Nittany Lion strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald is the latest to be featured in Penn State’s ongoing video series which shows the ins and outs of the football program.
He’s the only coach who can see players almost any day of the year. Fitzgerald has become a crucial part of second year head coach Bill O’Brien’s success at Penn State. Close friends on and off the field, O’Brien often comes in early in the morning, when only he and Fitzgerald are in the office. The two men frequently use that time to talk about how to improve the program.
Along with O’Brien, Fitzgerald is one of the major reasons that All-Big Ten receiver Allen Robinson stayed at Penn State despite the open door policy the NCAA granted to all Penn State players. That open door transfer option remains in effect until training camp starts later this summer.
“We’ve really bonded with the coaching staff and like what they’re doing,” Robinson said. “We like Craig Fitzgerald and what he’s doing, I’ll call him up and he’ll come in early in the morning and workout with me. We have a great staff here and there aren’t too many places where you can go and find a better staff. I think this is good place to be.”
Robinson isn’t the only player who feels that way about the weight room general. In many ways Penn State’s fairly stable roster is due to Fitzgerald’s outgoing, and sometimes fiery, personality.
The latest video in the series can be seen below.
