I got an out of the blue text from my good friend Matt Goodwin that read, "I will be in Charlotte tomorrow." My reply what time and where?!
Matt was on his way to The Carolina Panthers football stadium to set up and deliver a huge Elitefts.com leg press and some Prowlers for the weight room there. Matt told me the time and me and my daughter set out the next day to see my good friend, help out anyway I could and meet some really cool people and see the stadium at ground level.
Walking in I was excited. We had not been there 5 minutes and the head coach for the Panthers, Ron Rivera comes in the lobby and speaks to us! Pretty cool. I was jacked. Next comes out Joe Kenn,
Strength & Conditioning coach for the Carolina Panthers to bring us in! This was awesome. If you don't know who Joe Kenn is here is a quick BIO:
COACHING
Known simply as "House" to players, Joe Kenn's goal as the Panthers' strength and conditioning coach is to protect and produce: protect the athletes' body armor and produce athletic based results. He employs a holistic and integrated philosophy in his comprehensive training plan that utilizes strength training, explosive development, high intensity interval training and performance-based nutrition. It is a structured approach that enhances the players' physical attributes.
In 2013, Kenn earned the first-ever Professional Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He previously won the collegiate version of the NSCA award at Arizona State in 2002.
An accomplished strength and conditioning coach with nearly two decades of experience on the college level, Kenn came to the Panthers in 2011 from Big House Power Competitive Athletic Training, where he coached professional, college and high school athletes and teams from several sports.
Prior to that, he was the director of athlete development at Louisville for two seasons from 2008-09, working specifically with the football program. In 2009, he was recognized as a master strength and conditioning coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. That same year, Cardinals center Eric Wood became Kenn's fourth first-round draft choice when the Buffalo Bills selected him 28th overall.
Kenn started his college coaching career at his alma mater, Wake Forest, in January 1991 as the assistant strength coach. Later that year, he went to Boise State as a graduate assistant and remained there for eight years. Elevated to the Broncos' strength and conditioning coach in 1994, Kenn was named the NSCA Big West Conference Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 1998.
He then moved to Utah as the director of strength and conditioning for two years from 1999-2000. While with the Utes, Kenn supervised future Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith and tackle Jordan Gross and former NFL standout running back Mike Anderson. He also received accolades as the NSCA Mountain West Conference Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2000.
Next, Kenn spent seven years at Arizona State from 2001-07, serving as the head strength and conditioning coach for football for two seasons before being promoted to head coach of sports performance in 2003 and overseeing all sports. During his tenure with the Sun Devils, he worked with future Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.
Kenn entered coaching at Pinecrest Preparatory School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., from 1989-90 as strength coach in addition to tutoring the offensive and defensive lines.
PLAYING AND PERSONAL
A two-year starter at guard for Wake Forest from 1987-88, Kenn earned the Bill George Award as the Demon Deacons' standout lineman as a junior and then garnered recognition as the school's weightlifter of the year and an All-American strength and conditioning athlete by the NSCA as a senior.
He graduated with a bachelor's degree in health and sports science from Wake Forest in 1988, added his strength and conditioning specialist certification in 1990 and obtained his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Boise State in 1993.
HISTORY
Guard: Wake Forest 1987-88. College coach: Wake Forest 1991 (winter/spring), Boise State 1991-98, Utah 1999-2000, Arizona State 2001-07, Louisville 2008-09. Pro coach: Joined Panthers in 2011.
So as you can see this man has crazy experience, knowledge, accolades, accomplishments and a passion for what he does. I was very excited to meet this man and talk with him. After a couple hours of talking with Joe, he and I knew a ton of the same folks here in NC and hung in some of the same circles. He and I both agreed that we don't understand how we had never met before. My daughter was very excited to see the Panthers weight room and football field. We got a quick tour and took some great pics of the event.
I also got to meet Super Bowl Champion Rickey Prohel. Man that was cool. I knew exactly who he was. He was very nice and very hospitable to me and Katelyn. I hope to get back up with him and check out his personal training facility he has here in NC.
I want to thank Matt for the text he was coming to NC and the chance he gave me and my daughter to hang with him and meet so many great folks. Also to help install some new EliteFTS equipment for the Carolina Panthers players and staff to utilize! Cool stuff!
