March 20, 2015 Ernest Ruch (pronounced Rook) recently joined the Siena athletic department as the new assistant strength and conditioning coach. Ruch assists in the physical development of Siena's 300-plus student athletes.

"The strength and conditioning department is incredibly fortunate to have someone of Ernie's pedigree, experience and character," head strength and conditioning coach Dan Taylor said. "He is the perfect combination of intellect and vigor and his addition will raise the department to a new level."

Ruch is no stranger to the Capital Region having served as an intern in the strength and conditioning department at the College of Saint Rose in 2014 where he worked with volleyball, men's soccer and women's soccer.

He received his bachelor's degree in sports nutrition from Mansfield University. At Mansfield, he lettered for the baseball team, finishing his career with a .314 batting average while earning NCBW Regional Hitter of the Week honors along the way.

Ruch has been certified as a personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine and is currently acquiring his strength and conditioning certification (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Ruch has gained training experience working with scholastic baseball and basketball student athletes as well as with the general population as a personal trainer at L.A. Fitness. In 2014 he did competitive power lifting through the USAPL.