Dr. Jeff Chandler Reflects on Stepping Away and the Legacy of the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ)

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — After 27 years as Editor in Chief of the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ), Dr. Jeff Chandler, EdD, FNSCA, will step away from his role in April 2025. The NSCA is grateful for his leadership, dedication to peer-reviewed publishing, and lasting service to the SCJ community.

In his farewell message, Dr. Chandler reflects on the journal’s evolution, the importance of quality research, and the many individuals who have shaped SCJ’s impact:

It has been an honor to serve as Editor of the Strength and Conditioning Journal (SCJ) for 27 years. I will be stepping down from this position effective April 1, 2025. Thank you for your support and for allowing me to grow and learn. I am proud to be a part of a profession that continually encourages individuals to be the best they can be, both in human performance and life.

The SCJ Editorial staff is second to none, and I owe these individuals my sincere gratitude. While my intention in writing this message was not to single out specific names, I feel compelled to acknowledge the senior editorial group: Senior Associate Editor in Chief: Morey Kolber; Associate Editors in Chief: Brian Gearity, Brad Schoenfeld, Margaret Jones, and Ben Reuter; Managing Editor: Britt Chandler; and NSCA Publications Director: Keith Cinea. Supporting the senior editorial staff is currently a group of over 30 Associate Editors, Special Topic Editors, and Column Editors, along with many other editors who have previously served in these roles. With great respect, I sincerely thank each of these individuals for their outstanding service.

As I have stated before, reviewers are the unsung heroes of the review process. With little or no recognition, reviewers serve to improve a manuscript, fully aware that they may be challenged and knowing in advance that an editor will make the final decision. Good reviewers always have ideas that improve manuscripts. I owe our reviewers a very special thank you for your selfless contributions.

I sincerely thank many groups and individuals who have been key contributors to the SCJ's success, including the Executive Directors, NSCA Presidents, Boards of Directors, and NSCA staff members I have worked with for the past 27 years. I also thank our publishing partners over this period, beginning with Human Kinetics, then Allen Press, and currently Wolters Kluwer-Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

The most significant change in the field over the past 27 years is the vast amount of research produced. I expect this growth to continue. Translating and sharing these findings with coaches, practitioners, students, athletes, and researchers should be one of the main goals of the SCJ. We must use accepted methods of reviewing and applying that literature concisely, clearly, and accurately. We will not always agree, but the process is essential to growing as a profession.

There are more opportunities today to publish in journals that are not peer-reviewed. I believe the highest standard for publications will be peer-reviewed journals with good reviewers who understand the process and quality Associate Editors to oversee the process. I understand the importance of timeliness, and the peer-review process takes time. Respected journals often have longer times to press, an area we can continue to focus on in the future.

I wish the NSCA the very best in the future. I am still here, but it is the right time to step away. Be strong!

Jeff Chandler, EdD, FNSCA

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Founded in 1978, the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is a recognized 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit dedicated to advancing strength and conditioning science and education for all people.

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