New Orleans VooDoo, The Duke Academy Announce Partnership
Published on December 10, 2014 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans VooDoo name Duke Rousse the team's Strength and Conditioning Coach and partner with The Duke Academy for the 2015 season, announced the VooDoo front office Wednesday afternoon.
The Duke Academy will not only serve as the Official Sports Performance Training Facility of the New Orleans VooDoo, but will also train the VooDoo Dolls dance team. Michelle Rousse, wife of Duke, will oversee the health and fitness of the Dolls.
"The Duke Academy is one of the premier training facilities in the nation, and we are excited about our partnership for the upcoming season," said VooDoo General Manager Brandon Rizzuto. "I have known Duke for some time and have always been impressed with him as a person and his way of creating a positive culture for obtaining and maintaining healthy lifestyles."
The Duke Academy, located in Kenner, La., has trained some of the top professional athletes in the world. Some of the cliental include Deion Sanders, Dez Bryant (Dallas Cowboys), DJ Augustine (Detroit Pistons), Keenan Lewis (New Orleans Saints), Curtis Lofton (New Orleans Saints), Johnny Giavotella (Kansas City Royals), Adam Pacman Jones (Cincinnati Bengals), Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic), Malcolm Jenkins (Philadelphia Eagles), Roman Harper (Carolina Panthers), and Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers).
"The New Orleans VooDoo has great potential to be a success on the field this season, and I am happy to have the opportunity to be a part of that," said Rousse. "My wife, Michelle, and I are eager to begin working with the team and dance team, and helping the franchise both on and off the field."
For the past 17 years, Rousse has worked with athletes in the development of their strength for sports specific skills, as well as training for speed and conditioning for on-field performance. Rousse's training program is designed to develop athletic excellence in professional, collegiate, high school, and junior high school athletes.
In 2010 and 2011, Rousse was named as one of the top 25 most influential sports figures in the region by the Times Picayune's South Louisiana Sports Power Rankings. Coach Duke trains college prospects for the NFL Draft and in 2010 was featured alongside Deion Sanders in an NFL network special.
"Having this partnership with Duke and The Duke Academy will only help us improve and get better," said VooDoo Head Coach Dean Cokinos. "Duke knows how to make athletes more explosive, faster and stronger. His experience and list of clients speaks for itself. We are glad to have him."
The Duke Academy hosts speed and agility camps year round for athletes of all ages. Duke Rousse spends time with several local high school teams not only focusing on individual player needs but also creating strong team environment where teams learn to work together and heighten team performance. Rousse is a positive role-model and provides athletes with the most effective up-to-date training techniques, technology and coaching in a motivating and engaging environment and is dedicated to changing the lives of young athletes while pushing them to achieve their goals.
Arena Football League Stories from December 10, 2014
- New Orleans VooDoo, The Duke Academy Announce Partnership - New Orleans VooDoo
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