Saint Louis University’s strength and conditioning program just got stronger.

The Billikens have a new strength and conditioning coach in 32-year-old Mike Linn. Linn arrives to the Bills after a 14 year association with UCLA.

Linn was two-year starter at offensive guard on the Bruins football team under head coach Terry Donahue. Following his playing days as a Bruin, Linn served as an undergraduate assistant coach during the 1992 season. In 1993 he was named an assistant strength coach for the Bruins and served as that until he was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach four years ago.

While working in the strength and conditioning department at UCLA, Linn was responsible for developing and coordinating the strength and conditioning programs for all 21 of UCLA’s varsity sports.

He helped train 16 NCAA national championship teams during his tenure at UCLA.

He trained the 1995 men’s basketball championship team, the 1997 men’s soccer championship team, five separate volleyball championship teams and the 1999 softball championship, just to name a few.

What the Billikens have gotten in Linn is an experienced trainer who knows what it takes to win not only games, but championships.

He brings a new philosophy to a program formerly run by Chris West, who has moved on to the University of Connecticut.

“I bring a new philosophy to the program. There is going to be a lot of teaching throughout this semester.

By next fall the athletes will understand what I am trying to do and then we will really get to work.

“The athletes have to learn how to crawl before they can walk, and they have to learn how to walk before they can run, and they have to learn how to run before they can sprint,” said Linn.

Linn believes deeply that the work the athletes do in the weight room is as big a part of their play as on the field practice is.

“Training is an extension of practice and we are not going to lift just for the sake of lifting. The teams will lift together, and what we do in the weight room will have a purpose,” said Linn.

Previously under West, the Billikens focused on a plyometric workout program that dealt a lot with speed and agility.

Under Linn, however, the Bills will be training from a wholly different approach.

“I come from an Olympic lifting background which is based on using explosive movements in training. We are going to get away from using machines and are going to focus on using free weights,” said Linn.

It is through this change that Linn hopes to build strength and stamina into the Billiken athletes.

The workouts will focus on improving performance by incorporating explosiveness and intensity into each and every workout.

The importance of staying injury-free is paramount in sports development and improvement. Linn hopes to bring a sense of pride to training hard, which he feels will bring about winning results.

“I am going to get to work with the athletes a lot closer here because there aren’t as many of them. Although some of the sports are different than at UCLA, my job is the same. My job is to make the athletes stronger, no matter what sport they play,” said Linn.

Linn seems certain about everything here at SLU except for one thing-not having a football team.

“I am not sure how it is going to be not having a football team. Check back with me in the fall when I am sitting on my couch watching college football,” said Linn.

Football team or not, one thing is for sure: The face of Billiken strength training has certainly changed.