The Sacramento Kings announced a significant addition to the club yesterday with the hiring of Chip Schaefer as the team’s new Director of Athletic Performance. Schaefer is well known throughout the NBA, having been a part of 11 championship teams over his 25-year career with the Bulls and Lakers.
Vivek Ranadivé and his management team continue to add impressive pieces to the Kings organization. The new ownership group is sparing no expense in their attempt to build a world class franchise, something the previous regime was no longer capable of. The hiring of Schaefer is just another example of the new Kings’ mindset.
“One of the things I very strongly believe in, is hiring the very best people for every single position,” Ranadivé said during Mullin’s introductory press conference on Tuesday.
In his new role as advisor to Ranadivé, Mullin gave his blessing for the Schaefer hire after consulting with both Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson. Schaefer was the Head Trainer in Chicago from 1990-1998 while Jordan and Jackson were leading the Bulls to six championships.
“Schaefer’s role with Sacramento includes design and implementation of all strength and conditioning programs aimed at maximizing core strength, explosiveness, speed and endurance,” according to the official press release.
He will work alongside longtime Kings Director of Sports Medicine, Pete Youngman, and Head Athletic Trainer, Manny Romero. Schaefer is replacing former Strength and Conditioning Coach Daniel Shapiro, who left Sacramento this summer to take a similar position with the University of Washington.
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