Ohio muscles up Athletic Staff

by Eric Pfahler
For The Post

Ohio added a little toughness to its arsenal this week when Director of Athletics Thomas Boeh named Shigeru "Sonny" Sano director of strength and conditioning.

Sano's most recent post was assistant director of strength for Virginia Tech, where he worked with the sixth-ranked Hokies football team.

Assistant Athletic Director for Business and Personnel Amy Dean, who handled most of the interview process, said she felt Sano was the perfect fit for Ohio's program.

"He came highly recommended from coaches and administration," Dean said. "Through networking we had heard nothing but wonderful things."

Sano graduated from Rikkyo University in Tokyo in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in psychology. He also earned a degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan and a master's degree in sports administration from Wayne State in 1993.

Sano began his professional career in Pittsburgh and then worked as a graduate assistant coach at Eastern Carolina in 1995 and 1996.

He upgraded his career by coordinating Virginia Tech's men's Olympic sports, working with female swimmers and throwers. In the late summer of 1999, Sano was promoted to assistant director, helping to improve the football team's speed and agility programs.

Sano also maintains certification as a strength and conditioning specialist and as a USA Weightlifting coach.

Sano said he feels privileged to be a member of the Bobcats' staff and feels he can help improve the quality of athletics at Ohio.

"I don't want to say I do a better job than the guy before," Sano said. "But I know what kind of atmosphere it takes to be successful."

Sano has begun work to evaluate the football team and other teams.

Ohio athletics to hold garage sale

The athletics department has announced its intentions to hold an Ohio Athletics Surplus Sale Sunday starting at 12:30 p.m. at Athens High School. A follow-up sale will be held April 28 at 12:30 p.m. at the Ohio Athletics Mall behind The Convo. The sales will coincide with the Spring Game this weekend and next week's baseball doubleheader against Miami.

Items such as uniforms, warm-ups, sweats and shoes from a variety of athletic teams will be sold. Locker stools, bench chairs and other items also will be available.