Westside Barbell

Become a Certified Conjugate Coach

Learn the coaching process behind 40+ years of world records. Not a template. Not a weekend seminar. A system you can use with any athlete, in any sport.

Starts at $150 · 1-on-1 coaching calls from day one
Enroll in Level 1 Explore All Levels
The Pathway

Three Levels. One Credential. Your Pace.

Each level builds on the last — from how we think, to how we coach, to proving you can program the system. Complete all three to earn the title of Westside Barbell Certified Conjugate Coach.

Coaching Foundations at Westside Barbell
01 Coaching Foundations
Coaching Foundations Course
Theory, decision-making & culture · $150 · Self-paced · Instant access
You learn
How Westside thinks. Conjugate as a decision-making process — choosing the right tool for the goal, not following a template.
You get
1-on-1 video coaching calls from day one. Private Discord community. Lifetime access to all course material.
You produce
A coaching framework and decision process you can apply immediately — with any athlete, any sport.
Format
Self-paced modules. Video + written transcripts. No enrollment window — start today, finish on your schedule.
Enroll in Level 1
Coaching the bench press at Westside Barbell
02 Practical Execution
Practical Execution
Coaching the squat, bench & deadlift · $350 · ~12 weeks · Can be taken independently
You learn
How to observe a lift, diagnose where and why it breaks down, apply the right cue, and select the right accessory to fix it.
You get
Three 50+ page coaching manuals (one per lift). Video call review of your practical assignment with direct feedback.
You produce
A practical coaching assignment: analyze a real lift, identify the weakness, recommend the correction. Reviewed on a video call.
Format
Self-paced. Module exams before advancing. Bands & chains setup covered in depth. Can be taken without Level 1.
Learn more about Level 2 →
Heavy squat at Westside Barbell
03 Conjugate Certificate
Conjugate Certificate Course
Program design, adaptation & certification · $1,000 · Self-paced · Lifetime access
You learn
ME, DE, and RE methods in depth. Circa-max phase. Special strength development. How to adapt the system to your athlete and reality.
You get
6 modules. 11 Westside e-books. Lifetime access to the internal coaches community. Programming templates & examples.
You produce
A complete 8-week training plan with written justification — reviewed by Westside staff. This is how you earn the certificate.
Credential
Physical certificate mailed. 2 NSCA CEUs. 10 CSCCa CEUs. Submitted by the student after passing.
Learn more about Level 3 →
End State

Westside Barbell Certified Conjugate Coach

Physical certificateMailed to you
2 NSCA CEUsNational S&C Assoc.
10 CSCCa CEUsCollegiate S&C Coaches
Lifetime communityInternal coaches network
Staff-reviewedNot a completion badge

This credential is earned through demonstrated understanding and a staff-reviewed program design — not attendance.

Start with Level 1 — $150

Full pathway investment: ~$1,500

Louie Simmons and Chuck Vogelpohl at Westside Barbell
Why Level 1

You've read the books. Now learn the process.

Coaches who've taken Westside seminars, read Louie's books, and studied the method for years say the same thing: the information was always there, but the coaching process wasn't. The Coaching Foundations Course organizes the depth of Louie's work into a decision-making framework you can actually use.

1-on-1 video calls

Schedule coaching calls from day one. Discuss your athletes, your questions, your programming. Not a passive course.

Private Discord community

Connect with other coaches going through the pathway. Ask questions, share insights, stay accountable.

Coaching framework

Not a list of exercises. A process: observe, question, adjust, progress. For any athlete, any sport.

Culture & identity

The part of Westside you can't get from a book. How we build teams, set standards, and drive results.

What Coaches Are Saying

200+ coaches have started the pathway.

200+
Coaches Enrolled
90%+
Five-Star Reviews
$150
Level 1 Investment
Day 1
Schedule Your First Call
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Having taken the certs and seminars and being around WSBB... the application of the techniques was still always a mystery. This starts to open the curtain."
Chris NicholsAlready Certified
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"It clarified a lot of the concepts introduced in Louie's books in a very accessible manner... filled in gaps in culture I haven't found discussed elsewhere."
Jeff SlagterCoach
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"I learned a ton and significantly improved my own training. Direct access to Tom throughout the course was a great addition... great value for the price."
Travis UrsprungSelf-Coached Athlete
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"This really helped me as a coach. I appreciate the time Westside took to provide this."
Brennan FlemingPrivate Sector Coach
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
"Westside opened my eyes to a completely different world of training as a coach. Greetings from the Czech Republic!"
Ondrej MaredaInternational
Who This Is For

Not just powerlifters. Not just beginners.

The Coaching Foundations Course is built for anyone who wants to coach or train with intent — whether you have 10 clients or just yourself.

Private Sector Coaches

Need a system they trust for any client. Tired of guessing when athletes plateau.

S&C Coaches

Use it as an in-season reference. Revisit modules across your school year. CEU eligible at the full pathway level.

Already-Certified Coaches

You have the pieces. Level 1 gives you the picture. Even coaches with prior Westside certs found new value.

Self-Coached Athletes

Stop second-guessing your programming. Learn to choose, adjust, and progress with intent.

Sport-Specific Coaches

BJJ, MMA, lacrosse, track — Conjugate adapts to any sport. Louie trained world-record lifters and UFC fighters with the same system.

Experienced Coaches Wanting Depth

Already seasoned? Level 2 can be taken independently. Level 1 is the framework that makes it all connect.

FAQ

Common Questions

Is this just for powerlifters?+
No. Louie trained powerlifters, UFC fighters, Olympic sprinters, and Division I athletes with the same system. Conjugate is a coaching methodology, not a sport-specific program.
I already have a Westside cert. Will I learn anything new?+
Yes — coaches who've passed the older Westside exam and attended seminars say Level 1 organized the method in a way they hadn't seen before. It fills in the gaps between knowing the exercises and understanding the coaching process.
Does Level 1 make me a Certified Conjugate Coach?+
Not on its own. Level 1 is the first step in the 3-level pathway. Certification is earned by completing all three levels, including the staff-reviewed culminating project in Level 3.
Is there a waitlist or enrollment window?+
No. Level 1 is always open. Enroll today, start immediately, and schedule your first 1-on-1 coaching call this week. Fully self-paced with lifetime access.
I'm a seasoned coach — should I skip to Level 2?+
You can — Level 2 focuses on practical coaching execution for the Big Three and can be taken independently. But the Coaching Foundations Course's decision-making framework and culture component are things many experienced coaches say they hadn't found elsewhere.
What's the total investment for the full pathway?+
Approximately $1,500 across all three levels ($150 + $350 + $1,000). Each level is purchased separately, so you invest as you progress. There are no recurring fees — each purchase includes lifetime access.
Westside Barbell

The pathway starts here.

$150 · Self-paced · 1-on-1 coaching calls · Lifetime access