Player Bio: Mark Wateska

Mark Wateska Position: Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Year: Sixth

Mark Wateska is in his sixth season at Stanford University as head strength and conditioning coach. He was named to the Cardinal staff on January 9, 1995.

Wateska, who has over 16 years experience as a player or coach at the NCAA Division I level, worked in the strength and conditioning programs at Boston College and Maine before coming to Stanford. In his first year on The Farm, Wateska was named the 1995-96 Pac-10 Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

At Stanford, Wateska is directly responsible for the Cardinal football program while overseeing the development and implementation of the strength and conditioning programs for all of Stanford's 33 varsity sports.

A 1989 graduate of Penn State University, Wateska earned a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science while playing for Joe Paterno on the Nittany Lions football team from 1985-88. Wateska participated in three bowl games for Penn State, including two for the national championship (1985 Orange Bowl, 1986 Fiesta Bowl). His 1986 team beat Miami to win the national title.

He went on to earn his master's degree in Exercise and Sport Science from Penn State in 1991 while serving as a graduate assistant coach in 1989 and '90. From there, Wateska moved on to me Philadelphia Eagles where he was involved in player personnel along with various aspects of the strength and conditioning program.

Wateska spent four years at Boston College (1991-94) in their strength and conditioning program, the first three as an assistant coach and the final year as the head coach. He was the head strength and conditioning coach at the University of Maine in 1994 before coming to Stanford in 1995.

"Overload and progression are the foundation of the Stanford Strength and Conditioning Program," says Wateska. "The goals are to improve every time you strength train, condition or practice. The purpose of the program are three-fold: 1) to reduce the chance for injury, 2) to increase performance potential and, 3) to develop each player to his maximum genetic potential," says Wateska.

Wateska is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Kim, have one daughter, Julia (born 5/5/00)

The Wateska File

Full Name
Mark Wateska

Date of Birth
October 2, 1965

Hometown
Pittsburgh, PA

High School
Pittsburgh Central Catholic

College
Penn State, 1989

Graduate Degree
Penn State, 1991

Wife
Kim

Children
Julia

Playing Experience
LB, Penn State, 1985-88