Hired Feb. 24, 2024, Ben Schumacher enters his first season as a strength and conditioning assistant with the Packers. His primary duties include working with the offensive and defensive line for all on-field speed, change-of-direction and positional work.
Schumacher comes to Green Bay from the University of Minnesota after working with the Gophers' football program for the previous seven seasons and serving as an assistant director of athletic performance for his final four seasons (2020-23) in what was also his second stint with the program. He ran GPS tracking for all speed/change-of-direction and conditioning, planned and implemented the team's lifting program and assisted players returning from injuries. The on-field success was evident during his seven seasons with the team as the Gophers were selected to play in five bowl games, winning all five. The program also had 16 players drafted from 2018-24.
Schumacher served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for Vanderbilt University from 2015-17, working directly with the football program. Prior to his work with the Commodores, he spent the 2014 season as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the football team at the University of Nebraska. The Cornhuskers finished the 2014 season ranked No. 25 with a 9-4 record on their way to an appearance in the Holiday Bowl against No. 24 USC.
His first stint with the Gophers came when he was an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the football team during the 2013 season. Minnesota compiled an 8-5 record that season, making an appearance in the Texas Bowl against Syracuse.
Prior to his time with Minnesota, Schumacher was an assistant director of strength and conditioning for Harvard University from 2011-13. At Harvard, he oversaw the design and implementation of the strength and conditioning program for nine teams and also coordinated the department's internship program.
Schumacher was hired at Harvard after serving as a strength and conditioning graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State University for two years (August 2008 – May 2010) while earning his master's degree in applied health sciences. He also served as a strength and conditioning intern for the University of Iowa (2008, 2010) and the University of Nebraska (2009).
Schumacher earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Concordia University-St. Paul in 2008 and also starred on the football team, playing in 21 games across two seasons (2006- 07) for the Bears and recording 63 tackles (30 solo), 18½ tackles for a loss, 11½ sacks, an interception, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. He began his collegiate career at Iowa Central Community College, playing two seasons (2004-05) for the Tritons.
Schumacher is also the founder and owner of Integrative Bracing, which creates braces that support athletes in maintaining fitness while recovering from injury. He started the company in 2021.
A native of Oskaloosa, Iowa, he attended Oskaloosa High School, where he played football and baseball and ran track. Schumacher currently resides in Howard, Wis., with his wife, Kayla, and their three sons, Cooper, Griffin and Bowden, and their daughter, Vivian.