Ben Herbert - Football Coach - University of Michigan Athletics

Ben Herbert

Title:
Director of Strength and Conditioning

Ben Herbert was announced as the Director of Strength and Conditioning for the University of Michigan football program on January 4, 2018, and is in his sixth season working with the program in 2023. Ahead of the 2023 season, Herbert was added the title of Associate Head Coach to his role. Herbert joined the Michigan staff after a five-year tenure at the University of Arkansas (2013-17).

During his career as a strength coach, Herbert has worked with 95 NFL Draft picks, including 12 first-round selections. He coached three Heisman Trophy finalists and eight athletes who combined to win nine national awards: three Outland Trophy winners, two Doak Walker Award winners, one Rotary Lombardi Award winner, one Rimington Award winner, one Lott IMPACT Trophy Award winner, and one Lou Groza Award winner. Herbert has helped athletes collect 72 first-team all-conference honors and 44 All-American honors. He has also been a part of seven Big Ten Conference title-winning teams and participated in five Rose Bowl games as both a player and coach.

At Michigan, Herbert has developed 22 NFL Draft picks, including six first-round selections in Devin Bush, Rashan Gary, Dax Hill, Aidan Hutchinson, Kwity Paye, and Mazi Smith. Players have totaled 19 first-team All-Big Ten accolades, and 13 have been named first- and second-team All-Americans (Jake Moody twice).

Herbert developed 17 Razorbacks who were selected in the NFL Draft and worked with two first-team All-Americans and 14 All-SEC honorees. He was integral in the development of 2015 John Mackey Award winner Hunter Henry as the nation's top tight end and offensive lineman Sebastian Tretola, who was the recipient of the 2015 Jacobs Blocking Trophy which is presented to the SEC's best blocker.

Herbert spent 11 seasons working with the strength and conditioning staff at Wisconsin, where he was involved in all aspects of sports performance for the football team. He was the football program's head strength and conditioning coach the final four seasons (2009-12) after serving as an assistant coach for six seasons (2003-08). Herbert began his career as an intern during the 2002 season.

During his tenure with the Badgers' strength staff, Herbert helped develop 41 NFL draft picks, including six first-round choices. Wisconsin also produced five national individual award winners, 28 All-America selections and 49 All-Big Ten first-team selections.

A Big Ten alum, Herbert was a four-year letterman and two-time Rose Bowl Champion at Wisconsin. He played along the defensive line for the Badgers, and currently holds the school record for most tackles for loss and sacks in a bowl game.

Herbert participated in 14 bowl games during his 15 years as a staff member and student-athlete at Wisconsin. He helped the Badgers claim three straight Big Ten Championships (2010-12) and appeared in three straight Rose Bowls for the first time since Michigan accomplished the feat during 1976-78 seasons.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Herbert received his bachelor's degree from Wisconsin in 2002. He is a certified member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa). In 2015, Herbert earned the profession's highest honor when he was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the CSCCa, becoming the youngest coach (35 years old) to earn the honor.

THE HERBERT FILE
Birthday: Nov. 30, 1979
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
High School: West Allegheny
College: Wisconsin (History, 2002)
Wife: Kelly
Children: Charlie and Thomas