New strength coach making changes

Lifting Expectations: Miller Brings New Ideas to Strength Program
October 14, 2008

mgoblue.com

By Leah Howard, U-M Athletic Media Relations

Jesse Miller arrived in Ann Arbor in January as part of Mike Barwis' well-publicized and much-hyped football strength and conditioning staff. It was not long before several wrestlers -- among them former U-M standouts Andy Hrovat (1999-2002) and Ryan Churella (2003-06), amidst their preparation for run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics -- wandered into the Schembechler Hall weight room looking for fresh training advice. Miller had worked with the wrestling program at West Virginia and was eventually assigned to oversee a change in their regimen.

That change has resulted in a complete overhaul of their training and the philosophy behind it. The Wolverines are still lifting regularly, but the lifts are more specific and more transferable to wrestling and the necessary requirements for success in the sport. Instead of lifting to get bigger and stronger, they are lifting to become quicker and more functional in different situations and positions. Miller has incorporated greater emphasis on core-body strength and transfer of power, balance, flexibility and injury prevention. As it applies to wrestling, the Wolverines can expect improved explosion, ability to hold positions, horsepower and stamina on the mat this season.

"We're not training to be better weightlifters," said Miller. "We're training to be better wrestlers. We try to pick every area of the body, every aspect of wrestling, and try to train them to the best in every area. I update their workouts and tailor it to their needs every week. I'll go back through each individual workout, see where they're at and make the appropriate changes that need to be made for that person. Obviously, every person on the team is different. There are different modalities of training.

"I've already seen improvements. They're more explosive, stronger, able to handle weight better, able to transfer power better, able to move better -- and that's just about everybody on the team. Guys are coming up to me and telling me it's the most weight they've ever lifted, and they're not sore with it and they control it. That's encouraging for a coach. You know you're helping the kids out, but really that's what they're doing. I can put whatever workout I want out there and unless they go out and bust their hump to get better, than they're not going to get better. That's a big thing for the kids, and I give them a lot of credit."