Director of Player Development
Mike Golden is currently the Director of Player Development for the University of Massachusetts Football program. He comes to UMass after spending the last two years at South Florida with Head Coach Skip Holtz, where he supervised the football program's year-round weight training, speed, agility, and conditioning sessions. As the Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Performance, he also oversaw the development of rehabilitation and performance enhancement programs for all of South Florida's sports.
Prior to South Florida, Golden helped Holtz build East Carolina into one of the top football programs in Conference USA. The Pirates won back-to-back conference championships in 2008 and 2009 and went to five consecutive bowl games from 2006-2010. While in Greenville, Golden worked with first round draft pick Chris Jonson who turned in the fastest 40-yard dash time in NFL Combine History. At ECU, Golden was often credited by Holtz for playing an integral role in turning around the program which had won just three games in 25 outings prior to 2005.
Before taking over ECU's top athletic performance position, Golden spent three years on the University of South Carolina staff, beginning in March of 2002, as Assistant Strength Coach for the football team under Head Coach Lou Holtz and Head Strength Coach Pat Moorer. He also worked directly with various other men's and women's Gamecocks teams.
In March of 1998, after spending 20 months working with the strength and athletic programs at Bloomfield High School in Connecticut, Golden accepted a position as Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach under Holtz at the University of Connecticut, where he designed, implemented and supervised all weight training, agility, and conditioning sessions. He also coordinated all strength and speed testing, and the Huskies' sideline management operation, playing a key role in UConn's first 10-win football campaign and an NCAA Division I-AA playoff appearance in the fall of 1998.
Golden earned his first collegiate full-time position in 1996 and spent nearly two seasons as Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Central Connecticut State, where he played an integral role in the design and inventory purchases for the Blue Devils' new weight room facility.
A 1992 graduate of Central Connecticut State, Golden earned a bachelor's degree in physical education. Upon graduation, he spent seven months as an intern at Harvard during the 1992-93 academic year, working as the strength coach for the institution's rugby squad, which advanced to the Final Four, while also working with the Crimson's football and ice hockey programs.
Golden has also put together an extensive background of international competition, serving as an assistant coach for the five-time I.P.F. World Powerlifting Champion USA Men's Team at various venues. He has also published various articles in Powerlifting USA, Ironman Japan, and elitefts where he writes under the title of "Coach G." He is also the author of the e-book-"Blueprint for Success: A Strength & Conditioning Coach's Manual."
Golden has been married for 15 years, and he and his wife, Nicole, have four daughters and one son. He would like to express his love and appreciation for all their help and support through the highs and lows of this crazy profession. He would also like to thank all the players, coaches, assistants, interns, and volunteers that have helped him along the way. Words cannot describe the impact you have had on him and as a person. You have made it all worthwhile.
