In this episode, we cover…
(0:00): Preston introduces his athletic background and talks about growing up playing football, tennis, basketball, soccer, baseball, and track.
(2:00): He explains how getting recruited to track in high school changed his athletic path and eventually led him to the University of Florida.
(4:00): Preston shares the story of failing his first walk-on tryout at Florida before training harder and eventually becoming a national champion.
(5:30): He discusses researching sprint mechanics, improving strength training, and learning proper running technique to improve speed.
(8:00): Preston explains why athletes should train for athletic performance instead of bodybuilding-style workouts.
(10:30): The conversation shifts to confidence, leadership, and why coaches value athletes who stay consistent after setbacks.
(13:00): Preston breaks down the myth that speed is purely genetic and explains why speed is actually a trainable skill.
(17:30): He shares a success story about helping a softball athlete dramatically improve her speed and overall performance.
(22:00): Preston explains how speed training translates into every sport, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer.
(25:00): He gives three key drills for improving speed and athleticism: broad jumps, hip thrusts, and running over small hurdles.
(29:00): Preston closes by sharing details about his South Florida training sessions and encourages athletes to focus on speed development to improve overall athleticism.
Preston Wilson on Speed Training
Speed changes everything in sports. Whether it’s football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, or track and field, athletes who move faster and more efficiently instantly separate themselves from the competition. That’s exactly why Preston Wilson has dedicated his career to helping athletes unlock their full athletic potential through speed and performance training.
Based in Broward County, Florida, Preston works with athletes of all ages, focusing on speed mechanics, explosiveness, acceleration, strength training, and overall athletic development. But before becoming a respected speed coach, Preston’s own athletic journey was built on failure, persistence, and resilience.
Growing up, Preston played almost every sport possible, including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and tennis. While football eventually became his primary sport, he discovered track and field in high school after being recruited by his school’s track coach.
That opportunity ultimately changed his life.
From Walk-On to National Champion at Florida
Preston attended the University of Florida, one of the top collegiate track and field programs in the country. Initially, he attempted to walk onto the Florida track team but failed to make the roster. Instead of quitting, he spent the next year researching sprint mechanics, improving his training strategy, and developing his body in the weight room.
He trained relentlessly, focusing on sprint mechanics, hip flexor strength, hamstring development, acceleration training, and explosive power. Eventually, his hard work paid off when he successfully walked onto the team during his sophomore year. Preston later became part of the first University of Florida men’s track and field team to win a national championship.
That experience now shapes how he coaches athletes today.
Preston understands exactly what it feels like to fail, doubt yourself, and rebuild confidence from the ground up. That perspective allows him to connect with athletes who are struggling to improve or trying to earn opportunities at the next level.
Why Speed Training Matters for Every Sport
One of the biggest misconceptions Preston hears from athletes and parents is that speed is entirely genetic. He strongly disagrees.
According to Preston, speed is a skill that can be trained and developed through proper mechanics, movement patterns, strength training, and consistent coaching. While some athletes may naturally start ahead of others, nearly everyone can improve their speed with the right development plan.
That philosophy has helped athletes across multiple sports dramatically improve their performance.
Preston explained that many athletes train incorrectly by following bodybuilding-style workouts that don’t translate to athletic movement. Instead, athletes should train specifically for the demands of their sport while targeting weaknesses that limit performance.
For football players, speed training can improve explosiveness, acceleration, and route running. For basketball players, it can improve quickness, jumping ability, and first-step speed. Soccer players become more agile and controlled with the ball, while baseball and softball players improve base running, reaction time, and overall athletic movement.
The Softball Story That Changed Everything
One of Preston’s favorite coaching stories involved a softball player who originally came to him looking to improve her running speed. Her family believed she needed speed because she was a smaller athlete and wanted to become more effective on the bases.
Within just one month of training, her sprint times improved dramatically. Soon after, she became one of the fastest players on her team, started hitting better, and completely transformed her confidence on the field.
That success eventually led Preston to begin training entire softball teams and athletes from sports outside of football and track. Over time, he realized that speed development improves nearly every aspect of athletic performance, including coordination, explosiveness, body control, reaction time, and confidence.
Preston Wilson’s Favorite Speed Development Drills
For athletes looking to improve speed and athleticism, Preston highlighted three foundational exercises he frequently uses during training sessions:
Broad Jumps
Broad jumps help athletes improve triple extension, explosiveness, and acceleration mechanics.
Hip Thrusts
Hip thrusts strengthen the hip flexors and posterior chain, helping athletes improve knee drive, stride power, and running efficiency.
Running Over Small Hurdles
Running over short hurdles helps athletes improve sprint posture, mechanics, coordination, and top-end speed development.
These drills are designed to help athletes move more efficiently while developing stronger sprint mechanics that transfer directly into game performance.
Helping Athletes Build Confidence
Beyond physical training, Preston also focuses heavily on confidence and mindset development. As both a coach and school counselor, he emphasizes leadership, consistency, and resilience as major components of athletic success.
He encourages athletes to stay visible, communicate with coaches, and continue improving even after setbacks. Preston believes athletes who consistently work hard and show strong character often separate themselves just as much as athletes with natural talent.
Today, Preston trains athletes throughout South Florida, helping young players become faster, more explosive, and more confident both on and off the field. Whether athletes are preparing for football, basketball, soccer, softball, baseball, or track and field, Preston’s philosophy remains simple: speed development can transform every part of athletic performance.
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