Maggio named Saints strength coach

by Brett Hedges

St. Clair College athletes will be getting a lot stronger with Robert Maggio as their strength and conditioning coach.

The W.D. Lowe and University of Windsor graduate was named the strength and conditioning coach in late November and will assist all 12 Saints varsity teams to gain an edge over their opponents.

“I’m glad to be on board and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Maggio, who has an Honours Bachelor of Human Kinetics as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor. “I didn’t realize the extent of the program here (at St. Clair). As soon as I found out, I inquired and we talked about putting a program together and I find myself here now and I’m very excited about it.”

Maggio joins the Saints varsity program having already been involved as an instructor with the personal trainer preparation course along with the firefighter fitness course at St. Clair College.  Maggio also has local experience with the Windsor Spitfires and has trained several top level hockey players, including NHL first-round draft picks Matt Puempel, Michael Delzotto, John Tavares, and Zack Kassian as well as Team Canada women’s hockey player Meghan Agosta.

“I helped out the (Spitfires) before they won the Memorial Cup,” said Maggio. “Working with the Spitfires, working with coaches like Bob Boughner and Tom Webster, they’re role models to me and they taught me a lot about conditioning. That was the highlight of my life.”

St. Clair College Athletic co-ordinator Ted Beale spoke highly of the experience Maggio holds.

“We’re happy to have Rob, he’s a fantastic addition to the program,” said Beale. “We’re excited about the experience level that Rob brings because he’s trained a lot of high-class athletes who have gone on to a significant level in their sports.  He’s certainly going to help our student-athletes compete at a higher level.”

Regardless of what level athlete Maggio trains at St. Clair he said his goal will still be the same.

“I’m going to treat it differently (for each athlete) and hopefully be able to individualize their programs,” said Maggio. “But my goal is to see improvements.”

Saints women’s basketball coach Ken Ambrose said the programs implemented by Maggio will help his basketball players, and all Saints varsity athletes, be accountable for keeping up their fitness levels during their respective off-seasons.

“If he gives them an off-season program to follow and they don’t, it shows the coaching staff which players are really serious about this game, this program and this college,” said Ambrose.

Maggio said he believes the key to an athletic program’s success is based on strength and conditioning.

“Once you start to look at athletes’ bodies … and get an idea of where they stand physically, even mentally, it’s going to assist the coaches in their objectives,” said Maggio. ”That’s their vessels and if their vessels are performing at their peaks I know for a fact there will be a big difference.”