Sterling Recovery Podcast — “Building Stronger Athletes, For Life”

Featuring: Dr. Keith Johnson, MD (Sterling Ridge Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine)
Guest: Francisco (Cisco) Marentez, CSCS, USAW, NASM-CPT/CES/PES, SFG I & II, FMS, CPPS

In this episode, Dr. Keith Johnson sits down with performance coach Francisco (Cisco) Marentez—a Woodlands native who has spent 20+ years helping athletes excel from adolescence to the pros. While earning his B.S. in Kinesiology (Exercise Science) with a minor in Psychology, Francisco landed an internship with Rice University Strength & Conditioning. He soon became head assistant for Rice Baseball, contributing to the program’s first national title in 2003, 16 conference championships, and aiding athletes who went on to be drafted into the MLB, NFL, and NBA.

Back home since 2006, Francisco now serves the community where he grew up: “My goal is to improve performance and help develop more coachable athletes across our local schools.” Off the field, he’s a proud husband to Melissa and dad to five boys—Julian, Gabriel, Cristian, Adrian, and Micah.

What you’ll learn:

How evidence-based strength & conditioning scales from middle school to pro levels

The role of movement quality, psychology, and coaching in long-term development

Practical progressions for speed, power, and durability—without overtraining

How parents and coaches can align on athlete health, accountability, and goals

Francisco’s credentials:
NSCA CSCS • USAW Sport Performance Coach • NASM CPT, CES, PES
SFG Level I & II Kettlebell Instructor • Functional Movement Systems (FMS) • CPPS

Subscribe to Sterling Recovery for expert conversations at the intersection of sports medicine, rehab, and performance—and share this episode with a parent, athlete, or coach who wants a smarter path to results. (This show is for education only and does not replace medical advice.)