>> football staff graduate assistants defensive GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH dan hott Dan Hott is in his third year with the Michigan football team. He is in his first season as the defensive graduate assistant coach after spending two years as a staff intern. Hott arrived in Ann Arbor after serving as a graduate assistant coach at West Virginia University in 2007. He spent six seasons as the defensive line coach at the University of Findlay (2001-06). Hott’s original tour of duty with the Mountaineers began during his undergraduate days, working as a student coach for three seasons (1995- 97) prior to gaining a graduate assistant position for three years (1998- 2000). A member of the American Football Coaches Association, Hott has coached in five bowl games during his career. He earned a bachelor of science degree from West Virginia in 1998 and completed his master’s degree in 2007. Hott resides in Ann Arbor. offensive GRADUATE ASSISTANT COACH eric smith In his third season with the Michigan football program, Eric Smith is in his first year as the offensive graduate assistant coach. He spent the previous two seasons as a staff intern with the team. Smith came to Ann Arbor after working as a graduate assistant at West Virginia (2007). Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at WVU Tech (2006) and Pikeville College (2005). Smith was the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at the University of Charleston during the 2004 season and began his coaching experience as quarterbacks coach at Glenville State in 2003. Originally from Franklin, W.Va., Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from WVU Tech in 2003, and is working toward a master’s degree in the same degree program. He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association. Smith and his wife, Krystal, reside in Ann Arbor. 116 football staff << STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STAFF director of strength & conditioning mike barwis Mike Barwis is in his third season as the Director of Strength and Conditioning with the Michigan football program. He oversees a staff that includes six full-time assistants and multiple interns. Barwis’ assistants also supervise four Olympic sports at Michigan -- ice hockey, men’s soccer, softball and wrestling. Barwis worked at West Virginia University for 14 years and coordinated every facet of the department’s athletic sports conditioning program during that time. He spent five years as the strength and conditioning coach for the Mountaineers’ football and men’s basketball programs (2003- 07). Barwis also worked with Olympic athletes in 18 different sports during his tenure and was the school’s director of strength and conditioning for varsity sports prior to his appointment with the football and basketball teams. Barwis has coached 22 National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) All-Americans since 1999, and was one of 10 coaches to receive the 2002 Bronze Award from the NSCA certification commission. He has trained professional, Olympic, national and international competitors and medalists in wrestling, track and field, soccer, football, basketball, baseball, motor cross, cycling and rifle during his career. In addition, Barwis has been published in numerous journals, magazines and newspapers. A Philadelphia, Pa., native, Barwis earned his undergraduate degree in exercise physiology from West Virginia in 1996 and his master’s degree in athletic coaching with an emphasis in strength and conditioning in 1998. He also completed course work in the area of anatomy and physiology at Temple University, and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the NSCA. Barwis and his wife, Autumn, have one son, Ray, and one daughter, Hannah. Autumn was the associate strength and conditioning coach for West Virginia’s entire athletic department. director of skill development / associate director of strength & conditioning chris allen Chris Allen is in his third year with Michigan football. He is the Director of Skill Development and the Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning. Allen spent five seasons as a member of the West Virginia strength and conditioning program (2003-07); he worked with the football, men’s basketball, wrestling, track and crew teams. He worked two years in Internet technology support in Atlanta, Ga., prior to joining the Mountaineers staff. He was a volunteer strength coach at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga. A sprinter on the WVU track team from 1997-2000, Allen graduated in 2000 with degrees in accounting and MIS. He has a master’s degree in athletic coaching education. Allen is a native of Kingston, Jamaica. 117 >> football staff STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STAFF coordinator of strength & conditioning parker whiteman Parker Whiteman is in his third season as a Coordinator of Strength and Conditioning with Michigan football. He came to Ann Arbor after spending two seasons with the West Virginia program. Whiteman was appointed a full-time assistant strength coach at WVU in 2007 after working as a graduate assistant in 2006. Prior to that, he spent two years as an assistant strength coach with the Baltimore Ravens and worked as a performance coach for Velocity Sports Performance. