Eric Klein Position: Sports Performance Experience: 1st Season at NIU Alma Mater: Carleton College, 1993

Eric Klein enters his first season at Northern Illinois University, where he shares responsibility for the Huskies' newly-named Center for Sports Performance as its Co-Director. In his 13 years of coaching, Klein has experience not only in directing strength and conditioning programs, but also as a football and track and field coach.

Klein has worked with current Huskie head football coach Jerry Kill since 1994, most recently at Southern Illinois University. 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 (2000-01).

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. Like Klein's SIU résumé, 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. 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 Weightligting 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. He played football and track at Carleton College (Minn.), where he earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1993.

Klein is married to the former Allison Temple.

ABOUT KLEIN
Coaching Experience
2001-07, Southern Illinois, Head Strength and Conditioning
2000-01, Southern Illinois, Strength and Conditioning, Defensive Line
1999-2000, Emporia State, Strength and Conditioning, Defensive Line
1994-99, Saginaw Valley State, Strength and Conditioning, Football Assitant, Track and Field Assistant

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

Education
College: Carleton College, Bachelor's
Emporia State, Master's