On January 15, 2012—exactly 48 days after Ohio State announced Urban Meyer as its 24th head coach—the Buckeyes’ newly assembled football staff stood at center court inside Value City Arena. More than 18,000 fans had come to watch Thad Matta’s Buckeyes take on Indiana, but all eyes were on Ohio State’s new football coach as he officially introduced his staff.
One by one, Meyer rattled off big names such as Luke Fickell, Everett Withers, Mike Vrabel, Tom Herman and Ed Warinner to a deliriously cheerful crowd.
The last coach Meyer introduced was, in his words, the most important.
“And finally, the most important hire I made on this coaching staff, to bring toughness, make sure we’re in great shape and get this team ready to go—our strength coach, Mickey Marotti.”
A stocky, confident man strode toward Meyer, shook his hand and then joined the other coaches at midcourt.
It was one of the rare occasions that Marotti was in the spotlight. Over the ensuing 11 months, he faded from that spotlight and went to work—molding the Ohio State football team while putting his fingerprints all over the Buckeyes’ undefeated 2012 season.
It Started in the Weight Room
Workouts with Marotti were nothing like the what former strength coach Eric Lichter conducted during his six-year stint in Columbus.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, Zach Boren—the converted fullback turned middle linebacker for last year’s Buckeyes—said that…
Continue Reading: Meet Mickey Marotti, Urban Meyer’s Secret Weapon
