John Sisk, who possesses nearly three decades of experience in the field of strength and conditioning, highlighted by 17 years with Power Five programs, is in his third year as the head strength coach for Georgia State football. He joined the Georgia State program in January 2019 after seven years at Georgia Tech and previously worked 10 seasons at Vanderbilt.
Sisk’s strength and conditioning program paid immediate dividends for the GSU program, helping the Panthers to a school-record seven regular-season victories and a berth in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Following the season, offensive tackle Hunter Atkinson and punter Brandon Wright signed NFL free agent contracts. This past season, his guidance led the Panthers to a win over Western Kentucky in the LendingTree Bowl.
In his seven seasons as Georgia Tech’s director of player development, Sisk helped develop and train 26 student-athletes who signed National Football League contracts, including nine NFL draft picks. He was a vital part of the program’s five bowl berths and 2014 Capital One Orange Bowl victory and Top 10 national ranking.
He went to Georgia Tech in 2012 after one season as director of strength training and conditioning at Furman (2011), but prior to that, Sisk served as the director of speed, strength and conditioning at Vanderbilt for 10 years (2001-10). At Vanderbilt, Sisk coached four strength and conditioning all-Americans at Vandy, including former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler and former Chicago Bears offensive linemen Chris Williams both went through Sisk’s strength-training program at Vandy before being selected in the first round of the National Football League Draft. Sisk directed the strength training regimen for 12 Vanderbilt players that signed NFL contracts, as well as four Major League Baseball first-round draft picks, including No. 1 selection and future Cy Young Award winner David Price.
Sisk first worked in college athletics as an assistant strength coach at Furman for two years (1993-94) before serving as the head strength and conditioning coach at his alma mater, Western Carolina, for two years (1995-96). He moved on to Clemson for four years (1997-2000) before his 10-year stint at Vanderbilt.
A Waynesville, N.C., native, Sisk played football at Western Carolina and graduated from WCU with a degree in sports administration. Upon graduating, he spent three years as a football and strength coach at Tuscola (N.C.) High School.
In 2011, Sisk was one of eight recognized as a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach (MSCC) by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association.
Sisk is married to the former Missy Cornell of Dayton, Ohio.
