The Clyde Emrich NFL Lifetime Achievement Award Nominees

Jeff Hurd

Jeff Hurd's coaching career spanned over 35 years in Strength and Conditioning at the National Football League and college levels. Starting in 1985, Hurd worked 10 years at the college level for Delta State University, Clemson University, Western Michigan University and the University of Tulsa. WMU won their first outright MAC championship in school history during his tenure. During his coaching stint at Western Michigan University, Hurd worked two training camps for Head Strength Coach, Dave Redding and the Kansas City Chiefs. He was then hired in 1993, as an intern for the Chiefs, for two seasons, before his stint at the University of Tulsa. Hurd's full time NFL career started when he was hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, for the inaugural season, as an assistant strength coach under Jerry Palmieri, with Head Coach Tom Coughlin. After three years with the Jaguars, Hurd was hired by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1998 as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. He worked for Head Coaches Marty Schottenheimer, Gunther Cunningham, Dick Vermeil and Herman Edwards. In 2007, Hurd was hired by the San Diego Chargers as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, working for Norv Turner. In 2013, Hurd volunteered at the Dallas Cowboy's training camp in Oxnard, California, under Head Strength Coach, Mike Woicik, and the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California. The Minnesota Vikings hired Hurd in 2014, as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, under Head Strength Coach Evan Marcus, with Head Coach Mike Zimmer. During Hurd's coaching career of 23 years in the NFL, his teams competed in three AFC Championship games, won six AFC West titles and one NFC North title. Another highlight of Hurd's career involved working as a consultant for the United States Army Special Forces in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. Hurd has Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Physical Education with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology from Fort Hays State University, where he was also a collegiate baseball player. He is a Registered Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, Emeritus with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Hurd has been published in Strength and Conditioning books as well as written articles pertaining to the field. Hurd retired from the NFL in 2018 and started Hurd Performance, LLC, providing team and individual performance training.

John Lott

John Lott spent 31 years as a Strength and Conditioning Coach, 8 years in college and 23 years in the NFL.

• 1983-1986 4 year Letterman at the University of North Texas. 2 time All-Conference and 1 time AP Honorable Mention All-American (G).

• 1987 Free Agent Pittsburgh Steelers (C-G)

• 1988 Free Agent New York Jets (C-G). After being placed on IR, he interned at the University of Texas under Dana LaDuc in the weight room.

• 1988 Graduated at the University of North Texas (Corporate Fitness/Kinesiology)

• 1989 Named 1st Head Strength & Conditioning coach in school history at the University of North Texas.

• 1990 Received MS from Crescent City Christian College (Exercise Science)

• 1991 Named 1st Head Strength & Conditioning coach in school history at the University of Houston. While at U of H, John coached the Santa Monica Track Club for the 1992 Barcelona and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games, including such athletes as Carl Lewis, Leroy Burrell, Mike Marsh and Frank Rutherford among others. His athletes set 6 World Records. (2) 100m and (4) 400x1, Garnishing 12 Olympic medals in all.

• 1997 John became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the New York Jets/ 1998/2002 AFC East Champions

• 2005 He became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Cleveland Browns

• 2007 John became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Arizona Cardinals/ 2008 NFC Champions/2009 NFC West Champions

• 2017 John became the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Chargers

• 2001 Named Iron Magazine, NFL Strength Coach of the Year

• 2008 Named NFL Strength Coaches, Strength Coach of the Year

• 2008 Named SAMSON Strength, NFL Strength Coach of the Year

• 2008 Participated with the Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XLIII

• NFL (HOF) players coached: Curtis Martin, Kevin Mawae, Steve Atwater, Kurt Warner, Edgerrin James, Alan Faneca

• 1997-2014 Worked the NFL Combine Bench Press station

Barry Rubin

Spent 41 years coaching in The Strength and Conditioning Field. First in college at ULM and LSU. Winning the 1-AA National Championship at ULM in 1987. In 1995, he started his NFL career with The Green Bay Packers. He was in Green Bay for 11 seasons, going to two Super Bowls and winning one of them in 1996. From there he coached with The Philadelphia Eagles for five seasons. After five years in Philadelphia his career took him to The Kansas City Chiefs, where they won 7 straight AFC West Division Championships, 3 trips to the Super Bowl and winning in 2020 & 2023. Barry retired after 10 years in Kansas City. Barry was also Inducted into The USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003.