University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has recruited Rohrk Cutchlow (pronounced ROAR-k) to join his new staff at Mizzou in the vital role of Director of Athletic Performance, as announced today. In his new position, Cutchlow will oversee all aspects of the Mizzou Football strength and conditioning program. His start date in January is to be determined.
Cutchlow is a 17-year veteran of the athletic performance industry, and he’s regarded as one of the top coaches in the trade. For the past 12 years, he’s directed athletic performance for football programs, including the last four at his alma mater Memphis, where he’s played a big role in Memphis developing into one of the top programs in the American Conference. The Tigers won the AAC and finished 10-3 overall in 2014, and followed up with another strong 9-4 season in 2015, spending much of the season ranked in the top-25. During his time with Memphis, Cutchlow aided in the development of Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, a Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist and projected first-round NFL draft pick.
“I’m very excited to have Rohrk be part of our program at Mizzou,” said Odom. “He’s a guy who is highly sought after and has had several other opportunities. He made a big impression on me in my time at Memphis, so our relationship goes back through a rebuilding project there that allowed his influence to make a huge difference in our program. He’s very well-respected nationally, and he instills great toughness and leadership with his teams. Rohrk will be a great asset to our coaching staff, in the way that he touches our players every day, as well as the results he will get. He will be very challenging and demanding of our players, but they will respond and appreciate his approach and his ability to get them into the best physical and mental condition that they can be,” he said.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to join the Mizzou family,” Cutchlow said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Barry Odom and believe strongly in his vision for the Mizzou Football program. I also feel very fortunate to work for a prestigious institution like the University of Missouri and to be entrusted with the responsibility of directing the strength and conditioning programs for our football student-athletes. I can’t wait to get to Columbia and get started,” he said.
Prior to Memphis, Cutchlow served the 2011 football season as the director of strength and conditioning at Tulsa, where he oversaw a program that won eight games and played in the Armed Forces Bowl. Before that, Cutchlow directed football strength and conditioning at Illinois State for seven seasons (Nov. 2003-Feb. 2011). He served as the Redbirds’ strength and conditioning coordinator his first three football seasons (2004-06), before being promoted to assistant athletic director for sports performance (July 2007). During his career, Cutchlow has worked with over 25 players who have gone on to sign NFL contracts, multiple Big 12 Championship teams, 15 All-Americans and an Olympic Gold Medalist. He was one of five finalists for the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) College Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year in 2006.
From 2001-03, Cutchlow was the head strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports at Iowa State, where he directed programs for 17 sports, including men’s basketball and wrestling. In 2001, Cutchlow earned his master’s degree in higher education administration from Iowa State.
Story courtesy: Mizzou Athletics
