The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/201975
michigan hockey Sitting Down With Strength And Conditioning Coach Joe Maher In his first season working with Michigan, Joe Maher spent last year as the strength and condi‑ tioning coach for Yale, which went on to win the 2013 national championship. The Wolverine: How does your hockey back‑ ground aid you in the role you're currently in? Maher: "I played hockey since I was a kid, and played hockey at the University of Rhode Island. So in terms of training, I can get pretty in depth with the guys and get on the same wavelength from a professional standpoint as well as an interpersonal standpoint. Hockey players are different, and we all band together." Maher spent last year at Yale, which won the 2013 national championship, before joining U-M. photo courtesy michigan athletic media relations The Wolverine: How much does it help to have a strength and conditioning coach that skates and is on the ice every day? Maher: "I think it's huge because the more you're around teams, players and coaches, the more you become ingrained, and the more you become ingrained, the more the culture changes in terms of what you want to do with training. It also helps from a biomechanical standpoint with skating, weaknesses, and de‑ ficiencies that are within your technique that are hindering speed, endurance and agility, and you can address that on an individual basis on ice." The Wolverine: What does a Michigan hockey player look like in your pro‑ gram? Maher: "Athletic. Fast. Driven. Well-trained. Well-conditioned. As well as someone that is competitive and enjoys that, and is willing to do anything that is necessary to win, in a positive manner." The Wolverine: What has been it like transitioning from Yale to Michigan? Maher: "It was a fantastic experience being there, winning there, seeing that change and being a part of it. The biggest thing at Yale is I was 1/40th of what that team was. Everyone played an equal part and that's what allowed them to be successful. It's the same here. We're a team. Everything is about the team. Going from Yale to a storied program like Michigan is exciting for me."