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Kim Wood, the National Football League’s first full-time strength and conditioning coach, died Tuesday after battling a brief illness. He was 80.
The Cincinnati Bengals announced his death, calling him an “innovator who helped transform the weight training industry” while playing a prominent role on the Bengals’ sideline.
He was employed by the Bengals from 1975, Paul Brown’s last season as the team’s head coach, until 2002.
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Wood was a staunch opponent of steroids at a time when they had become prominent in sports and bodybuilding, two of Wood’s niches. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
“I’ve lost a great friend, a great coach, a great guy,” Bengals legendary defensive end Tim Krumrie said.
“He believed in the hands, the forearm and the grip,” Anthony Munoz added, reflecting on how Wood felt about the importance of a firm handshake. “He was at the forefront of core work and arm strength. He understood the game so well. He understood what part of your body really needed to be emphasized to be the best.”
“Everyone who knew him recognized what an extraordinary personality he possessed,” said Brown’s son, Mike. “He was fun and interesting to be around. He was outgoing. He was always full of ideas and plans. He attracted people. The players enjoyed being around him and so did everyone else.”
Kim Wood was a pioneer in weight training in the late 60s and early 70s. (Cincinnati Bengals)
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As weight training took off in the late ’60s and early ’70s, Wood became a major force in the industry—first at Nautilus, then with his own company, Hammer Strength—and helped push strength training away from free weights and toward machines. He then made his mark in the professional wrestling world, helping former Bengals special teamer Brian Pillman with his in-ring career.
Wood was a staunch opponent of steroids at a time when they had become prominent in sports and bodybuilding, two of Wood’s niches.
“He was extremely anti-steroids, which I loved,” Munoz said. “He took care of his players. For him it was all about getting you to relax, eat the right things. He was totally against the chemicals.”
Wood was employed by the Bengals from 1975, Paul Brown’s last season as the team’s head coach, until 2002. (Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports)
Krumrie was training when he got the news of Wood’s death on Wednesday. At the rower, he said he did “a few extra moves” for his former coach.
