Leo Totten Pennsylvania Strength and Power HoF inductee 2021 (Contributor)
By Strength and Power Hall of Fame
Personal history:
I started my athletic history way back in junior high, playing soccer, wrestling and junior league football. From there, in high school participated in wrestling, soccer and gymnastics and in college soccer and wrestling. Throughout that time, my lifting career started in earnest as well as my interest in teaching Physical Education and coaching various sports. I have taught Physical Education for 32 years primarily at the high school level and coached wrestling, track and field, gymnastics, tennis, swimming and diving and even coached a state champion volleyball team! Teaching and coaching has always been my passion and continues to this day!
What lead you to your sport:
I was always very athletic, but very small (in 8th grade, I weighed 83 lbs.) I knew I needed to get bigger and stronger and lifting was the best way to get there. I bought my first set of weights way back at the age of 12 directly from York Barbell. It was there that I saw some of the best lifters in the country training and it motivated me to get into Olympic lifting. Watching those lifters, I saw strong, powerful men doing explosive, powerful movements and I knew that is what I needed to do. Thanks to Strength and Health magazine, I taught myself to do what those heroes were doing!
Achievements in your sport:
• USAW 5 (Senior International Coach)
• USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame
• Named as one of 65 Most Influential Strength Coaches of All Time
• Head Coach, East Coast Gold Weightlifting Team
o 21 time National Team Champions
• Owner, Totten Training Systems, LLC 2012-current
• Amplify Sports and Wellness – 2017-current
• SportsEdTV senior contributor
• PLAE Academy contributor
• NSCA Weightlifting SIG Executive Board
• Over 30 years as Olympic weightlifting coach
• Over 30 years as clinician for USA Weightlifting
o Level 1 and Level 2 instructor
• Over 30 years training High School / College elite athletes
• Over 30 years in Physical Education and Athletic Administration
• USA Coach and/or Team Leader:
o 2 Olympic Teams (1996 and 2004)
o 3 Pan Am Teams
o 5 World Teams
o 4 World University Teams
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State, National and World records:
Coached at numerous national and international competitions (see above)
Competed in Weightlifting from 1967 - 1984
Competed in 8 USA Weightlifting Nationals
Competed in 2 Weightlifting Olympic Trials
Accomplishments.
- USA Weightlifting Coaching Excellence Award 2005
- Carroll County Sports Hall of Fame 2001
- Carroll County Outstanding Teacher winner 1992
o Carroll County Outstanding Teacher nominee 1991-92,97
- MSADA District 5 Athletic Director of the Year 2003
- Baltimore All-Metro Volleyball Coach of the Year 1995
o Head Coach, Volleyball State Champions 1995
- Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities 1973-
- President, WerkSan Barbells 2005-2012
- USA Weightlifting Board of Directors 1992-2008
- IWF Category I referee 2017
Other activities within the sport
USAW Level 5 Coach
IWF International Referee
Meet director for numerous local and regional weightlifting meets (35 years)
Head Coach/Coordinator of 32 consecutive years of weightlifting camp
Speaker at numerous conferences (NSCA, CSCCa, NHSSCA, etc.)
Author: By Strength and Power Hall of Fame Completed: yes Created: Sun Sep 12 15:35:59 UTC 2021 | Last Updated: Fri Dec 22 22:48:16 UTC 2023