Nick Savage Named UF’s Director of Football Strength & Conditioning
Monday, December 11, 2017 | Football
Savage previously served as Mississippi State’s strength coach, working with Dan Mullen for four seasons.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida football coach Dan Mullen announced on Monday that Nick Savage will join UF's staff as its director of football strength and conditioning.
Savage most recently worked with Mullen at Mississippi State, where he was the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning coach for the last two seasons.
Savage has worked with over 30 athletes who have been selected in the NFL draft since 2013.
The 28-year old joins Billy Gonzales, John Hevesy, Brian Johnson and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham on Mullen's staff.
Mississippi State (2014-17)
In 2017, Nick Savage completed his fourth season on the Mississippi State football staff and second spearheading the Bulldogs' strength and conditioning efforts.
Savage played a key role during one of the most successful four-year stretches in MSU history, a period in which the Bulldogs ranked second in the SEC West in victories. The Bulldogs advanced to a bowl game in each of his four seasons on staff.
The 2016 season was Savage's first in the head role as MSU posted 14 school statistical records and won its second straight bowl game, a 17-16 victory over Miami (Ohio) in the St. Petersburg Bowl in December.
Savage spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the assistant strength coach and earned rave reviews from the players and staff. Said head coach Dan Mullen at the time of his hiring, "he brings an infectious personality, energy and a purpose to our facility every day."
Savage was the interim head strength coach during December 2015 as MSU prepared for the Belk Bowl following the departure of Rick Court to Maryland. The Bulldogs defeated NC State 51-28 in Charlotte a few weeks later and never trailed, jumping out to a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
Savage worked exclusively with football since he joined Mississippi State in May 2014. He was instrumental in developing the Bulldogs into one of the nation's fittest teams while serving as an assistant during the 2014 campaign that saw MSU spend five weeks atop the polls and earn its highest Associated Press poll finish since 1940 (No. 11).
In addition, he was a part of the first back-to-back seasons of at least nine victories in program history.
Bowling Green, Toledo, Ohio State (2013-14)
Savage has gained experience at four different FBS programs since January 2013. He interned at Bowling Green from January 2013-May 2013 and then at Ohio State from May 2013-January 2014. Savage worked with Court and renowned strength coach Mickey Marotti with the Buckeyes.
Savage served as a graduate assistant at Toledo for five months before arriving in Starkville.
Background
The Youngstown, Ohio, native earned his undergraduate degree in exercise science from Youngstown State in 2013. He completed his master's degree from Toledo in recreation administration in 2016. Savage attended Boardman High School in Youngstown.
Nick Savage Coaching History
| Seasons | School/Team | Title |
| 2018-Present | Florida | Director of Football Strength and Conditioning |
| 2016-17 | Mississippi State | Head Strength Coach |
| 2014-15 | Mississippi State | Assistant Strength Coach |
| 2014 | Toledo | Graduate Assistant Strength Coach |
| 2013-14 | Ohio State | Strength Intern |
| 2013 | Bowling Green | Strength Intern |
Postseason History
| Season | Bowl / Playoff Game | Opponent | Result |
| 2016 | St. Petersburg Bowl (Mississippi State) | Miami (Ohio) | W, 17-16 |
| 2015 | Belk Bowl (Mississippi State) | N.C. State | W, 51-28 |
| 2014 | Orange Bowl (Mississippi State) | Georgia Tech | L, 49-34 |
| 2013 | Orange Bowl (Ohio State) | Clemson | L, 40-35 |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
RB Kareem Hunt (3rd) – Toledo '17 – Kansas City Chiefs
TE Michael Roberts (4th) – Toledo '17 – Detroit Lions
OT Justin Senior (6th) – Mississippi State '17 – Seattle Seahawks
DT Treyvon Hester (7th) – Toledo '17 – Oakland Raiders
DE Joey Bosa (1st) – Ohio State '16 – San Diego Chargers
RB Ezekiel Elliott (1st) – Ohio State '16 – Dallas Cowboys
CB Eli Apple (1st) – Ohio State '16 – New York Giants
OT Taylor Decker (1st) – Ohio State '16 – Detroit Lions
LB Darron Lee (1st) – Ohio State '16 – New York Jets
DE Chris Jones (2nd) – Mississippi State '16 – Kansas City Chiefs
WR Michael Thomas (2nd) – Ohio State '16 – New Orleans Saints
S Vonn Bell (2nd) – Ohio State '16 – New Orleans Saints
CB Will Redmond (3rd) – Mississippi State '16 – San Francisco 49ers
DT Adolphus Washington (3rd) – Ohio State '16 – Buffalo Bills
WR Braxton Miller (3rd) – Ohio State '16 – Houston Texans
TE Nick Vannett (3rd) – Ohio State '16 – Seattle Seahawks
QB Dak Prescott (4th) – Mississippi State '16 – Dallas Cowboys
LB Joshua Perry (4th) – Ohio State '16 – San Diego Chargers
QB Cardale Jones (4th) – Ohio State '16 – Buffalo Bills
DE Preston Smith (2nd) – Mississippi State '15 – Washington Redskins
LB Benardrick McKinney (2nd) – Mississippi State '15 – Houston Texans
WR Devin Smith (2nd) – Ohio State '15 – New York Jets
TE Jeff Heuerman (3rd) – Ohio State '15 – Denver Broncos
CB Doran Grant (4th) – Ohio State '15 – Pittsburgh Steelers
LB Matthew Wells (6th) – Mississippi State '15 – New England Patriots
TE Malcolm Johnson (6th) – Mississippi State '15 – Cleveland Johnson
RB Josh Robinson (6th) – Mississippi State '15 – Indianapolis Colts
DT Michael Bennett (6th) – Ohio State '15 – Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Evan Spencer (6th) – Ohio State '15 – Washington Redskins
LB Ryan Shazier (1st) – Ohio State '14 – Pittsburgh Steelers
CB Bradley Roby (1st) – Ohio State '14 – Denver Broncos
RB Carlos Hyde (2nd) – Ohio State '14 – San Francisco 49ers
OT Jack Mewhort (2nd) – Ohio State '14 – Indianapolis Colts
C Corey Linsley (5th) – Ohio State '14 – Green Bay Packers
S Christian Bryant (7th) – Ohio State '14 – St. Louis Rams
Personal Information
Birthdate: March 22, 1989
Hometown: Youngstown, Ohio
Education: Bachelor's in exercise science from Youngstown State, 2013; Master's in recreation administration from Toledo, 2016
Wife: Gianna
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