ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --Luke Richesson, the Broncos' strength and conditioning coach, has been named the NFL's 2013 Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year.

The honor was given by Samson Equipment -- the nation's top supplier of weight training equipment -- and American Football Monthly -- the leading educational resource for coaches.

The 2013 season was Richesson's fifth in the NFL and second with the Broncos. He came to Denver after three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars under current Broncos Defensive Coordinator Jack Del Rio.

Prior to his time in Jacksonville, he was the performance team director at Athletes' Performance in Tempe, Ariz., from 2001 to 2008, implementing programs to help elite college football prospects prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine as well as assisting NFL veterans in their training during the offseason.

In those eight years with Athletes' Performance, Richesson trained 52 first-round picks -- including four No. 1 overall selections -- and more than 250 draftees overall.

The University of Kansas graduate is responsible for the Broncos' year-round strength and conditioning program.

Richesson is one of eight strength and conditioning coaches honored by Samson Equipment and American Football Monthly.

In addition, the awards include three college strength and conditioning coach of the year winners and four high school regional coaches of the year.

"This is the 11th year that we've recognized the nation's best strength and conditioning coaches at the professional, college, and high school level," said Scott Schroeder, Samson's Director of Sales and Marketing. "Strength and conditioning programs have become a top priority at all levels across the country. The March issue of AFM profiles all eight winners."