Conor Dunne, a student on the MSc in Performance Coaching, is Academy Performance Coach at Sunderland FC.
Having gained experience across different sports in Ireland, England and Australia, Conor provides an insight into his experiences across each below along with his day-to-day responsibilities working as an Academy Performance Coach.
Early Years and International Experience
“From an early age I was heavily involved in sport, and that naturally led me to take an interest in what allowed athletes to perform at their best. As I progressed through my own playing and coaching experiences, I became fascinated by the blend of science, coaching, and human development that underpins athletic performance. That curiosity pushed me toward a career focused on helping athletes reach their potential through structured, evidence-based preparation.”
This career has brought Conor to roles across Ireland, Australia and England.
“Each environment has offered a unique culture and perspective on sport. Ireland gave me a strong foundation in community-driven sport, creativity, and adaptability. England exposed me to highly structured academy systems, elite development pathways, and the day-to-day realities of high-performance football.
Australia, on the other hand, provided valuable multi-sport exposure—working across rugby, AFL, and soccer. That environment emphasised physical literacy, athletic versatility, and long-term progression, which broadened how I view athlete development beyond a single sport model.
Experiencing these contrasting environments has shaped me into a flexible, culturally aware coach who can adapt methods to suit the context, blending structure with creativity and always keeping the individual athlete at the centre of the process.”
Working with Sunderland AFC
Since July 2024, Conor has been working as Academy Physical Performance Coach at Sunderland AFC.
“My role focuses on the athletic development of academy players across various age groups. I design and deliver gym-based and field-based programmes, monitor athlete development, collaborate with coaches and medical staff, and ensure that each player’s training is aligned with both their current needs and long-term development pathway. A major part of the role is also educating players on good habits and helping them understand the “why” behind their training.”
Conor’s day-to-day responsibilities vary across pitch and gym-based, athlete monitoring and check-ins.
“A typical day includes planning and delivering athletic development sessions, overseeing on-pitch physical development work, conducting monitoring such as gym profiling or wellness checks, and reviewing data to guide training decisions. I also meet regularly with coaches, physios, and analysts to align on player plans. Much of the day focuses on interacting with players – coaching, observing, educating, and supporting them through the demands of academy life.”
Supporting Academy Players
With players at different stages of development, Conor outlines the approach to supporting academy athletes.
“Physical preparation is tailored around each player’s developmental stage, and growth and maturation play a huge role in shaping that process. My approach has also been heavily influenced by practitioners like David Johnson and Sean Cummings, whose work around youth development and maturation has shaped how I assess and progress players responsibly.
For younger athletes, the focus is on movement quality, physical literacy, and building consistent training habits. As players move through key maturation windows, we adapt training loads, progressions, and expectations to support development and reduce injury risk. For older academy players, training becomes more individualised and position-specific, preparing them for the physical and tactical demands of senior football while still prioritising long-term progression.
The priority is always long-term development, but we recognise the reality of short-term needs such as matches, tournaments, or selection milestones. I focus on maintaining fundamental physical qualities year-round while adjusting training load and content based on the immediate schedule. The key is collaboration -ensuring coaches understand the long-term plan, and that programming is flexible enough to support performance without compromising development.”
Players in these environments often encounter challenges.
“Players often juggle school, training, growth and maturation, expectations from coaches, and their own desire to progress. Physically, injuries, growth-related changes, and increasing training loads are common challenges. Mentally, pressure, confidence fluctuations, and competition for places can weigh heavily. Supporting them involves clear communication, education, individualised programming, and creating an environment where players feel supported and understood. We work closely with multidisciplinary staff to ensure a holistic approach.”
Studying with Setanta
Having enrolled on the MSc in Performance Coaching, Conor outlined his motivation for furthering his education and his experience of studying with Setanta.
“I’m someone who is never fully satisfied with how much I know – I’m always looking to improve, challenge myself, and deepen my understanding of performance and coaching. Continuing education is a big part of that. Setanta’s reputation for delivering high-quality, applied, practitioner-focused programmes was a major magnet for me. I knew the MSc would push me academically while also giving me practical tools I could bring straight into my coaching environment.
The most beneficial aspect has been the ability to directly apply what I learn into my day-to-day coaching. Modules on Coaching, Advanced Conditioning, and Interpreting Research design have had a clear impact on how I plan sessions, communicate with athletes, and collaborate within a multidisciplinary team.
The flexibility of the programme has also been hugely important for me. Working full-time while studying full-time can be demanding, and Setanta’s structure allows for a realistic balance. The college understands the schedule and pressures of real-life sport practitioners, which makes the learning experience both manageable and relevant.”
Looking to the Future
“My immediate goal is to continue contributing to the long-term success of players within the Sunderland academy and to further develop as a performance coach. Long-term, I aim to work within high-performance environments at the highest level of elite sport, whether that’s within professional football or another top-tier setting. One of my biggest strengths is my versatility – I can adapt my skill set to suit the needs, demands, and culture of any high-performing environment, and I’m motivated to keep evolving as a coach to make a meaningful impact wherever I work.”
