For those of us who are Georgia fans, we are clearly not watching the same team that beat South Carolina and LSU. Some are blaming the offensive coordination, some are blaming the defensive coordination, and some are blaming the injuries. All three are to blame to some degree, but out of these, the injuries seem to have impacted UGA the most, despite the unbelievably mediocre defense Grantham has been fielding.
If injuries are in fact the major culprit for UGA's decline, then the coaches should be off the hook, right? Not necessarily. In this piece, I would like to further explore part of the coaching staff that is behind the team we see on the field.
A good and esteemed friend of mine, Bo Mann, brought the following piece on reddit to my attention:
http://au.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1oy4n5/thoughts_on_ugas_injuries_and_bad_luck_from/.
http://au.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1oy4n5/thoughts_on_ugas_injuries_and_bad_luck_from/.
Bo, Jeremy, and I (sometimes JD) typically like to analyze the causes behind the effects in sports. That is, with the recent influx of injuries, some may just say it's bad luck, but others like to dig deeper and explore.
The piece from reddit basically promoted the notion that strength and conditioning coordinators should have some kind of Kinesiological (exercise science, physical education, etc) background or experience in the area. Further, the author challenged UGA's coach staff for this lack of experience. The reddit piece prompted me to dig a little deeper...
I examined the programs I consider to be UGA's peers - the other 5 traditional SEC Powers, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee - to assess the qualifications and experience of their strength and conditioning coaches. Below is a chart with information from the school's official athletic website:
Unfortunately, Joe Terenshinski, UGA's strength and conditioning coordinator, seems to fall significantly behind his peer coaches. Let me be clear: the point of this article is not to point a finger and blame a coach for all of UGA's injuries. Injuries are an inevitable part of football. However, it does raise the question: why does UGA have such a relatively unqualified strength and conditioning coach?
Further, while Terenshinki cannot prevent all injuries, would a more qualified and experienced S & C coach reduce the number of ACL/season-ending injuries happening to UGA players?
What are your thoughts?
I examined the programs I consider to be UGA's peers - the other 5 traditional SEC Powers, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee - to assess the qualifications and experience of their strength and conditioning coaches. Below is a chart with information from the school's official athletic website:
School
|
Coach
|
Degree(s)/Experience
|
Alabama
|
Scott
Cochran
|
B.S.,
Kinesiology (LSU)
M.S.,
Sport Management (LSU)
Asst
Strength Coach (New Orleans Hornets)
Asst
Strength Coach (LSU)
2008/2011 S
& C Coach of the Year (Samson)
|
Auburn
|
Ryan
Russell
|
B.S.,
Exercise Science (West Liberty State)
Director
of Athletic Performance (Ark State)
Strength
and Conditioning Internship (Pitt)
Strength
and Conditioning Internship (L’Ville)
Professional certifications: CSCS, SCCC, SNC |
Florida
|
Jeff
Dillman
|
B.S.,
Exercise Science (Appalachian State)
Head
of Physical Conditioning (IMG)
Director
of Strength and Conditioning (App St)
Asst
Strength and Conditioning (LSU)
Asst
Strength and Conditioning (La-Monroe)
Member
of Collegiate S & C Coaches Assc
|
Georgia
|
Joe Tereshinski
|
Degree not listed
Asst Strength and
Conditioning (UGA)
Asst Offense Line and
Special Teams (UGA)
Video and Game
Analysis Coord (UGA)
Walk-on Program
Director (UGA)
Annual Football Gala
Director (UGA)
|
LSU
|
Tommy
Moffitt
|
Degree
not listed
2000
Football S & C Coach of the Year (Professional Football S&C Coaches Society)
Head
Strength and Conditioning (Miami)
1998
Big East Strength Coach of Year
Assoc
Strength and Conditioning (Tenn)
|
Tennessee
|
Dave
Lawson
|
B.S.,
Physical Education (West Va Tech)
M.S.,
Physical Education (West Va)
2009
Master Strength and Cond Coach
Asst
AD, Dir of Sport Perf and S & C (Cin)
Director
of Strength and Condition (Cent Mich)
Head
Strength and Conditioning (East Mich)
Asst
Strength and Conditioning (West Va)
Certified
S & C Coach
|
Unfortunately, Joe Terenshinski, UGA's strength and conditioning coordinator, seems to fall significantly behind his peer coaches. Let me be clear: the point of this article is not to point a finger and blame a coach for all of UGA's injuries. Injuries are an inevitable part of football. However, it does raise the question: why does UGA have such a relatively unqualified strength and conditioning coach?
Further, while Terenshinki cannot prevent all injuries, would a more qualified and experienced S & C coach reduce the number of ACL/season-ending injuries happening to UGA players?
What are your thoughts?
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