Hartman, Christopher

Christopher Hartman – (1999)

 

An outstanding athletic career, both on the high school and collegiate level, proved to be an ideal launching pad for Christopher (Chris) Hartman into an athletic career far beyond his wildest dreams.

A 1982 graduate of Lorain High School, Hartman followed in the footsteps of his father, excelling in football and basketball. He was a three-year two-way player, playing tight end on offense, and team captain his senior year in football. He earned first team All-District and All-Lorain County honors and was second team All-Buckeye Conference.

Hartman also was a three-year starter and letterman and was team captain his senior year on the LHS basketball team. His honors included first team All-Lorain County and second team All-Buckeye Conference. His father, Lorain Sports Hall of Fame inductee (1980) Carl Hartman and 1997 LSHOF president, was a standout in football and basketball who also was an outstanding performer in track and baseball. He was a Detroit Tigers baseball draft selection.

Chris moved on to Bowling Green State University, his father’s alma mater, where he would become a football four-year defensive workhorse at linebacker and defensive end and team captain his senior year. A second team All-Mid-American Conference selection, he posted career records of 368 tackles and five pass interceptions, and his 1982 and 1985 Falcons teams played in the California Bowl games.

Professionally, Chris became a strength and conditioning coach, beginning with San Diego State University (1986-87). This led to his role as assistant strength and conditioning coach with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League in 1987-88, and as head strength coach in 1989. Chris then took a strength and conditioning assistant coach’s job at Stanford University (1990-91), followed by S & C coach of hockey at the University of Minnesota. From 1997 to the present, he has been head S & C coach of the Gophers’ football team and, in 1998, was voted Big Ten Strength Coach of the Year.

Chris and his wife, Karen, have three sons: Jared, 6, Steven, 4, and Kevin, 1.