Strength coach Oviatt calls it a career

A HIGHLY RESPECTED member of the Washington State athletics department, Rob Oviatt, is calling it a career and resigning effective August 1, the school said in a release on Friday. Oviatt, at WSU the past eight years and inducted into the Hall of Fame in '03, plans to remain in Pullman and spend more time with his family.

"This was an excruciating decision professionally, but an easy one personally," said Oviatt.

Oviatt, a constant fixture on the sidelines for Cougar football games, saved some of his highest praise for the student-athletes at WSU.

"They destroy the myth that kids nowadays aren't willing to work. They'll do anything you ask as long as they know you sincerely care about them and see that they are physically improving."

Oviatt began at Washington State March 14, 2000, as the Cougars' Director of Physical Development. He was appointed Assistant Athletic Director for Physical Development in 2004.

A 2003 inductee into the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame, Oviatt was elected president of the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association at the 2004 CSCCA convention.

"This fall I am going to decompress from 27 straight years of a regimented schedule, travel and spend some quality time with family and friends," said Oviatt. "I have been very fortunate in my professional career and benefited from the help of countless people along the way. More importantly, I have built relationships that will last forever.

"I will continue my lifelong commitment of doing anything I can to further the strength and conditioning profession as well as our professional organization."

In 2001 Oviatt received the CSCCA's highest honor, being named the master strength and conditioning coach at the organization's annual convention. Oviatt has also received the Ulysses S. Grant Sharp Award at the 2003 Holiday Bowl luncheon, voted on by the WSU players.

He also serves on the association's Board of Directors, and was appointed to the Board of Advisors for the Taylor Hooton Foundation for Fighting Steroid Abuse in 2003.

Oviatt is the father of four children, Lindsay, Allison, April and William, and is married to the former Kathleen McCance.