Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
Shigeru "Sonny" Sano has directed Ohio University's strength and conditioning program since April 2001. As the Assistant Athletic Director for Sport Performance, Sonny is in charge of 14 sport teams for the Bobcats. From 2001 to 2015, he helped the Football team being bowl eligible for 9 seasons and participated in 7 bowl games and 3 MAC championship games.
Sonny began his career with a short stint at the University of Pittsburgh working for Tim Wilson before working under Master Strength Coach Jeff Connors at East Carolina University as a graduate assistant 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, he 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 under Master Strength Coach Mike Gentry. In his final two years there, Sonny 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.
A 1989 graduate of Rikkyo University in Tokyo, Japan, Sonny earned a bachelor's degree in psychology while playing for the school's varsity ice hockey team and Sumo Wrestling team. He came to the United States after graduation and earned an additional degree in physical education from Eastern Michigan University in 1991. He also completed a master's degree in sports administration from Wayne State University in 1993.
Sonny holds certification from CSCCa ,NSCA and USA Weightlifting. As a competitive weightlifter, Sano qualified for the American Open in 1998 and 1999.
Sonny would like to express his gratitude to all the outstanding strength coaches who mentored him and helped him along the way and wants to thank all the co-workers, assistants, GAs and interns for their hard work and dedication. He would also like to thank his wife, Krissy, his son Brendan and daughter Erika for their support.
