Van Halanger out, Tereshinski in, as Dogs’ strength coach
Dave Van Halanger, who has been the Georgia football program’s director of strength and conditioning for the past decade, was reassigned Thursday.
Van Halanger was shifted to a new position as administrative assistant to coach Mark Richt, who named Joe Tereshinski, a former Georgia player and long-time staffer, to succeed Van Halanger as strength and conditioning director.
Van Halanger –- one of the first people Richt hired upon arriving at Georgia in January 2001 — has more than three decades experience as a strength coach and is well known for his grueling off-season “mat drills.” But Georgia’s strength training, like many other aspects of the program, has drawn criticism as the Bulldogs have posted back-to-back disappointing seasons.
The reassignment of Van Halanger, 57, came exactly one year after Richt’s last staff shakeup. On Dec. 2, 2009, following a 7-5 regular season, Richt fired three assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Willie Martinez.
Georgia completed a 6-6 regular season last week.
For Van Halanger’s replacement, Richt turned to a man with deep ties to the Georgia program.
Tereshinski, 57, has been an assistant strength coach at Georgia since 1982. He also has doubled in other roles through the years: offensive line and special teams coach (1982-84), administrative assistant to coach Vince Dooley (1985-86) and video coordinator (since 1987).
“Joe has had a hand in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program for nearly 30 years,” Richt said in a statement Thursday. “I’m excited about what he can bring to our program in this capacity and the direction he’ll set as we move forward.”
In addition to being a former Georgia player — the starting center in 1975 and ‘76 — Tereshinski is the son, brother and father of former Bulldogs. His father, Joe Tereshinski Sr., lettered in the 1940s; his brother, Wally Tereshinski, in the 1970s; and his son, Joe Tereskinski III, in 2004-06.
According to UGA, Van Halanger’s new role will include involvement in areas such as players’ character education, mentoring and community-service initiatives.
“Dave has made immeasurable contributions to our football program and been a major factor in our 96 victories over the last 10 years,” Richt said. “This role for Dave will allow us to tap into many of his strengths that will be of great benefit to Georgia, to me, and most of all to our student-athletes in a very unique way.
“He will be outstanding in working with and motivating our young people in these many areas that will bring strong guidance to them in their daily lives.”
Van Halanger, who followed Richt to Georgia from Florida State, was the Seminoles’ strength and conditioning coach for 18 years (1983-2000). Before that, he was the strength coach at West Virginia, his alma mater, for five years. His teams have reached bowls for 30 consecutive seasons.
He was inducted into the Strength and Conditioning Hall of Fame in 2003.
Van Halanger and Tereshinski will assume their new duties on Jan. 1, UGA said.
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351 comments Add your comment
Vance Duly
December 3rd, 2010
1:07 am
None of my comments have been against Coach DVH personally, and I acknowledge his past accomplishments. Note, however, that none of the accomplishments mentioned have happened in the past 5 years. However, both stories I have posted on here have been between 2008-2010. When a trainer says that DVH did NOT attend the meetings and did NOT adopt the newest advancements that our rivals WERE, and that therefore UGA was falling behind, this SEEMS relevant when you see our team consistently outmatched on both lines of scrimmage. We could barely run effectively against Lousiana-Monroe, of all teams. We gave out defensively against Auburn and Florida. Think back to 2009 – we seemed to fall apart late, even if we won. This trainer, back in 2008, stated that we should see the UGA team hit by a lot of core injuries (not broken bones, etc.) due to antiquated conditioning. If you look back to that season, we WERE decimated, just as this trainer predicted. He was right, which adds credibility, at least. This year, we outscored our opponents 343-189 in the 1st 3 quarters, then got outscored 85-68 in the 4th. This probably can be traced to lack of execution and weak play-calling at times, but it ALSO points to a team running out of gas when you need it the most!! We clearly need someone to oversee the “character development” of our players, so DVH’s job will still be an important one…. Go Dawgs!
Truth
December 3rd, 2010
1:45 am
You are all clueless —
I think it may be YOU that is Clueless…..completely in fact.
