Former IU Fullback David Ballou Returns to Indiana as New Strength and Conditioning Coach

Image Courtesy of Indiana Athletics

IU Athletics Release

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana head football coach Tom Allen announced today that David Ballou (buh-lou) will serve as the program's head strength and conditioning coach. A former Hoosier fullback, Ballou spent 2017 as the University of Notre Dame's co-director of football strength and conditioning.
 
"David Ballou is one of the more highly-respected strength coaches in the country," Allen said. "I have known him for many years and have followed his work at both the high school and collegiate levels. We are looking forward to him working with our program and helping us achieve our goals on and off the field."
 
Ballou spent 14 years as head strength and conditioning coach at Avon (Ind.) High School. He lettered with the Hoosiers in 1997, 1998 and 1999, and was recognized as the Hoosier Strength Challenge Champion. Ballou graduated in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and is looking forward to his return to Bloomington.
 
"It's great to come back home," Ballou said. "I have loved this university and football program for as long as I can remember. It's very special to me. I could not be more excited to get a chance to work for Coach Allen, a man of high integrity and a great person. I am committed to helping this program win football games consistently, year after year, and winning a Big Ten championship."
 
In Ballou's lone campaign in South Bend, the Fighting Irish went 10-3 with a victory over LSU in the Citrus Bowl. ND posted a 4-8 record prior to his arrival. He helped develop the recipients of the Joe Moore Award, honoring the best offensive line in the country.
 
Prior to his arrival in South Bend, Ballou worked as the head football strength and conditioning coach at IMG, where the program made huge strides in speed and injury preventions. The 2015 team went undefeated (9-0) and ranked No. 4 in the country (USA Today). IMG also went unblemished (12-0) in 2016 and rated No. 1 nationally (MaxPreps). 
 
In 2016, seven IMG players were laser-timed at under 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash one year after having no players achieve that benchmark. Twenty-one of the 22 season-opening starters also started in the final game of the season.
 
Ballou was a part of the 2016 and 2017 NFL Combine Training at IMG. Over these two years, he trained 26 players that were drafted into the NFL. 

During Ballou's tenure at Avon (2002-14), teams won six state championships in multiple sports and seven others were finalists. He assisted in the development of 80 NCAA Division I athletes.

Ballou was a finalist for the 2014 NSCA National High School Strength Coach of the Year Award. He has held the credential as a certified strength and conditioning specialist (with distinction) since 2001.

In 2009, Ballou earned his master's degree in human movement from A.T. Still University.

Ballou is married to the former Leah Horn, a Bloomington native, IU pole vaulter, two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and Indiana graduate. The couple has two daughters, Mallory (13) and Aubrey (10).