from the Cincinnati Bengals website
Bengals associate strength coach Ray “Rock” Oliver, one of the key players in the comeback story of wide receiver Chris Henry and the progress of rookie right tackle Andre Smith at the end of this past season, has been named the director of performance at the University of Kentucky in charge of the Wildcats strength and conditioning program.
Oliver, 48, a Cincinnati native who graduated from Taft High School and played at the University of Cincinnati, joined his hometown team in 2004 after stints in the NBA, the NFL and college. He returns to Lexington 18 years after he helped head coach Rick Pitino revive the Wildcats basketball program.
It is also a reunion with current Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari. Oliver has worked with him in the college game at Memphis, Kansas and Pittsburgh as well as the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.
“Coach Pitino always said he wanted assistants that wanted to be head coaches,” Oliver said Thursday. “It’s a great opportunity at a place I love and my family is excited about going back. I’m going to Lexington to help (head football coach) Joker Phillips win an SEC championship and work again with one of my best friends in Coach Cal.”
Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans