Gus Felder
A former standout at Penn State University, Gus Felder, brings over a decade of coaching experience to the University of Georgia Strength & Conditioning program. Felder was named Assistant Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the Bulldog Nation in 2014.
Felder obtained his Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Health Education from Penn State while serving as a graduate assistant football coach. He was also groomed there as an undergraduate and earned his bachelor's in Kinesiology.
Felder played four years with the Nittany Lions from 1998-2002 and was named to the All Big Ten team in 2001 and 2002 at the left tackle and guard positions. After a short stint in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns, he began his coaching career in the high school ranks with Simon Gratz High School (Philadelphia), Melbourne High School (Florida), and State College Area High School (State College Pa) as head and assistant coaching positions. Felder also spent time at Cheyney University, and Clark Atlanta University, serving as the Director Strength and Conditioning and assistant football coach, with both Universities.
He is a native of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who prepped at Berwick Area High School where he was an All-America offensive lineman. Felder is most inspired by his high school football coach George Curry and his words: "When you work hard great things happen".
Felder and his wife Kelly have five children Destiny, 17; Jazmine, 13; Alexa, 10, EJ, 6; and Faith, 4.
"Gus has a tremendous background in football and strength and conditioning specifically," UGA head coach Mark Richt said. "He has been a great addition to our staff and I'm sure our players respond to him in a very positive way."
Felder, who was actually involved in boxing before playing football, will continue and further develop the team's mixed martial arts program in additional to strength and conditioning duties.
John Thomas
John Thomas, head football strength and conditioning coach at Penn State for 20 years, was named Sr. Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Georgia in March, 2012.
At Penn State, his strenuous program was known for producing fourth quarter success. Penn State won seven games decided by 10 points or less in 2011 and has won 22 such games between 2005-11. His efforts were recognized with his 2002 selection as Master of Strength and Conditioning Coach, a title held by fewer than 30 people worldwide. He also was chosen the 1997 National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach-of-the-Year.
During his tenure at Penn State in the weight room, he coached 124 All-Big Ten players, 81 NFL draft picks including 17 first rounders. The Nittany Lions earned 16 post-season bowl invitations during that time. Twenty-five of his former graduate assistants have become college or professional level strength coaches or personal trainers, all with Master's Degrees.
Thomas spent two seasons at the U.S. Military Academy, the second as the head of the strength and conditioning program in 1990-91. A Muskingum College graduate, he started at defensive tackle for two years and at offensive guard for two seasons and was an All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference first-team pick and a second-team Division II All-American. He was inducted into the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2008.
Thomas spent two years as a graduate assistant football and strength coach at Toledo. At the University of the South (1986-89), he coached football and served as a strength coach in football and baseball.
He is married to the former Kelly Sims of Huntland, Tenn. and they have three children: Jacob (1/5/94), Logan (3/16/96) and Grace (5/1/2000).
Kelin Johnson
Johnson is a former defensive back for Richt at Georgia. He re-joined the program as a graduate assistant a few years ago, then joined the strength program last year.
A former standout at Penn State University, Gus Felder, brings over a decade of coaching experience to the University of Georgia Strength & Conditioning program. Felder was named Assistant Strength & Conditioning Specialist with the Bulldog Nation in 2014.
Felder obtained his Master of Education Degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Health Education from Penn State while serving as a graduate assistant football coach. He was also groomed there as an undergraduate and earned his bachelor's in Kinesiology.
Felder played four years with the Nittany Lions from 1998-2002 and was named to the All Big Ten team in 2001 and 2002 at the left tackle and guard positions. After a short stint in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns, he began his coaching career in the high school ranks with Simon Gratz High School (Philadelphia), Melbourne High School (Florida), and State College Area High School (State College Pa) as head and assistant coaching positions. Felder also spent time at Cheyney University, and Clark Atlanta University, serving as the Director Strength and Conditioning and assistant football coach, with both Universities.
He is a native of North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who prepped at Berwick Area High School where he was an All-America offensive lineman. Felder is most inspired by his high school football coach George Curry and his words: "When you work hard great things happen".
Felder and his wife Kelly have five children Destiny, 17; Jazmine, 13; Alexa, 10, EJ, 6; and Faith, 4.
"Gus has a tremendous background in football and strength and conditioning specifically," UGA head coach Mark Richt said. "He has been a great addition to our staff and I'm sure our players respond to him in a very positive way."
Felder, who was actually involved in boxing before playing football, will continue and further develop the team's mixed martial arts program in additional to strength and conditioning duties.
John Thomas
John Thomas, head football strength and conditioning coach at Penn State for 20 years, was named Sr. Associate Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Georgia in March, 2012.
At Penn State, his strenuous program was known for producing fourth quarter success. Penn State won seven games decided by 10 points or less in 2011 and has won 22 such games between 2005-11. His efforts were recognized with his 2002 selection as Master of Strength and Conditioning Coach, a title held by fewer than 30 people worldwide. He also was chosen the 1997 National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach-of-the-Year.
During his tenure at Penn State in the weight room, he coached 124 All-Big Ten players, 81 NFL draft picks including 17 first rounders. The Nittany Lions earned 16 post-season bowl invitations during that time. Twenty-five of his former graduate assistants have become college or professional level strength coaches or personal trainers, all with Master's Degrees.
Thomas spent two seasons at the U.S. Military Academy, the second as the head of the strength and conditioning program in 1990-91. A Muskingum College graduate, he started at defensive tackle for two years and at offensive guard for two seasons and was an All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference first-team pick and a second-team Division II All-American. He was inducted into the Muskingum Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2008.
Thomas spent two years as a graduate assistant football and strength coach at Toledo. At the University of the South (1986-89), he coached football and served as a strength coach in football and baseball.
He is married to the former Kelly Sims of Huntland, Tenn. and they have three children: Jacob (1/5/94), Logan (3/16/96) and Grace (5/1/2000).
Kelin Johnson
Johnson is a former defensive back for Richt at Georgia. He re-joined the program as a graduate assistant a few years ago, then joined the strength program last year.
