Budget Cuts Took His Pay, But Not His Passion: Native Coach Adam Strom’s Road to Victory

Adam Strom Basketball Coach - Native Fitness
Passion over paycheck. That’s the mindset Strom carried forward as he vowed to continue coaching his team to Nationals, unpaid but unstoppable. And that same fire has now led him to Native Fitness.org. We are beyond thrilled to welcome Adam Strom to the Native Fitness team, where his 20+ years of coaching experience will empower and uplift even more athletes. His work—recognized by The Washington Post and The New York Times—is a testament to his resilience, heart, and unwavering dedication to community.

Native Fitness is lucky to have Adam Strom on our team! His passion, resilience, and dedication to uplifting athletes have made an undeniable impact, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome him to the Native Fitness family.

On May 4, 2021, the Haskell Athletics Department proudly introduced Adam Strom as the new Women’s Head Basketball Coach, believing his deep-rooted loyalty and experience would bring much-needed stability to a program that had seen too much change. And for nearly four years, he did just that—leading with passion, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to his players.

But on February 15, 2025, in what should have been a night of pure celebration, emotions ran high for a different reason. The team had just delivered a stunning 87-18 senior night victory over Kansas Christian College when Strom gathered his players for an announcement that left them in tears. Just one day prior—on Valentine’s Day—he had been fired, the result of an executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at reducing the federal workforce. His dismissal was effective immediately.

“I got lost in emotion—probably uncharacteristically,” Strom admitted. A proud member of the Yakama Nation and raised in Wapato, Washington, he had spent his life leading with resilience. “I questioned the fairness of it all. But then I gathered myself and told them, ‘This is an example of adversity in life.’ And I made one thing clear—‘They can take away my title, but they can’t take away my commitment to you.’”

Passion over paycheck. That’s the mindset Strom carried forward as he vowed to continue coaching his team to Nationals, unpaid but unstoppable.

And that same fire has now led him to Native Fitness.org. We are beyond thrilled to welcome Adam Strom to the Native Fitness team, where his 20+ years of coaching experience will empower and uplift even more athletes. His work—recognized by The Washington Post and The New York Times—is a testament to his resilience, heart, and unwavering dedication to community.

Despite the challenges thrown his way, Adam has never wavered in his mission to support, mentor, and elevate those around him. Now, he’s bringing that same energy and leadership to Native Fitness, where we share a common vision: helping individuals build strength, confidence, and wellness through movement.

Join us in welcoming Adam Strom to the team! Stay tuned for exciting updates on his involvement and upcoming programs.

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Budget Cuts Took His Pay, But Not His Passion: Native Coach Adam Strom’s Road to Victory

Passion over paycheck. That’s the mindset Strom carried forward as he vowed to continue coaching his team to Nationals, unpaid but unstoppable.

And that same fire has now led him to Native Fitness.org. We are beyond thrilled to welcome Adam Strom to the Native Fitness team, where his 20+ years of coaching experience will empower and uplift even more athletes. His work—recognized by The Washington Post and The New York Times—is a testament to his resilience, heart, and unwavering dedication to community.

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