“Coach” DiCicco to work with athletic training students
Tuesday, February 5th, 2008
John DiCicco can relocate kattywampus fingers, tape weak ankles and toughen up biceps.
He also can grill a mean steak, preferably over the Arizona mesquite wood he hauled from Coolidge where he was the athletic trainer at Central Arizona College.
DiCicco joined the college this semester as instructor and clinical coordinator for the athletic training program in the Department of Human Nutrition. His duties include teaching and orchestrating student clinical internships.
“Good athletic trainers prevent injuries,” he said. “It’s a rewarding feeling to help students learn to evaluate, advise, and treat athletes so they can avoid injury, recover from injury, and attain peak physical fitness.”
In Arizona, DiCicco worked with teams that earned 16 national championships in seven different sports – women’s and men’s track, women’s and men’s cross-country, women’s basketball, softball and baseball. The rodeo team went to college finals nine times and ranked fifth in the nation.
A Chicago native, DiCicco has a BS degree in exercise science and a M Ed in physical education from Arizona State University. He holds certifications by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Athletic Trainer Association.
DiCicco, whom students often call “Coach,” served as strength coach to the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system, practiced in a sports medicine clinic for two years, taught conditioning classes for police cadets and was athletic trainer for several summer sports camps.
He worked in the hotel and restaurant business – yes, as a chef at times – for more than 10 years before he decided his heart was in sports. A high school athlete in football, swimming and hockey, he returned to school to help others be better, smarter athletes.
DiCicco has two adult sons and a grandson named Ryder.
He feels an attachment to Kansas State. His best friend, the late Jack O’Leary, played Wildcat football in the early ‘70s.
He bought a home on the historic east Pierre Street and looks forward, he said, to hitting the barbecue grill when the snow melts.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 and is filed under Dean's Blog.