Notre Dame football names Loren Landow new strength and conditioning coach
Nearing four months since the sudden and unexpected departure of Matt Balis as Notre Dame’s strength and conditioning coach, the Fighting Irish officially named Loren Landow as his replacement on Tuesday night. Landow, who was with the Denver Broncos as their head strength coach from 2018-22, will join the Irish next month.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in a press release Landow checks the necessary boxes he was looking to fill in a successor for Balis, a six-year staple with the Irish from 2017-22. Freeman said Landow is an authentic and commanding leader. He also said Landow has an “alpha” personality.
“We need someone who can reinforce the vision of the head coach and uphold the standards in discipline that it takes to create a championship environment,” Freeman said. “We need someone who has a background in group training, yet the expertise to individualize training to meet specific individual’s needs and goals. We need someone who can enhance our approach in regards to power, explosion and speed development. Loren Landow is all of these things.”
Landow has an extensive history in his field. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in kinesiology in 1996. He’s working toward a masters of sports injuries and return to performance management from Setana College in Ireland. That area has long piqued Landow’s interest.
Landow started as the director of sports performance at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in 2008. That organization took on a new title eight years later; Landow Performance. Landow was instrumental in bridging the gap between sports medicine and sports performance at the clinic. He established the department of sports performance there.
Sports organizations such as the United States Women’s National Team, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Carolina Panthers and Washington Spirit have sought out Landow’s consultation over the years. He dipped his toes into collegiate consultation with Stanford, Colorado and Kansas.
Former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn, an NFL veteran of seven different franchises including the Broncos, is aware of Landow’s work.
“Loren is a world-renowned movement and sports performance coach,” Quinn said in a statement. “I can attest from personal experience, there is no one better suited to fulfill the role and help Notre Dame be the preeminent leader in sports performance.”
Notre Dame went through the entire 2023 season with Fred Hale serving as the interim strength and conditioning coach. Hale was spotted at the Irish’s practice on Tuesday, business as usual. But once the season concludes with the Sun Bowl on Dec. 29, the program will be turned over to Landow from a sports performance perspective.
