Jeff Friday entered his 7th season as the Ravens' strength and conditioning coach in 2005. Friday introduced new elements to the program in 2004, including kick boxing, yoga and spin-cycling. A mainstay of the Baltimore football program, Friday and his assistant, Paul Ricci, add an invaluable contribution to the healthy development of Ravens players.
Overview: Following the 2000 season, when the Ravens became World Champions, Friday was named Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by a vote of his peers in the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society...Has a combined 16 years of coaching experience in college and the NFL.
1999-2004: (with Baltimore) 2004: Introduced new elements to the offseason training program, including kick boxing, yoga and spin-cycling...A mainstay of the Baltimore football program since 1999. 2003: NFL's No. 1 rushing team (166.8 yards per game)...Out-scored opponents 150-65 in the fourth quarter...Scored 150 fourth quarter points that led the NFL. 2002: Coached and conditioned team with 19 rookies with an average age of 25.2 (youngest in NFL) to a 7-9 record. 2001: Outscored opponents 109-55 in the fourth quarter...Seven (7) victories resulted from fourth-quarter comebacks. 2000: NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game schedule (165) and NFL record for fewest rushing yards allowed in a season...Team had a 12-0 record when leading after 3 quarters. 1999: Ravens posted an 8-8 record, most wins in franchise history...Reunited with Brian Billick to oversee the Ravens' strength and conditioning program.
1996-98: (with Minnesota) During Friday's 3 seasons with the Vikings as assistant strength and conditioning coach, the team made the playoffs each season. 1998: Playoff team set NFL record for most points scored in a season (556).
1992-1995: (with Northwestern) Spent 4 years as assistant strength and conditioning coach with men's basketball coach Ricky Byrdsong...Worked primarily with men and women basketball teams. 1995: Helped to develop the football squad that won Big 10 title.
1990-91: (with Illinois State) A 2-year assistant strength and conditioning coach.
Personal: Earned bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and master's degree in exercise science from Illinois State University...Friday's master's thesis was published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research as "A Comparison of Muscle Activity Between a Free Weight and a Machine Bench Press"...In 2002, received The President's Award from the Ricky Byrdsong* Foundation, an organization that battles the growing epidemic of hate and violence in our society by and against youth...Attended Marquette University (Milwaukee, WI) HS.
Coaching Background: 1990-91 (Illinois State); 1992-95 (Northwestern); 1996-98 (Minnesota Vikings); 1999-2005 (Baltimore Ravens)
*(Ed. note - In 1999, Byrdsong was walking 1 block from his home with 2 of his children when he became a victim of a hate crime and was killed by a young man. Byrdsong was only 43 years old. |