June 12, 2008
New strength coach
Ohio State has hired a new strength and conditioning assistant coach, Troy Sutton. It actually has been a few weeks, but no official announcement went out.
Sutton is a young guy, an OSU graduate in 2004 who worked as a student assistant with the strength staff from 2002 to 2004. He then went to Ohio University for a few years, where he earned a graduate degree and was a graduate assistant working with the strength program for several sports (not football).
Sutton fills the spot vacated by Butch Reynolds' departure in March. It does not appear that Sutton is a "speed coach" per se, so it looks like head strength coach Eric Lichter is re-organizing the duties and priorities of his assistants.
There was much speculation a few months ago that Reynolds was forced out, or there was some sort of dispute between Lichter and Reynolds.
I heard nothing along those lines. I think it's enough to say that strength coaches, by nature, are "type A" individuals -- intense, driven, and yes, they have egos. Lichter worked his way up to this position. Reynolds is an Olympic gold medalist who has experienced personal fame.
Sometimes, it works to have two such people on staff together. Sometimes, it doesn't. No conspiracy theories necessary.
I do think that these days, it's important to have someone -- call them a speed coach or not -- working on coaching explosion and burst. But I find it hard to believe the Ohio State football team will suddenly become a lot slower just because Reynolds left.
Posted by Ken Gordon on June 12, 2008
