The Transformer: Meet Arkansas' New Strength Coach
By: Adam Alter
Updated: December 19, 2012
"Very excited to be an Arkansas Razorback," new strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert said on a teleconference Wednesday morning.
Football strength coaches tend to have a certain type of energy. Herbert fits that bill.
"I'm a passionate guy. The guys mean a lot to me," Herbert explained. "I want to put those guys in the best situation possible. That's what my ultimate goal is."
Herbert's become an overnight, internet sensation here in Arkansas with a Big Ten Network profile of his unique training methods.
"I think one of the biggest things that helps with my coaching style and how I get across to the guys is I try and just use examples, things that are pretty simple to understand," he described. "Visual stimulus is a very powerful tool."
In addition to the usual before and after photos, Herbert utilized two plants to teach at Wisconsin. He fed one water and nutrients. The other got alcohol and junk food. One blossomed and thrived. The other wilted and died.
"The more you talk, the less they listen," he said. "I try to use as many things visually to show them, to get them to understand things, to get them to show progress, to show results."
For Herbert, passion and energy in the weight room breeds passion and energy on the field.
"The desire to be successful is one of the most important principles," he said. When it's what you do and it's what you preach and it's what you believe, it's going to pay off for you in the end.
Football strength coaches tend to have a certain type of energy. Herbert fits that bill.
"I'm a passionate guy. The guys mean a lot to me," Herbert explained. "I want to put those guys in the best situation possible. That's what my ultimate goal is."
Herbert's become an overnight, internet sensation here in Arkansas with a Big Ten Network profile of his unique training methods.
"I think one of the biggest things that helps with my coaching style and how I get across to the guys is I try and just use examples, things that are pretty simple to understand," he described. "Visual stimulus is a very powerful tool."
In addition to the usual before and after photos, Herbert utilized two plants to teach at Wisconsin. He fed one water and nutrients. The other got alcohol and junk food. One blossomed and thrived. The other wilted and died.
"The more you talk, the less they listen," he said. "I try to use as many things visually to show them, to get them to understand things, to get them to show progress, to show results."
For Herbert, passion and energy in the weight room breeds passion and energy on the field.
"The desire to be successful is one of the most important principles," he said. When it's what you do and it's what you preach and it's what you believe, it's going to pay off for you in the end.
