LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Athletics announced the hiring of
Ernest Ruch as the department's Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Monday afternoon. No stranger to the Capital Region, Ruch served on Siena's strength staff in 2014 & 2015.
"Our athletes, coaches and staff are excited to welcome Ernie back to Siena," Vice President / Director of Athletics
John D'Argenio said. "He is a dedicated young professional in the strength and conditioning field who will help our athletes develop and become better."
Ruch returns to the Green and Gold following a four-year tenure at the same position at Mansfield University in Mansfield, PA from 2015-19. The first full-time strength coach in the school's history, Ruch worked to develop and implement strength and conditioning programs for the Mounties' 11 NCAA Division II programs.
Ruch joined Siena where he served as an assistant strength coach for a year and a half beginning in January 2014. While is his first stint with the Saints, Ruch was directly responsible for eight varsity athletic teams and developed strength and conditioning programs for student-athletes.
Prior to being named to the full-time assistant position at Siena in August 2014 , Ruch served as a volunteer assistant strength and conditioning coach at both Siena and Division II Saint Rose from January to May 2014.
Ruch is a USA Weightlifting certified sports performance coach, National Strength & Conditioning Association certified strength & condition specialist and National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer.
He graduated from Mansfield in December 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in sports nutrition. Ruch received his Masters in exercise science from California University of Pennsylvania in December of 2018.
A career .312 batter for the Mounties' baseball team, Ruch made 31 starts in 66 appearances on the baseball diamond splitting time between catching and playing first base. He totaled 40 hits in his career including 12 extra base hits. Ruch scored 33 runs and drove in 32.
He was named NCBW Hitter of the Week and PSAC East Player of the Week during his sophomore season.
