1996. Katona has traveled to several different countries and around United States to coach, train, and educate athletes. He has also owned his own gym in Corona Del Mar. Katona has been an athletic training consultant to NFL teams, professional athletes, military/special forces, SWAT and numerous elite amateur athletes.

Vanguard athletes are expected to continue to grow stronger spiritually and physically with the help of Coach Doug Katona.