Coach Van DID NOT go to Richt and asked to be reassigned. That is absolutely false.Like most Head Coaches in College Football Richt called “VH” for the meeting to break the news of him being “demoted” or whatever you want to call it. He has not been slipping lately, rather the techniques of UGA coaches have turned for the worse. Instead of motivating players, coaches are now using the approach of getting right up into a players face to yell and curse at them and what they are doing wrong, or to “do better”….basically it’s degrading them and logically doesn’t work. What player is going to have any respect for his coach that does that to him? This apparently is the new “Intense” approach being used by the coaches on staff. VH was the only coach who REFUSED to treat his players like that. He even has a rule in his weight room about not cursing. He instead motivated players in positive ways, but didn’t EVER go easy on them. He pushed them to reach their full potential. Honestly, would you rather have a coach that cusses you out and tells you how worthless you are, or one that pushes you to reach your best, doesn’t allow you to give up, and offers non stop motivation?
Second, VH is being used as a scapegoat. A year ago Richt pulled the same move by firing some of his staff to try, or at least look like he was ‘fixing’ the problem. Did it work? No. How convenient that a year later he is again bending to the pressure from critics and doing the same.
Richt is struggling right now and promoting Joe T. to the S and C position was one of his few options. Yet, if the ‘intense/degrading’ coaching is what Richt is really wanting, Joe T is the best person for that job…….considering him yelling obscenities and almost getting into a altercation with another coach not too long ago…….
ToVanceDuly
December 3rd, 2010
1:53 am
To answer your question about what Coach VH has done recently Check out Kelin Johnson’s website and go to the July 2010 posts…….you’ll learn a lot. Also CNN did a special piece on Mat Drills that DVH came up with over the summer. Unfortunately, he was given no credit….classy move Richt.
BAMA FAN #2
December 3rd, 2010
4:01 am
Hire Alabama’s S#C and you will see results!!! He was great in Training Days on ESPN and said
the best line in 08 about Georgia wearing black is going to own blanking funeral!! RTR
John duke
December 3rd, 2010
5:22 am
Don’t underestimate Joe T. He is a Ga. Man and will do what it takes. When he played, he wasn’t the most physically gifted guy out there, but he made up for it with hard work and grit. He knows what it takes and will bring whatever new techs we need to get there
Larry
December 3rd, 2010
6:53 am
“Hire Alabama’s S#C and you will see results!!!”
Results like giving up a 24 point lead to Auburn and being pushed down the field in the 4th quarter?
We’ll pass, thank you!
Larry
December 3rd, 2010
6:59 am
I am so fired up for the 2011 season! We have a new Strength & Conditioning Coach…DAMN!
Now that’s the kind of “CHANGE” I’m taking about!
Buckeye
December 3rd, 2010
7:13 am
Goldberg= Roids.
How about consulting with the Falcons who are taking fitness and nutition to a new level? They’re seem to be doing well, don’t you think?
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2010
7:16 am
Vance, despite your frustration, doing the correct thing and not having it work out doesn’t mean you abandon it in favor of something else that gives you even less chance of success. Also I think if you go back and look at the play by play from this season….80-90% is completely exagerated.
Biggest Losers
December 3rd, 2010
7:33 am
I hope we offered Jillian first.
William
December 3rd, 2010
7:34 am
LISTEN UP.
Let me give you some insight. I played for the dogs 88-92. Yes, I finished with Goff, but our 92 team could play with anybody, particularly on offense–Hearst, Hastings, Zeier, Mitchell, Strong, Millen, Swan, Williams. Our weight training and conditioning program was in the hands of coach Kasay and coach T. They were great conditioning coaches and disciplinarians. They are the types of aggressive, tough supporters that any program needs. We loved and hated each of them. Looking back, we love them. However, they are completely underqulified for strength training. They do not have the background needed for modern explosive strenth training. They both played in by-gone era’s. The weight exercises and regimen we tolerated in the early 90’s was an absolute joke. We were much weaker and less explosive across the board. We were playing 70’s style football a lighter body weight because our strength program was 70’s produced. Conditioning was great, but power strength was awful. UGA must take this position more seriously (I trust they will). Pursue Donnie Maib, he was on our team and the strongest, most physically advanced player. He’s been the asst strentgh coach at Texas for the last 10 years. Do the reseach and let’s give our players the best chance to win.
