BOULDER — As dozens of Colorado football players go through a workout, Drew Wilson doesn’t stop.
Wilson, the energetic new director of strength and conditioning at CU, has been on the job for only about three weeks, but as he constantly weaves his way through the room, it’s clear who runs this show.
“There’s been a lot of energy in here, and he’s brought a different perspective and a different vibe,” running back Michael Adkins said. “He’s very encouraging and very motivating, and I think that’s what we needed.”
After a 4-9 season last fall, Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre fired director of sports performance Dave Forman in December.
Arguably the most important hire a coach can make is with the strength coach, because that person spends the most time with the players. MacIntyre put his trust in Wilson, who spent the previous five years at Maryland.
Wilson wasted no time in putting his stamp on the strength and conditioning program.
“Based on my philosophy, yeah, we’re starting from ground zero,” he said.
Under Forman, the Buffs had a more scientific approach. With Wilson, it’s all about getting stronger.
“It’s pretty simple,” Wilson said. “We’re going to Olympic lift, we’re going to squat, we’re going to press, we’re going to pull. Everything after that is based on the individual guy’s need. Call it old school. We’re going to lift weights, and that’s how you get stronger.”
The sessions are fast-paced, too, and if a player slacks off, he’ll hear about it.
“We worked hard under (Forman) as well, but it’s a different change of pace,” offensive tackle Isaac Miller said. “Hopefully we keep it going.”
Adkins, Miller and several other players have given positive reviews of Wilson to this point.
“The guys have picked up on everything, and they’re doing a good job,” Wilson said. “They love it. Kids want to get stronger, they want to work hard; they just need a direction, to be told how to do it. They need to have demands placed on them.”
While Wilson has been demanding, he also believes that players need to know his demands stem from a desire to make them better, not to tear them down mentally. He’s motivating their minds as much as their bodies.
“He’s an intense guy,” Miller said. “He’s getting everybody motivated, which is good.”
Wilson was happy to see MacIntyre push back the start of spring practice from February to early March so he can have more time to keep the momentum going.
“It’s going to allow us to have a little bit better base on what we want to do going into spring ball,” Wilson said.
