The University of Evansville athletics department has hired Joe Hermes as its new strength and conditioning coach. Hermes replaces Brady Holt, who took a position in the athletics department at the University of Kansas.

 “The goal of our program,” says Hermes, “is to optimize the preparedness level of each student-athlete, to make each athlete stronger and more powerful, better conditioned, and structurally balanced for the purpose of injury prevention. A successful strength and conditioning program works hand in hand with the coaches of each sport to make sure that each athlete is consistently improving his or her abilities.”

Hermes comes to UE after spending the last two years as a graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Illinois State University. While at Illinois State, Hermes assisted with the Redbirds' football team and conducted programming and organizational design for tennis, cross country, and golf. He also assisted in scheduling the strength and conditioning facility for more than 300 student-athletes.

Hermes is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), with a bachelor of science degree cum laude from Eureka College and a master’s degree in Kinesiology and Recreation from Illinois State University.  While at Eureka, Hermes was a two-time Academic All-Conference selection in football before playing professional indoor football for the Bloomington Extreme in 2006.