Lichter Named to Head Ohio State Football Strength and Conditioning Program – Ohio State Buckeyes
6/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
June 19, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio: Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has announced the hiring of Eric Lichter as the Buckeyes’ Director of Football Performance. Lichter, 31, replaces Allan Johnson who resigned in May to pursue other career opportunities.
In making the announcement, Tressel also noted that Joe Rudolph, a graduate assistant who has worked with the Ohio State offensive line the past two years, will move into the position of Strength Coordinator; and Butch Reynolds, who joined the Ohio State staff last year as speed coach, will now serve as the Speed Coordinator.
“In talking to our players as we looked to build our strength staff, their goal was to be the very best in all areas of strength and conditioning,” said Tressel. “”We believe that Eric Lichter, Joe Rudolph and Butch Reynolds will combine their respective talents and create an environment that will allow us to be on the cutting edge of that science.
“Today’s game is about speed, explosiveness and position specific training. This staff will take us to the next level in all of those areas.”
Lichter was born in Connecticut, but moved with his family to Arizona at an early age and grew up in Mesa. He attended Weber State and graduated in 1997 with a degree in Lifestyle Management and Exercise Science. He played three years of football at Weber and started for two years at inside linebacker. Since graduation, Lichter has worked as a personal trainer and consultant. He currently is a co-owner of Speed Strength Systems Training Centers in Avon and Euclid, Ohio, where he specializes in preparing athletes for competition and testing. He has trained more than 35 current NFL and NBA players, including 11 first-round and three top-10 selections.
Among others, Lichter has worked with LeBron James, Ron Dayne and Joe Jurevicious, as well as former Ohio State football standouts LeCharles Bentley and Nate Clements.
“Eric Lichter elevated my game in every area,” said Clements, currently one of the NFL’s top rated defensive backs. “He improved my speed, strength and stamina. He pushes you physically and he challenges you mentally.”
While Lichter has spent the majority of his time in the private sector, he is anxious to make the jump to Ohio State.
“I have the greatest respect for the tradition at Ohio State. Honestly, I haven’t slept for three weeks thinking about the possibilities associated with this job,” he said. “I love what I have been doing, but now instead of individual accomplishment we are talking about team accomplishment at the very highest level. The opportunity to be a part of that team really excites me.
“And I am honored to be working with a person like Coach Tressel. He is an amazing individual. I have never been around a person who has so much going on and yet can still pay attention to the smallest detail.”
Lichter and his staff are already mapping out plans for the coming year.
“I think we are a great team,” he said. “We all have the same beliefs about getting players football ready. We are all high energy guys with a passion for what we are doing. I feel certain we will grow as a staff.”
Lichter and his wife, Annemarie, have two children: Tyler (8) and Ava (6). Joe’s mother, Linda Lichter-Witter, is Ohio State’s synchronized swimming coach. During the 2005-06 season, Annemarie helped coach the synchronized swimming team while Linda was undergoing treatment for cervical cancer.
“Obviously, with all that my mother has been through, it will be nice to be closer to her on a regular basis,” said Lichter.
