Train Fast, Play Fast – Oregon Football

I don’t want to jump on the bandwagon, but watching
University of Oregon football play is amazing. A major contributor is head
strength and conditioning coach Jimmy Radcliffe. I don’t have many heroes, but
Jimmy is one my heroes. I continue to be amazed at his dedication, intensity and his
insatiable appetite for learning. He is a coach’s coach. He has paid his dues teaching and coaching high school. He has coached football, basketball and track at the high school level. Experience he rates as invaluable. He works with other sports besides football. He is actively involved coaching the Oregon Elite track group. He loves to coach and
lives to coach. He is going to be mad at me for writing this. he shuns the limelight, preferring to put the spotlight on the athlete. I must say this is a rarity and so refreshing in this world of giant egos and self promoters.

What you see on the field is a direct link to what they do in
training. Jimmy has been on the Faculty of the GAIN Apprentorship the last two
years where he presented on the Oregon program. Everyone was blown away by the thoroughness and attention to detail. No secrets, just attention to detail and coaching. He commands
the respect of his athletes and they bust their ass for him. He does not have
eight assistants and an army of grad assistants. He has a small staff that has
been together for years. They get it done.  He trains the players for the game they play. He trains for speed,
he trains them position specific, and he demands technical proficiency in the
weight room and on the field. He is a stickler for details on movement
mechanics and it shows up on the field. His players get better and they get
faster. I wish them the best of luck in their drive to the national
championship. I know for sure that they are physically prepared to play their
game. On of my favorite quotes from Jim is from a conversation this summer. We were talking about some crazy things we had seen a coach present, Jim said "sometimes you just have to get them strong." Jim, keep up the great work!