Ralph Petrella enters his second full season as the Wheeling Athletic Department's Head Strength & Conditoning Coordinator during the 2025-2026 season. Petrella works with each of Wheeling's 22 Intercollegiate Athletic programs to ensure athletes are training smartly and safely.
During the 2024 season, he served as the Primary Strength & Conditioning coach for both Wheeling Football and Wheeling Softball. He coordinated all training programs for both teams and led weight room sessions throughout the year. He also assisted the coaches from the school's other 20 varsity sports, helping them develop workout plans that helped their teams stay successful on the field.
Petrella has assisted both the Wheeling Football and Wheeling Softball teams as leader in the weight room, while providing workout plans for the other 20 varsity sports teams as well. Along with his duties as Head Strength & Conditioning Coordinator, Petrella also serves as an assistant coach on the Wheeling Football staff under Head Coach Zac Bruney, where he also serves as the team's main strength and conditioning coordinator.
Prior to Wheeling, Petrella served as the University of Minnesota Women's Basketball team's Strength & Conditioning Coordinator. Throughout his career, he has seen stops with Virginia Commonwealth University, Robert Morris University, West Lierty University, Moon Area High School, and Steubenville High School in Strength & Conditioning roles.
