John Gamble (American football)
Encyclopedia
John Gamble is a former world champion Powerlifter and strongman
competitor from Richmond, Virginia
.
at Hampton University
and was a first-team Black College All-America
selection. He also earned All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
honors in football
and in track and field
.
and Strongman competition
, Gamble was the top ranked powerlifter in the world in the 275-pound class from 1981 to 1983. His personal records for total pounds in three lifts while competing in the United States Powerlifting Federation was 2,270 pounds, and he has personal bests of full squat, 892 lb; bench press, 573 lb; and dead lift, 826.5 lb in those three lifts. Gamble was inducted into the U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania
, in June 1999.
He competed twice in the final of the World's Strongest Man
competition. In the 1982 World's Strongest Man
he finished 3rd behind compatriot Bill Kazmaier
at Magic Mountain
, California
and at the 1983 World's Strongest Man
he placed 5th in a competition won by Geoff Capes
in Christchurch
, New Zealand.
. He also served two seasons as assistant strength coach (1982–83)] and one year on a part-time basis (1981) at Virginia. He was named 1985 Strength Coach of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
in 1994 under head coach Don Shula
, and remained at the post for 12 years through 2005. In 1998, he was named by the Professional Strength Coaches Society as its Coach of the Year.
In 2006 under then head coach Nick Saban
, Gamble was given the title of Director of Player Development/Special Assistant to the Head Coach. His job title was changed simply to Director of Player Development under head coach Cam Cameron
in 2007.
of the National Football League
.
Gamble was hired by Buffalo Bills head coach, Chan Gailey
on February 9, 2010.
Strongman
Strongman or Strong Man can mean:* Strongman * Strongman * Strongman * High striker, a physical strength carnival attraction* Strongman , a Marvel Comics character...
competitor from Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
Collegiate career
Gamble played linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
at Hampton University
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
and was a first-team Black College All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection. He also earned All-Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association is a college athletic conference, mostly consisting of historically black colleges and universities. Recent addition Chowan University is the first non-HBCU to play in the conference. Conference teams participate in the NCAA's Division II...
honors in football
American 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...
and in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
Weightlifting and Strongman career
World renowned in the fields of PowerliftingPowerlifting
Powerlifting is a strength sport. It resembles the sport of Olympic weightlifting, as both disciplines involve lifting weights in three attempts. Powerlifting evolved from a sport known as 'odd lifts' which followed the same three attempt format but used a wide variety of events akin to Strongman...
and Strongman competition
Strongman (strength athlete)
In the 19th century, the term strongman referred to an exhibitor of strength or circus performers of similar ilk who displayed feats of strength such as the bent press , supporting large amounts of...
, Gamble was the top ranked powerlifter in the world in the 275-pound class from 1981 to 1983. His personal records for total pounds in three lifts while competing in the United States Powerlifting Federation was 2,270 pounds, and he has personal bests of full squat, 892 lb; bench press, 573 lb; and dead lift, 826.5 lb in those three lifts. Gamble was inducted into the U.S. Weightlifting Hall of Fame in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
, in June 1999.
He competed twice in the final of the World's Strongest Man
World's Strongest Man
The World's Strongest Man is a well recognised event in strength athletics and has been described by a number of highly respected authorities in the sport as the premier event in strongman. Organized by TWI, an IMG Media company, it is broadcast around the end of December each year...
competition. In the 1982 World's Strongest Man
1982 World's Strongest Man
The 1982 World's Strongest Man was the 6th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Bill Kazmaier from the USA. It was his third title in a row. Tom Magee from Canada finished second, and John Gamble from the USA finished third. The contest was held at the Magic Mountain, California.-Final...
he finished 3rd behind compatriot Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier
Bill Kazmaier is a former powerlifter, strongman and professional wrestler from the United States. He is widely considered to be one of the all-time greatest competitors in strength competitions...
at Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Six Flags Magic Mountain is a theme park located in Valencia, California north of Los Angeles. It opened on Memorial Day weekend on May 30, 1971 as Magic Mountain, by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. In 1979, Six Flags purchased the park and added the name Six Flags to the park's title. In...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and at the 1983 World's Strongest Man
1983 World's Strongest Man
The 1983 World's Strongest Man was the 7th edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Geoff Capes from the United Kingdom. It was his first title. Jon Pall Sigmarsson from the Iceland finished second, and Simon Wulfse from the Netherlands third. The contest was held at Christchurch, New...
he placed 5th in a competition won by Geoff Capes
Geoff Capes
Geoffrey Lewis Capes is a former athlete, strongman and professional Highland Games competitor...
in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand.
University of Virginia
Gamble served ten years (1984–1993) as the head strength coach at the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. He also served two seasons as assistant strength coach (1982–83)] and one year on a part-time basis (1981) at Virginia. He was named 1985 Strength Coach of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Miami Dolphins
Gamble became strength and conditioning coach for the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1994 under head coach Don Shula
Don Shula
Donald Francis "Don" Shula is a former American football cornerback and coach.He is best known as coach of the Miami Dolphins, the team he led to two Super Bowl victories, and to the National Football League's only perfect season. Shula was named 1993 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated....
, and remained at the post for 12 years through 2005. In 1998, he was named by the Professional Strength Coaches Society as its Coach of the Year.
In 2006 under then head coach Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
, Gamble was given the title of Director of Player Development/Special Assistant to the Head Coach. His job title was changed simply to Director of Player Development under head coach Cam Cameron
Cam Cameron
-External links:...
in 2007.
Buffalo Bills
John is currently the co-strength and conditioning coordinator for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
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...
.
Gamble was hired by Buffalo Bills head coach, Chan Gailey
Chan Gailey
Thomas Chandler "Chan" Gailey, Jr. is an American professional and college football coach. Gailey is the current head coach of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League ; he was formerly the head coach of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets college football...
on February 9, 2010.