STRENGTH & CONDITIONING/SPORTS MEDICINE STRENGTH & CONDITIONING The Rutgers women’s soccer team is fortunate to have full-time strength and conditioning coaches available for both in-season and off-season conditioning.
DANA FERRARO
Strength & Conditioning Coach
To compete at the highest level of Division I women’s soccer, a sound strength and conditioning program is a necessity, not a luxury. At Rutgers, the members of the women’s soccer team engage in the strength and conditioning program in order to become quicker, stronger and more explosive athletes. The time spent both during the competitive fall season, as well as the spring and summer off-seasons, pays great dividends. A well-conditioned team has a better chance of coming out on top in those close matches -- and winning the close ones is how teams reach postseason play.
Dana Ferraro begins her third season as a full-time assistant strength and conditioning coach for Olympic sports. In addition to coordinating the strength and conditioning program for women’s soccer, Ferraro also works with the softball, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s and women’s golf, as well as assisting with men’s and women’s basketball. Ferraro worked with RU teams on a part-time basis since graduating from Stony Brook University in 2008. Ferraro is responsible for designing and implementing strength and conditioning plans to help maximize the on-field performance of Rutgers student-athletes. The focus of her efforts are to assist in the development of each Scarlet Knight while reducing the risk of injury. Ferraro earned her degree in health science from SBU and received her certification as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and is also certified in CPR and basic life saving for healthcare professionals. A four-year starter on the Seawolves basketball team, Ferraro served as a team captain and was named the America East Defensive Player of the Year. She finished her career with over 1,000 rebounds.
SPORTS MEDICINE Dedicated concern is the hallmark of the sports medicine staff at Rutgers. Headed by Dr. Robert Monaco, the RU sports medicine staff consists of 12 athletic trainers. In addition, the staff is assisted by orthopedic consultants, dentists, drug education counselors, a psychological team and student athletic trainers, as well as many other branches of medical consultants. Treatment and rehabilitation are done in one of three separate athletic training rooms where the latest modalities for electrical stimulation and progressive resistance are available. Computerized testing, many forms of aerobic conditioning apparatuses, an x-ray room and the new Hale Center “wet room” that includes a hot tub, cold tub and Hydroworks underwater treadmill are available so that the sports medicine staff can tailor a specific program of rehabilitation for each individual.
ROB PIACENTINI Trainer
Rob Piacentini is in his fourth year as head athletic trainer for the Rutgers women’s soccer team. In addition to being responsible for the prevention, care and rehabilitation of the Scarlet Knights, Piacentini also oversees the baseball team.
Prior to working at Rutgers, Piacentini spent two years at St. John’s University, serving as the primary athletic trainer for men’s soccer and baseball. As a graduate assistant at the University of Houston, he worked with the football team in 2006-07 and the men’s and women’s cross country and track teams during the 2005-06 season. In 2004, he worked for the Washington Redskins as a season-long intern. As an undergrad, Piacentini worked with the Buffalo Bills during the 2003 season. Piacentini earned a Bachelor’s Degree in 2004 from Canisius College, majoring in athletic training. He completed his Mas ter’s Degree in Education at Houston in 2007.
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