Dec. 28, 2000

Columbia, Mo. - Jeff Fish has been named director of strength and conditioning for the University of Missouri Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as announced today by the department. He will oversee strength and conditioning efforts for MU's 20-sport program.

Fish, 34, has over 12 years of coaching experience on both the collegiate and professional level as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He comes to Mizzou directly from the Kansas City Chiefs, where he spent the last three seasons as an assistant strength coach. With the Chiefs, Fish assisted in the implementation of Kansas City's year-round conditioning and training regiment. He spent a portion of the 1997 season in a similar position with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A native of Ithaca, N.Y., Fish spent eight years as a collegiate strength coach. From 1995-97, he served as head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Tulsa after serving a three-year stint (1993-95) in the same capacity at Kent State University. From 1991-93, Fish served as a strength and conditioning assistant at Clemson University. During his tenure with the Tigers, he worked with current Chiefs defensive lineman Chester McGlockton and a host of other NFL players, including Pittsburgh linebacker Levon Kirkland.

"I'm very excited about the opportunity to be a part of the University of Missouri," said Fish. "The primary thing that stood out to me about the program is the commitment that Mike Alden and the administration has to providing the best in facilities, which helps attract the best athletes. I'm looking forward to developing our student-athletes on a daily basis and building a top-notch program," he said.

Fish's coaching career began as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Western Michigan from 1989-91. A collegiate wide receiver at Western Carolina from 1986-88, Fish also played one season as a shortstop on the Catamount baseball squad. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from WCU in 1989, and followed with a Master of Science (Exercise Science) from Western Michigan in 1991.

"Jeff Fish brings a great deal of experience to the Missouri program," said MU Head Football Coach Gary Pinkel. "I am pleased that we were able to bring in a strength coach of his caliber. We really hit a home run with Jeff," he said.