COLUMBUS, Ga. | Columbus State University Director of Athletics Justin Hay has announced the hiring of Sarah Wilensky as the department's new Director of Sports Performance; marking the creation of the first full-time sports performance position in Columbus State Athletics history. Wilensky brings a strong background in strength and conditioning, sports science, and athlete performance development to the Cougars.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sarah to Columbus State University," said Hay. "As we continue to invest in the student-athlete experience, creating this position and adding a leader like Sarah is a tremendous step forward for our department. Her expertise in sports performance and commitment to developing student-athletes will have an immediate and lasting impact on Cougar Athletics, and we are excited about the energy and leadership she will bring to our programs."

Wilensky joins Columbus State after serving as Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at Dakota State University since June 2024. In that role, she designed and implemented strength and conditioning programs for women's volleyball, softball, women's soccer, cross country, and track & field athletes while integrating performance technologies, including VALD Force Plates and Vitruve Velocity-Based Training systems, to monitor athlete performance, recovery, and return-to-play protocols.

During her time at Dakota State, Wilensky helped support one national champion, 20 Track & Field All-Americans, more than 30 school records, and 26 conference champions. She also played a key role in the inaugural season of women's soccer and helped guide the volleyball program to postseason play in 2024. In addition, she organized the university's strength and conditioning internship curriculum and served as an adjunct exercise science professor.

Prior to Dakota State, Wilensky served as a Graduate Assistant in Biomechanics and as a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Intern at Idaho State University. She independently designed and implemented training programs for the women's tennis and women's golf programs, helping the Bengals' women's tennis team capture its first regular-season championship while the women's golf program recorded the lowest team score in program history at the time.

Beyond the weight room, Wilensky worked extensively in Idaho State's biomechanics laboratory, performing movement assessments on student-athletes and utilizing force plates, motion capture systems, and other advanced technologies to enhance athlete development and movement quality.

Wilensky will lead the department's sports performance efforts from the Hughston Clinic Sports Performance Center and the Champ L. Baker Jr. Athletic Training Room, further enhancing Columbus State's commitment to providing its student-athletes with premier training and performance resources.

A native of Selah, Washington, Wilensky earned her Master of Arts in Physical Education and Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in 2024 after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Sport & Exercise Science from Idaho State in 2023. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and is certified in CPR and AED.

"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join the Columbus State University Athletics staff and build a strength and conditioning program to support our student-athletes," said Wilensky. "I was drawn to CSU because of its strong tradition of success and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact with programs that are already competing at a high level. I believe that a comprehensive strength and conditioning program can help bridge the gap between training and performance, giving our athletes the tools they need to perform at their best when it matters most.

"I truly appreciate Jeff Baker (Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Medicine) and all the coaches for their trust and confidence in me to fill this role and join their programs. I am excited to get started and work alongside each team to build a culture of excellence, foster long-term development, and contribute to the continued success of CSU Athletics!"