Half Century Dawg
December 3rd, 2010
7:35 am
@ Dawg to the Tomb, if you like what is going on in Europe and Asia, move there. Taxing the people that create the jobs is not the way to get the economy going.
obama sin laden
December 3rd, 2010
7:36 am
its permanent. the moves could have waited to be done all at once. jt is an old school dawg but can he lite fires?
JB
December 3rd, 2010
7:37 am
6-6,7-5 next year, none of this matters.
Larry
December 3rd, 2010
7:38 am
William,
Great insight and suggestions, but just one question…didn’t they teach paragraph breaks at Georgia?
Hint: look how easy to read the author’s column because of paragraphs!
JB
December 3rd, 2010
7:39 am
William….Thanks…..best post I’ve read in months……
legionaire
December 3rd, 2010
7:56 am
It is not how big and strong you are on the line, it is speed, agility, and desire. Bill Stanfield, David Pollack, and Pat Dye are all good examples of what you want in your D line (Dye made All American playing both ways). Brute strength is not a cure all for the UGA players.
JB
December 3rd, 2010
8:00 am
In our game against Tech last week in the second half when we had 4th and 1 against Tech and got stuffed for no gain with a heavy experienced line, I knew we had problems.
F-105 Thunderchief
December 3rd, 2010
8:01 am
I like this move. Joe has been effective in this area and will step up conditioning. What I like better is Richt putting someone on player character education, mentoring and community service initiatives. Sounds like coach is implementing a culture change.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
December 3rd, 2010
8:20 am
How bout the former Governor of California?
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2010
8:20 am
Kind of like when Bama got stuffed on 4th and one in thier game.
Rook
December 3rd, 2010
8:22 am
This change has nothing to do with football. It is to make the players stronger so when they are arrested they have a better chance of getting away!
Pete
December 3rd, 2010
8:24 am
Richt and Van Halanger also went to church together in Tallahassee. Great guys with great families.
Bank Walker, Texas Ranger
December 3rd, 2010
8:26 am
All kidding aside, if you check UGA players combine numbers, expecially on the OL & DL, they are much lower than the others at the combine. This is a huge hire for UGA and hopefully, Joe T is only interim otherwise we’ll be looking for a new coach next year.
tide roll
December 3rd, 2010
8:27 am
Richt, while your at it, why not move Claude Felton over to help out?
DollarDawg43
December 3rd, 2010
8:32 am
Print this post and keep it for future reference:
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The S&C staff will increase from three to about ten. Evans was unwilling to properly fund this portion of the program but McGarity is more than ready to. Tereshinski is a permanent hire. He will oversee a staff that can work with players on a ratio of about one coach for each ten players, providing much more individual attention and oversight. Verron Haynes is a name to remember when thinking about the future of this staff (hint).
Todd Grantham also played a part in this, convincing Richt that some of our guys would simply never be ready to contribute consistently without substantial changes in this area.
There are also other staffing changes to come on both sides of the ball. The only name mentioned so far is Garner but I was unable to get any specifics. Regardless, stay tuned; this is going to be very interesting as it progresses. The staff as a whole, particularly S&C, will see significant upgrades over the weeks to come.
Having spouted all that optimism, A.J. Green is all but gone and there is no in state talent that comes close to matching him. We will struggle at WR next season unless someone really steps up.
@ Dawgtothe tomb
December 3rd, 2010
8:35 am
I am trying to keep an open mind, but you are just an idiot. How humiliating. I can take the other comments on here, but damn, go root for Tech or something. I 100% agree with the other comment, if you love what is going on in Europe and Asia, TAKE OFF. I will donate to your ticket.
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2010
8:46 am
I am confident that JoeT knows it’s not 1990 anymore. I would venture a guess that he could even explain in extreme detail, not only, exactly what the differnces are between then and now, but also, the timeline for everyone of those chances, the impetus and reaction, the equipment and the vender that developed it, and the names of the men that are credited with any and every new techniques currently used. I don’t think training like its 1990 is something we need to worry about.
If being around coaching back when they did things differntly was the absolute disqualifyer, then the majority of teams in the nation, including the NFL, would be pretty shorthanded.
I would also think that toughness is a pretty timeless quality.
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2010
8:51 am
Another good (and slightly comical to me) point that this brings up, is that despite all the armchair phychologist specualtion as to freindship preventing Richt from fulfilling his job duties, how many more “never will fire his best freinds” can you guys be wrong about?
