Coach Drinkwitz Adds Zac Woodfin as Strength & Conditioning Director
12/26/2019 10:00:00 AM | Football
Woodfin is a 13-year veteran in the industry
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The holiday season is upon us, but the work doesn't stop for Mizzou Football Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz, who has added Zac Woodfin to his staff in the ever-important role of Director of Athletic Performance for Football, as announced today. Woodfin, a 13-year veteran of the strength and conditioning profession, will oversee the daily strength and conditioning needs for the Tiger football program. Details of Woodfin's contract with Mizzou, as well as his specific coaching duties, will be released pending completion of the human resources process.
"Zac brings energy, expertise and toughness to Mizzou," Drinkwtiz said. "He's played and developed players at the highest level and we can't wait for him to get started with our program."
"It's an unbelievable opportunity to serve Mizzou's student-athletes, the staff and the program," Woodfin said. "I'm excited to coach in the best conference in college football and coach for a man like Coach Drinkwtiz. Every single aspect of this job fires me up and energizes me. I'm fortunate and blessed and I'm going to go above and beyond to do more than what is expected in order to help the program. I can't wait to get going."
A nationally-respected leader in the strength and conditioning community, Woodfin, who spent his previous three years as director of football strength and conditioning at Kansas, was FootballScoop's 2014 National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.
Woodfin went to Kansas after spending his previous two years at Southern Miss where he served as the head strength and conditioning coach for the comprehensive department of athletics. He garnered the title of Interim Director of Athletics at Southern Miss on Dec. 20, 2016, while USM searched for a replacement for outgoing athletics director Bill McGillis. Woodfin handled the Golden Eagle football strength and conditioning needs and also oversaw the other 15 Southern Miss sports.
In 2014, Woodfin won the FootballScoop award while serving as head strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, UAB. He helped the Blazers improve from 2-10 in 2013 to 6-6 in 2014.
Prior to his time in Birmingham, Woodfin spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers as an assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Woodfin broke into the strength industry as a volunteer at Alabama and UAB, and then spent four years working with Athletes Performance in Los Angeles. While at Athletes Performance, he worked with many clients who played for various organizations in the NFL, NBA, MLB, as well as Olympic athletes.
A native of Prattville, Ala., Woodfin graduated from UAB in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a concentration in fitness leadership. Following a college career in which he became UAB's all-time leading tackler (372 stops) and twice was named first-team All-Conference USA, he signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers (2005). Woodfin later signed with the Baltimore Ravens and spent two seasons with the organization before a stint with the Houston Texans. He also played in the World Football League, and was a first-round draft pick by the Frankfurt Galaxy franchise. Woodfin started at linebacker for the Galaxy and helped lead the team to the 2007 World Bowl.
Woodfin is married to the former Fawn Burke and the couple has a son, Valor, and a daughter, Violet.
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Zac Woodfin File
Coaching History:
- 2017-19 – Kansas
- 2015-16 – Southern Miss
- 2014 – UAB
- 2011-13 – Green Bay Packers
- 2007-10 – Athletes Performance (EXOS)
Playing Experience:
- 2001-04 - UAB
- 2005 – Green Bay Packers (practice squad)
- 2005 – New Orleans Saints (practice squad)
- 2005-06 – Baltimore Ravens
- 2007 – Frankfurt Galaxy
- 2007 – Houston Texans (practice squad)
Education:
- 2004 – UAB – Exercise Science
Family:
- Wife – Fawn; Daughter – Violet; Son – Valor
