“From day one, I instilled a culture centered on speed development, branding our program as the Fastest Team in the Nation“
In college football, performance is shaped not just by hard work, but by how intelligently that work is managed throughout the season – which depends on accurate data, thoughtful planning, and the ability to adapt across the season.
At Monmouth Football, STATSports provides the information coaches need to balance workload, track progress, and develop speed, ensuring players can perform at their best when it matters most.
From offseason development to in-season preparation, Director of Sports Science Gio Grassi and the performance staff relies on GPS technology to refine training loads, enhance speed development, and ensure every athlete reaches their physical peak come game day.
Grassi said;
“The system has been instrumental in optimizing load management and performance monitoring throughout the calendar year. The live tracking feature allows us to make real-time adjustments during training to keep players at their best.”
Building the Fastest Team in the Nation
Monmouth’s athletes are fully invested in the process because they see measurable results. With multiple players surpassing 23 mph and 13 reaching elite sprint velocities, performance tracking has become more than data collection – it’s a source of motivation and pride.
“We branded our program as the Fastest Team in the Nation. Players see their progress in real time, which fuels intrinsic motivation and reinforces technical improvements.”
That buy-in is the real differentiator. By tapping into the players’ natural competitiveness, the staff turns GPS metrics into daily challenges and milestones. Each session becomes an opportunity to climb leaderboards, chase new personal bests, and hold each other accountable – transforming raw numbers into a culture of speed development.
Precision Training: Position-Specific Data
The primary goal in adopting GPS technology for Monmouth was to understand the unique demands of each position and move away from one-size-fits-all programming.
“STATSports has provided position-specific analytics that let us tailor training interventions with precision. We’re no longer making generic decisions – we’re using actionable metrics that directly impact performance and durability.”
With detailed, individualised data, coaches can make faster, more informed adjustments that maximize output without overloading players.
Using both absolute and relative metrics gives Monmouth a fuller view of performance. Absolute metrics set fixed benchmarks across the squad, allowing easy comparison of workload and intensity.
Relative metrics, meanwhile, scale thresholds to each athlete’s capacity – so a freshman and a senior running the same drill can be assessed through their own lens. This helps coaches balance team standards with individual development, pushing each player appropriately while avoiding overload.
Speed Development with Force Velocity Profiling
When it comes to football, especially at the college level, athletes can range from 6’5 300lb linemen to 5’5 150lb receivers, each requiring differently prescribed programmes throughout the season. When it comes to speed development, Force Velocity Profiling has redefined how Monmouth approaches their athlete profiling.
“STATSports has transformed how we structure speed development and workload management.”
With the Force‑Velocity Profiling feature integrated into Sonra, coaches now generate individualised FVP metrics with just a few clicks – no manual calculations required, and most importantly no extra equipment required, just the GPS device.
These profiles reveal whether an athlete is more force or velocity deficient, which is invaluable for personalisation. For instance, the freshman may show a velocity deficit – pointing toward technical sprint drills or overspeed work – while the veteran lineman might reveal a force deficit, guiding him toward heavy resistance training like squats or sled pushes.
The Sprint Force Velocity Profile allows us to diagnose movement inefficiencies, moving beyond the outdated ‘one-size fits all’ approach”
By identifying and correcting these deficiencies, Monmouth’s coaches can deliver training that is both data-driven and precisely targeted – turning generic speed drills into progress-focused development suited to each athlete’s unique mechanics.
Injury Prevention and Smarter Rehabilitation
Considering the level of athleticism within their ranks, hamstring health and sprint exposure are central to Monmouth’s injury prevention strategy. By tracking top-speed thresholds, the program keeps athletes neurologically primed while reducing risk.
“Managing maximum sprint exposure has been a cornerstone of hamstring health within our program.
By strategically tracking top-speed sprinting thresholds, we mitigate injury risk while ensuring athletes remain neurologically primed for competition. “
Beyond prevention, STATSports metrics shape every stage of rehabilitation. In rehab, STATSports metrics guide every stage of return-to-play decisions. Gio’s team uses the customisable dashboard to monitor individual perecentages live on Sonra, as well as step balance;
“We use speed metrics as percentage-based indicators and step balance data to track asymmetries. This quantifies recovery and ensures objective readiness benchmarks before a player returns fully.”
By combining exposure data with biomechanical insights, Monmouth can tailor rehab loads week by week – progressing from controlled running volumes to game-speed sprints with confidence. This not only reduces the likelihood of re-injury but also builds player trust in the process, as athletes see tangible progress markers rather than subjective judgments.
The result is a more precise, athlete-centered return-to-play pathway, where decisions are guided by evidence and performance data rather than guesswork.
Elite Support and a True Partnership
For Monmouth, the standout difference with STATSports goes beyond technology – it’s the level of support and collaboration.
“Unparalleled support.
Their professionalism and responsiveness are unmatched. It feels like we’ve hired their entire team as part of our staff. They’re not just selling technology – they’re partners in performance.”
This close working relationship ensures that Monmouth maximizes every feature of Sonra, tailoring metrics to match each phase of the season without overwhelming staff or athletes.
The Most Valuable Feature
Sonra plays a critical role in Monmouth’s success throughout the year. From preseason conditioning to playoff readiness, the system delivers clarity without data overload.
“Elite programs separate themselves with attention to detail. STATSports gives us high-resolution insights without unnecessary complexity. We focus on what matters most for each phase of the season to make sure players are ready at the right time.
We track every aspect of practice to understand where stress accumulates versus where players are ready to perform.”
Monmouth Football’s transformation with STATSports is clear – smarter workload management, faster athletes, fewer injuries, and a program built on precise, actionable data.
“STATSports has revolutionized training efficiency and data precision. They’ve given us the tools and support to elevate every part of our program.”
With unmatch accuracy, elite software features and an unmatched partnership, STATSports is helping Monmouth push the boundaries of performance – pushing their claim as the Fastest Team in the Nation.
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