(Ep070) Todd Wright: Going from Head Strength Coach of the Texas Longhorns to the Vice President of Player Performance for the LA Clippers
Todd Wright’s journey to the NBA improbably with living in a closet alongside the costume for the Boston College eagle mascot. This might seem improbable, but it was an indication of the many sacrifices he would make along the path to becoming one of the most respected strength and conditioning coaches in basketball. The fact that he ended up in the sport at all is fortuitous, as he started out playing college football and then leading linemen, receivers, and the rest through their lifts. The opportunity to switch to from the field to the court came courtesy of Rick Barnes.
Having earned his stripes at George Mason University and Providence College, Barnes took over the basketball program at Clemson. Seeing the fine work Todd was doing, he offered him the chance to learn the ropes with his team while furthering his education. Todd jumped at the chance and helped Barnes turn around the Tigers, before going with him to the University of Texas. There, the Longhorns made it to the NCAA 16 out of 17 seasons. Todd then had the chance to transition to the NBA, where he took a unique dual role of assistant coach and head of strength and conditioning. After four years with the 76ers, Todd became the vice president of player performance and assistant coach for the LA Clippers.
In this episode, Todd reveals:
What he learned from Rick Barnes during a two-decade partnership and Brett Brown with the 76ers
How his dual role in the weight room and on the bench came about
Why coaches should invest in continuing education
What he includes in his basketball-specific movement system
How NBA performance and player care have evolved
Keep up with Todd’s push to the playoffs with the Clippers on Instagram@toddwright_coach
