Coach Smith honored in American Football Monthly magazine

HUNTINGDON, Pa. - - After a brief stint away from Juniata College from 1993-96, football defensive line coach and college strength and conditioning coordinator, Doug Smith, returned to Huntingdon in 1997 and has never left. Now, in this month’s edition of American Football Monthly magazine, Smith has been named Samson’s Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year for NCAA Division III football.

Samson Equipment and AFM have recognized one coach from each level of football, from the National Football League to high school, who made a big impact in 2009. 

When it comes lifting, Smith doesn’t only want to see improvement on strength and size, but one of his main goals is to keep his players on the field and avoid injury. 

“We want to hit all components in the weight room: flexibility, balance, footwork, condition, total body strength and core strength,” Smith said in an interview with AFM. “Our goal is to make each player a better athlete. We break down specific plans for each player, work on their physical components and try to reduce the risk of injury.” 

In addition to working for the Eagles, Smith has also worked closely with the Texas Rangers from 1999-2000, breaking down individual player’s physical assessment during spring training. He worked with future Hall of Famers Ivan “Pudge” Rodriquez and Rafael Palmeiro, as well as pitchers Kenny Rogers and John Wetteland, during their 1999 run to a 95-67 first place finish in the AL West. 

He also spent a week in the spring of 2002 with the Philadelphia Phillies, prior to their season in which they finished in third place in the NL East. 

Other coaches that won awards in their respective divisions were: Dan Dalrymple of the 2010 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints; Tim Socha of the 2010 Fiesta Bowl Champion Boise State University; and Justus Galac of the 2009 FCS National Champion, Villanova University.

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