About Me | Josh Shuman Training | Franklin, MA

About Me

I Coach for the Underdogs.

I'm Josh Shuman — CSCS-certified basketball trainer and adult fitness coach based in Franklin, MA. I got into this because the system failed me. I help people it's failing too.

CSCS Certified

BS Exercise Science

7+ Years Coaching

Ages 8 to Pro

Franklin, MA

My Story

I Was the Kid Who Didn't Make the Team.

I wanted to be a basketball player. Not a coach — a player. I wasn't naturally gifted, but I worked at it. Hours at the YMCA running drills I found online, buying programs, practicing alone. I thought if I just put in the work I'd get my shot.

I didn't make the team. It crushed me.

"I wanted to be the coach I wish I had. That's still the whole mission."

Then came the injuries. Osgood-Schlatter's, a stress reaction, sciatica, chronic shoulder impingement. I went to orthopedic doctors and physical therapists and got nowhere. Actually got worse with some of the treatment — including being put in a brace that made things worse, not better. I felt failed over and over. Nobody could tell me why things hurt or what to actually do about it.

So I decided to figure it out myself. I studied Applied Exercise Science at Springfield College — one of the top programs in the country. I took on internships with coaches at the Division I and professional level. I earned my CSCS. Along the way I made real progress — but what stuck with me was how different that experience was from everything I'd been told to do before.

At some point I realized the goal had shifted. I didn't just want to get better — I wanted to help other people not go through what I went through. 7+ years in, that's still the whole mission.

Fair warning: I'm goofy, I joke around, and sessions usually end up being kind of fun. But I take your results seriously.

Background & Credentials

Education & Experience.

🎓

BS Exercise Science

Springfield College — one of the top exercise science programs in the country. Studied applied exercise science, biomechanics, motor learning, strength and conditioning, and sport-specific training.

📋

CSCS Certified

Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association — the gold standard certification in the field.

📅

7+ Years Coaching

Started coaching in 2017 while still in college. Since then I've worked with athletes ages 8 to pro and adults across every fitness level — weight loss, chronic pain, performance, and everything in between.

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Dual Expertise

A basketball skills trainer and a strength and conditioning coach — both at a high level. Most trainers are one or the other. Understanding both sides and how they interact is genuinely rare.

Internships & Experience

IFAST — Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training

Strength and conditioning internship at one of the Top 10 Gyms in America (Men's Health). Worked with youth through adult clients and pro athletes.

Jeff Oliver — Jacked on the Hill

Strength and conditioning program for pro through youth hockey players. Worked with high-level athletes in an elite training environment.

Mike Poidomani — BC Football

Strength and conditioning internship with Division I football program at Boston College. Gained experience with high-level collegiate athletics.

Minnechaug Regional High School Basketball

Coaching practicum with the varsity basketball program. Applied sport-specific training and coaching in a competitive high school setting.

Pat Connaughton's With Us Basketball Camp

Coached at NBA player Pat Connaughton's basketball camp at The Rivers School — working with youth athletes on skill development and competition.

Springfield College ACSM Partnership

One-on-one personal training with a special population client — developed full training program, implemented testing protocols, and coached through sessions.

How I Coach

The Way I Think About It.

I Coach the Underdog

I didn't get into coaching because I was a great athlete. I got into it because I wasn't — and nobody helped me figure it out. The clients who resonate most with what I do are the ones who've been overlooked, underestimated, or just haven't had the right guidance yet. I know how to coach that person because I was that person.

I Involve You in the Process

I don't just hand you a program and tell you to follow it. I want you to understand why we're doing what we're doing — what the goal is, what we're measuring, and how it connects to where you want to go. When clients understand the process, they buy in. And when they buy in, results happen.

I Study. Constantly.

Each day I'm looking to grow and improve as a coach through research, reflection, and experimentation. If I don't know the answer, I research it through my trusted resources and consult my network. I apply what I learn in biomechanics, motor learning, strength science, nutrition, and habit change — and I stay skeptical of whatever the fitness industry is currently selling.

Results Have to Be Sustainable

Extreme programs that work for six weeks and fall apart don't interest me. I look at every client holistically — physical, lifestyle, habits, and what's actually realistic for their life. Changes that integrate into your life and stick long-term are the only kind worth making.

Outside the Gym

There's More to Life Than Reps.

When I'm not coaching I'm usually at a live music show or a comedy event — preferably something small and weird. Any genre, any venue, the more niche the better. There's something about a small room with a performer who actually gives a damn that never gets old.

It probably sounds unrelated to training. But I think the same thing that draws me to that — the realness of it, the craft, the fact that someone cared enough to show up and do it right — is what I'm trying to bring to every session. Show up. Do it right. Make it worth something.

What People Say

In Their Own Words.

★★★★★

"Not only has he helped my son get stronger physically but also mentally. Josh's knowledge of sport-specific training is impeccable. My son says 'Josh is amazing — he has taught me how to get stronger and it is now showing.' It is the best when your son comes walking out with a huge smile on his face."

Parent of Youth Athlete

Basketball Training

★★★★★

"Josh is wonderful — I can't say enough good things about him. I am so pleased with my personal training and the results I achieved. Thank you for your hard work, for raising my limits, and for keeping me challenged."

Adult Fitness Client

Personal Training

★★★★★

"Despite me being a beginner to fitness, he was patient and knowledgeable and I felt totally comfortable. His knowledge in both fitness and nutrition is vast. He goes out of his way to get to know you as a person, not just treating you as 'another client.' His compassion made my experience one of the best I could have asked for."

Adult Fitness Client

Private Training

★★★★★

"Josh is a great motivator and coach. It was always a pleasure working with him. He helped me better achieve my goals and I was able to learn more about my own fitness journey through working with him."

Training Client

Strength & Conditioning

★★★★★

"My son has grown so much as a player. Josh has a gift for making training fun and competitive while still pushing you to improve every single session."

Laurie Sullivan

Basketball Parent

★★★★★

"Coach Shuman did his coaching practicum with me at Minnechaug Regional High School when he was a student at Springfield College. He is a hard worker in and outside of class, and on and off the court."

Minnechaug HS Coach

Springfield College Practicum

Ready to Work Together?

Fill out the intake form and I'll reach out personally. We'll figure out the right program together — no pressure, no commitment until we've talked.

🏀 Basketball Intake Form → 💪 Adult Fitness Intake Form →