Buddy Morris To Head UB's Strength Program

Pennsylvania native formerly served as Cleveland Browns head strength coach
BUFFALO, NY – Charles “Buddy” Morris, who has over 18 years of strength and conditioning experience at the Division I-A and NFL level, has been hired as the University at Buffalo’s new Director of Sports Performance.

Warde Manuel

Morris will oversee a staff of three full-time staff members as well as a graduate assistant at UB and will work direclty with the football program. Morris replaces Cheyenne Pietri, who left UB in May for a strength and conditioning position in Reno, NV.

“We are delighted to have Buddy join our staff,” said Warde Manuel, Director of Athletics. “His knowledge of sports performance and his experiences in the field are exceptional. I have always considered strength and conditioning to correlate directly with success in the athletic arena and with Buddy we have one of the most knowledgeable professionals in his field directing our program.”

Most recently, Morris was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Cleveland Browns from 2002-05, serving under former coach Butch Davis. In Cleveland, Morris was responsible for the development, implementation and supervision of the team’s strength and conditioning program, which included strength training, speed development, conditioning, agility training, flexibility and modification of training programs.

Morris also spent a total of 15 years as the Head Strength and Conditioning coach at the University of Pittsburgh, serving two stints, from 1980-90 and from 1997-2001. From 1997-2001, Morris oversaw the Panthers’ football and volleyball team’s strength and conditioning programs, and also helped raise over $100,000 for purchase of new equipment for the football training complex.

In between his time at Pitt, Morris served as the Wellness Director and Coordinator of Sports Medicine Program at Horizon Hospital Systems in Farrell, PA from 1990-97. There he was responsible for the overall supervision of staff members in a comprehensive wellness program and established a Sports Medicine Clinic and Sports Performance Plus programs at Horizon Hospital Systems.

In his first stint at Pitt, he was the first full-time strength and conditioning coach hired by the University and oversaw two expansions of the Panthers’ strength facility. A 1980 graduate of Pittsburgh, Morris was a member of the Panthers track and field team as a scholarship athlete from 1976-79.

“Buddy has tremendous experience and phenomenal knowledge of performance training,” said Buffalo head football coach Turner Gill. “His athletes are known to be confident and well-conditioned. He came to us with impeccable recommendations from both the college and professional ranks. We know that he will do great things for the University, staff, coaches and the student-athletes.”

Professionally, Morris is a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (NSCA) and a member of the Elite Fitness Systems Training and Advising Staff. He was the keynote speaker at the 2004 Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association Clinic.

06/07/2006