Gone in 30 Seconds: The Myth of Transitions
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kaz Kazadi immigrated to the United States at age eight. A standout linebacker at Tulsa, Kazadi earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors and was a Butkus Award semifinalist. At Tulsa he earned his bachelor’s in sociology with a psychology minor. Kazadi was drafted in the 6th round by the St. Louis Rams in 1997 after an All-American senior season which saw him earn a Fitness All-American Award. He played five years professionally, including stints in the Canadian Football League and World Football League. In 2004 he went on to earn his master’s degree at Missouri in counseling psychology with an emphasis in health promotion and sport psychology while serving as a graduate assistant. From 2005-07, Kazadi was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff. In 2007, Kazadi was an assistant strength coach at USF where he helped the Bulls reach as high as No. 2 in the national polls with an appearance in the Brut Sun Bowl. Kazadi, who also worked at Arkansas State and with the Dallas Cowboys, was a member of the strength and conditioning staff at Baylor from 2008-16. He served as the Associate Athletics Director for Athletic Performance during his last five seasons with the Bears. In 2013, he was named the American Football Coaches Association Strength Coach of the Year and the American Football Monthly FBS Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year. FootballScoop.com named him its National Strength Coach of the Year in 2012. Kazadi spent four years at SMU. He oversaw the Mustangs’ strength and conditioning department while serving as the head strength and conditioning coach for the football program. Kaz Kazadi arrived at TCU in December 2021 as Assistant Athletics Director for Football Human Performance.
