Garrett Giemont, the Steelers' Conditioning Coordinator, has been named the NFL's 2015 Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by Samson Equipment.
Giemont, who is now in his ninth season with the Steelers, has over 30 years' experience working in the NFL dating back to 1970 when he started with the Los Angeles Rams and enjoys the day-to-day challenges the position presents.
"The challenges are attempting to bring the best out of each person, and challenge each player on a day to day basis to dig within themselves to get better," said Giemont. "I always say my job is to push them over a cliff and catch them by the ankles."
One thing Giemont understands is even though he is the one receiving the honor, it's not just about him. He credits conditioning assistant Marcel Pastoor, as well as the rest of the coaching staff, athletic trainers and team management with making it all work.
"It's about the Steelers organization and how this organization is different from other places and what it gives you from a platform standpoint," said Giemont. "They create the platform where we have players with the focus to continue to improve, with our ultimate goal to hoist the Lombardi Trophy."
Giemont also received the 2008 Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year/Super Bowl Achievement Award from the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society, but for him the most important thing is team success and seeing players improve.
"It's satisfying every day to see different people, from Pro Bowl players to new players, finding new things out about themselves and going places they didn't know they could go," said Giemont.
The time of year Giemont enjoys is soon arriving, with Phase 1 of the offseason program set to start on April 20. It's a new beginning, the unofficial start of preparing for the 2015 season.
"The competition is one of the things I have loved from the time I was a young person until where I sit today," said Giemont of what he enjoys most about his job. "That has not waned or changed a bit. It's the ability to join forces with a group of people with a common focus and goal, and work on a day-to-day basis to achieve that and compete and give the best you can each day to prepare for those 16 opportunities in the fall to be special."
