Buddy Morris is in his ninth season as the Cardinals strength and conditioning coach after being hired on 3/4/14. Previously with the Cleveland Browns (2002-04), Morris returned to the NFL in 2014 with the Cardinals after working at the collegiate level for 20 years. This past offseason, Morris was honored as the 2021 NFL Strength Coach of the Year at the NFL Combine.
A native of South Park, PA, Morris has an extensive background in strength and conditioning dating back to his first job at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, where he began his career in 1980 in the first of his three stints with the Panthers. He worked with the Panthers from 1980-89 and aided in the development of future Pro Football Hall of Famers Dan Marino, Rickey Jackson, Chris Doleman and Russ Grimm. During that period, Morris worked with 13 first round NFL draft picks and 15 first-team All-Americans.
Morris specializes in workouts that focus on conditioning, the biomobility, biodynamics and bioenergetic development.
After working as the wellness director for the Horizon Hospital System in Sharon, PA (1989-97), Morris returned to Pittsburgh from 1997-2001. During his second tenure at Pitt, the Panthers made three bowl appearances: the 1997 Liberty Bowl, the 2000 Insight.com Bowl and the 2001 Tangerine Bowl. Morris also developed the moniker for the Panthers strength and conditioning program, "The Pitt Iron Works." In 2009, Muscle & Fitness Magazine name Morris' gym one of the 10 toughest in America.
Morris then joined Butch Davis and the Cleveland Browns for three seasons before working at the University of Buffalo in 2006 as its Director of Sports Performance. After one season in Buffalo, he went back for his third stint at Pittsburgh under head coach Dave Wannstedt from 2007-10. The Panthers made the 2008 Sun Bowl and the 2009 Meineke Car Care Bowl during that period.
Following his third stop at Pitt, Morris and his family opened a private gym in Buffalo called the New York Sports Center where he worked with athletes at all levels through personal training, group fitness classes and injury rehabilitation.
Morris worked with Roger Kingdom, a 1984 and 1988 Olympic gold medalist in 110-meter hurdles, and also helped develop Pro Football Hall of Fame RB Curtis Martin and Pro Bowl G Ruben Brown while they were at Pittsburgh.
He graduated from Pittsburgh in 1980 after lettering for four years (1977-80) in track and field. Morris is married to Monica and has two daughters, Kara and Claire, and two stepsons, Fred and Troy. Morris welcomed a grandson Cameron James Balawjder in August of 2021.
