New Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer has added Mickey Marotti to his staff as assistant athletic director for football sports performance.
Marotti’s responsibilities will primarily include running the football program’s strength and conditioning program.
“I believe the strength staffs that Mickey has led have been the best staffs in college football,” Meyer said. “He is the best there is at developing physically and mentally tough football players.”
Marotti will leave the University of Florida where he’s been employed since 2005 and most recently served as the Gators’ director of sports performance.
Meyer and Marotti first met when the two were graduate assistants at OSU in 1987. They also worked together at the University of Cincinnati and Notre Dame where Marotti led the schools’ strength and conditioning programs.
When Meyer became Florida’s head coach in 2005, Marotti was one of his first hires.
During his seven years at Florida, he helped mold 22 All-Americans and eight first-round NFL draft choices.
Marotti is one of 100 strength trainers that have a master of strength and conditioning, which is considered the highest honor in the profession.
Known for innovative training techniques, Marotti has had players carry rocks, flip heavy tires, and start workouts at midnight.
Meyer said he trusts Marotti and his methods.
“There are times in the year when the strength staff has more contact with the team than the coaching staff,” Meyer said, “and I have complete trust in Mickey Marotti’s abilities to prepare our student-athletes to be the strongest, fastest and mentally toughest football players they can be.”
Marotti will step into his new role on Jan. 2 after OSU returns from their Gator Bowl matchup against Florida.
Jerry Emig, associate director for athletic communications, said the details of Marotti’s contract, including his salary, are not yet available.
Eric Lichter, director of football performance at OSU, and Troy Sutton, OSU’s coordinator of strength and conditioning, previously worked to design OSU’s football strength and conditioning program.
Lichter made $151,860 during 2010 and Sutton made $72,804, according to The Collegiate Times.
A June 2010 report from the Orlando Sentinel reported Marotti’s annual salary was $240,000.
