The Michigan Wolverines moved quickly to select a replacement when strength and conditioning coach Ben Herbert left to join former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh’s staff with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Michigan stated that Justin Tress will take over as strength and conditioning coach after deciding to remain on-campus. Since 2018, Tress has participated in the programme. The Wolverines also declared that Abigail O’Connor, director of performance nutrition, will continue to oversee the initiative.
Sherrone Moore, the head football coach at the University of Michigan, announced on Monday, January 29, that Justin Tress has been hired to serve as the program’s director of strength and conditioning. Ben Herbert, Tress’s longtime mentor, steps down. Moore also declared that Abigail O’Connor, the team’s director of performance nutrition, will stay on the programme.
“I am grateful for Coach Sherrone Moore’s confidence in my skills and Coach Herbert’s support, and I feel honoured to represent the football programme in this new capacity,” Tress remarked. Having these two influential people believe in me and my strength coaching abilities means a lot.
Tress continued, “I’m excited to be in charge of the strength and conditioning programme with a very gifted group of coaches.” “We’ll keep collaborating to prepare our student-athletes’ bodies and minds for competitiveness. With the aim of placing our players in the greatest possible position to thrive on the football field, the road map has been developed, and we will work tirelessly to chase exceptional outcomes in the weight room.”
“I am thrilled that Justin and Abigail will continue to be essential components of our programme,” stated Moore. They have been essential to our success, and we anticipate their leadership as our programme advances. Ben Herbert, Justin’s longtime mentor, is handing him the reins, but we are confident that Justin, the strength team, and their work with Abigail will remain a key component of our player development. The championship culture that prevails at Schembechler Hall is largely due to the teamwork and collaboration of our strength, nutrition, and athletic training staff.
“I’ve worked closely with Coach Tress since 2017 and have known him since 2014,” Herbert stated. Justin and I have worked side by side through the greatest highs and the lowest lows for the past seven years. His dedication to me or to Michigan Football waiver has never once occurred to me. Justin is a fantastic example of intelligence, reliability, and dedication. He will undoubtedly carry on the tradition we have created with Michigan Football, I have no doubt about that.
Tress joined the Michigan Football Strength and Conditioning staff in 2018 and has been a part of it ever since. She served as the associate director of the team in 2023. Prior to joining the Wolverines, he worked for Herbert at Arkansas for two years as well. Tress was a part of the University of Alabama strength and conditioning staff before joining the Razorbacks. The team participated in the CFP National Championship Game in 2015 and took home the title, but lost the following year.
