Hicks and Luther Serve as Keynote Speakers
6/17/2004 9:20:20 AM | Football
The clinic, which is open to anyone interested in performance enhancement and strength and conditioning, included strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, physical therapists, sport coaches, athletic administrators, personal trainers, fitness instructors, athletes interested in sport specific strength and conditioning and the general public.
At Syracuse, Hicks and Luther are responsible for developing programs to increase conditioning, strength, speed and agility for each of the Orange’s 21 varsity programs. Hicks also doubles as the football program’s pro scout liaison. The pair joined SU’s staff in 2000. Hicks focused his presentation at the clinic on strength training for football, while Luther devoted his program on strength training for lacrosse.
Clinic coordinator Doug Smith, who is the strength and conditioning coach at Juniata College, said he is extremely fortunate to have Hicks and Luther at the event.
“Strength and conditioning is about motivating people, having a good program, getting the kids to work real hard and making it hands on,” Smith said. “Both Will and Hal have those credentials and they really speak for themselves.”
The event highlighted many coaches and professionals in the field, including 25 speakers as well as hands on sessions. Some of the other presenters included: Kirk Woolfolk, the Naval Academy strength coordinator, Tim Beltz the University of Pittsburgh strength and conditioning coach for basketball, and Leo Totten, a USA weightlifting international coach.
The clinic focused on overall strength program design, exercise mechanics, sport specific speed and agility training, functional sport specific strength, injury rehabilitation, program adaptation, sport specific flexibility, development of core strength and implementation of non traditional modes of functional strength training. The clinic also provided the opportunity to gain continuing education units (CEUs) to demonstrate the ongoing process of professional development in each respective field.
Hicks enthusiastically embraces opportunities to be a presenter at clinics.
“Every time you speak at a clinic like this one you learn something from the other presenters or even from questions that you get asked after you speak,” Hicks said. “You tweak your own program due to the whole learning experience. It keeps you fresh.”
Smith is not the only one who recognizes Hicks and Luther are among the elite in their field of work. Since they started coming to the clinic four years ago, the number of professionals from New York attending the clinic has noticeably increased and a large base has been established at Juniata’s clinic. Hicks’ work ethic has become well known and extremely respected around the Northeast, but Hicks credits the student athletes he works with as the biggest part of his success.
“I have a blue collar, hands on approach,” Hicks said. “I am always in the weight room and people might describe me as energetic and excitable in my work ethic. But we have good kids here. When you see the kids put the effort in, you see them believe in what you tell them, success will come. They go hand in hand with each other.”
Dedication Equals Success
Two of the many student-athletes who have benefited from working with Hicks credit not only his work ethic and skills as a coach, but his ability to relate to and understand the student-athletes.
Prior to his senior year, former SU wide receiver David Tyree '03 was not mentioned in NFL Draft reports. Reports suggested that his test numbers were not good enough for Tyree to hear his name called during the NFL’s annual selection process. Tyree worked with Hicks from the end of the 2001 season until 2003 Pro Day at the Carrier Dome, when his numbers finally attracted the attention they deserved from pro scouts. The New York Giants selected Tyree in the fifth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Hicks’ ability to push the athletes in a positive direction and help them believe in themselves has left lasting impressions.
“Coach Hicks has been nothing less than a mentor and best friend,” Tyree said. “Even greater than his ability to inspire my strength and conditioning heights, he also brought my athletic abilities to the forefront which gave me an extra vote of confidence when no one saw anything in me other than special teams. To this day, Coach Hicks is one of my closest family friends.”
Morlon Greenwood '01, who is a starting linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, said he realizes what a difference Hicks can make because he still comes back to Syracuse University to work with Hicks during the summer.
“Coach Hicks used to always say, ‘Let’s get juiced!’ It means get pumped up,” said Greenwood, who was a third round selection by the Dolphins in the 2001 draft. “That’s his philosophy in the weight room. He’s not only a heck of a strength coach – he is also a very good human being with good morals and values. He was one of the guys who I looked to when I needed solid advice. He truly loves what he does and he genuinely cares for the athletes’ well being. William Hicks defines what Syracuse football and Syracuse University is all about.”
While Hicks appreciates the sentiments of the student-athletes, he believes the credit belongs with the individuals who devote themselves to working hard.
“You see the kids putting the effort in by doing what you ask them to do, and the players all seem to think it’s something miraculous and that we’re doing,” Hicks said. “I know we’re asking them to do the right thing, but they have to work real hard also. To see them believe in what you ask them to do and have a lot of success with it makes you feel good but the other kids have to see kids being successful to believe in what you’re doing.”
