Strength & Conditioning Coach, St. John's University
Alfred Caronia was named the strength and conditioning coach for the women's basketball program in the summer of 2012, marking his second term at St. John's. His first term was from 1995-1998 where he organized and directed the first strength and conditioning program for STJ’s then 22 NCAA intercollegiate sports programs. Caronia boasts over 30 years of experience in the strength and conditioning and physical education fields.
Caronia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Fitness from Springfield College in 1989. He then went on to receive his Masters of Science in Physical Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1991.
Caronia holds many certifications including a certified specialist with Distinction by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (C.S.C.S.*D); Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (S.C.C.C.); NASM P.E.S. and C.E.S.; Gray Institute CAFS and FSST specialist; FMS Level 1 and YBT certifications; RPR Level 1 and Level 2 certifications; and the YMCA Strength Coach and Physical Fitness Specialist certifications.
Caronia is responsible for designing, implementing and evaluating the yearly strength and conditioning program for the women's basketball program. The program uses a variety of strength exercises, plyometrics, functional movements, speed and agility exercises, dynamic stretching and recovery techniques to improve the physical fitness and performance of the student-athlete.
Caronia administers and tracks for the basketball staff athlete physical performance through a tracking system for load management. Other duties include overseeing the nutritional activities of the team which include pre and post workout fueling as well as meal plan supervision with the St. John’s sports nutrition program. Additionally he will be working with other STJ Olympic sports teams. Since being back with St. John’s for a second term, Caronia has been a part of 4 conference championship teams (basketball and tennis).
In his first term with STJ he was a part of teams that saw conference championships (baseball, soccer), a regional championship (baseball) and a national championship (soccer). He was nominated for St. John’s University Herbert V. Hess Coach of the Year Award in 1996 and was recognized by the University when he received the SJU Recognition Program Award in March 1998.
Prior to St. John's, he worked as a strength and conditioning coach at the University of Texas-Arlington, where he was responsible for the 14 NCAA intercollegiate athletic programs. Similar to St. John's, he started the first organized strength and conditioning program for the Mavericks. With the Mavericks, Caronia was a part of 11 conference championship teams (men’s and women’s track and field, tennis and golf).
From 1991-1993 Caronia was at Clemson University as a graduate assistant for the Tiger strength and conditioning program. With the Tigers he was responsible for the administration of strength and conditioning for men's and women's basketball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's swimming and wrestling teams while assisting with football. While with Clemson, Caronia was part of the men's basketball program that made it to the 1993 NIT and was part of the 1991 ACC Champion football team.
Caronia made his start in strength training in 1988 with his alma mater Springfield College working with the women’s soccer and women’s basketball teams.
In his career Caronia has coached a multitude of collegiate athletes who have gone forward to find careers in the professional ranks (football, baseball, track and basketball). In addition he has worked with athletes who have participated in the Olympics (judo, fencing and track and field).
In addition to his practice of strength and conditioning, Caronia has had work published in various national publications and books. He has worked as an adjunct lecturer at the undergrad level, fitness leader for local exercise groups and lecturer for fitness certification organizations and state strength coaches’ clinics. In 2001 Caronia was awarded a Citation from the Office of the Executive, Nassau County, NY for volunteer work on Long Island.
A New Jersey native, Caronia and his wife currently reside in Long Island.
