Legendary strength and conditioning coach Dr. Mike Gentry, who retired in 2015 after serving as a key member of Frank Beamer’s football staff at Virginia Tech for 29 seasons, has been hired at Emory and Henry College.
Anne Crutchfield, E&H’s Director of Athletics, made the announcement Wednesday.
“This is a game-changer for all our student-athletes,” Crutchfield said. “Mike is one of the best in the business, and his expertise and background are unmatched at any level of play.”
While at VT, Gentry oversaw the strength and conditioning of all 22 varsity sports programs in addition to supervising Tech’s sports nutrition and sport psychology programs.
Emory & Henry is in the process of stepping up from Division III athletics to Division II.
“I see this an opportunity in a lot of different ways, including the move from Division III to Division II and the dedication that I have seen from the staff at the college,” Gentry said. “I wasn’t looking for a job, but when I got a call from Anne Crutchfield, it felt like it was meant to be.”
Gentry was inducted into the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in 2010. American Football Monthly also named him its Samson Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in March 2005.
Emory & Henry head football coach Curt Newsome worked with Gentry while serving as an offensive line coach at Virginia Tech in the 2000’s.
“Mike Gentry is as good a strength coach as there is in the country,” said Newsome. “As we move forward towards the transition to Division II, we just took a huge step forward in building a successful future.”
“Curt Newsome coached my son at Virginia Tech,” Gentry said, “and I know what kind of man he is. When I visited the college, I could just feel the love and passion that so many have for this place, and I’m excited to join this family.”
In May 2003, Gentry was honored by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches as one of 36 coaches in the country to receive the association’s highest honor when he was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Before he arrived at Virginia Tech, Gentry served as a strength and conditioning coach at the University of North Carolina and East Carolina University. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Carolina University in 1979 before receiving his master’s degree from UNC in 1981. In 1999, he earned his doctorate from Virginia Tech.
— E&H Athletics