The football players love UCLA’s new head strength and
conditioning coach E.J. “Doc” Kreis. There is probably
no better job endorsement than that.
“He is a great man; he is the best,” sophomore
tailback Tyler Ebell said.
However, what Ebell also noted was very telling about
Kreis’ work ethic and methods.
“You can’t complain about getting bigger and
stronger,” Ebell said.
Kreis was hired in June after UCLA chose not to renew former
strength and conditioning coach Kim Sword’s contract, who was
brought onto former head football coach Bob Toledo’s staff in
February 2002.
Kreis brings many accolades and a respected career to UCLA. He
spent over 10 years as an assistant athletic director and head
coach for speed and strength conditioning at the University of
Colorado. Colorado, which UCLA will face Sept. 6 in Boulder, ended
its relationship with Kreis on May 31 of this year, seeking a
change in the direction of the school’s strength and
conditioning program. It was reported that Colorado head coach Gary
Barnett disagreed with Kreis over some of the lifting players were
doing in the off-season, and partially blamed Kreis’ training
methods for the outbreak of shoulder injuries in Colorado
players.
“The situation at Colorado was that they wanted to go a
different direction, and that is fine. That gave me an opportunity
to come to UCLA,” Kreis said. “I had a great 11 years
at Colorado full of fond memories.”
“My years at Colorado prepared me for years at UCLA. UCLA
presents a greater challenge. It is a bigger opportunity, not only
to play in front of bigger crowds, but to face tougher
opponents.”
In 2001, the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Association selected Kreis as one of the 10 master strength and
conditioning coaches. Additionally, Kreis was named the National
Collegiate Strength Coach of the year in 1991-1992 and 1994-1995 by
the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches
Society.
However, when speaking with Kreis, one begins to understand
that, for this former Clemson football player, his job is not about
awards.
“˜Those that stand in front of me (at UCLA) are giving me
what they have ““ the very best of their focus, along with
tremendous attitude,” Kreis said. “When young men do
that, great things take place.”
While Kreis is quick to emphasize the gains in speed, strength
and conditioning, many football players appreciate Kries’
attention to strength building, an area they felt the strength and
conditioning program lacked last season.
“Before when we had conditioning, we conditioned,”
junior cornerback Matt Ware said. “Now we lift hard. There is
no give in the system, and it is a positive change. (Kreis) is a
real leader and is goal-oriented.”
Kreis will work directly with the football team but will also
oversee all the work by all UCLA athletes in the Acosta Athletic
Training Facility, which is in the final stages of renovation and
will be completed in January 2004. The approximately 15,000
square-foot facility will expand weight training facilities and the
Sports Training & Rehab Center, while also providing meeting
rooms and future space for men’s and women’s
lockers.
“I am elated that we just moved into a new multi-million
dollar facility, and we are going to set a standard that competes
with anyone in the country,” Kreis said. “We are making
equipment selection, we are going to get things we need, and I am
excited to be in this position with the team as I know coach
Dorrell is.”
It is important that a head football coach share a similar
philosophy with his strength and conditioning coach, and head coach
Karl Dorrell is certainly on the same page with Kreis.
“Doc is one of the best out there,” Dorrell said.
“The players are excited about him and look forward to
getting better.”
Kreis brings an enthusiasm to the team and an attention to
detail that many appreciate. He said he works with players on an
individual basis to improve times down to the hundredth of a second
and down to losing or gaining a single pound.
“I don’t believe in a weight room ““ we
don’t wait for anyone,” Kreis said. “Our
opportunity is to strike hard and fast.”
“It is a constant race,” Kreis said. “If it is
not solid and you don’t do it right, no one is going to take
you on the job.”
Kreis sounds like someone who knows what it takes to be
solid.