Georgia making changes in strength and conditioning program

Georgia has officially announced the changes: Joe Tereshinski is in as the new director of the strength program. He replaces Dave Van Halanger, who will become an administrative assistant to head coach Mark Richt.

Tereshinski has been the strength and conditioning assistant and video coordinator. He has worked at Georgia since 1982, and his son Joe Tereshinski III lettered at quarterback for Georgia from 2004-06.

“Joe has had a hand in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program for nearly 30 years,” Richt said in a statement. “I’m excited about what he can bring to our program in this capacity and the direction he’ll set as we move forward.”

Van Halanger’s new duties were described as including a new mentoring program, former player initiatives and character development.

“Dave has made immeasurable contributions to our football program and been a major factor in our 96 victories over the last ten years,” Richt said in the statement.

“This role for Dave will allow us to tap into many of his strengths that will be of great benefit to Georgia, to me, and most of all to our student-athletes in a very unique way. He will be outstanding in working with and motivating our young people in these many areas that will bring strong guidance to them in their daily lives.”

The changes will take effect on Jan. 1, according to UGA.

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David Pollack, the former All-American linebacker at Georgia, described Tereshinski and Van Halanger as "polar opposites", and for that reason thinks the move could be beneficial.

“Coach Van Halanger is one of the sweetest human beings you’ll ever meet," Pollack said. "Such a good team builder and motivator. One of those guys you could always go to. A father-figure type guy. Coach T, you can go to him anytime you want to, but he might have a switch waiting for you. He’s very, very old school.

"I don’t think there’s anyone that ever pushed me harder than coach T. Just old school, hard work, you’re going to do things the hard way. He’s just got that really passionate, fiery, he’s gonna let you know if you’re not doing it his way. It’s different.”
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Here's an update: Joe Tereshinski, whose current title is strenght and conditioning and video coordinator, is being put in charge of the entire strength program, and John Kasay Sr. is being coming on board as an assistant. That's according to a source.

Kasay was the assistant strength coach under Vince Dooley. His son is a former Bulldog kicker now with the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

A former player, who will remain anonymous because the move hasn't been made official, was fully on board with the change: "Coach T is a stud. I'm telling you that is such a great move it ain't even funny."

It's not clear what happens to Dave Van Halanger, who has overseen the strength program since Mark Richt was hired at Georgia in 2001.
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It looks like I'll have to update this later, and will do so in this space. But in the meantime, there is confirmation that changes are coming in the Georgia football team's strength and conditioning program.

"I can tell you there is some administrative re-organization coming in the football program," Claude Felton, UGA's associate athletics director for communication, said to media members in an e-mail on Thursday. "I should have more info later today so stay tuned."

Former Georgia player Kelin Johnson, who now works in the media, made a reference earlier on Thursday on Twitter to Dave Van Halanger, the director of the strength and conditioning program:

"Coach Van..You will be missed so much! Thank you for all you have done for me and my fellow teammates! We Love you!"