Georgia football coach Mark Richt announced Thursday that strength and conditioning coordinator Dave Van Halanger will be reassigned to an administrative role and that his replacement will be longtime strength assistant Joe Tereshinski.
The moves involving the two 57-year-olds will take effect Jan. 1, a day after the 6-6 Bulldogs are expected to conclude their season in the Liberty Bowl against the Conference USA champion. Georgia is no longer viewed among the SEC’s more physical teams, outrushing league foes 23 times in 32 games between 2003-06 but in only eight of 16 games the past two seasons.
Tereshinski has been Georgia’s strength and conditioning assistant since 1982, and he also has served as video and game analysis coordinator, walk-on program director and summer camp coordinator. He was a starting center for the Bulldogs during the 1975-76 seasons, which culminated in trips to the Cotton and Sugar bowls.
“Joe has had a hand in Georgia’s strength and conditioning program for nearly 30 years,” Richt said. “I’m excited about what he can bring to our program in this capacity and the direction he’ll set as we move forward.”
Tereshinski is the father of former Bulldogs quarterback Joe Tereshinski III, who made four starts during the ’06 season before being replaced by Matthew Stafford.
When Richt left his job as Florida State’s offensive coordinator to take the Georgia opening following the 2000 season, Van Halanger also moved to Athens to assume the same role he had performed with the Seminoles since 1983. Van Halanger now will oversee and work with programs that will include character education, former student-athlete development and community service initiatives.
“Dave has made immeasurable contributions to our football program and is a major factor in our 96 victories over the last 10 years,” Richt said. “This role for Dave will allow us to tap into many of his strengths that will be of great benefit to Georgia, to me, and most of all to our student-athletes in a very unique way.”