After taking over for Jason Eck, the ultra-successful coach who rebuilt Idaho football and was tabbed as the new leader of FBS program New Mexico, Thomas Ford is putting his own stamp on Vandals football.
Most recently, that includes a strong new hire as the program's next football strength and conditioning coach, sources with direct knowledge tell FootballScoop.
Ford is tabbing Jamel Cooper to head up Idaho's football conditioning, per sources.
A former ACC staffer at both Louisville and Wake Forest, Cooper also has three seasons' NFL experience from a stint with the Los Angeles Rams -- including being part of the Rams's Super Bowl-championship team.
Once a running back during his playing days at Georgia Southern, Cooper also has logged time at MTSU in an assistant strength and conditioning coaching role for then-coach Rick Stockstill. He also launched his career as a personal trainer.
Idaho hired Ford away from Oregon State earlier this month, where Ford had served as running backs coach for the Beavers.