Virginia Military Institute Athletics Director Dr. Dave Diles announced that Dave Forman has been named Director of Strength and Conditioning/ Head Football Strength Coach and will begin his duties in June. Forman will direct and supervise all aspects of Keydet football strength and conditioning.
Forman replaces Jimmy Whitten who accepted a position in the VMI Physical Education Department beginning with the 2016-17 academic year.
Forman comes to VMI from the University of Colorado where he was the Director of Sports Performance working the Buffaloes’ football program from January, 2013 through December, 2015. Forman oversaw the entire CU Sports Performance department and designed and outfitted a 12,500 square foot $1.5 million Champions Center Weight Room.
Prior to his time at Colorado, Forman served as Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach at San Jose State University from January, 2011 through January, 2013 and was a staff member of the 2012 squad that was a Military Bowl participant. Forman had moved to San Jose State from nearby Stanford where he served three years as a Cardinal strength and conditioning assistant coach from 2008-10 and worked with the football and wrestling programs. In Forman’s final year at Stanford, the Cardinal under head coach Jim Harbaugh enjoyed a banner season going 12-1 including an Orange Bowl title and a final fourth place ranking in the major polls. While in Palo Alto, Forman also worked with Stanford’s wrestling program that finished a university all-time best 11th place at the 2011 NCAA Championships.
Forman has ties to the Shenandoah Valley area at James Madison University where he began his strength and conditioning career as an undergraduate student assistant and was a member of the football team as a linebacker from 1999-2002. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from JMU and later earned an M.S. in Exercise Science at the University of Mississippi, Oxford in 2006.
“Coach Dave Forman brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to VMI,” said VMI head football coach Scott Wachenheim. “First, Dave’s time at Stanford gave him access to the most recent innovations occurring in the strength and conditioning field. Secondly, Dave gained valuable leadership skills by implementing his own programs at San Jose State and the University of Colorado. Finally, Dave gained familiarity with the state of Virginia and Virginia Military Institute while playing football and graduating from James Madison University. I believe Dave will have an immediate positive impact on our program.”
Forman’s extensive work experience also includes an internship with the Detroit Tigers 2004 spring training and a volunteer strength and conditioning coach at the University of Southern California in 2005. He completed a summer internship at the University of Notre Dame in 2006 before holding positions as Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Sacramento State (2006-07) and Northern Arizona (2007) prior to his move to Stanford.
“I am very honored and grateful for this opportunity, “said Forman. “Thank you to Dr. Diles, Coach Wachenheim, and everybody involved with the search process for their trust and faith in me. I am ecstatic to be able to return to the Shenandoah Valley, and I am so fortunate and excited to get to work with the very high caliber cadet-athletes of VMI.”
A native of Glendale, N.Y., Forman is a graduate of St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.). He is certified by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association and National Strength and Conditioning Association.