Eric Klein Position: Director of Sports Performance Experience: 3rd Season at NIU Alma Mater: Carleton College, 1993

In his third season as Northern Illinois' Director of Sports Performance, Eric Klein is in his 16th year working with student-athletes in the area of strength and conditioning.

At NIU, Klein oversees the Sports Performance for all 17 sports programs, directing a staff of four from the three-year-old Strength and Conditioning Center in the Jeffrey and Kimberly Yordon Center. Since his arrival, Huskie student-athletes in all sports have made significant strides in strength, agility and endurance which have positively impacted their competitive performances.

Klein has worked with current Huskie head football coach Jerry Kill since 1994, including seven years at Southern Illinois. In Carbondale, Klein designed the strength programs for the five-time Missouri Valley Conference Champion Saluki men's basketball team and the three-time Gateway Conference Champion football program.

Klein also helped design a new strength and conditioning center at SIU's Troutt-Wittmann Center. Before taking on the responsibilities of the Saluki strength and conditioning program, Klein served as the defensive line coach for the SIU football team in 2000 and 2001.

Prior to his time at SIU, Klein served alongside Kill at Emporia State as the school's strength and conditioning and defensive line coach (1999-2000). In addition to overseeing the strength training of the football team, Klein designed and implemented a program for the women's basketball team and consulted with both the volleyball and softball coaches on their strength and conditioning regimens. His time at Emporia State included a collaboration on the development of a new weight room facility.

Klein began his coaching career at Saginaw Valley State (Mich.). From 1994-99, he designed and created the strength and conditioning program, and served as an assistant coach for both the football and track and field teams.

A member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, USA Weightlifting and the National Association of Speed and Explosion, Klein is certified by each organization. He is also a member of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.

Klein earned his master's degree in physical education from Emporia State in 2000. He played football and ran track at Carleton College (Minn.), where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1993.

Klein is married to the former Allison Temple and they have a one-year-old daughter, Taegan.

ABOUT KLEIN

Certifications
Strength and Conditioning Specialist - National Strength and Conditioning Association
USA Weightlifting Club Coach - USA Weightlifting
Speed and Explosion - National Association of Speed and Explosion

College
M.Ed., Emporia State, 2000
B.A., Carleton College, 1993

High School
Apple Valley (Minn.), 1989

Coaching Experience