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and health from Shepherd (W.Va.) University, where he played football in 2006. Whiteman completed his master’s degree in exercise science from McDaniel College. coordinator of strength & conditioning kentaro tamura Kentaro Tamura is in his third season as a Coordinator of Strength and Conditioning with the Michigan football program. Tamura was hired as a full-time assistant strength coach at West Virginia in 2007, working with the Mountaineers’ football, men’s soccer and rifle teams. He also served as an intern in 2004 and was a graduate assistant for two years (2005-06). A native of Kanagawa, Japan, Tamura received his bachelor’s degree from Nihon University in economics and earned his master’s in exercise physiology from West Virginia. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and holds CPR and AED certifications. He has previous experience as a researcher and intern strength coach at Tokai University Research Institute of Sports Medical Science in Japan. Tamura and his wife, Hiroko, have a daughter, Yuna, and a son, Kazushi. assistant strength coach cassandra baier Cassandra Baier is in her third season as an Assistant Strength Coach for the Michigan football and softball programs. She worked as an intern for one year with the strength and conditioning staff at West Virginia University before coming to Ann Arbor. Baier earned a bachelor of science in exercise science from Slippery Rock University (2007) and has master’s in exercise science and health promotion from California University (Pa.) in 2009. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS). 118 football staff << STRENGTH & CONDITIONING STAFF assistant strength coach jesse miller Jesse Miller is in his third season as an Assistant Strength Coach for the Michigan football. He spent two years as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University (2006-07) before joining the Wolverines. Prior to obtaining his position with the Mountaineers, Miller worked at Velocity Sports Performance in Ashburn, Va. Miller earned a master’s degree in exercise physiology from WVU (2006) and a bachelor’s degree in health and human performance from Concord College (2004). Miller resides in Ann Arbor. assistant strength coach dan mozes Dan Mozes is in his second season at Michigan, serving as an Assistant Strength Coach for the football team. Mozes joins the Wolverines after competing in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings for 18 months. Following a five-year career at West Virginia University, Mozes signed a free agent contract with the Vikings in 2007, but missed the following season due to a knee injury. At WVU, he started at center all four seasons under Rich Rodriguez and was a 2006 consensus All-American and a four-time All-Big East honoree. As a senior in 2006, Mozes received the Rimington Tropy, awarded annually to college football’s top center. A Washington, Pa., native, Mozes earned a degree in communications with a minor in athletic coaching education from West Virginia (2006) and was named Academic All-Big East four consecutive seasons (2003-06). assistant strength coach dennis murray Dennis Murray is in his third season as an Assistant Strength Coach for the Michigan football and men’s soccer programs. Murray spent two years working as a graduate assistant at West Virginia University prior to joining the U-M staff. He earned a bachelor of science degree in exercise physiology (2006) and a master’s degree in athletic coaching (2007) from WVU. Murray is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and a member of National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Murray and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Dexter 119 >> football staff strength & conditioning staff assistant strength coach / ice hockey associate director jim plocki Jim Plocki is in his third season as an Associate Strength Coach for Michigan football and as an Associate Director of strength and Conditioning for Michigan ice hockey. Plocki has been part of the Michigan strength staff for the past 21 years. Hired in 1990 by athletic director Bo Schembechler, he has experience coaching numerous All-Americans, Olympians, national champions, a Heisman Trophy winner and two Hobey Baker award winners during his tenure. Prior to this full time appointment, Plocki was a strength graduate assistant with the U-M football program (1988-90) and was a student assistant strength coach for the Penn State football team (1984-88). A Natrona Heights, Pa., native, Plocki earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from the Pennsylvania State University and his master’s degree in exercise physiology from the University of Michigan. Plocki is CSCS certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA Weightlifting Level One Club Coach Certified and CPR/First Aid certified by the American Red Cross.