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Crewe a valuable part of Timberwolves’ crew

Article reposted from Kenosha News
Author: DAVE BOEHLER

David Crewe works for the Minnesota Timberwolves. He does not play for them, however — not that anyone confuses him as an NBA athlete.

“Not a chance,” he said. “I think I’m too short. I’m only 5-10. Guys used to give me a hard time when we had Luke Ridnour.”

Crewe, a 2004 Tremper graduate, accompanies the Timberwolves wherever they go as the team’s head strength and conditioning coach/assistant athletic trainer.

He’s in the locker room, sits courtside with the team and travels from city to city.

“Like anything else when you’re in the middle of it, you don’t really notice what’s going on,” he said. “You kind of live it every day. It’s definitely humbling when you think back to where you are, what you get to experience. … I told my folks before, it’s not like it’s happened by luck. There was a lot of time, there was a lot of effort and sacrifices that have been put into it. There’s days I definitely feel blessed and I know I’m lucky, but I also know what it’s taken to get there. I feel like it’s well deserved.”

NFL experience

Crewe, who played basketball at Tremper, enrolled at UW-La Crosse knowing he wanted to be in sports medicine. It was during his freshman year that he decided the field would be athletic training.

For three years in college, Crewe had an internship with the Kansas City Chiefs, including one after he graduated as their assistant athletic trainer for the entire 2008 season. He worked with the running backs and wide receivers, and became friends with Larry Johnson.

“For whatever reason, he took a liking to me,” Crewe said. “We had a connection. He took good care of me, looked out for me, was delightful to work with. He was a pro and it was fun to be around him.”

After the season, Crewe returned to UW-La Crosse to take some more courses and worked in the athletic training department for about a year.

Promotion

In 2010, he was hired by Minnesota as an assistant athletic trainer. The title of assistant strength and conditioning coach was added in 2013, and last year be was promoted to his current position.

“I try to tell our guys to be the MVP of their day,” Crewe said. “If it’s a lifting day, they need to be the best they can be in the weight room that day. If it’s a game day, they need to be MVP on the court. My message that I drive home every day is you need to get better one way or another in the facility today. Maybe the focus shifts from basketball to strength training, or maybe it shifts from strength training to some small rehab exercises. No matter what we’re working in that day, they need to try to be the MVP of that day.”

Crewe must practice what he preaches, since he was named the 2016-’17 NBATA David Craig Assistant Athletic Trainer of the Year recently.

But do the millionaire professionals listen to him?

“I think just like in any work setting, you’ve got some push and some pull in every direction,” Crewe said. “A lot of times we’ll rely on our veterans or our starters to really help facilitate the message we’re driving across. We typically get pretty good buy-in. It comes down to educating the player what we’re trying to do for them and show them you’re there to help them. You’re not trying to take anything away from them; you’re trying to make them the best basketball player they can be.”

Which includes making sure they eat the right foods, even if that includes octopus for some of the European players. So what does Crewe know about octopus?

“Not much,” he said. “One of the things we like to do because the NBA is an extremely global game — every year it seems like players are from different countries — we sit down with them and ask our nutritional team to find out things they do enjoy eating and are used to having, so we can make it available to them. We don’t want them worrying about their food, we want them worrying about basketball.”

There has been less worrying about basketball in Minnesota since the team acquired All-Star Jimmy Butler from Chicago in the offseason. Crewe, who enters his seventh season with the Timberwolves, has already had a chance to meet Butler.

“Telling him I’m from southeastern Wisconsin, he got excited since he went to Marquette,” Crewe said.

No favorites

Perhaps Butler will become Crewe’s next Larry Johnson. Just don’t ask him who his favorite NBA player to deal with so far is.

“I would like to, but I can’t say any names to show favoritism right now,” he said. “One day when I’m done working with the Timberwolves, we can have that conversation. How’s that? Otherwise that gives guys too much ammunition if they ever read the article or anything like that. They’ll give a hard time too much.”

Another thing Butler and Crewe have in common is the Bradley Center. Butler played there for Marquette and Crewe watched the Golden Eagles and Bucks while growing up.

Crewe joked it’s a family reunion when Minnesota visits Milwaukee, and he usually has around 30-40 relatives and friends in attendance.

“It’s special because we only play once a year,” he said. “It makes it that much more fun. Growing up in the area, being on the court in warmups, sitting on the bench with our team … it’s a lot of fun. It’s a very humbling experience.”

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GET TO KNOW THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES DAVID CREWE

Article reposted from NBA
Author: Kyle Ratke

Editor’s Note: Our Kyle Ratke was able to chat with Head Strength and Conditioning Coach/Assistant Athletic Trainer David Crewe earlier this season about his journey and his role with the team. In his current role, Crewe oversees the development and implementation of the team’s strength and conditioning programs, as well as assists in the daily treatment and individual player rehabilitation.

Kyle Ratke: Head Strength and Conditioning Coach AND Assistant Athletic Trainer. That’s quite the job title. Asking for a friend, but what exactly does all of that mean?

David Crewe: Currently I serve as the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach/Assistant Athletic Trainer on the performance staff. In short, I work closely with the athletic training and coaching staffs to help develop our players into the best NBA players they can be. With the help of my assistant, Troy Sutton, we develop strength and conditioning programs designed to maximize performance output on the court. We also implement custom corrective exercise programs for the players which aim to minimize/address deficiencies. We aim to provide an educational, research-based and competitive environment each day. My role isn’t limited to the weight room though, I also have the task of coordinating meals for the team both while at home and on the road. Our kitchen staff at the practice facility does a great job of providing well-balanced meals, often customized to each players needs and wants.

