Damon Harrington is entering his third season at Grambling as the head strength and conditioning coach.
He previously spent four seasons as the head strength and conditioning coach for the University of California Berkley football program from 2013-16. Harrington oversaw all aspects of the Cal football strength and conditioning program year-round on a day-to-day basis and supervised five assistant strength and conditioning coaches in his role.
Harrington was instrumental in Cal's seven-win turnaround on the field from a 1-11 record in 2013 to an 8-5 mark in 2015 that is tied for the second best in school history behind only the eight-win improvement from a 2-10 mark in 1946 to a 10-1 record in 1948. Harrington's focus at Cal was on designing a program to prepare the team's players to be as physically and mentally tough as possible in order to play hard for four quarters and make the plays at the end of games that ultimately lead to victory.
The team’s conditioning level paid off with 10 comeback victories between 2014-16 including six in the fourth quarter. The team also won five games determined by plays in the final two minutes including three times on its final play and a pair of overtime contests. Three of Cal's wins in 2016 came in dramatic fashion at home against nationally-ranked Texas and Utah, as well at Oregon.
Harrington also implemented the Swagger Games that became a staple of the team's strength and conditioning workouts in January of 2014 during his first full offseason at Cal. In addition to the physical conditioning prowess the team gained, the program helped football student-athletes develop a great sense of pride, teamwork and camaraderie, both in and out of the weight room. The program featured football student-athletes incorporating six areas of competition (academic, agility, combative, self-discipline, speed, strength) into a program designed to improve leadership and mental fortitude. Harrington credited the staff he built at Cal for much of the success.
Harrington had two stints as the head strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater Louisiana Tech prior to his arrival at Cal, serving in the role from 2006 through the team’s 2013 spring workouts and also from 2002-03 after spending two previous seasons as an assistant in the Bulldogs’ strength and conditioning program (2000-01). He was also the assistant director of player development at Georgia Tech from 2004-05.
Harrington was instrumental in improving Louisiana Tech’s strength and conditioning program, with Bulldog football players breaking 26 strength records (by position) during his final seven years with the school. During the same period, Louisiana Tech had seven fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins. Harrington and his staff implemented the Dawg Fight Program, which incorporated ATTITUDE, TEAM, DISCIPLINE, TOUGHNESS and EFFORT, during his time at Louisiana Tech.
Harrington began his collegiate playing career at Louisiana Tech as a walk-on in 1995 before earning a scholarship for his sophomore season. He started every game at linebacker during his final two campaigns and combined to make 243 tackles in those two seasons with 121 stops as a 1998 junior and 122 during his senior season in 1999. Harrington earned All-Louisiana honors both campaigns, while also being named to the All-Independent team by Football News as a 1999 senior.
Harrington earned his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana Tech in fitness and wellness in 2000 and completed his master’s degree from the school in sports science in 2002. Harrington holds a certification in strength and conditioning from the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa).
Harrington and his wife, Meg, have one son, Luke, and one daughter, Addie.