Bulldog Fan
December 3rd, 2010
8:53 am
Was Richard Simmons not available?????
Richard Simmons
December 3rd, 2010
8:57 am
I’ll be there early Monday morning bright eyed and bushy tailed with carrot sticks on hand. No more hip hop as we will be dancing to the oldies.
Geeez Glad They Figured What Was Wrong With UGA's Football Team
December 3rd, 2010
9:01 am
Stupid me, I thought their losing was because of poor recruiting, poor discipline and bad player development—who knew it was the strengthening coach all along
Richard Simmons
December 3rd, 2010
9:02 am
Washed Up Ealey wont be going out for late night pizza anymore.
Bulldog59
December 3rd, 2010
9:02 am
William, good post, thanks for the info.
Got insight from someone that always has accurate UGA info to tell me. It appears McGarity is setting this up similar to UF. Joe T. will oversee/manage the program, and it will encompass multiple sports, not just football. We will expand the staff and pick up people from the NFL and possibly someone like Maib. Moving to state-of-the-art routines/programs.
Look for more hirings as the NFL season comes to a close.
Dawgs 98
December 3rd, 2010
9:07 am
Former UGA Safety Mike Jones is the former strength and conditioning coordinator for the NY Jets, living back in Atlanta, and is available…
dawgster
December 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Its amazing how many absurd comments are coming from dawg fans about who the S&C coach should be..Lets see they want Hershel, who by the way doesn’t do weights or if any, very little, he will tell you that…Lets see theirs Goldberg, isn’t he retired from wrestling, has a good build, very strong, automatically makes him a Coach…Ask some previous players who have already commented this as a great move. Joe T knows what he is doing, don’t believe me, see David Pollack’s remarks…Now i can’t say that Joe T will be the saviour that everyone thinks we need, i don’t know who that is or at what school they are at…The S&C program just for the record depends alot on attitude and how hard you are willing to work as a player to get better..Its doing the little stuff to get stronger, working harder than the other guys…The S&C coach can help with technique and comditioning, no doubt, but ultimately the players have got to take the mental approach and push themselves to get better. I doubt if CVH or Coach Joe T are outdated in what they know about S&C…its hasn”t changed that much and you can bet they discuss things with other programs and what they are doing…Lets give Coach Joe T a chance to see what he can do, he’s now the guy at the moment, so give him a shot…ill be the first to jump on the bandwagon it you can give me a sure fire guarantee to get your program stronger next guy, just tell me who you know that will no doubt do that…at what school is he at right at this moment..who is the right person for the job….I get amazed at the arm chair Coaches sometime on here who can only focus on the negatives…Does anyone not believe that their were many people involved in this decision, it was not just Coach Richt’s, it was everybody from AD, coaches, former players, and people involved with the program that felt this was the best solution…I honestly will give this decision at least a fighting chance to work before i jump on here and bash the mover…go dawgs and now i guess i can wait for the backlash against my comments..
WTF was that?
December 3rd, 2010
9:13 am
Really disappointing – I’m sure DVH, Joe T, Bobo, etc are great guys and loyal Dawgs – so am I, but I have no business running the S & C program at UGA (or anywhere else).
Again, is Joe the best available person?
AltamahaDawg
December 3rd, 2010
9:25 am
So let’s check the ledger on this deal.
On one side there are those saying that JoeT is a good move, a tough guy, dedicated Georgia man, and part of an overall renovation of the S&C program as a whole, more changes to the way, some of which are not going to make headline.
On the other side are the stupiest move ever, Richt never changes anything, all we needed was some different name that nobody ever heard of, this is a disappointment, folks.
Time will tell , I suppose.
