Hawks Hire New S&C Coach [Update]

Written by Chris Sullivan

Monday, 25 January 2010 18:58

We reported it weeks ago as a rumor. Then it died. Now, it's back, and it's official. Mike Clark will no longer be the Seahawks' strength and conditioning coach, being replaced by USC's guy Chris Carlisle. I'll let the guys who know him speak about Carlisle:

During his time at Heritage Hall, the 47-year-old Carlisle built one of the most successful strength and conditioning programs in the nation, earning national collegiate strength and conditioning coach of the year honors in 2006 from the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society. Numerous former players would return from the NFL each offseason to work out with Carlisle and his staff in a unique movement-based program that set a trend in football training.

Check out the whole article, it's brief, but should get you excited. Mike Clark was a very good S&C coach, but I would still consider this a modest upgrade. I feel that Carroll has really been doing a good job of upgrading where upgrades are needed, recognizing where his guys might not be upgrades, and generally giving the team some new energy across the board.

[Update:] The Seahawks have also hired Assistant Strength and Conditioning coach Mondray Gee from the Green Bay Packers. (Via Brian McIntyre)

Comments (9) Add Comment

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written by Riggle, January 25, 2010

Maybe we'll have fewer torn pectorals and other unique injuries.

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written by Mr Fish, January 25, 2010

Where can we find the injury history for USC during Carlisle's time there?

I'm not convinced that the S&C coach is solely or even largely responsible for a team avoiding injuries, but it might be interesting to compare the Trojans' record with what the Seahawks have gone through with Clark.

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written by MontanaMike, January 25, 2010

I'm glad caroll is assembling his staff asap.

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written by B., January 25, 2010

It think it was a little more than just "bad luck" that for the past two seasons we've had the dubious honor of having the most players on IR, in the entire league. I've been looking forward to this day for quite some time.

Caroll is attracting some quality coaches. My hope has been restored. It's going to take 2-3 years to clean up Ruskell's mess but I'm encouraged with who we now have on board to get it done.

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written by bleedshawkblue, January 25, 2010

RECRUIT! RECRUIT! RECRUIT!!!

Today's NFL requires it.

This is a guy who is largely responsible for having so many USC rookies be NFL ready, and the fact he is regarded by his peers in the pro ranks as the best in the field says something important, and swiping the guy from the Packers to back him up is minor genius as well.

No cap on coaches and front office salaries, ladies and gents!!!

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written by recordblender, January 25, 2010

Great Pick-up. This day couldn't have come any sooner.

A little off topic, but some have mentioned that an uncapped year is bad for free agency. This is very true. However there is one really huge benefit to having an uncapped year when your an old team looking to dump some dead weight. We can dump it all this year and have no ramafication what so ever! Cut, trade, do it this year and fast before there is a cap again!!!!!

Nice point, Record.
written by bleedshawkblue, January 25, 2010

Time to cut some inflated salaries. It ain't called the Not For Long league for nothin'.

I expect this team to get well in a bigger hurry than the average rebuild, if nothing else for the reason of getting a lot younger and more tailored to the strengths of the personnel. Tailored to the strengths...how 'bout that for a coaching platitude? I do believe that this staff really can, though.

OmG
written by hawkcrazy, January 26, 2010

you know at first i was against the mora firing just because i hadn't heard what he did so wrong and then pete carrol i was sceptical because well im a hawk fan and i want my team to be the best but now im at the point im on the bandwagon with banners baby when you bring in this many quality guys to coach and then strenght and conditioning guys like these the hawks will be better oh and i have been meaning to say this for a long time on here f**k ruskell what the hell was he thinking but now its seems that we are on the right track so heres to the hawks in the superbowl 4 yrs from now