Danny van Dijk was hired on March 1, 2019, as a strength & conditioning assistant following four seasons at USC (2015-2018). He is responsible for designing and implementing conditioning programs as well as working with the offensive skill players.Â
While at USC, van Dijk served as a strength & conditioning coach and sport science coordinator for the Trojans football team. He was responsible for devising and coordinating strategies for assessing and enhancing student-athlete readiness, performance, and recovery as part of a comprehensive sports performance program.
Van Dijk planned and implemented all strength and reconditioning programs for injured athletes during the end stages of rehabilitation utilizing objective, historical, and evidence-based data and protocols. He also formulated all alternative on and off-field conditioning and weight room modifications for injured and limited athletes as well as working with the Trojan quarterbacks and offensive skill players. Van Dijk also oversaw the freshman intake program.Â
A native of Sydney, Australia, van Dijk was the head of strength & performance for the Eastern Suburbs Rugby Union Football Club and an assistant strength & conditioning coach for the New South Wales Waratahs Rugby Union Academy prior to his time at USC.
He is a certified strength & conditioning specialist (CSCS) and a registered strength & conditioning coach (RSCC) by the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), is Sports Performance Coach certified by United States Weightlifting (USAW), is certified in the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) assessment by Functional Movement Systems and also a member of the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCa).
Van Dijk earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from the Australian College of Physical Education in 2009 and his master's degree in exercise science with an emphasis in strength & conditioning from Edith Cowan University in 2013.
He is married to Alyssa, a physical education teacher and lacrosse coach. The couple has two children, DJ and Beau.