June 5, 2012
ATLANTA – John Sisk, who brings a wealth of experience with more than two decades in the profession, was officially named Georgia Tech’s Director of Player Development on Tuesday.
Sisk, who will oversee the player development staff that works with more than 350 Yellow Jacket student-athletes, will work directly with the football program.
Sisk replaces Neal Peduzzi, who resigned in May to pursue a career outside of college athletics.
“We’re excited to have John work with our football program,” head football coach Paul Johnson said. “This position is very important to our overall success and I have confidence that John will do a great job.”
Sisk comes to Georgia Tech after serving one season as Director of Strength Training & Conditioning at Furman. A 20-year veteran in the profession, Sisk served as the Director of Speed, Strength and Conditioning at Vanderbilt from 2001-2010.
While at Vanderbilt, Sisk and his staff contributed to the football program’s turnaround, which culminated in the Commodores’ 2008 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl victory over Boston College. He coached four Vandy strength and conditioning All-Americans, including current Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler and Bears’ offensive linemen Chris Williams were two National Football League first-round draft picks to progress through Sisk’s strength training program at Vandy.
All told, Sisk directed the strength training regimen for 12 Vanderbilt players who signed NFL contracts, as well as four Major League Baseball first-round draft picks, including No. 1 selection David Price (Tampa Bay, 2007), No. 2 selection Pedro Alvarez (Pittsburgh, 2008), No. 7 selection Mike Minor (Atlanta, 2009), and No. 8 pick Casey Weathers (Colorado, 2007).
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Georgia Tech staff,” Sisk said. “The opportunity to be a part of the program that Coach Johnson and his staff has built, and continue to build, was very attractive.
“Georgia Tech not only recruits good football players, but high-character kids with a good work ethic. I look forward to working with them on a daily basis.”
Sisk first worked in college athletics as assistant strength coach at Furman in 1993. He went on to work on the staff at Clemson from 1995-2001 before taking the director’s job at Vanderbilt in 2001.
A Waynesville (N.C.) native, Sisk played football at Western Carolina, graduating with a degree in sports administration. Upon graduating, he spent three years as a football/strength coach at Tuscola (N.C.) High School.
In 2011, Sisk was one of eight recognized as a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association.
