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The football players love UCLA’s new head strength and conditioning coach E.J. “Doc” Kreis. There is probably no better job endorsement than that.

“He is a great man; he is the best,” sophomore tailback Tyler Ebell said.

However, what Ebell also noted was very telling about Kreis’ work ethic and methods.

“You can’t complain about getting bigger and stronger,” Ebell said.

Kreis was hired in June after UCLA chose not to renew former strength and conditioning coach Kim Sword’s contract, who was brought onto former head football coach Bob Toledo’s staff in February 2002.

Kreis brings many accolades and a respected career to UCLA. He spent over 10 years as an assistant athletic director and head coach for speed and strength conditioning at the University of Colorado. Colorado, which UCLA will face Sept. 6 in Boulder, ended its relationship with Kreis on May 31 of this year, seeking a change in the direction of the school’s strength and conditioning program. It was reported that Colorado head coach Gary Barnett disagreed with Kreis over some of the lifting players were doing in the off-season, and partially blamed Kreis’ training methods for the outbreak of shoulder injuries in Colorado players.

“The situation at Colorado was that they wanted to go a different direction, and that is fine. That gave me an opportunity to come to UCLA,” Kreis said. “I had a great 11 years at Colorado full of fond memories.”

“My years at Colorado prepared me for years at UCLA. UCLA presents a greater challenge. It is a bigger opportunity, not only to play in front of bigger crowds, but to face tougher opponents.”

In 2001, the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association selected Kreis as one of the 10 master strength and conditioning coaches. Additionally, Kreis was named the National Collegiate Strength Coach of the year in 1991-1992 and 1994-1995 by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.

However, when speaking with Kreis, one begins to understand that, for this former Clemson football player, his job is not about awards.

‘Those that stand in front of me (at UCLA) are giving me what they have – the very best of their focus, along with tremendous attitude,” Kreis said. “When young men do that, great things take place.”

While Kreis is quick to emphasize the gains in speed, strength and conditioning, many football players appreciate Kries’ attention to strength building, an area they felt the strength and conditioning program lacked last season.

“Before when we had conditioning, we conditioned,” junior cornerback Matt Ware said. “Now we lift hard. There is no give in the system, and it is a positive change. (Kreis) is a real leader and is goal-oriented.”

Kreis will work directly with the football team but will also oversee all the work by all UCLA athletes in the Acosta Athletic Training Facility, which is in the final stages of renovation and will be completed in January 2004. The approximately 15,000 square-foot facility will expand weight training facilities and the Sports Training & Rehab Center, while also providing meeting rooms and future space for men’s and women’s lockers.

“I am elated that we just moved into a new multi-million dollar facility, and we are going to set a standard that competes with anyone in the country,” Kreis said. “We are making equipment selection, we are going to get things we need, and I am excited to be in this position with the team as I know coach Dorrell is.”

It is important that a head football coach share a similar philosophy with his strength and conditioning coach, and head coach Karl Dorrell is certainly on the same page with Kreis.

“Doc is one of the best out there,” Dorrell said. “The players are excited about him and look forward to getting better.”

Kreis brings an enthusiasm to the team and an attention to detail that many appreciate. He said he works with players on an individual basis to improve times down to the hundredth of a second and down to losing or gaining a single pound.

“I don’t believe in a weight room – we don’t wait for anyone,” Kreis said. “Our opportunity is to strike hard and fast.”

“It is a constant race,” Kreis said. “If it is not solid and you don’t do it right, no one is going to take you on the job.”

Kreis sounds like someone who knows what it takes to be solid.