Preston Pedersen, M.S.Ed., CSCS

• Head Strength & Speed Coach

• Assistant Football Coach

In 2016 Preston Pedersen started teaching and coaching at Mount Vernon High School in Mount Vernon, IA. A certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, Pedersen oversees and implements all strength and speed training year-round. He also is an assistant varsity football coach for the Mustangs.

Coach Pedersen is a member of the National High School Strength Coaches Association and was honored as Iowa's 2020 NHSSCA State Coach of the Year. He currently serves as the NHSSCA's Iowa State Director. He is also a Co-Director of the Iowa Strength Coaches Association. An organization founded by Iowa strength coaches FOR Iowa strength coaches. In 2022 he received the Character Counts Coach of the Year Award for the state of Iowa.

Pedersen received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Northwest Missouri State University (Maryville, MO) where he studied Health & Physical Education and played football for the Bearcats. 

While playing football, Pedersen interned for the strength and conditioning department. Upon graduation, Pedersen accepted a Strength & Conditioning graduate assistantship and was the head strength coach for Bearcat Baseball, Men's Tennis, and Women's Tennis while also assisting all other Bearcat teams. He stayed very active with football, traveling with the team and helping with sideline operations, and was the team chaplain.

​​Pedersen is also a co-host on the Big Time Strength Podcast.

​Coach Pedersen and his wife, Emily, have two children, Jayce and Nash.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: preston@pursuitperformance.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoachPedersenMV

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/CoachPedersen

Ben Hildebrandt

• Head of Athlete Development

• Track & Field Coach

Ben Hildebrandt is a passionate professional in the field of Athlete Development and Physical Education. Currently, Coach Hildebrandt proudly serves as the Head of Athlete Development at Northeast High School in Goose Lake, Iowa where he teaches Physical Education, coaches Track and Field, and implements strength and speed training year-round.

Hildebrandt is also the proud owner and founder of Small Town Speed, an athlete training company focused on improving athletes' performance in their respective sports. Through Small Town Speed, Ben is dedicated to providing first class training and guidance to aspiring athletes, helping them reach new heights in their athletic journeys.

During Hildebrandt's academic tenure at The University of Dubuque where he received his bachelor’s degree in Human Health Science, Health, and Physical Education, he had the incredible opportunity to intern at "Building Better Athletes" under the mentorship of Michael Zweifel. This experience fueled his passion for athlete development.

Continuing the journey, he assumed the role of Assistant Sprints Coach at the University of Dubuque where he gained experience working with collegiate sprinters under the guidance of Chad Gunnelson. The path then led to Midland High School, where he not only taught Physical Education but also took on the responsibility of Head of Athlete Development. This dynamic period involved coaching a range of sports, including track and field, basketball, baseball, and football.

Ben currently resides in Maquoketa, Iowa with his wife Danae.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Email: ben@pursuitperformance.org

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmallTownSpeed

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/smalltownspeed