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By Mackala Krichbaum, KrichbaumM@Findlay.edu
Athletic Strength and Conditioning at the University of Findlay keeps our athletes strong and allows them to develop athletically and academically. As students, Chad Wagner and Jacob Boucher came for athletics yet stayed for their respective jobs.
Wagner graduated from the University of Findlay with his bachelor’s degree in science in Strength and Conditioning.
Boucher graduated with a bachelor’s degree in science in Strength and Conditioning with a minor in Psychology as well as a master’s degree in educational leadership. He then continued his career working as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Wagner was drawn to the University as he had a scholarship to play baseball for UF while Boucher was a walk-on for the football team.
“This is the place that I felt like I could grow the most,” said Boucher.
As a student, the opportunity to travel for athletics was one of Wagner’s favorite memories.
“I think for me as a student probably our trips to Florida,” Wagner said. “It was our spring break trip, and we got to go play and cause the weather was always so much better than what it was back home, there was no class, you just went to play baseball and had a good time with it so those are probably my favorite memories from college.”
As a student living in the Village and being with his teammates Boucher notes this as one of his favorite memories.
“We lived in the Village and a bunch of us football players got together. We just took over one pod in the Village, and so it was just kind of nonstop hanging out,” Boucher said. “As an actual athlete, probably my favorite memory would be us being the first team ever for football to make Division II playoffs we beat the number two team in the country in the first round of the playoffs and that was probably the highest high of my college career.”
When asked what their favorite memories as staff are those that include student success.
“A top memory was men’s basketball winning the 2009 NCAA Championship going undefeated because I worked with that sport and then probably a very close second is beating Sheppard in the playoffs,” said Wagner.
Boucher works as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach, which involves working with different teams.
“The women’s golf team winning the national title two years ago and just having a small part to do in that, as a very proud moment as a coach, to see your team succeed like that,” Boucher said. “Personally, last year, I won athletic department staff member of the year, and for that to be voted on by the student-athletes and for me to receive that award was very telling to me of how they perceive me and our staff here in the weight room and it was a very proud moment for us.”
When working with students the relationships that are built become some of the favorite things about the job.
“Getting to know them on a personal level, not just a physical level because of the time that we spend with them is quite large,” said Wagner. “Like I always tell people, my favorite thing is to watch a freshman turn into a sophomore because you’re watching them grow up, not only as athletes, but you’re watching them grow as people like being self-sufficient for learning how to operate as an adult.”
Coming back to the University was an easy choice for both of these alumni.
“I took over as the head guy because we had two of our head string coaches leave. I’ve been here ever since, so the opportunity was here, but more importantly, what keeps me here is probably the town,” said Wagner.
Wagner actually knew Boucher during his time studying at UF. This helped Boucher pursue a career with the University.
“In that spring game, my freshman year, he [Coach Wagner] introduced himself to my parents and said, just so you know, your son has a job with me the second he graduates,” Boucher said. “From that going on, I wanted to be a GA for him and then it just so happened, COVID happened, but it did open the assistant spot right when I was graduating with my masters. I saw the opportunity to take the full-time job and this is now year four for me in the full position.”
The advice that these coaches have helps both student-athletes as well as the general student population.
“So, what I always tell them, is don’t be patient. Leadership doesn’t happen because you’re a senior,” Wagner said. “Leadership happens when you decide you want to lead, so it’s don’t be patient with waiting your turn.”
