University of Connecticut Athletics
Bigger, Faster, Stronger
8/12/2019 6:59:00 PM | Football
Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
They are cornerstone words as the 2019 UConn football team works to bring the program back.
Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
They are words the UConn players are making a reality.
Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
They are the words that first-year football strength and conditioning coach Matt King is making the Huskies believe.
If the chatter around the Burton Football Family Complex is any indication, King has already made an immense impact since being hired in January. Players specifically have raved about King's ability to make workouts fun and competitive and his enthusiasm has made them excited to hit the weight room on a daily basis.
"We are trying to change the culture," King said. "We want guys to be excited to work out, be around each other and more importantly fall in love with the process. This time (last few months) has given the guys more confidence. They look in the mirror and feel those changes. They feel faster out on the field, stronger in the weight room and with that confidence, their performance is inevitably going to improve."
For any strength coach, the biggest challenge is to instill in your players the desire to work out. Changing the mindset into wanting to get into the gym and striving to be more healthy is the culture adjustment that King is continuing to create.
"Our staff is considered the thermostat and the kids are the thermometer," King said. "If the kids are running hot, it is because we are bringing that energy and intensity each day so they can feed off of it. I want them to create some of that energy but if it doesn't start with us, than they aren't going to know how to do it."
To this point, it seems a large majority of the team has bought into King's methods. Each player presents a large grin and even a chuckle when King's name is mentioned, followed by an explanation of how Coach King has already completely changed how they feel in the weight room and out on the field.
"We have a bunch of younger guys on the team and I think Coach King has done a fantastic job of holding them accountable and allowing us to have fun," said running back Art Thompkins. "He has a great balance of it being work, but also fun, and when are you are able to combine those into one, it makes people really enjoy getting to work and enjoying the process."
Coach King has already had an immense impact on senior tight end Donovan Williams. Williams has changed positions multiple times since getting on campus, from quarterback to wide receiver and, this offseason, needing to bulk up to make the switch to tight end.
"Donovan has not only done a great job of following the plan, but also of bringing a bunch of guys along with him," King said. "He is a guy who has dealt with injuries throughout his career and he has changed his body. By changing his body, we are going to decrease on the risk of injury. So if we can continue to strengthen those weakness areas and being able to 'bulletproof' the body, that will help, not only Donovan, but all of our guys."
"Coach King definitely developed my body and taught us all things about good health and proper body movements," Williams said. "This is the healthiest I've been in a while."
There is still a lot of work to be done, but there are clear indications that the Huskies' have a different mindset -- players in the weight room on their own, competing against one another once they are there and showing an enjoyment for the process. It's a process that is helping the Huskies lay the cornerstones.Â
Bigger. Faster. Stronger.
