Lifetime Achievement Award
Mike Woicik
NFL Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year
Markus Paul
Dallas Cowboys
The Champions Award
Anthony Piroli
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Woicik began his coaching career as a track coach and weight room coordinator at Springfield College, and then directed the strength & conditioning program at Syracuse University for 9 seasons. In 1990 he joined Jimmy Johnson’s staff with the Dallas Cowboys to begin a 30-year career as an NFL strength & conditioning coach. Following his 7 seasons with the Cowboys, Mike spent 3 years with the New Orleans Saints before his 11 year stint with the New England Patriots. In 2011 Woicik returned to Dallas and retired from coaching following the 2019 season. Over his NFL career, Mike has earned 6 Super Bowl rings and was named NFL Strength Coach of the Year 5 times by his peers.
On Wednesday, November 25, 2020, surrounded by his family, Markus Paul departed this world to spend eternity with his Heavenly Father. Born on April 1, 1966 to Isiah Paul Sr. and the late Jeannie Lorraine Paul, Markus was their first- born son and their pride and joy. It was by their love and guidance that Markus would grow into the man we all knew and loved. Markus Paul was a faithful and humble servant of God and he served Him in every area of his life with grace and humility.
Markus attended Osceola High School where he played football and was an All-State quarterback and defensive back. He led the Kowboys to the 1982 Florida High School Class 3A title game. He attended Syracuse University where he played football from 1984 to 1988. He set the school’s all-time interception record at 19 in 1988; a record that still stands today. He was twice named a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, and earned First Team All-American honors his senior year. In October 1999, he was named to the Syracuse University's All-Century team. The Chicago Bears selected Markus in the 4th round of the 1989 NFL Draft where he played for five seasons, finishing his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Markus began his 23-year career as a NFL Strength & Conditioning Coach in 1998 as an assistant to Mike Woicik with the New Orleans Saints. He followed Woicik to the New England Patriots where he earned 3 Super Bowl rings. In 2005 he became the Director of Physical Development for the NY Jets; and then from 2007-2017 was the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach for the NY Giants, where he earned 2 more Super Bowl rings. In 2018 Markus reconnected with Woicik as the Co-Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Dallas Cowboys, and then was named Strength & Conditioning Coordinator in 2020.
While Markus rightly deserves respect and admiration for the accolades he achieved in high school, college, as a player and then as a coach in the NFL, what motivated him daily was his faith in God and his love of family and friends. Markus left behind his wife Heidi, children Jairus and Tabitha, stepsons Dwayne and Mathias, along with a countless number of extended family members.
Anthony Piroli has completed two seasons as the head strength & conditioning coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined the Bucs in 2019 along with the new coaching regime under Head Coach Bruce Arians. This staff worked together to lead the team to Super Bowl LV Champions.
Prior to arriving in Tampa Bay, Piroli spent the 2018 season working as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Mississippi State, after having served as an assistant strength & conditioning coach for the Bulldogs in the 2014 season. Between his stints at
Mississippi State, Piroli spent three seasons (2015-17) working as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Arizona Cardinals. A native of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Piroli began his coaching career at his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in 2007. From there he spent time at the University of Pittsburgh (2008-09) and working at Power Train Sports Institute in Pittsburgh (2009-11). Piroli was the co-owner and Director of Sports Performance at Evolution Sports Institute in Pittsburgh from 2011-14, before joining Mississippi State. He also served as a volunteer strength coach for Ohio State in the summer of 2013.