The Brooklyn Nets have added four new hires to the franchise: Zach Weatherford as director of player performance, Dan Meehan as head strength and conditioning coach, Lloyd Beckett as a head athletic trainer and physical therapist, and Aisling Toolan as director of physical therapy, the team announced on Thursday.
Kenny Atkinson’s massive overhaul of the Nets’ staff continues, less than 24 hours after the news that former 76ers’ assistant coach Will Weaver would join as well. Weatherford boasts an incredible bio that we’re going to let speak for itself:
Zach Weatherford joins the Nets after spending the past two years as human performance manager at the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Command. Weatherford was appointed as the first Naval Special Warfare human performance program manager to facilitate the program across the Navy SEAL/SWCC Force of over 8,500 active duty personnel. From 2010-14, Weatherford served as human performance manager for the U.S. Naval Special Warfare Group ONE. Prior to his military experience, Weatherford held multiple roles with the U.S. Olympic Committee. From 2007-09, Weatherford held the position of sport physiologist for the U.S. Olympic Committee, where he led a multidisciplinary team of science-based human performance professionals which implemented platforms across 17 U.S. Olympic Team programs.
The Nets and Atkinson have made quick work since the head coach was unveiled last month, clearly putting a focus on player performance and analytics. The NBA Draft, now less than a month away, will have Atkinson and general manager Sean Marks searching for any underrated, forgotten, or disposed player — ultimately, hires like these will certainly help with that pursuit in the long run.
The full release and additional bios can be read at the link below.
Brooklyn Nets — Nets announce Athletic Performance Department