Mr. Red
December 3rd, 2010
9:27 am
MR has no idea how to hire staff or coaches. This is a joke being perpetrated on UGA! And all the mediocre fans, who love mediocrity, who have mediocre lives, mediocre jobs, mediocre husbands or wives and mediocre children will of course sing the praises of and the love for mr. medocrity himself, MR. Fools all of you!
dawgster
December 3rd, 2010
9:31 am
I didn’t read Williams comments above, and he made some good points, i don’t totally disagree, but i also don’t think that its a terrible move to put Coach K and Coach T in these positions…Its my understanding that these moves may not be of a permanent nature, and that the dawgs will be bringing in someone that can help us get to highest level of strength and conditioning…but as stated before you want to bring in the right guy…and right now these guys can help us in that direction in my opinion…Lets see what happens, when you make a move such as we have, you have to feel like it is the right direction, but that doesn’t mean you are complete with the transition…lets see how it plays out, because i suspect there are some other things in the works, but for now we have to prepare for a bowl game and look toward spring practice…go dawgs
Minimum Mark
December 3rd, 2010
9:31 am
I feel that reassigning our strength coach is the move we need to curb arrests, prevent fumbles on the goal line, personal foul penalties, beating up on women, and see that all of our “student athletes” have valid drivers’ licenses. This move will ensure that we are in the running for conference and national championships next year.
Big Man
December 3rd, 2010
9:32 am
Bad move. This guy helped FSU players maximize their abilities in college and become athletic forces. Maybe FSU can hire him back.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
December 3rd, 2010
9:40 am
UGA could hire Hulk Hogan as the conditioning coach, and there will be no improvement. UGA football is broken from the foundation upward, and until things are overhauled, this program is going nowhere.
Snoop Dawg
December 3rd, 2010
9:41 am
Hershel for Offensive strength and conditioning coach…Goldberg for defensive!! That’d be the shiznit!! LOL
Duck Fan
December 3rd, 2010
9:44 am
UGA has much larger problems than they Strength & Conditioning coach. They need to take care of the head coach and keep their players out of jail.
Dawg to the tomb
December 3rd, 2010
9:46 am
@ half a century dawg… My comments weren’t meant to be unpatriotic, what I’m saying is that WE ALL should support our president in whatever decision he makes because I don’t believe a person would get into office and just say to hell with the ppl, I’m going to just be an ass… Except for Bush that is. Last I checked Bush got us into this UGLY situation of no jobs and a Trillion dollar deficit… Tell me, did you really think it was gonna be pretty getting us out of it? Do you think your beloved republican party has the answer? Sure they do, giving tax breaks. Logic tells you we CAN’T afford tax breaks, we have a trillion dollar deficit!!!!! Hello!!!!! We need to spend money where it’ll actually make a difference and sorry, that give more money to the rich and let it trickle down into jobs hasn’t worked since Reagan my friend! I SUPPORTED Bush because I’m an American and her was my president, how about you try some support instead of criticizing! The man is trying and doing as good a job as one can do with what he’s been given! Sorry if the truth simply doesn’t fit your beliefs but the truth is the truth! Support is what our president needs! GO DAWGS!
cry
December 3rd, 2010
9:47 am
Mr. Tereshinski is a jack..and you know the rest….
My son’
s car broke down once and he had a morning run he called Coach T …he was told by Coach T that he did not care nothing about him nor his car. In the mean time my son got beat up by some local guys on the road and still nobody came to get him. He walked back to the campus
jasont13
December 3rd, 2010
9:47 am
What most of y’all fail to realize is strength and conditioning coaches are usually former grad assistants that are work out freaks and great motivators. For all the fake UGA fans who have a better idea as to whom the new S and C should be please drop some names.
Dawg to the tomb
December 3rd, 2010
9:50 am
While we’ve sat back and on our hands thinking we have this and we have that, our beloved dollar has gone to SH** while the Euro is on top! Our education is sorely lacking while it’s government funded and a RIGHT to higher education in some Asian countries… I love America and there’s nothing wrong with noticing where we’ve fallen and taking the mold of other countries in certain areas to get back to where we belong…. On TOP!
Go Dawgs!
December 3rd, 2010
10:00 am
Some of you people absolutely have nothing better to do than b*tch and moan about EVERYTHING.
Coach Van has to go as strength and conditioning coach
NOW the new coach hasn’t even officially taken over the job and you people are ALREADY griping.
Listen McGarity was around this program for a long time and as some have alluded probably had a hand in this move.
Also, it’s been rumored for quite a while that Coach Van and Tereshinski have been at odds on training philosophy.
As a poster said above Tereshinski CARES about this program and is loyal. If you don’t think he’s going to do everything in his power to have these guys in top form you’re crazy. Give the man a chance before you just ASSUME he’s a bad hire.