UNC has found its new strength and conditioning coach for the 2012 season, as Tar Heel Illustrated has learned that Illinois strength coach Lou Hernandez will be coming to Chapel Hill.

Hernandez replaces Tom Myslinski, who spent one season as Carolina's strength coach before returning to the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Hernandez has two decades' experience in college football as a strength coach, including stints at Illinois (2005-2011), Florida (2002-2004), and Houston (1992-2001), his alma mater.

While at Florida Hernandez worked with UNC head coach Larry Fedora, while at Illinois he worked with Tar Heel defensive staffers Vic Koenning and Dan Disch.

According to his bio on the University of Illinois's website, 'During his time at Illinois, Hernandez turned around the strength program. When he began in 2005, there was only one player with a 300 pound or better power clean. Five years later, the team averaged close to 40 a year. Only one player in 2005 could bench over 405 and by 2010 that number was in double-figures.'

Like Fedora, Hernandez is a native of Texas, having grown up in Alice.