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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Strength & Conditioning
Staff
Paul Chapman, Director of Strength & Conditioning
paul.chapman@unh.edu
603-862-4081
Trevor Sylvester, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
trevor.sylvester@unh.edu
603-862-3993
Lily Bodington, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
603-862-3993
Hannah Keller, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach
hannah.keller@unh.edu
603-862-3993
Demetri Butts, Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
603-862-3993
Connor Smith, Graduate Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
603-862-3993
Donate to Strength & Conditioning
Jerry Azumah Performance Center
The Jerry Azumah Performance Center opened its doors to UNH student-athletes in 2003. Azumah, a 1999 graduate, made a monetary donation to renovate the center while in the midst of a successful, seven-year career as a defensive back/kick-return specialist for the Chicago Bears (1999-2005). The Center opened with 5,000 pounds of Olympic weights, 7,000 pounds of dumbbells, 14 Powerlift platform stations, 12 Hammer strength machines and an additional 15,000 pounds of weights. The Center was renovated in 2019-20 with a $1.5 million HVAC system that features state-of-the-art air filtration. Interior upgrades included UNH-branded inlaid platforms, side racks, a new 20-yard turf surface and upgraded throwing wall that totaled $300,000 in modernization improvements.
About Jerry Azumah
Jerry Azumah '99 was the most decorated running back in UNH history and graduated as the all-time leading rusher (now No. 4) in Division I-AA football (now FCS) with 6,193 yards. He was the first player in D-I AA history to register four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. During his 1998 senior campaign, the native of Worcester, Mass., rumbled for a school record 2,195 yards and 22 TDs in the final season of legendary head coach Bill Bowes' career. For his performance, Azumah won the prestigous Walter Payton Award as the nation's best offensive player and won UNH's inaugural Jim Urquhart Student-Athlete of the Year award.
In June 2003, Azumah became the youngest alumnus (25) to donate more than $100,000 to the University when his gift helped renovate and overhaul the newly named Jerry Azumah Performance Center in the UNH Field House.
Azumah played running back for the Wildcats from 1995-98, compiling 60 rushing touchdowns, seven receiving TDs and two kickoff-return touchdowns. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 1999 draft and went on to a successful seven-year career (1999-2005) with the Bears as a defensive back/kick return specialist. He was elected to the NFL Pro Bowl as a kick returner in 2004.