St. John's University Athletics
Staff Directory
Dr. Al Caronia, PhD
- Title:
- Strength & Conditioning Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- 5362
Dr. 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, during which he organized and directed the first strength and conditioning program at St. John’s for the then-22 NCAA intercollegiate sports programs. Caronia boasts over 30 years of experience in intercollegiate strength and conditioning, fitness training, and physical education.
Caronia holds numerous certifications, including a certified specialist with Distinction by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (C.S.C.S.*D); Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, M.S.C.C); 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 YMCA 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 student-athlete's physical fitness and athletic performance. He administers and tracks the physical performance of women’s basketball student-athletes using a load-management tracking system. Other duties include overseeing the team's nutritional activities, including pre- and post-workout fueling and meal plan supervision through the St. John’s Athletics nutrition program. Additionally, he will be working with other Red Storm Olympic sports teams. Since returning to St. John’s for a second term, Coach Al has been part of four BIG EAST Conference championship teams (women’s basketball and men’s tennis).
In his first stint in Queens, he was part of teams that captured BIG EAST championships in baseball (1997) and men’s soccer (1995); made an NCAA Regional appearance in baseball in 1997; won the NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship in 1996. He was nominated for the St. John’s University Herbert V. Hess Coach of the Year Award in 1996 and was recognized by the University when he received the St. John’s 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. Like St. John's, he started the first organized strength and conditioning program for the Mavericks. With the Mavericks, Coach Al was a part of 11 conference championship teams in men’s and women’s track & field, men’s tennis, and men’s golf.
From 1991 to 1993, he was a graduate assistant with the Tiger Strength and Conditioning Program at Clemson University. 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 at Clemson, he was part of the men's basketball program that reached the 1993 NIT and the 1991 ACC Champion football team.
Caronia began his strength-training career in 1988 at 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 on 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 strength and conditioning practice, Caronia has had work published in various national publications and books. He has worked as an adjunct lecturer at the undergraduate level, fitness leader for local exercise groups, and lecturer for fitness certification organizations and state strength coaches’ clinics. In 2001, he was awarded a Citation from the Office of the Executive, Nassau County, NY, for volunteer work on Long Island.
Caronia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Fitness from Springfield College in 1989. He then earned his Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1991. He earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at St. John’s University in 2026.
A New Jersey native, he and his wife currently reside in Long Island.
Caronia holds numerous certifications, including a certified specialist with Distinction by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (C.S.C.S.*D); Master Strength and Conditioning Coach, M.S.C.C); 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 YMCA 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 student-athlete's physical fitness and athletic performance. He administers and tracks the physical performance of women’s basketball student-athletes using a load-management tracking system. Other duties include overseeing the team's nutritional activities, including pre- and post-workout fueling and meal plan supervision through the St. John’s Athletics nutrition program. Additionally, he will be working with other Red Storm Olympic sports teams. Since returning to St. John’s for a second term, Coach Al has been part of four BIG EAST Conference championship teams (women’s basketball and men’s tennis).
In his first stint in Queens, he was part of teams that captured BIG EAST championships in baseball (1997) and men’s soccer (1995); made an NCAA Regional appearance in baseball in 1997; won the NCAA Men’s Soccer National Championship in 1996. He was nominated for the St. John’s University Herbert V. Hess Coach of the Year Award in 1996 and was recognized by the University when he received the St. John’s 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. Like St. John's, he started the first organized strength and conditioning program for the Mavericks. With the Mavericks, Coach Al was a part of 11 conference championship teams in men’s and women’s track & field, men’s tennis, and men’s golf.
From 1991 to 1993, he was a graduate assistant with the Tiger Strength and Conditioning Program at Clemson University. 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 at Clemson, he was part of the men's basketball program that reached the 1993 NIT and the 1991 ACC Champion football team.
Caronia began his strength-training career in 1988 at 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 on 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 strength and conditioning practice, Caronia has had work published in various national publications and books. He has worked as an adjunct lecturer at the undergraduate level, fitness leader for local exercise groups, and lecturer for fitness certification organizations and state strength coaches’ clinics. In 2001, he was awarded a Citation from the Office of the Executive, Nassau County, NY, for volunteer work on Long Island.
Caronia graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Fitness from Springfield College in 1989. He then earned his Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Rhode Island in 1991. He earned a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at St. John’s University in 2026.
A New Jersey native, he and his wife currently reside in Long Island.
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