Nick Saban has selected his guy.
After parting ways with Scott Cochran, Alabama has hired David Ballou from Indiana as its strength and conditioning coach. Ballou visited with the program last week and interviewed.
He was offered the job and has accepted it.
Ballou played fullback at Indiana from 1997-99 and started his coaching career at Avon High School, where he produced six state titles (multiple sports) and helped 80 athletes get Division I scholarships. Following the 13 years (2002-14) at Avon, Ballou took IMG Academy to the next level in its speed training and injury prevention from 2015-16. He served as the head strength and conditioning coach there, while being part of the NFL Combine training process there in 2016 and 2017.
During that time, he mentored 26 players that were taken in the NFL Draft.
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Ballou moved on to Notre Dame in 2017, where he served as its Co-Director of Strength and Conditioning. He helped the program earn a 10-3 season, with its biggest victory coming over LSU in its bowl game. Ballou assisted Josh Adams to have a 1,000-yard rushing campaign (1,430) and placed two offensive linemen – Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey — in the first-round of the 2018 NFL Draft. With Ballou, the Fighting Irish’s offensive unit won the Joe Moore Award – which goes to college football’s top offensive line.
He pushed the Hoosiers to eight wins last year; the most it has had since 1993.
Ballou has a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology and a master’s in human movement.
Along with Ballou, Alabama brings in Dr. Matt Rhea in this hire. Ballou and Rhea were together at Indiana.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