KR: At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to do something like this with your career?

DC: I played multiple sports growing up so a lot of my time was spent around gyms or watching games. I knew I wanted to be involved in sports and I knew the medical/performance field was where I belonged. What sparked my initial interest was working with athletic trainers and strength coaches while dealing with my own athletic injuries – sprained ankles, thigh contusions etc. Being introduced to the profession and the sciences behind it allowed me to appreciate what it takes to be great at your craft; whether an athlete, a coach or a member of the performance staff. I knew I wanted to be in the exercise sports science industry and the more experiences I had in dealing with it (shadowing, classes etc), the more motivated I became. In doing several rotations in the clinic, at the high school, the collegiate and the professional levels, I quickly realized I worked best under the demand and intensity of professional sports.

KR: I’m putting you on the spot here, but do you have a favorite player that you enjoy working with? Or just a favorite player in general?

DC: Recreationally? …Kyle Ratke… Hands down. (Editor’s Note: David, your check will arrive in 7-10 business days.)

Professionally, that’s a difficult question to answer. Each athlete you deal with over the years brings something special to the table. They all have such unique backgrounds, skillsets and varying personalities. I can’t really say I enjoy any one more than the next. If you walked into the locker room during the offseason, you would see empty lockers and empty chairs. The room becomes something special when those seats are filled with 15 individuals sharing a common goal. It may sound cliché but it’s never about one individual, it’s always the collective synergy that brings the most out of each guy and you grow an appreciation for each players’ personality, their backgrounds and their motivating factors.

That being said, we often form incredible bonds with some of the athletes. Working in such close proximity on a daily basis leads to a lot of shared experiences. We do spend a lot of time with the guys, sometimes when they are at their lowest during an injury. It’s easy to form connections with a variety of players, especially when you see them come out on the other end and show tremendous gains/improvements. It’s hard to duplicate that sense of accomplishment and I think its appreciated on both sides of the relationship.

KR: Okay, if you can’t answer that, how about a favorite memory?

DC: Again, I don’t know if there’s any one memory that stands out more than another. That’s what makes sports and competition so amazing, it seems to bring out the best in people and creates some incredible memories for everyone. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with some unforgettable people and have had some great experiences while working for the Timberwolves organization; whether it was volunteer work to help around the Twin Cities, international travel to work with some of our players, being involved and witnessing our young guys excel at All-Star 2016 or working with legendary NBA coaches and players. I think as a member of the performance staff, there will never be a more distinct, or rewarding, memory than watching players achieve their goals; whether it be through performance markers, completing a grueling rehab or simply transforming their bodies.

KR: You’re in your seventh season with the team. Obviously, a lot has changed with the organization. How has your role changed through the years?

DC: Starting in this organization in 2010 as a seasonal athletic training intern, over the past six seasons I’ve held titles of Assistant Athletic Trainer, Assistant Athletic Trainer/Strength & Conditioning Coach and now currently Head Strength & Conditioning Coach/Assistant Athletic Trainer.

I’ve had the privilege of working for some incredible people who have helped mold me in to the young professional I am today. I’ve done the best I can over the years to absorb as much information and shared experiences as possible to increase my versatility within the performance staff. It’s taken a lot of hard work and faith from my superiors to transition from working solely in the Athletic Training Room to overseeing the development programs of our Timberwolves players in the weight room. My path is not entirely unique as many of the best health care professionals in the NBA carry multiple credentials/titles. Being able to serve as a first responder, a clinician and as a performance coach has increased my appreciation for each department in basketball operations and their respective responsibilities.

KR: The sports world is obviously crazy as far as hours go. Do you ever wonder what a 9-5 job is like considering your hectic schedule? Maybe throw an hour lunch break in there?

DC: Fortunately for me, I don’t know what a 9-5 would be like. I started my career early in professional sports serving in the NFL doing various athletic training internships as a sophomore in college and have been lucky enough to continue working in professional sports ever since. A busy/chaotic schedule is all I’ve ever known. I think my field of work matches my personality and interests so it never really feels like a burden.

Often times the schedule is more demanding and grueling on your loved ones. They have to be just as willing, if not more, to be flexible and adaptable to the taxing schedule. Their support and understanding definitely helps make all of the travel days and all of the late game nights easier.

I think at the end of the day, people want to work in an environment that motivates, challenges and empowers them. I can speak for myself and my coworkers in that we feel a great sense of fulfillment at the end of each work day, each season. The NBA travel schedule can be demanding and challenging at times, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

KR: You’re behind the scenes with these players and see all the hard work that goes on when the cameras aren’t rolling. When it comes to teams you’ve been around, how hard working of a group is this young squad?

DC: We are really fortunate to have such a hard-working group of guys. They understand the importance of not only staying ready, but the need for a great work ethic at a young age. The coaching staff does a terrific job raising the bar each day. The season can be a grind but our guys strive to get better, in one way or another, every day. Complacency isn’t really in their vocabularies. We have a young team, but we also have some players with a wealth of experience and knowledge who are helping our young guys create good habits, early in their careers. They’re proactive in taking care of the bodies whether it be in the athletic training room, the weight room or even the kitchen. Being on the performance staff, the beauty of our jobs is we get the opportunity to work with individuals who are extremely motivated and have the opportunity to become something legendary with the skill set and talents they’ve been blessed with. The expectations they set for themselves help raise the level of expectations throughout our practice facility.