Shigeru "Sonny" Sano has directed the overall operations of Ohio University's strength and conditioning program since April 2001. He currently oversees the strength & conditioning efforts for the volleyball, baseball, wrestling, field hockey and track & field programs.
Sano helped several Mid-American Conference championship-winning teams during his time in Athens, including the 2004 men's basketball team, '06, '07, '09 and '11 field hockey teams and '17 baseball team. He also helped the Bobcat football team win three MAC East Division titles (2006, '09, '11) and earn seven bowl appearances.
Sano has directed numerous Ohio athletes to National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American recognition. Included in that are former Bobcat football standouts Landon Cohen (defensive tackle) and Kalvin McRae (running back), who became NSCA Strength and Conditioning Athletes of the Year in 2008. Former Bobcats Matt Muncy (2006) and Chip Cox (2004) also earned the same honor. During his time with the football team, 18 athletes earned First Team All-MAC distinction as well, including Chad Brinker, Dion Byrum, Matt Coppage and Joe Flading. Several others, including Mike Mitchell, Taylor Price, Travis (T.J.) Carrie and Tarell Basham, advanced to the professional level.
During his association with Ohio Athletics, many more student-athletes earned individual accolades such as MAC Player of the Year or First Team All-MAC. Among them are Brandon Hunter, Leon Williams and Jerome Tillman of the men's basketball team, Mallory Salis, Ali Lake, Tia Jimerson, Vera Giacomazzi, Lizzie Stephens and Maggie Nadona of the volleyball team, Tori Albini, Nikki Gnozzio, Kendal Ballard, Cathryn Altodoerffer and 26 others from the field hockey team, Rudy Rott, Spencer Ibarra, Michael Klein and Jake Roehn of the baseball team and Jake Percival, Cody Walters, Jeremy Johnson, Shakur Laney, Nick Purdue and Jeremiah Beltran of the wrestling team.
In 2016, Sano was named Master Strength & Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Association(CSCCa). MSCC is the highest honor that can be achieved as a strength & conditioning coach. It represents professionalism, knowledge, experience, expertise, as well as longevity in the field.
Sano began his career with a short stint at Pittsburgh before working as a graduate assistant coach at East Carolina from 1995-96.
He subsequently became Virginia Tech's strength and conditioning coordinator for men's Olympic sports, working closely with male student-athletes and female swimmers and throwers. In August of 1999, Sano was elevated to assistant director for the Hokies, coordinating all activities of the men's basketball and volleyball teams. For all five years at Virginia Tech, he assisted in all facets of strength and conditioning for the football team. In his final two years there, Sano also was in charge of developing speed and agility for the Hokies' football program, which played in the Sugar Bowl for the 1999 national championship. Many players from this team achieved All-American status and moved on to NFL careers, including Michael Vick, John Engelberger, Corey Moore, Andre Davis, Ben Taylor, Shayne Graham and more.
A 1989 graduate of Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan, Sano earned a bachelor's degree in psychology while playing for the school's varsity ice hockey team. He came to the United States after graduation and earned an additional degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan University in 1991. Sano also completed a master's degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1993.
Sano is a member of the NSCA and holds certification as a strength and conditioning specialist and as a USA Weightlifting club coach. As a competitive weightlifter, Sano qualified for the American Open in 1998 and 1999.
He and his wife, Krissy, have a son, Brendan, and a daughter, Erika.
