Elitefts SPP: Evan Marcus Interview

Evan Marcus

Head Strength & Conditioning Coach

Minnesota Vikings

Topics Covered in this Podcast

How Coach Marcus got started

1. Getting an edge in athletics
2. D3 to DI
3. Meeting Rock Gullickson
4. Not just Xs and Os but communicating with Athletes

Challenges at coaching at the professional level.

No matter what level, coaches are there to help athletes

Character Development
Your assessments, the biggest issues you face with athletes

1. Don't assume anything
2. Breaking everything down to its implest terms

Communication with private sector coaches

1. Player would preferably train with former college coaches
2. Expectations with more buy-in

Communication with the Medical Staff

1. Point A to point B
2. Overall goals for the players

Training before and during OTAs

1. Working with professionals
2. Knowing what to expect
3. "Go-to" exercises with progressions and regressions
4. Giving freedom to choose exercises
5. Focusing on movement speed for older athletes

In-season training

1. Maintain = good enough
2. Being the strongest during the season

Technology in terms of readiness

Staff development

1. No mixed messages for athletes
2. The trust factor with staff
3. Everyone believes in the same things

Advice for young strength coaches.

1. Just because you are in the NFL doesn't make you a good strength coach
2. Taking advantage opportunities
3. Young coaches don't want to pay their dues
4. Trying out what you read

 The Evan Marcus File

Having joined the Vikings in 2014 as Head Strength and Conditioning coach, Evan Marcus enters his 9th NFL season this fall and has been in the field for 25 seasons.

In Marcus’ first offseason with the Vikings, he oversaw a complete transformation of the club’s weight training facility and revamped the strength and conditioning philosophies. Under Marcus’ direction, the club now uses a free weight based program, which places an emphasis on power, speed and quickness.

During his NFL career, Marcus has been a part of 2 Division Champions- New Orleans in 2000 and Miami in 2008. The 2000 Saints won their NFC Wild Card playoff game over St. Louis at the Superdome to give the franchise their 1st playoff win in the 34-year history of the club before advancing to the NFC Divisional Round against Minnesota. The NFC West title for the Saints was their 1st since the 1991 season and marked the 1st winning season for the club in 8 years. The 2008 Dolphins went 11-5 to win the AFC East, completing one of the great turnarounds in NFL history after going 1-15 the previous season. The 10-win improvement tied the biggest single-season jump in NFL history. The AFC East championship was the Dolphins’ 1st Division title since 2000.

Marcus oversaw strength and conditioning efforts at Virginia from 2011-13 as Director of Football Training and Player Development for the Cavaliers, marking his second stint in Charlottesville, the first coming as Head Strength Coach from 2003-06. Combined with his leadership at UVA, Marcus was head strength coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2008-10 and held the same position in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons, where he worked with then DC Mike Zimmer.

Marcus began his NFL coaching tenure from 2000-02 as an assistant with the New Orleans Saints. His start in the field came at the college level with positions at Arizona State (1991-92), Rutgers (1993), Maryland (1994), Texas (1995-97) and Louisville (1998-99).

A 1990 graduate of Ithaca College, Marcus earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. As a student-athlete he lettered 3 times as an OL with the Bombers and was a starter on the NCAA Division III national championship team in 1988.

A native of Union, NJ, Marcus attended Cranford High School. He earned his master’s degree at Arizona State in 1992. Marcus and wife, Lori, have a son, Jake, and daughter, Anna.

Bio from Minnesota Vikings