Chet Fuhrman
Encyclopedia
Earl Chester "Chet" Fuhrman is a strength and conditioning coach who has worked at the professional level with the National Football League
's Pittsburgh Steelers
. He is the strength and tight end
s coach for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL). He has also worked at the collegiate level and high school levels.
where he attended John Harris High School (renamed Harrisburg High School in 1971). In high school he participated in football and track and developed an interest in weight training
. He matriculated at the University of Central Oklahoma
where he earned a degree in physical education
in 1973.
coach at his alma mater Harrisburg High School and then at Steelton-Highspire High School
in his native Pennsylvania.
In 1979 he took a position as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pennsylvania State University
(Penn State). Two years later, Fuhrman left Penn State to become the first head strength and conditioning coach at Weber State University
in Ogden, Utah
. He returned to Penn State the following year when the head strength and conditioning coach position opened up there. He spent the next eleven years at Penn State where he coached such athletes as Steve Wisniewski
, Blair Thomas
, Mike Munchak
and Andre Collins
When Bill Cowher
replaced Chuck Noll
as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
he brought in Fuhrman to replace Jon Kolb
as the team's conditioning coordinator. In 2005, Furhman was voted by his peers in the league as the NFL Strength Coach of the Year. The Steelers won the Super Bowl
in the same season
Fuhrman remained with the Steelers during Cowher's full tenure of fifteen seasons. He was not retained by new head coach Mike Tomlin
in 2007.
In 2009 Fuhrman became the athletic director
at Avonworth School District
which is just northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. He resigned from the position less than a year later.
In May 2011, Furhman was hired as as assistant coach for the UFL's Virginia Destroyers (formerly the Florida Tuskers) under head coach and general manager Marty Schottenheimer
. He will be responsible for coaching the team's tight ends as well as performing as the strength coach.
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. He is the strength and tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
s coach for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (UFL). He has also worked at the collegiate level and high school levels.
Early life
Fuhrman was born in Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
where he attended John Harris High School (renamed Harrisburg High School in 1971). In high school he participated in football and track and developed an interest in weight training
Weight training
Weight training is a common type of strength training for developing the strength and size of skeletal muscles. It uses the weight force of gravity to oppose the force generated by muscle through concentric or eccentric contraction...
. He matriculated at the University of Central Oklahoma
University of Central Oklahoma
The University of Central Oklahoma, often referred to as UCO, is a coeducational public university located in Edmond, Oklahoma. The university is the third largest in Oklahoma, with almost 18,000 students and approximately 434 full-time and 400 adjunct faculty...
where he earned a degree in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
in 1973.
Coaching career
Fuhrman began his career as a strength coach and assistant American footballAmerican football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach at his alma mater Harrisburg High School and then at Steelton-Highspire High School
Steelton-Highspire School District
The Steelton-Highspire School District is diminutive, urban public school district located in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It encompasses the boroughs of Steelton and Highspire, both industrial suburbs of Harrisburg. The district features one elementary school, one middle school, and one high...
in his native Pennsylvania.
In 1979 he took a position as the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
(Penn State). Two years later, Fuhrman left Penn State to become the first head strength and conditioning coach at Weber State University
Weber State University
Weber State University is a public university located in the city of Ogden in Weber County, Utah, USA. It was founded in 1889 and is a coeducational, publicly supported university offering professional, liberal arts and technical certificates, as well as associate, bachelor's and master's degrees...
in Ogden, Utah
Ogden, Utah
Ogden is a city in Weber County, Utah, United States. Ogden serves as the county seat of Weber County. The population was 82,825 according to the 2010 Census. The city served as a major railway hub through much of its history, and still handles a great deal of freight rail traffic which makes it a...
. He returned to Penn State the following year when the head strength and conditioning coach position opened up there. He spent the next eleven years at Penn State where he coached such athletes as Steve Wisniewski
Steve Wisniewski
Steve Wisniewski nicknamed "The Wiz" is a former Offensive Lineman who played 13 seasons with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and is now an assistant offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1989 NFL Draft. His rights were traded...
, Blair Thomas
Blair Thomas
Blair Lamar Thomas is a former professional American football player and coach. He played running back for six seasons in the National Football League. He was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.-High school:Thomas was an all-state football player at Frankford High School...
, Mike Munchak
Mike Munchak
Michael Anthony Munchak is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. He played college football as a offensive lineman for Penn State University from 1978 to 1981. After his career at Penn State, He was drafted in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft by the Houston...
and Andre Collins
Andre Collins
Andre Pierre Collins is a former American football linebacker who played ten seasons in the National Football League. He started in Super Bowl XXVI for the Washington Redskins...
When Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird "Bill" Cowher is a former American football coach and player. Cowher resigned after 15 seasons as the Steelers' coach on January 5, 2007, 11 months to the day after winning 2005–06's Super Bowl XL...
replaced Chuck Noll
Chuck Noll
Charles Henry "Chuck" Noll is a former professional American football player and coach, and a member of the Sid Gillman coaching tree. He served most notably as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League from 1969 to 1991...
as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
he brought in Fuhrman to replace Jon Kolb
Jon Kolb
Jon Kolb is a former offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played for 13 seasons.-High school and Oklahoma State:...
as the team's conditioning coordinator. In 2005, Furhman was voted by his peers in the league as the NFL Strength Coach of the Year. The Steelers won the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
in the same season
Fuhrman remained with the Steelers during Cowher's full tenure of fifteen seasons. He was not retained by new head coach Mike Tomlin
Mike Tomlin
Michael Tomlin is the current head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Tomlin is the third youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports. He is the tenth African-American head coach in NFL history, and first in Steelers history...
in 2007.
In 2009 Fuhrman became the athletic director
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
at Avonworth School District
Avonworth School District
The Avonworth School District is a small, public school district located in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The district serves the Boroughs of Ben Avon, Ben Avon Heights and Emsworth and Kilbuck Township and Ohio Township. In 2009, the district residents'...
which is just northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. He resigned from the position less than a year later.
In May 2011, Furhman was hired as as assistant coach for the UFL's Virginia Destroyers (formerly the Florida Tuskers) under head coach and general manager Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
. He will be responsible for coaching the team's tight ends as well as performing as the strength coach.