Joe Carbone

Joe Carbone, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and private sports performance coach to Kobe Bryant for nearly a decade left The Los Angeles Lakers to accept a position as Sports Performance Director at Velocity Sports Performance in posh Westchester, NY in August, 2008.

The 07-08 Lakers season confirmed to Carbone that his job there was done. "After four years with the team, they are back on track to become world-champions. I am ready to move forward, which ironically is back to my roots (NY) and help the next generation of athletes reach their fullest potential," Carbone said.

Velocity Sports Performance Westchester, owned by Brian Fee, is the industry leader in providing advanced sports performance training for athletes of all skill levels and ages. The franchise was founded in 1999 by world-renowned coach Loren Seagrave, a five-time NCAA champion coach who trained Olympic, professional, and college athletes. At Velocity Sports Performance, athletes of any skill level from age six through adult can realize their potential through advanced training programs taught by degreed and certified coaches, scientifically designed to increase speed, power, and agility, while reducing the risk of sports-related injuries. Velocity Sports Performance is the Official Provider of Nike SPARQ Training.

"'MVP Kobe Bryant, who Carbone privately trained from high school through three NBA championships, is quoted in the Orange County Register (April 14, 2006) with these words about Carbone:

"He took me under his wing and taught me that game when I was 17 years old. He taught me how to lift, train, and get physically ready. From that point till now, I've been with him. So all the physical things I do on the court, progressing and getting stronger through the seasons, those come directly from his knowledge of how to make it happen." - Kobe Bryant [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/abox/article_1101794.php]

"'Kobe personally employed Carbone from 1996 through 2004. In 2004, Joe was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers. Prior to working with Kobe Bryant, he was the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of the The Philadelphia 76ers. Carbone is an accomplished professional Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) and trains athletes from all sports. He is also a mentor, speaker, and entrepreneur.

Once a nationally ranked USA Weightlifting Olympic-style lifter, nationally ranked ADFPA power lifter, and champion amateur bodybuilder, he also played football, lacrosse and wrestling. He received his Master of Science degree from Long Island University and Bachelor of Science from Gettysburg College.

External links

* [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/abox/article_1101794.php Hidden Strength for Lakers]
* [http://hoopshype.com/interviews/kobe_friedman.htm The Truth Always Comes Out]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/09/fashion/thursdaystyles/09jimmy.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/B/Bryant,%20Kobe Measuring Up]
* [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/2000/kobe_bryant/flashback980427 SI Flashback: Showtime!]