Ray Oliver
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| Ray Oliver | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | June 19, 1961 |
| Place of birth | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Position(s) | Strength and Conditioning |
| College | University of Kansas |
Ray Oliver, a 22-year veteran in pro and college sports, is in his third season as Bengals assistant strength and conditioning coach.
In 2004, Oliver became an integral part of a program that has been considered a major factor in the team’s marked improvement. The program has provided a noticeable upgrade in structure and technology for Bengals players, including an offseason regimen that is considerably more detailed than it was in previous years.
"Ray has brought a wealth of knowledge to our efforts," says Chip Morton, Bengals head strength and conditioning coach. "He’s a great asset as we continue to develop and improve what we’re doing."
A Cincinnati native, the 45-year-old Oliver adds a longtime passion for the Bengals to his expertise in his field.
"I grew up from age seven living and dying with the Bengals every Sunday," he says. "To come back and be a part of this team is something I couldn’t be happier about."
Oliver came to the Bengals after three years as Director of Performance Enhancement for the University of Memphis basketball program. His resume includes prior experience as a strength and conditioning coach in the NFL (Tampa Bay 1992) and in the NBA (New Jersey Nets, ’96-97).
He attended Withrow and Taft high schools in Cincinnati, and went on to play football at Ohio State (defensive back in 1980-81). He transferred to the University of Cincinnati in 1982, and while sitting out the ’82 season under transfer rules, he became interested in strength training under UC head football coach Mike Gottfried.
When Gottfried moved to Kansas University in 1983, Oliver decided to end his football playing career. He followed Gottfried to KU as a transfer student and volunteer coach, and earned his bachelor’s degree from Kansas in 1986.
Oliver worked in strength and conditioning at the University of Pittsburgh in the mid-1980s, and during that time he also worked a Bengals training camp and several Bengals minicamps as a volunteer strength and conditioning assistant.
Oliver has a long association with University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari, having worked with Calipari previously at the University of Kansas, the University of Pittsburgh and with the New Jersey Nets. Oliver also worked under coach Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky from 1989-92. During that period, he was also the strength and conditioning coach for the United States Ski Jump team.
Oliver spent his 1992 NFL season at Tampa Bay under head coach Sam Wyche, the former Bengals head coach.
Oliver’s work with NFL athletes also includes the years 1997-99, when he was involved in programs for 35 NFL players while working for the Synergy company in Columbia, S.C.
Ray and his wife, Winone, have two children, Michael and Ashley.
