Nice article on the new S&C coach. He's making a difference it seems.
New football coach brings discipline to the field
By
Mike Vernon
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sitting calmly in his chair, new football strength and conditioning coach Scott Holsopple told a story of discipline. The tale consisted of a player calling Holsopple to tell him that he was stuck in traffic and would be late to that day’s practice. Instead of offering sympathy, Holsopple insisted that he get out of his vehicle and run.
This exemplifies the dedication that Holsopple wants from his players. It embodies the new, discipline-first mindset of the Kansas football team that originates with Holsopple himself.
“That’s what I expect from them, because I would do the same thing,” Holsopple said. “If my truck broke down an hour away, I’m going to run to make sure I’m here. I’m going to run.”
While the new coaching staff tries to preach discipline to its players, Holsopple has the added task of conditioning them the way coach Charlie Weis would like for the spring.
The Road to Kansas
Just two months ago, Holsopple was the top assistant on the Florida Gators’ strength and conditioning staff. Holsopple spent five years at Florida. He won a national championship in 2008, and he helped coach and mentor 18 players who were drafted in the NFL, six of whom were first-round draft picks.
Shortly after Weis left his position as offensive coordinator at Florida to take the Kansas job, he spoke with Holsopple about coming to Kansas to run the strength and conditioning program.
Chris Bronson/Kansan File Photo
Football coach Scott Holsopple answers questions from reporters on Feb. 3. Holsopple is the coach of strength and conditioning.
Florida’s record during his time was 50-17, but the decision for Holsopple to leave one of the nation’s most elite programs to come to a Kansas team that went 2-10 last season was an easy one.
“In my head, the decision was made when I hung up the phone with him,” Holsopple said. “I just knew. When you get a great opportunity like this, you don’t waver or hesistate.”
In addition to his respect for Weis, Holsopple said he had a folder that helped with the decision. In this folder, there are pictures of every football facility in the country and a list of every exercise machine each school has.So Hols opple knew all about the state-of-the-art, $31 million Anderson Family Football Complex, which he now has at his disposal.
“You’re not going to get any better facilities than what the University of Kansas has here,” Holsopple said. “They’re the best of the best.”
Already in his short time at Kansas, Holsopple received advice from special teams coordinator Clint Bowen.
Bowen coached with former head coach Mark Mangino in 2008 during one of the Kansas’ winningest football seasons. He said Mangino’s coaching philosophy emphasized three key concepts: toughness, conditioning and smarts. And those attributes come to fruition in the weight room with Holsopple.
“In college football, no one spends more time with the players than the strength coach,” Bowen said. “His role is invaluable.”
Additionally, Holsopple has received rave ratings throughout his career in coaching.
A former All-American boxer at Penn State, Holsopple coached at his alma mater and Notre Dame in the years after graduating. He then spent five seasons as Marquette’s strength and conditioning basketball coach, where he received praise from former head coach Tom Crean.
“Scott Holsopple would be the MVP of our staff right now,” Crean said to gomarquette.com during the 2001 season. “He’s done a tremendous job of building their bodies over a period of time.”
Now, it’s time for Holsopple to do the same at Kansas.
“I don’t expect anybody to be able to get through it right now,” Holsopple said. “You’re not supposed to. It shouldn’t feel good. It’s never going to. It’s part of the price you pay that makes winning so sweet. I don’t judge somebody for being down. I judge them for not standing back up.”
— Edited by Taylor Lewis