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Gary Wade - - Clemson University Athletics

Gary Wade

Position: Assistant AD of Facilities

Gary Wade is in his 21st year as the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities, but is in his 35th year with the Clemson Athletic Department.

Wade began his career in college athletics as the assistant strength coach at the University of Nebraska from 1976 to 1979 while working on his undergraduate degree in education and his graduate degree in exercise philosophy. Working with Boyd Epley, Director of Nebraska’s Husker Power Program, and the Nebraska Strength Training Staff. Wade became one of the founding members of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

In 1980, at the age of 24, he became the Detroit Lions’ first strength and conditioning coach. During his five seasons in the NFL, the Lions went to the playoffs twice and won the NFC Central in 1983. He received much credit for the Lions’ immediate improvement as Head Coach Monte Clark took pride in Wade’s work and results on the field.

In his 12 years as Head Strength Coach at Clemson, 10 of his graduate assistants became head strength and conditioning coaches at the collegiate or NFL level. Jeff Hurd, an assistant in 1987, went on to serve as the Head Strength Coach at Western Carolina, Assistant Strength Coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Head Strength Coach for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Head Strength Coach for the San Diego Chargers.

John Sauer, who worked with Wade in 1988, went on to be the Head Strength Coach at William & Mary. Joey Batson, currently Clemson’s Head Strength Coach, worked under Wade in 1986, 1987, and 1989, and also worked as the Head Strength Coach at Bowling Green and Furman before coming to Clemson.

Other former assistants who went on to be Head Strength Coaches include Joel St. Cyr (Northeastern), Scott Bennett (Marshall, Wyoming, Southern Mississippi), Al Caronia (Texas-Arlington, Saint John’s), Jeff Fish (Kent State, Missouri, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons), John Marcotte (Springfield College), J.T. Allaire (Tulsa, Buffalo Bills), and Todd Wright (Head Basketball Strength at Texas).

With Wade serving as Head Strength Coach at Clemson from 1985 to 1996, the football program enjoyed much success. In only his second year, Clemson finished the season 8-2-2, won the ACC and the Gator Bowl, and were ranked in the top 20 in the final polls.

In 1987, the team went 10-2, winning the ACC again and this time the Citrus Bowl, finishing ranked in the top 15 in three national polls. The following year, the Tigers won the ACC for the third year in a row, going 10-2 and repeating as Citrus Bowl Champions. The team finished ranked as high as number eight in the nation.

In all, Clemson went 97-42-3 with Wade as Head Strength Coach, including four ACC titles and ten bowl appearances, six of those wins.

In 2010, Wade was honored by former players prior to the Clemson Son’s Bowl for his contributions to Clemson Athletics.

Wade, who was born in Nebraska City, NE, earned 10 varsity letters at Weeping Water High. He was all-conference in football for three years and was second-team all-state as a senior. He is married to the former Andree Langlais.

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