Off to the big leagues
Mark Fitzgerald has worked with UOIT and the Oshawa Generals for years. He has taken on a new job with the Anaheim Ducks.
A crucial component of the behind-the-scenes work in Oshawa’s sports community is moving on.
Mark Fitzgerald, who has been the UOIT strength and conditioning coach since the addition of hockey in 2007 will be taking on a new challenge.
The Whitby native has signed a three-year contract as the head strength and conditioning coach for the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks, which will begin this September.
This comes after spending five years with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies from 2009 to 2014, eight years with the Oshawa Generals from 2007 to 2015 and two years as the Ontario Hockey Leauge’s nutrition and training consultant and over three years as the owner/director of Elite Training Systems (ETS).
“We want to wish Mark the best of luck in his new position,” said Scott Barker, manager of intercollegiate athletics at UOIT in a press release. “The impact he has made on our athletic programs is something we will always be thankful for. He has taken all of our programs to the next level in the way they prepare both nutritionally and physically. His contribution to the program helped put UOIT on the map early in our school’s history.”
As for Fitzgerald, he said he will miss working hands-on with the UOIT athletes.
“I feel like we have built a great program on campus by introducing the high performance training centre (ETS North) behind the leadership of Ken Babcock and Scott Barker,” said Fitzgerald. “I expect the program to flourish under Jeff and the entire ETS team and look forward to continuing to build and help UOIT student-athletes reach new heights.”