Paddy Burke is a graduate of the MSc in Performance Coaching with Setanta College. An intercounty hurler with Antrim, Paddy made a career change from software engineering to full-time coaching — founding PB Performance Coaching and running a community gym out of his club in Cushendall. Below, Paddy shares his journey from the hurling field to the coaching floor, and how the Masters shaped his practice.
Early Experiences in Hurling & Sport
“I have always been very driven to improve as a player and become as good as I could be. I broke my foot in 2015 and, at 19 years of age, that was when I first fully committed to the gym. Our club got to the All Ireland Hurling Final on St. Patrick’s Day in 2016, and I spent the six months beforehand in the gym recovering from a broken foot that needed surgery. This period of training on my own and consistently in the gym was my first real sustained block of gym work. When I returned to playing, I could feel the difference it had made to me as a player, and it happened at such a vital time in my playing career. That experience gave me a real interest in what I should be doing in the gym to improve my performance on the pitch and ultimately led me down the rabbit hole into S&C and performance.”
Developing a Deeper Interest in S&C
After that initial spark, Paddy’s understanding of training and physical preparation continued to grow, particularly when he gained access to a more structured programme at intercounty level.
“In 2019 with Antrim, it was the first time we got exposure to a full time S&C programme as a team, and this completely changed how I viewed the gym again. Within months of following a structured programme, I improved across the board as an athlete and subsequently as a player. It gave me a much deeper understanding of what proper planning, structure and progression could do, especially when competing at a higher level.”
A Career Change: From Software Engineering to Coaching
“The interest in S&C had always been there, but without any clear career path or really knowing what it was I wanted to do, I never acted on it. I did my undergrad in Software Engineering and then worked for four years as a Software Developer. This suited me at the time because I worked from home full time and could put all my focus into my hurling career, ensuring I was preparing, recovering and fuelling properly for training and games. But I knew it was not what I wanted to do long term. Outside of my playing career, I had very little fulfilment or purpose in my work.”
It was during Covid that the first step was taken, when Paddy enrolled in the S&C Certificate with Setanta, initially to deepen his own knowledge as a player.
“It was 18 months long and very in depth. It was brilliant for hands-on practical knowledge, and that certificate formed the foundation of my knowledge as a coach. After that, I began writing programmes for myself and teammates at home, without really thinking it would transition into a career. Then in 2023, I was feeling very unfulfilled in work and felt I was just going through the motions with software engineering. I knew I could offer much more in the area of coaching. At that point, I applied for the scholarship through the GPA and Setanta for the MSc in Performance Coaching, left my job in IT, and started running the gym out of our club’s gym at home, all within about two weeks.”
Running the Club Gym in Cushendall
Today, Paddy runs morning sessions from the club gym in Cushendall — working with a wide range of members, from intercounty athletes to community members who may never have trained with weights before.
“I love the face to face nature of it. The early mornings can be tough at times, especially if we have had an away game with Antrim on a Sunday and then I am up for the gym on Monday morning, but it is extremely motivating to see all the members come in early every day and put in so much effort. For those 45 minutes each morning, they are able to switch off from everything else going on in their lives and just focus on their session.”
The impact on members who were new to strength training has been particularly rewarding.
“Our big focus is on improving strength and how important that is as we age. Seeing people who would not traditionally strength train, and who maybe came from more HIIT or spin and cardio style classes, now trying each week to increase the weight they are lifting and tracking their numbers, has been so rewarding for us. We believe strongly in training for your physical and mental health, as opposed to judging a workout purely on the number of calories burned. Seeing the joy on someone’s face when they increase their squat, for example, is a real highlight.”
Working with GAA Players through PB Performance Coaching
Alongside the club gym, Paddy works with GAA players through his own coaching business, drawing on his unique position as a practising intercounty player who also holds formal qualifications.
“I think the main reason players reach out is because they see that I am essentially just like them, in that I am still playing and striving to become the best player I can be. From that experience, I have probably made plenty of mistakes along the way in terms of what to do and what not to do when trying to improve as a player. That lived experience, alongside having the qualifications and knowledge around how to train and prepare properly as a GAA player, gives them confidence in what I offer.”
Pursuing the MSc in Performance Coaching with Setanta
“Having already completed the undergrad certificate with Setanta, I knew the quality of the content would be strong, and it felt like the logical next step to deepen my knowledge and understanding as a coach. Setanta being mostly online also really suited me. While growing my own coaching business alongside studying and playing intercounty hurling, it meant I could work through lectures at times that suited me best and manage everything more effectively. Alongside the academic side of it, I have made a lot of great friends through the Masters. They are all very high level coaches, and those are great relationships to have as we all move forward in our careers.”
Applying the Learnings
“I think the biggest thing I have learned is the actual art of coaching the person in front of you. Every single person is different, and having the awareness of when to push, when to pull back, and how to give feedback is huge. That has to be backed up by the underlying knowledge. It is about knowing your stuff, but then being able to get that message across to the individual in a way that makes sense to them. It is also about being adaptable enough to change things up when needed. No two people respond the same way, so that ability to adjust in the moment is something I use every day in my coaching.”
Advice for Coaches at the Start of Their Career
“Network with as many other coaches as you can. If you are interested in what they are doing or how they are doing things, reach out and have a call. Most people are more open than you think, and you can learn a lot just from conversations. Another piece of advice is do not be afraid to have an opinion. When I first started coaching, I was nearly scared to have an opinion in case another coach thought I was wrong. But you have to back yourself. Have an opinion and do not be afraid to share it. We do not know everything, and we are all trying to learn more, but that is part of the process.”
