Called a "master" of motivation and physical and mental preparation, Mickey Marotti is indeed that, as he has coached three teams that have won national championships: the 2006 and 2008 Florida Gators and the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes.

A native of Ambridge, Mickey was a four-year letterman as a fullback for West Liberty University and a team tri-captain his senior season. An outstanding student, Mickey closed out his career as a first-team NAIA Academic All-American. Mickey graduated from West Liberty in 1987 with a degree in exercise physiology and later earned master's degrees from Ohio State and West Virginia.

But national championships are only a part of Mickey's professional resume. Mickey has directed strength and conditioning programs at four major universities: the University of Cincinnati, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Florida, and currently Ohio State University.

When hired at the University of Cincinnati in 1990, Mickey was the youngest strength and conditioning coordinator in the nation. He worked at Cincinnati until 1998 when he left to accept a similar position at the University of Notre Dame. At Notre Dame, Mickey was responsible for the total development of sport-specific strength and conditioning programs for all 26 varsity sports. In January 2005, Mickey moved to Florida, where he continued to work persistently to prepare players to be in the best shape of their lives.

Mickey recently completed his sixth season as the Ohio State's Assistant Athletic Director for Football Sports Performance and his 31st season overall as a coach. Mickey has been training championship-caliber athletes for over 30 years. Under his guidance, prospects looking to move on to the professional ranks certainly are ready to showcase their talents in front of NFL scouts. He has developed 33 Buckeyes into NFL draft picks, including a school-record five first-rounders in 2016. Across his career, Mickey has developed 150 athletes into NFL draft picks, including 20 players selected in the first round.

In 2012, Mickey was inducted into the USA Strength and Conditioning Hall of Fame and serves on the Board of Directors of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. Mickey was named the 2016 American Football Monthly FBS Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and has been certified as a Master Strength & Conditioning Coach since 2003, the highest honor that can be achieved in his profession.

Mickey and his wife Susan have a son Mitchell and a daughter Maddie, both of whom are Ohio State graduates.