Chet Fuhrman
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | 1951 (age 72–73) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
| Career information | |
| High school: | John Harris (PA) |
| College: | Central Oklahoma |
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
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| As an administrator: | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Earl Chester "Chet" Fuhrman is a strength and conditioning coach who has worked at the professional level with the National Football League's Pittsburgh Steelers. He was the strength and tight ends coach for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL). He has also worked at the collegiate level and high school levels.
Early life
Fuhrman was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he attended John Harris High School (renamed Harrisburg High School in 1971).[1] In high school he participated in football and track and developed an interest in weight training.[2] He matriculated at the University of Central Oklahoma where he earned a degree in physical education in 1973.[2]
Coaching career
Fuhrman began his career as a strength coach and assistant American football coach at his alma mater Harrisburg High School and then at Steelton-Highspire High School in his native Pennsylvania.[2]
In 1979 he took a position as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Two years later, Fuhrman left Penn State to become the first head strength and conditioning coach at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.[2] He returned to Penn State the following year when the head strength and conditioning coach position opened up there. He spent the next eleven years at Penn State where he coached such athletes as Steve Wisniewski, Blair Thomas, Mike Munchak and Andre Collins[3][4]
When Bill Cowher replaced Chuck Noll as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers he brought in Fuhrman to replace Jon Kolb as the team's conditioning coordinator.[1] In 2005, Fuhman was voted by his peers in the league as the NFL Strength Coach of the Year.[1] The Steelers won the Super Bowl in the same season
Fuhrman remained with the Steelers during Cowher's full tenure of fifteen seasons. He was not retained by new head coach Mike Tomlin in 2007.[5]
In 2009 Fuhrman became the athletic director at Avonworth School District which is just northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[6] He resigned from the position less than a year later.[7]
In May 2011, Furhman was hired as assistant coach for the UFL's Virginia Destroyers (formerly the Florida Tuskers) under head coach and general manager Marty Schottenheimer. He was be responsible for coaching the team's tight ends as well as performing as the strength coach but retired after a single year of coaching.[8]
Furhman is now one of the ninth grade football coaches at North Allegheny School Disctrict (Pittsburgh). He also is a substitute teacher at the North Allegheny schools where he continues teaching kids proper handshaking techniques, and life lessons.
Personal life
Fuhrman and his wife, Lisa, have three children — Erica, Maria and Michael.[1]
Memorable Quotes
"Let's go, Let's go!"
"Don't be that guy!"
"Web to web, eye to eye!"
"Attitude, Attitude, Attitude!"
"Check out the SAT website"
"Don't slouch in your seat!"
"Big Day Today!"
"I've met you before, I know from your shake!"
References
- ^ a b c d "Pittsburgh Steelers bio". Steelers.com. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Fuhrman new strength coach". The Daily Collegian (Penn State). March 15, 1982. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ Faggen, Peter (September 7, 1991). "Beyond the gridiron: Chet Fuhrman". The Daily Collegian (Penn State). Retrieved 23 March 2010.
- ^ Brown, Scott (July 27, 1992). "Fuhrman flexes as Steeler strength coach". The Daily Collegian (Penn State). Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ "NFL Notebook: Steelers replace strength coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. February 1, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
- ^ "Avonworth Names A.D." The Citizen. August 7, 2009. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
{{cite news}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "A.D. Resigns". The Citizen. April 9, 2010. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
{{cite news}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ "UFL Destroyers complete coaching staff". Daily Press (Virginia). May 23, 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2011.