Blazers hire Jesse Elis as new Director of Player Health and Performance

The team announced Tuesday they will have a new Director of Player Health and Performance beginning this season. University of North Dakota graduate Jesse Elis will be taking the job.

Jesse Elis will be replacing Chris Stackpole in his new role. Stackpole was hired back in 2013 and was viewed as “ahead of the curve.”

Elis steps into the role leading the organization’s medical staff, as announced by President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey.

New Direction

The new director of the medical sector is a native of Dickinson, North Dakota. Prior to this role, he had spent two years as the Director of Physical Therapy at EXOS in Phoenix.

Elis has also worked in the MLB with the Oakland A’s, San Francisco Giants, and at the Shanghai Research Institute of Sports Medicine in China.

He will have a crucial role within the organization providing preventative maintenance and rehabilitative care. He’ll work in sync with the athletic staff, strength and conditioning specialists, physicians, psychologists and nutritionists.

“The addition of Jesse is another step toward developing the finest health and performance staff in the NBA,” said Olshey.

His rich experience working with athletes is proven with his track record.

The time at EXOS was spent with professional tennis players as a physical therapist. He also worked in China with their National and Olympic teams.

Elis received his degree (bachelor and doctorates) in North Dakota. He is board certified with the American Physical Therapy Associations in the areas of Sports and Orthopaedics.

He also carries the designation of a certified strength and conditioning specialist.

Blazers Impact

Jesse Elis will look to take on this new director role and keep the Blazers on the court — not in suits.

Portland has remained relatively healthy since the hiring of Stackpole, so Elis will look to take the torch and carry it forward. These sort of acquisitions off the court generally fall under the radar, but it’s crucial for the product on the court.

These are million-dollar assets that require plenty of maintenance in order to prevent injuries. The season is a strenuous 7-9 month grind.

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And if they aren’t on the court, it hurts the product on the court, thus crippling the win-loss column.

But you know how the saying goes: “your greatest ability is your availability.”