Herbert Named Hogs Strength Coach
By: Aaron Peters
Updated: December 18, 2012
FAYETTEVILLE,
Ark. - Ben Herbert has been selected as Arkansas' head
strength and conditioning coach, head football coach Bret Bielema announced
Tuesday.
"Ben Herbert has
transformed countless student-athletes and his system has become known by those
on the next level for producing individuals with toughness and an incredible
work ethic," Coach Bielema said. "He has a strong background in what
we want out of our strength and conditioning program, and he has shown a great
ability to produce results with energy and passion. He is focused on details and
consistency and is always thinking outside the box to come up with new,
improved ways to make our student-athletes better. He oversees a comprehensive
plan that extends beyond the weight room, and our student-athletes will benefit
from his instruction."
Herbert joins the Razorbacks
after spending the previous 11 seasons working in strength and conditioning at
Wisconsin, including the last four as head strength and conditioning coach. He
started his career as an intern during the 2002 season following his playing
days at Wisconsin and was promoted to assistant strength and conditioning coach
in 2003. He was involved in all aspects of sports conditioning for the football
team during his time with the Badgers.
In his 15 total seasons at
Wisconsin, he was part of 14 bowl appearances and five Big Ten championships.
The Badgers claimed three straight Big Ten titles and became the first Big Ten
team to appear in three straight Rose Bowls since Michigan following the 1976-78
seasons by making the trip to Pasadena following the 2010, 2011 and 2012
seasons.
During his time with
Wisconsin, Herbert helped develop 41 NFL draft picks, including six first-round
selections. Defensive end J.J. Watt and offensive tackle Gabe Carminiwere both
taken in the first round of the 2011 draft, and offensive guard
Kevin Zeitler was picked 27th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2012. The
Badgers also produced five national individual award winners, including 2012
Doak Walker Award recipient and the NCAA record-holder for career
touchdowns Montee Ball, 28 All-America honors and 48 first-team All-Big Ten
selections in his 11 seasons on staff in
Madison.
Wisconsin's work with
Herbert was evident in the fourth quarters of games, when the Badgers outscored
opponents 435-309 from 2009-12. The team's strength and conditioning work also
was apparent late in the season, as Wisconsin was 15-5 in games played
in the month of November or later during Herbert's four years as head strength
and conditioning coach and outscored its opponents 856-442 in games played in
November, December and January.
Herbert was a four-year
letterman on the defensive line at Wisconsin, which won two Rose Bowls during
his time as a student-athlete. He holds the Wisconsin bowl record for most
tackle for loss and sacks yardage and is tied for the school's bowl record for
sacks after collecting 2.0 sacks for 20 yards lost in the 2000 Rose Bowl victory
over Stanford.
A native of Pittsburgh,
Herbert earned his bachelor's degree from Wisconsin in 2002. He is a member of
the (NSCA) National Strength and Conditioning Association and the (CSCCA)
Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Association.
