HACKENSACK, N.J. – FDU Athletics in conjunction with Peak Sports and Excel Physical Therapy, part of the Ivy Rehab Network announced on Tuesday a new multi-year partnership agreement that will make Excel Physical Therapy the official Physical Therapy provider of FDU Knights Athletics.
"We're really excited to rekindle our relationship with Excel Physical Therapy," said FDU Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Training Nick Hodgman. "For years, Excel provided our student-athletes with elite medical care and with them back in the fold, we feel it will only improve the student-athlete experience here at FDU."
By entering into this agreement, Excel Physical Therapy cements a commitment to FDU Athletics. The announcement comes less than two months after Excel Physical Therapy moved their Hackensack location to 2 University Plaza, which is right next door to the Bogota Savings Bank Center on the campus of FDU.
"We are extremely excited for the opportunity to partner with FDU and provide their athletes with the highest level of sports rehabilitation," said Lauren Battaglia, Regional Director of Operations. "Excel has had a long history with FDU Athletics, and we are thrilled to continue with that tradition."
Knights' fans will have the opportunity to learn more about Excel Physical Therapy as FDU's newest official partner will have stations set up at multiple men's and women's basketball games.
ABOUT FDU ATHLETICS
FDU is home to 21 NCAA Division I teams. A member of the Northeast Conference, the Knights have had tremendous success in the classroom, in athletic competition as well as giving back to the Bergen County community. FDU became the first school in Northeast Conference (NEC) history to win championships in women's volleyball, women's soccer, and men's soccer in the same season (2022). In 2023, the Burgundy and Blue also became the first NEC school to win two games as a 16-seed in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, including an upset over top-seeded Purdue. As a result of its incredible 2022-23 season, FDU placed 92nd in the Learfield Director's Cup, the first NEC program to finish in the Top 100. In 2024 Salif Mane captured the Triple jump title at the 2024 NCAA Track and Field Outdoor Championships, went on to win the gold medal at the Team USA Olympic Trials, and compete at the Paris Olympics. Since 2019, FDU has won 15 conference titles across men's soccer, men's tennis, men's basketball, women's basketball, women's indoor track & field, women's bowling, women's golf, and women's volleyball. Off the field, FDU student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the community by winning the NEC Building Communities Award in both 2020 and 2024. In addition to recent championships, FDU holds five additional national championships, three in sport of women's fencing and two in women's bowling.
ABOUT EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY
While working closely together at a sports medicine facility in New York City in the late 1980s, EXCEL founders and co-owners Matt Gibble, PT and Gary Flink, PT, MSPT envisioned opening a New Jersey based practice that would set the standards in orthopedic physical therapy for everyone from school age children to geriatrics. In March 1990, EXCEL opened the doors to their Fort Lee office. Since then, they have opened offices throughout the state of New Jersey, all of which were designed and built on a foundation of excellence in physical therapy. In February of 2023, EXCEL joined the Ivy Rehab Network, and today, after 30 years, remains the most trusted source for rehabilitation in New Jersey.
