Dan Dalrymple enters his third year as head strength & conditioning coach, with his efforts both in the offseason and during the season playing a critical role in the team’s success. For each player on the roster, Dalrymple prepares and coordinates comprehensive workout programs designed for the specific needs of their position group.

Prior to joining the Saints in 2006, Dalrymple had spent the previous 17 seasons in a similar capacity at Miami University (Ohio), including the last 16 as director of athletic conditioning, a program he built from the ground up. While the football team was a focus of his efforts, Dalrymple and his staff created workout regimens for every athletic program. He was promoted with the additional title of assistant athletic director in 2003.

Dalrymple has been certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association since 1991 and has been honored as a finalist for the organization’s coach of the year in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2006. He is one of only two NFL coaches in his field to be certified by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association as a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach.

Dalrymple has earned two certifications for USA Weightlifting that designate him as qualified to work with athletes in Olympic weightlifting and as a sports performance specialist.

After taking over the supervision of Miami’s strength and conditioning program in 1989, the football program posted a 116-72-9 record, had a streak of 12-straight winning seasons and went to bowl games in 2003 and 2004. Coupled with an intense work ethic and a constant evolution in his approach, Dalrymple’s success is also built on his lengthy background in football.

A 1988 graduate of Miami, Dalrymple was a four-year starter (1983-86) as an offensive lineman and was a first-team All-MAC selection his final two seasons, also earning honorable mention All-America accolades. He was one of three captains of the 1986 conference champion team. Dalrymple was later honored as one of five linemen on The Cincinnati Enquirer’s All-20th Century Miami football team and was elected to the school’s Hall of Fame in 2002.

After his college career and attending training camp with the Seattle Seahawks, Dalrymple returned to his alma mater as a student assistant coach in 1987. He served as a graduate assistant the following year on the coaching staff before being promoted to offensive line and strength coach in 1989. He was named strength & conditioning coordinator in December of that year. Dalrymple and his wife, Susan, recently had a daughter, Kylelyn.