Brandon Martuccio's job is to make big, strong men bigger and stronger and get them into the best condition they can be to compete at the highest level in the National Football League.

But the secret to the success he has had as the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots is connecting with people, showing them he cares and creating a chemistry among those pushing for ultimate success.

And while it's the Super Bowl on Martuccio's mind this week and the Patriots' date with the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif., it's lessons he learned back here – particularly at Washington & Jefferson College and specifically from a beloved mentor and friend, the late Todd Young, that he has made part of his professional life.

It has him reveling in New England's wonderful season and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Coach Young is probably the most influential person in my career, getting me to this point," Martuccio said. "His specialty wasn't strength and conditioning. But he taught me how to care about people, how to treat people.

"And that was the biggest lesson I think I've ever gotten in my life. Because I think that the way I operate, has gotten me to the Patriots. That, with the trust of (New England coach) Mike Vrabel and (Patriots' Frank Piriano), has provided me this opportunity. When I was playing for Coach Young and then working with him that semester as an assistant it was the greatest opportunity for growth of my whole life. I can't say enough good things about him and that I miss him every day."

Martuccio is one of three local college connections to the Super Bowl. Both the Patriots and Seahawks have an assistant coach who was once on the staff at Penn West California. New England running backs coach Tony Dews was the Vulcans' offensive line coach in 2002. Seattle has offensive line coach John Benton, who was the Vulcans' offensive line coach from 1990 to 1994. So the Vulcans are guaranteed of having a Super Bowl winner.

Hard work has kept Martuccio in the game for nearly a decade after his playing days. He pursued a career in Strength and Conditioning after graduation and has worked with five different college football programs, including Mississippi State, Indiana State, Pitt, Texas Tech and Boston College. It's a path that eventually led to the NFL.

"I think it's a testament to persistence, and this is something that I'm very passionate about," Martuccio said.

Martuccio has spent the past two seasons as a strength and conditioning assistant for the Patriots.

"It was a dream come true when I got hired," Martuccio said. "I'm blessed every day when I walk into Gillette Stadium. It's the greatest feeling ever."

Martuccio played four years at W&J and was a three-time All-Presidents' Athletic Conference selection.

He is a graduate of Girard High School in Ohio.

Martuccio is remembered fondly at W&J.

"He was really close with Todd," W&J head coach Mike Sirianni said. "I know how tight they were. We are all super proud of Brandon. He's an NFL guy. We can't take all the credit for him. His parents are terrific. I remember them as being a big, strong influence on him. I'm sure Todd's cheering him on."

The Lesako twins, Mark and Mike, are W&J's athletic trainers and campus leaders and they recognized special qualities in Martuccio.

"It's a testament to Brandon, though, because of all his work ethic and how driven he was," Mark Lesako explained. "You just knew when that kid was on campus, he was special. He was driven, hard-working and led by example. Whatever he was going to do, he was going to be successful. He had that drive and that passion. He was a blue-collar kid.

"I'm glad to see that he's achieving his goal and his dream because this is really cool and it's great for the school. It just shows you what hard work and determination can do for you."

Added Mike Lesako: "He came every day trying to give his best and trying to get the others around him to do the same. He was a great leader. He battled through some knee issues. … The kid had an impeccable work ethic. And he was just such a nice, polite young man. … He had the kind of stuff that you find in leaders.

"To see him excel like this, I am so proud of him. He really has a soft spot for W&J. He loved his time here. He loved the people."

Martuccio grew up in Girard and was part of a special group that won 11 games his junior season and finished in the regional championship game.

His best friend is John Norman, who resides in the Washington area and was his high school linemate.

Norman went to Waynesburg University and played for the Yellow Jackets.

"We were co-captains our senior year of high school," Norman said. "We've always had a lot in common and became best friends instantly. We decided to go to rival schools 30 minutes from one another. We played at separate schools and all of that but he wanted me to get on the field. Brandon was a fantastic football player. I mean, his accolades in college speak for themselves. Every offseason, every summer, he picked up the strength training. He understood the science behind it.

"Not only was he trying to get himself in the best position possible to have a good season but he cared just as much to see me progress, make me get stronger, so that I got an opportunity to get on the field. That's the brotherly relationship we have."

Martuccio isn't the only W&J tie with New England. Patriots assistant offensive line coach, Jason Houghtaling, is a cousin of Shea Stanton, W&J's sports information director.

It's been a fascinatingly successful season for the Patriots and Martuccio. A Super Bowl victory would be a highlight on his journey.

"When I graduated from W&J, I went back home and I really didn't know what I wanted to do. I had my biology degree but I didn't know if school was in the cards anymore," Martuccio said. "I went back to my high school coach who offered me the strength job at Girard High School and I took that. It was kind of the start. Then that spring, Coach Sirianni asked me to come back and run the weight room for the W&J football team."

It has been a whirlwind since.

"I'm greatly impressed with Coach Vrabel," Martuccio said. "We've maintained our same routine the whole season and he hammers home the importance of lifting and conditioning. Our programming has remained the same in that regard. I think that's really been huge for the longevity of this team – staying strong and in shape. That's how you bulletproof guys to go on the long run.

"I've learned that if people around you trust you and they can instill a belief in you, I think anything is truly possible."