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Christopher Friend is entering his third season as the Associate Director of Football Sports Performance in 2025.
Prior to his arrival in 2023, Friend spent five years as a member of the Ohio State performance staff. He was elevated to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach where he oversaw all aspects of Strength and Conditioning and Performance for both the Men’s & 2022 NCAA National Champion Women’s Ice Hockey Programs.
In his three seasons with the women’s hockey program, Friend has played an instrumental role in two WCHA Final Face-off Championships, two Frozen Four appearances, and the team’s first ever NCAA National Championship in 2022.
On the men’s side, Friend has helped in the performance and development of several Buckeyes who have gone to play professionally. In the off-season, he trained several Buckeye Pro Alum.
He joined the Buckeye Sports Performance Staff in January of 2018 as a Football Strength and Conditioning Intern.
Friend graduated from Eureka College where he majored in Kinesiology and Exercise Science and was a three-time all-conference linebacker. He then went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Sport Coaching from the Ohio State University.
Previously, Friend worked at Mississippi State University as a football strength and conditioning intern.
Friend is from Washington, Ill., where he attended Washington Community High School. Chris’ brother, Matt serves as the associate director of strength and conditioning at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.
Prior to his arrival in 2023, Friend spent five years as a member of the Ohio State performance staff. He was elevated to Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach where he oversaw all aspects of Strength and Conditioning and Performance for both the Men’s & 2022 NCAA National Champion Women’s Ice Hockey Programs.
In his three seasons with the women’s hockey program, Friend has played an instrumental role in two WCHA Final Face-off Championships, two Frozen Four appearances, and the team’s first ever NCAA National Championship in 2022.
On the men’s side, Friend has helped in the performance and development of several Buckeyes who have gone to play professionally. In the off-season, he trained several Buckeye Pro Alum.
He joined the Buckeye Sports Performance Staff in January of 2018 as a Football Strength and Conditioning Intern.
Friend graduated from Eureka College where he majored in Kinesiology and Exercise Science and was a three-time all-conference linebacker. He then went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Sport Coaching from the Ohio State University.
Previously, Friend worked at Mississippi State University as a football strength and conditioning intern.
Friend is from Washington, Ill., where he attended Washington Community High School. Chris’ brother, Matt serves as the associate director of strength and conditioning at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois.