Sarah Wilensky joins Columbus State University as the department’s first full-time Director of Sports Performance ahead of 2026-27.
Wilensky came to Columbus State after serving as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Dakota State University from June 2024 to 2026. She designed and implemented strength and conditioning programs for women’s volleyball, softball, women’s soccer, cross country, and track and field. She also incorporated 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 and field All-Americans, more than 30 school records, and 26 conference champions. She also contributed to the inaugural season of the women’s soccer program and helped the volleyball program reach postseason play in 2024. In addition, Wilensky organized the university’s strength and conditioning internship curriculum and served as an adjunct exercise science professor.
Before joining Dakota State, Wilensky served as a Graduate Assistant in Biomechanics and as a Strength and 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. During her tenure, the women’s tennis team captured its first regular-season championship, while the women’s golf program recorded the lowest team score in program history at the time.
Wilensky also worked extensively in Idaho State’s biomechanics laboratory, where she performed movement assessments on student-athletes and utilized force plates, motion capture systems, and other advanced technologies to enhance athlete development and movement quality.
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 and Exercise Science from Idaho State in 2023. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist 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,” Wilensky said. “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!”
