Chris Carlisle is in his seventh year as USC's head strength and conditioning coach. He joined the Trojan program in February of 2001.
He was named the 2006 National Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength and Conditioning Coaches Society.
USC played in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, 2003 Orange Bowl, 2004 Rose Bowl, 2005 Orange Bowl (BCS Championship Game), 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS Championship Game) and 2007 Rose Bowl. The Trojans won national championships in 2003 and 2004.
He came to USC from Tennessee, where he was the associate head strength and conditioning coach for 3 years (1998-2000). The Volunteer football team won the 1998 national title and Southeastern Conference championship.
Carlisle, 44, began his career as the head football coach and strength coach at Dodge (Neb.) High in 1985. He then spent 6 seasons (1986-91) as an offensive line coach and strength coach at Blytheville (Ark.) High. He next was a strength and conditioning graduate assistant coach at Arkansas for 2 years (1992-93) before becoming the head football coach and strength coach at Subiaco (Ark.) Academy, a college prep school, for 4 seasons (1993-96). He spent 1997 as an offensive line coach and strength coach at Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Tex. (Trinity was the NJCAA national champion that season).
After playing offensive line at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Ia., in 1980, he was a 3-year (1981-83) starting offensive lineman at Chadron (Neb.) State College, earning All-Area honors.
He earned his bachelor's degree in education from Chadron State in 1985 and a master's degree in history from Arkansas in 1997.
He prepped at Mason City (Ia.) High, where he starred in football.
He was born on Aug. 7, 1962. He and his wife, Louon, have a son, Alex, 6.
He learned he had Hodgkin's Disease in December of 2000, began radiation treatments in Tennessee (where he was still the Volunteers' associate strength and conditioning coach), was hired by USC in February of 2001, kept his illness a secret except to Trojan head coach Pete Carroll, continued treatments in Tennessee and at USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Hospital, then doctors told him in the summer of 2001 that the cancer was in remission. He informed the USC players of his ordeal at the start of fall 2001 camp. He was 1 of 17 nominees for the 2003 Most Courageous Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America and was 1 of 11 nominees for the 2005 award.
He is assisted by Jamie Yanchar, Charr Gahagan, Bryan Bailey, Ivan Lewis and Sarah Stewart.
BIRTHDAY: August 7, 1962
FAMILY: wife, Louon; son, Alex, 7
HIGH SCHOOL: Mason City HS (Mason City, Iowa)
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: North Iowa Area CC (1980), Chadron (Neb.) State College (1981-1983) Offensive lineman
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 23 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2006 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Rose |
| 2005 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Rose |
| 2004 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Orange (Nat'l Champions) |
| 2003 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Rose (Nat'l Champions) |
| 2002 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Orange |
| 2001 | USC | Head Strength Coach | Las Vegas |
| 2000 | Tenn. | Assoc. Head Strength Coach | Cotton |
| 1999 | Tenn. | Assoc. Head Strength Coach | Fiesta |
| 1998 | Tenn. | Assoc. Head Strength Coach | Fiesta (Nat'l Champions) |
| 1997 | Trinity Valley CC | OL Coach | JC Nat'l Champions |
| 1996 | Subiaco (Ark.) Academy | Head Coach | ----- |
| 1995 | Subiaco (Ark.) Academy | Head Coach | ----- |
| 1994 | Subiaco (Ark.) Academy | Head Coach | ----- |
| 1993 | Subiaco (Ark.) Academy | Head Coach | ----- |
| 1992 | Arkansas | Graduate Assistant | ----- |
| 1991 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1990 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1989 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1988 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1987 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1986 | Blytheville (Ark.) HS | OL/Strength Coach | ----- |
| 1985 | Dodge (Neb.) HS | Head Coach | ----- |
