Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
NFL Experience: 7
Years with Buccaneers: 4
Kurtis Shultz enters his first season as head strength and conditioning coach, and fourth season overall, with the Buccaneers after serving as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the past three seasons (2006-2008). Shultz oversees the implementation of the Buccaneers year-round conditioning program while also maintaining the 9,353 square foot workout facility he helped design.Last year Shultz helped G Davin Joseph and undrafted rookie RB/KR Clifton Smith earn their first trips to the Pro Bowl while also helping veterans CB Ronde Barber and LB Derrick Brooks earn their fifth and 11th selections, respectively. Shultz was a key member of the coaching staff in 2007 that led Tampa Bay to the NFC South division title while helping QB Jeff Garcia reach his fourth Pro Bowl. Additionally under Shultz, G Arron Sears and DE Gaines Adams were named to the 2007 PFW/PFWA All-Rookie team.
In his first season with the Buccaneers in 2006, Shultz helped three Buccaneers earn trips to the Pro Bowl, Barber, Brooks and LS Dave Moore. Shultz was also vital in the preparation and layout of the 9,353-square foot weight room building at the team’s new training facility. Additionally, he has implemented swimming and boxing into the Buccaneers offseason conditioning program.
Shultz joined the Buccaneers after spending two seasons (2004-2005) with the Minnesota Vikings as head strength and conditioning coach. In his first season with the Vikings in 2004, Shultz implemented a dynamic and intense strength and conditioning program. The results were immediate as the Vikings made dramatic gains in strength, flexibility and endurance. The 2005 Vikings continued to build on the foundation that Shultz’ program established as the team sent a pair of first-year Vikings, FS Darren Sharper and KR/WR Koren Robinson, to the Pro Bowl.
Shultz came to the Vikings after spending the 2003 season as assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Cincinnati Bengals. Shultz was part of a first-year Bengals staff under head coach Marvin Lewis that went 8-8, the best record by a Bengals club since the 8-8 team in 1996. The 2003 Bengals were able to stay remarkably healthy, losing only two players to injured reserve.
Shultz gained the bulk of his professional experience as strength coach for the University of Maryland basketball team, helping the team to the NCAA title during the 2001-2002 season in his third season with the team. Shultz left Maryland for the Bengals during the 2002-2003 season but was part of a Terrapin program that played in the NCAA Tournament each of his four seasons on the staff, advancing to the Final Four in 2000-2001 and the Sweet 16 in 2002-2003. While working for the Terrapins, he also headed the strength and conditioning programs of four Johns Hopkins University sports.
Shultz got his start in coaching at Loyola College (MD), where he spent four years (1995-1998). He diversified the Loyola program by incorporating CSA kickboxing into their traditional workouts. During his collegiate positions, Shultz also spent time working as a personal trainer at Padonia Fitness Center, an elite fitness facility in the Baltimore area. He served as a consultant and kick-boxing instructor for the Baltimore Ravens and trained an elite list of professional athletes, including 2000 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Ray Lewis and former Baltimore Orioles Jerry Hairston and Gary Matthews, Jr. More than a dozen professional lacrosse players also turned to Shultz for training.
Shultz was a forward on the Maryland basketball team from 1991-1995, playing in 67 career games. A team captain as a senior, Shultz was a part of Terps teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament in his final two seasons. As a prep player, Shultz played at prestigious DeMatha High in Washington, D.C. under legendary coach Morgan Wooten.
Shultz was born on March 10, 1972 in Baltimore, Maryland. He majored in kinesiology/physical education at Maryland. Shultz is married to the former Sharon Jacob of Cincinnati and the couple has one son, Jacob.
SHULTZ AT A GLANCE
- 1995-98…Loyola College, Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 1999-2002...Johns Hopkins, Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2000-03...Maryland, Strength Coach – Men's Basketball
- 2003…Cincinnati Bengals, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2004-05…Minnesota Vikings, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2006-08…Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
- 2009…Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
