| Richard Hogans |
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When Roburt Sallie signed to play at Memphis this past May, he stated that the strength and conditioning program impressed him, especially the before and after photos showing the improvement of recent Tigers in that area.
In the summer of 2007, Antonio Anderson was called "a beast" by a national college basketball writer -- and that was a compliment. Head coach John Calipari also marveled about Willie Kemp's body transformation.
All of it is the work the Memphis players put in the strength and conditioning program under the direction of Richard Hogans, who is in his fifth year as the Tigers' Director of Performance Enhancement. In his four years with the program, Hogans' desire, intensity and passion for strength and conditioning has been infectious, winning over the coaches and players.
The work has paid off for the Tigers. The last three seasons (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08) have seen Memphis take their fans on magical rides from early November through the month of March Madness.
The last three years, the Tigers won an NCAA record-tying 104 games (104-10 record), advanced to the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Elite Eights and 2008 NCAA title game and swept the Conference USA regular season and tournament crowns. Memphis had win streaks of 26 games in 2007-08 and 25 games in 2006-07, and the Tigers spent each week of the last three years in the national polls -- one of only two schools in the nation to do so (UCLA is the other).
Last season, Hogans was a part of a "Dream Season," which lasted through the NCAA championship game. Memphis set an NCAA record for victories with 38 wins (38-2 mark) and held down the No. 1 spot in both national polls for a school-record, five-straight weeks during the season. The Tigers won a school-record 26-straight games, and swept the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles.
The Tigers won 30 games for a third-straight year, becoming the second school in NCAA Division I history to accomplish the feat. Kentucky was the first to do so from 1947-49 and 1996-98. UCLA joined the elite group later in 2007-08.
Memphis repeated C-USA history that it set in 2006-07, going undefeated in league play (16-0 record) and winning the conference tournament championship. The Tigers finished the year ranked No. 2 in both polls, the highest final ranking in school history.
In 2006-07, Hogans helped Memphis to another record-setting campaign. The Tigers won 33 games for a second-straight season (33-4 record) and captured their second-consecutive Conference USA regular season and tournament titles. Memphis advanced to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for a second-straight year (2006, 2007), marking the first time in school history that happened.
The 2006-07 Tigers also pulled a first in Conference USA history. Memphis posted a perfect 16-0 regular season mark and captured the league's postseason tournament. The Tigers received a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and finished in the top 10 in both national polls (No. 5/AP; No. 7/ESPN-USA Today).
The 2005-06 year went down as one of the best in school history. Memphis posted a 33-4 record and won the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles. The sweep of the conference regular season and tournament crowns was accomplished for the first time since 1984-85. The 2005-06 Memphis squad earned the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1992. The Tigers finished the season ranked in the top 10 of both national polls (No. 4/AP; No. 6/ESPN-USA Today).
In 2004-05, the Tigers played into late March, advancing to the NIT semifinals. Memphis posted a 22-16 record and was the Conference USA Tournament runner-up.
Hogans joined the Memphis staff in September of 2004, coming to the school from his position as a personal trainer and fitness director. Hogans was owner of NEXGEN Personal Training Services Inc., and served as Fitness Director/Director of Sports Specific Training at the DeSoto Athletic Club in Southaven, Miss.
Prior to his career in personal training, Hogans served on the Memphis Xplorers staff in the 2002 season as the offensive and defensive line coach and strength and conditioning coach.
Before jumping into the coaching ranks, Hogans played professional football in the NFL, NFL Europe and XFL.
Following his collegiate career at Memphis, Hogans was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He stayed with the Bears organization from 1997-98, but was sidelined his rookie season with an ACL tear. From 1998 through 2000, Hogans was with the San Diego Chargers and also played with the Rhien Fire and Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe. In 2000, Hogans led NFL Europe in total tackles and was selected to the NFL Europe All-Defensive Team.
Hogans played with the XFL's Memphis Maniax in 2000-01 and served as the team's captain. In March of 2001, Hogans was acquired by the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, but shortly after, had to retire from professional football with an eye injury.
The Columbus, Ga., native was a four-year letterman for the Tiger football squad from 1993-96. A 1993 Sporting News Freshman All-America second team pick, Hogans finished his career with 307 total tackles, 24 TFLs and eight quarterback sacks. The 6-foot-2 linebacker was a 1996 All-Conference USA first team pick, after being named to the league's second team in 1995. The 1996 Butkus Award candidate served as a team captain that season and led the squad with 128 total hits. For his performance in 1996, Hogans was named the team's Defensive Player of the Year.
Hogans graduated from Memphis' Fogelman College of Business with a degree in Management Information Systems. He is certified by the National Strength Coaches Association (NSCA) and International Sports Sciences of America
Hogans and his wife, Wendy, have three children -- two sons, Dylan (17) and R.J. (11), and a daughter, Olivia (7).
