Javair Gillett '01 "Important Guardian" of Detroit Tigers' Fortunes: Free Press

January 18, 2009

javair Gillett sm 2008.jpg January 18, 2009, Greencastle, Ind. — Of Javair Gillett, strength and conditioning coach for the Detroit Tigers, today's Detroit Free Press declares, "It could be argued that Gillett, a 29-year-old Chicago native, is one of the organization's most essential employees. The Tigers' payroll exceeded $130 million last year. Gillett is an important guardian of that investment."

Gillett, a 2001 graduate of DePauw University, tells the newspaper, "I've seen a few of the guys this winter, and I can tell they're very focused. They've been a very knowledgeable and motivated group this off-season. These guys are working their butts off. They take a lot of pride in what they do. When things went wrong last year, when we didn't have the season we were supposed to have, they took that to heart. This off-season, they're on a mission."

Jon Paul Morosi writes, "Gillett was an all-conference first baseman at DePauw (Ind.) University, before choosing an internship in strength and conditioning over trying out for an independent baseball team."

"Based on all that I've learned over the years, from listening to the coaches here, I can run faster and throw the ball better than I did in college," Gillett jokingly tells the newspaper. "I wish I would have known that back in the day. Maybe it would have transferred to the field more."