KRON, Ohio — The University of Akron Department of Athletics is proud to announce that former Cincinnati Reds’ third baseman Chris Sabo has been named the Zips’ head baseball coach.
He will be introduced at press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 3 p.m. on the press box level (7th floor) of InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field. The public is invited to meet the newest Zips’ coach. The press conference will also be streamed live on www.GoZips.com as well as Facebook Live on the Akron Zips’ main page.
“We are excited to welcome Chris Sabo to the University of Akron,” Director of Athletics Larry Williams said. “His illustrious playing career demonstrates his mastery of the fine details of the game. He also has extraordinary leadership skills and the proven ability to teach, coach, and motivate young athletes. His work ethic, drive, and commitment to excellence made him the perfect fit to lead the Zips’ baseball program.”
Sabo has spent the last four years as the manager at IMG Academy in Florida. His team, which was nationally ranked No. 2 in 2015, was ranked No. 5 last spring. Ten of his IMG players were drafted into Major League Baseball.
Sabo played baseball at the University of Michigan from 1981 to 1983. The Wolverines finished third at the 1983 College World Series, as Sabo earned first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News and Baseball America.
Sabo was a second round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 1983. He was named the 1988 National League Rookie of the Year. A three-time National League All-Star (1988, 1990, 1991), he appeared in the 1990 World Series championship. Sabo led the Reds in home runs, hitting .563 during the series. He holds the World Series record for nine assists by a third baseman in a game. He also holds the National League record for 11 assists by a third baseman in a game. Sabo achieved a career-high batting average (.301) with 26 home runs, 88 RBI, and 175 hits in 153 games in 1991.
Sabo was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame in 2010.
Following his stellar major league career, Sabo served as a hitting coach, infield instructor, and talent evaluator within the Reds organization.
He has also assisted Xavier University, University of Michigan, and University of Cincinnati baseball programs.
Sabo earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Xavier University in 1998. He also attended law school at Northern Kentucky University from 2009-10.
A native of Detroit, Mich., Sabo, 56, and his wife Susan have three daughters– Annie, Brooke, and Olivia. He is an avid golfer and is heavily involved in community service-fundraising events.
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The University of Akron, which announced the addition of women’s lacrosse and baseball last fall, currently fields 18 Division I sports programs. All, except rifle, participate in the Mid-American Conference. Rifle competes in the Great America Rifle Conference.
Akron baseball will begin competition in the spring of 2020 and will resume play in the Mid-American Conference.
AKRON BASEBALL HISTORY
- Akron baseball began in 1873. Akron competed as Buchtel College from 1873 to 1913.
- The Zips’ first head coach was John Heisman in 1894.
- Akron baseball played in the Ohio Valley Conference [OVC] from 1981 to 1987.
- The Zips played in the Mid-Continent Conference [MCC] from 1990 to 1993.
- UA’s only conference championship came in 1991 as Dave Fross led the Zips to the Mid-Continent Conference tournament championship.
- Akron baseball joined the Mid-American Conference [MAC] in 1994.
- UA baseball was discontinued after the 2015 season.
- Chris Sabo becomes the 17th head coach of Akron baseball since 1894.
THE SABO FILE
Born: January 19, 1962 (age 56)
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.
Family: wife Susan, daughters– Annie, Brooke, and Olivia
Education:
University of Michigan [1980-83]
University of Iowa [1984-85]
Xavier University, bachelor of liberal arts [1998]
Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights,
Salmon P. Chase College of Law [2009-10]
PLAYING CAREER
Detroit Catholic Central High School [1978-80], hockey, golf, and baseball
University of Michigan [1981-83], baseball
Cincinnati Reds [1988-93, 1996-97]
Baltimore Orioles [1994]
Chicago White Sox [1995]
St. Louis Cardinals [1995]
COACHING CAREER
Talent Evaluator/Hitting Coach, Cincinnati Reds [2003-07]
College Baseball Advisor, University of Cincinnati, University of Michigan,
Xavier University [1988-2013]
Manager, IMG Academy [2014-18]
Manager, Green Bay Bullfrogs [Summer 2017]
Head coach, University of Akron [2018 to present]
HONORS
First-team All-American by The Sporting News and Baseball America (1983)
Team MVP (twice) in minor league play
National League Rookie of the Year (1988)
Topps Rookie of the Year (1988)
National League All-Star (1988, 1990, 1991)
Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame induction (2010)
What They’re Saying About Chris Sabo . . .
“Obviously, Chris brings the former player, coach, and professional player aspect to Akron. He will be a dynamic coach that blends the professional and amateur athlete worlds. He is very passionate and will be an outstanding influence for the young student-athletes.”Tim Naehring
Vice President of Baseball Operations, New York Yankees
“Chris has a very unique combination of talent, drive, discipline, and humility that make him an outstanding fit to develop and mentor student-athletes at Akron. If I were asked to choose one guy to teach my son how to play baseball the right way, it would be Chris Sabo. This is a great hire for the Zips as the baseball program gets re-established!”Grant Griesser
former Assistant Director of Player Personnel and Development, Cincinnati Reds
(2000-07)
From Former Players
“Coach Sabo treated me as a professional from day one. I believe that’s why the transition to pro ball was so easy for myself. Without Coach Sabo, I wouldn’t have been nearly as prepared to start my career. I could not have asked for a better role model and coach to prepare me for life after high school.”Levi Kelly (RHP)
IMG Academy (2016, 2018)
Arizona Diamondbacks (2018)
“Playing for Coach Sabo taught me how to play the game the right way and taught me what playing like a professional is really like. With his guidance and ability to treat us like professionals made the transition to pro ball 100 times easier. The best coach/manager I’ve ever had to date.”
Logan Allen (LHP)
IMG Academy (2015)
Boston Red Sox (2015), San Diego Padres (2016-18)
“Coach Sabo, in just one year, was an extremely instrumental piece to my development not only as a ball player but as a person. His enforcing yet simultaneously relaxed nature are the exact kind of combination of traits in a coach that helped me thrive and reminded me of the importance to take everything I do seriously, but to still maintain a sense of enjoyment and sheer passion for it in order to find that never ending drive to be the best person in all I do.”Eric Feliz (OF)
IMG Academy (2015)
University of Notre Dame (2015 to present)
“I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to play for Coach Sabo my senior year in high school at IMG Academy. During my time playing for Coach Sabo, he taught me a variety of skills and lessons that benefitted me both on and off the field. Coach Sabo is not just an outstanding baseball coach, but also a mentor and role model for not just myself but many others he has coached.”Nick Patten (INF)
IMG Academy (2015)
University of Delaware (2015-18)
Pittsburgh Pirates (2018)
“Coach Sabo has played a huge role in developing me to become a better man, better student athlete and baseball player while attending the IMG Academy. His mentoring and coaching prepared me better than most 18-year old to make the jump from high school to playing professional baseball.”Tyler Esplin (OF)
IMG Academy (2018)
Boston Red Sox (2018)
