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Sports => Snyder's Electronic Cyber Space World => Topic started by: pissclams on January 11, 2007, 09:57:31 AM

Title: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: pissclams on January 11, 2007, 09:57:31 AM
http://www.kstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=400&ATCLID=745353

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Veteran strength and conditioning coach Mike Kent has joined the Kansas State athletics department as the Wildcats’ head strength and conditioning coach for football, Ron Prince announced Thursday.

"We are very pleased to announce the addition of Mike Kent to our staff as head strength coach,” Prince said. “Mike is a veteran strength coach who is a hard-charger and positive. We believe that his appointment will further our mission of building a fast, strong, tough and disciplined football team."

Kent, who served the last three seasons in a similar capacity at the University of Pittsburgh, brings over 20 years of strength and conditioning experience with him to K-State, including a 10-year stint from 1990-99 at Appalachian State, where he trained Prince.

“I am extremely excited to be a part of this program,” said Kent. “One of the things that is neat about the coaching profession is that I’ve been able to keep tabs on Ron (Prince) and keep in touch with him throughout his career. I share the vision he has for K-State football and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help this program reach its goals.”

A dedicated and highly respected professional in the field of strength and conditioning, Kent’s influential training methods received national attention last summer, when The Sporting News featured him in a photo essay on the training regimen he developed for the Pitt football program.

Lauded by his former players for creating a contagious enthusiasm in the weight room, Kent was instrumental in helping develop three NFL Draft picks during his tenure with the Panthers, including tackles Rob Petitti (2005), and Charles Spencer (2006) and defensive back Josh Lay (2006).

Kent was named strength and conditioning coach at Pitt in 2004 following a successful stint at the University of Louisville, where he was a key contributor to the Cardinals' 36-15 four-year record and Conference USA championships in 2000 and 2001.

At Louisville, he oversaw the physical development of eight NFL Draft selections. Among his Louisville protégés was receiver Deion Branch, who went on to become the MVP of the 2005 Super Bowl for the New England Patriots after training under Kent in 2000 and 2001.

From 1999-2000, Kent served as the strength and conditioning coordinator at Eastern Kentucky, where he oversaw performance programs for the Colonels' 16 intercollegiate sports, following his ultra successful stay at Appalachian State.

During his time with the Mountaineers, Kent helped the football program earn five NCAA I-AA playoff berths. He also trained linebacker Dexter Coakley, who went on to earn multiple All-Pro honors with the Dallas Cowboys, and in 1995, Kent was named the Southern Conference Strength Coach of the Year.

Kent's collegiate coaching career began in 1985 at North Carolina State, where he served two years as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line and assisting with the strength program. He went on to serve as the assistant defensive line coach and strength and conditioning for football at Shepherd [W.Va.] College in 1987 before moving on to East Carolina in 1988 as an assistant strength coach.

Kent earned his bachelor's degree from Fairmont [W.Va.] State in 1982 and his master's from NC State in 1987. He is married to the former Deena England.

The Mike Kent File
PERSONAL
Year at K-State: First
Date of Birth: July 8, 1960
Hometown: Parkersburg, W.Va.
Spouse: Deena

EDUCATION
Fairmont [W.Va.] State (1982), B.A.

COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
1985-87: North Carolina State
1987-88: Shepherd [W.Va.] College
1988-90: East Carolina
1990-99: Appalachian State
1999-00: Eastern Kentucky
2000-04: Louisville
2004-06: Pittsburgh
2007: Kansas State
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: michigancat on January 11, 2007, 10:05:46 AM
STOP HIRING YOUR FREAKING BUDDIES, RONALD!!!

