Editor's Note: The following piece was posted in the middle of a two-hour stretch on Sunday evening during which time it was widely reported that Stanford strength and conditioning coach Shannon Turley was headed to Michigan to become a part of Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff. Since posting, multiple sources confirmed that Turley is staying. Instead of deleting the post, I've allowed it to remain because it speaks to Turley's importance to the program. It's great to have him back.
No matter how successful a college football program becomes, there is never time for complacency. The coaching staffs of teams which reach the pinnacle of the sport immediately become targets as other schools look to hire away personnel to help them achieve that same success. And so it is with Stanford Football, which has lost multiple coaches over the past few seasons. When Jim Harbaugh left for the 49ers he took Vig Fangio, Greg Roman, and Tim Drevno with him. More recently David Shaw has had to watch as Pep Hamilton left for the Indianapolis Colts and Derek Mason took the head coaching job at Vanderbilt.
Losses like these, while initially problematic, are generally good for the program in the long run. They cast the program in a positive light, both for recruits as well as talented coaches who begin to see a spot on the Stanford coaching staff as a ticket to a head coaching position elsewhere. (To be clear, this is good so long as the head coaching position remains a destination job.)
With Jim Harbaugh coming back to the college ranks to take the job at Michigan, there were immediate concerns that he might spin to the Stanford section of his rolodex in order to fill his new staff. On Sunday night, the poaching began.
Defensive coordinator Lance Anderson, the wizard behind what I believe to be the best defense in college football, has apparently been offered the same position at Michigan, but there are encouraging signs indicating that he might stay.
Strength and conditioning coach Shannon Turley, however, appears to be gone. The casual fan in the stands probably doesn't know who Turley is, and at first thought it might seem odd that Harbaugh would even be interested in something as inconsequential as a strength and conditioning coach, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. It could be argued that along with Harbaugh and Shaw, Turley is one of the three men most responsible for the transformation of the Stanford program. He helped to instill the toughness and physicality that the team has become known for, but more importantly, his conditioning program helped make the players more athletic and dramatically reduced the number of serious injuries. Also, much has been made about the number of NFL players who return to Stanford for off-season workouts; many of those players were returning to work with Hurley, not to run the Dish.
There had been no formal announcement from the University as of Sunday evening, but the players broke the news themselves on Twitter. When Hamilton left three years ago and Mason followed him out the door the year after that, players wished him luck, but Turley's loss has evoked a much more emotional response, something that speaks to his importance to the program. His shoes will be difficult to fill.
Here are some of the reactions from the current players:
This ones gunna hurt a lot. That man taught us more than anyone could imagine. Best of luck Coach Turley #Respect
— Christian McCaffrey (@CMccaffrey5) January 5, 2015
Coach Turley will always be the man. Far more than just a Strength & Conditioning Coach. Definitely going to miss him.
— Kevin Anderson (@kanderson48) January 4, 2015
Nothing but love and support for coach Turley and his family. Good luck and know that you will truly be missed on the Farm.
— Brendon Austin (@Aust1n74) January 4, 2015
Can't believe what I am hearing about coach turley. That man built the Stanford program and is the most important person within.
— Lee Ward (@LeeWard36) January 4, 2015
Turley didn't just make us stronger on the field, he taught us life lessons, taught us about becoming men. That's the most valuable thing.
— Dalton Schultz (@BinghamBaller9) January 5, 2015
Just heard about coach Turley. Was looking forward to working with him this offseason but congrats. Good coach and even better person
— Alameen⚡️Murphy (@KingLeonidus23) January 5, 2015
And former players:
If true, devastating loss for Stanford to lose its strength coach. Turley is an innovator and head and shoulders above anyone I had in NFL.
— Evan Moore (@evanmoore89) January 5, 2015
This Turley news has me bummed out in a big way. Can very confidently say Stanford lost the best strength coach in the biz today.
— Bo McNally (@BoMcNally) January 4, 2015
Curious to see if former players will continue to workout at Stanford during the offseason if Turley isn't there
— Chase Thomas (@CTcard44) January 4, 2015
Best part of Stanford is the new family you get. Head of that household was Shannon Turley. Going to miss him how he changed me. #TEAM
— Sam Schwartzstein (@SamHaammer) January 5, 2015
[Photo Credit: James Tensuan]
