Ross Kolodziej

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1978)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Ross Kolodziej

| image =

| caption =

| number =

| current_team = Stanford Cardinal

| position = Defensive line coach

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|5|11}}

| birth_place = Stevens Point, Wisconsin, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 292

| high_school = Stevens Point Area

| college = Wisconsin (2000)

| draftyear = 2001

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 230

| pastteams =

| pastcoaching =

  • Wisconsin (2012)
    Graduate assistant
  • Pittsburgh (2013)
    Assistant strength and conditioning coach
  • Pittsburgh (2014)
    Strength and conditioning coach
  • Wisconsin (2015–2020)
    Strength and conditioning coach
  • Wisconsin (2021–2022)
    Defensive line coach
  • Stanford (2023–present)
    Defensive line coach

| highlights =

| statlabel1 = Total tackles

| statvalue1 = 54

| statlabel2 = Sacks

| statvalue2 = 4.0

| statlabel3 = Forced fumbles

| statvalue3 = 2

| statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue4 = 2

| pfr = KoloRo20

}}

Ross Anthony Kolodziej (born May 11, 1978) is a former American football defensive tackle and current defensive line coach at Stanford. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KoloRo20.htm|title = Ross Kolodziej Stats|website = Pro-Football-Reference.com}} He played college football at Wisconsin

Kolodziej was also a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings and Omaha Nighthawks.

Professional playing career

Ross spent seven years in the NFL after initially being drafted by the Giants in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft.{{Cite web |title=2001 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2001/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-17 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}

Coaching career

Ross began his coaching career at his alma mater working as a graduate assistant for the 2012 season. He then followed Paul Chryst to Pitt where he served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach in 2013 . For the 2014 season Ross was promoted to head strength and conditioning coach.{{Cite web |title=Pitt football's new strength, conditioning coach Kolodziej proves to be big asset in hurry |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/Pitt/2014/04/19/New-strength-conditioning-coach-proves-to-be-big-asset-in-hurry/stories/201404190079 |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |language=en}} In 2015 Ross once again followed Chryst this time back to Wisconsin{{Cite web |last=Rosin |first=Andrew |date=January 6, 2015 |title=Report: Badgers alum Ross Kolodziej to join staff |url=https://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2015/1/6/7506821/report-badgers-alum-ross-kolodziej-to-join-staff |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=Bucky's 5th Quarter |language=en}} where he served as the head strength and conditioning coach from 2015 to 2020. In 2021 he was named the team's new defensive line coach{{Cite web |last=Potrykus |first=Jeff |title=Badgers promote Ross Kolodziej from head strength and conditioning coach to defensive line coach |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2021/01/20/ross-kolodziej-promoted-wisconsin-badgers-defensive-line-coach/4238294001/ |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |language=en-US}} taking over for Inoke Breckterfield, who left to join the staff at Vanderbilt.{{Cite web |last=Journal |first=Colten Bartholomew {{!}} Wisconsin State |title=Badgers move Ross Kolodziej to defensive line coach |url=https://madison.com/sports/college/football/badgers-move-ross-kolodziej-to-defensive-line-coach/article_b73a0458-170f-5c0d-b703-c784d6c2e279.html |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=madison.com |language=en}}

Personal life

Kolodziej and his wife, Miriam, have four children; Liz, Taylor, Asher and Abram.{{Cite web |title=Ross Kolodziej {{!}} Football Coach |url=https://uwbadgers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/ross-kolodziej/1574 |access-date=May 21, 2021 |website=Wisconsin Badgers |language=en}}

References

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