Although it really looks like a nice hire if he didn't get fired.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: michigancat on January 11, 2007, 10:09:44 AM
Dave freaking Wannstedt fired him.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06349/746404-233.stm
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: pissclams on January 11, 2007, 10:12:50 AM
Dave freaking Wannstedt fired him.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06349/746404-233.stm

I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.  Wannstedt's actions mean nothing to me.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: catzacker on January 11, 2007, 10:19:17 AM
Dave freaking Wannstedt fired him.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06349/746404-233.stm

Quote
Wannstedt believes Pitt's lack of ability to stop the run and its propensity to fade in the second half is related, at least in part, to the Panthers lacking physical strength and toughness.

stopping the run is overrated anyways.  Although to put it on the S&C guy and not fire your DC is kind of scapegoat-ish. 
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: WildCatzPhreak on January 11, 2007, 10:21:18 AM
It looked like a good hire for about two minutes.

Then I saw the part about him being the S&C coach at App State when Prince played there.

And then I saw the part about him getting fired from Pitt.  Freakin' Pitt.

Who knows how it will turn out though, he has won S&C of the year before - albeit at D-IAA.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: Buddha_Cat on January 11, 2007, 10:26:58 AM
Who knows how it will turn out though, he has won S&C of the year before - albeit at D-IAA.

Team that up with a D-II D-coordinator, and a coach from Baylor, that's awesome.  Wonder if Prince ever worked with Terry Allen???
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: PoetWarrior on January 11, 2007, 10:38:54 AM
You guys need to realize we are Kansas State.

We take what we can get.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: michigancat on January 11, 2007, 10:39:53 AM
You guys need to realize we are Kansas State.

I'd prefer young up-and-coming ladder climbers over recently fired BCS buddies.  Tibs hire >>>>>>>>>>>Kent hire.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: pissclams on January 11, 2007, 10:42:39 AM
Great hire.
With some of the size that Prince & Co. will be bringing into Kansas State over the next couple years we are going to want them to lose muscle mass. 
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: sonofdaxjones on January 11, 2007, 10:47:49 AM
Do some research . . . it sounds like Wannstedt fired Kent so he could bring in a couple of guys he got all buddied up with.   

To put the blame for a defenses performance on a the S&C guy is laughable, particularly when the S&C  guy is training some pretty good o-lineman to let Pitt have one of the better offenses in the country.   

There's only so much an S&C guy can do, after that coaches gotta coach and players gotta play.

Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: Saulbadguy on January 11, 2007, 10:49:09 AM
You guys need to realize we are Kansas State.

I'd prefer young up-and-coming ladder climbers over recently fired BCS buddies.  Tibs hire >>>>>>>>>>>Kent hire.
He's a S&C coach.

I wonder if Huggins would let Greenawalt train /w the entire AD.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: WildCatzPhreak on January 11, 2007, 10:54:02 AM
Greenawalt > Kent
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: FBWillie on January 11, 2007, 11:02:17 AM
I've got to admit... nothing in that resume really impresses me.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: PoetWarrior on January 11, 2007, 11:08:47 AM
Strength and conditioning is not rocket science.

It's all about having the right approach.

Whether Kent has it is anybody's guess, but he certainly could.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: michigancat on January 11, 2007, 11:11:42 AM
Whether Kent has it is anybody's guess, but he certainly could.

Dave Wannstedt would probably know as well as anybody.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: sonofdaxjones on January 11, 2007, 11:16:07 AM
Seriously??  When you go 6-6, and fire an S&C coach, and a position coach and use that as an excuse for the defense being so bad??

Has  Wannestedt ever really done anything as a head coach besides be mediocre at best??

Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: PoetWarrior on January 11, 2007, 11:47:26 AM
It is apparent that Wannstedt hired a buddy, that sort of throws everything out the window regarding Kent.
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: ksu_FAN on January 11, 2007, 12:51:25 PM
I can't believe no one has checked with our source on all things Pitt.  Someone get to Doke's site and find out what the deal is here. :)
Title: Re: Mike Kent- Strong Coach
Post by: Meatbag on January 12, 2007, 12:48:50 AM
Quote
Has  Wannestedt ever really done anything as a head coach besides be mediocre at best?? 

No.  Favre and the Packers ripped Destroyer Dave's teams new asses twice a year....