Chief Science Officer, University of Texas
Sandy Abney served as the Deputy Director of High Performance for Team China under the direction of the Chinese Olympic Committee. Previously she was the Assistant Head Coach of Athletic Performance and Director of the University of Texas Olympic Sports Strength and Conditioning Internship program where she oversaw the development and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate assistant strength and conditioning coaches.
During her tenure at Texas she was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for Women's Crew, and Women's Swimming programs.
She has over 20 years' experience as a collegiate-level Strength and Conditioning professional. Sandy began working at the University of Texas in 1999 as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach where she oversaw the performance training of 5 Division 1A teams (Golf, Varsity Rowing, Novice Rowing, Softball, and Swimming) while assisting with Football.
Prior to her arrival at the University of Texas, Sandy worked as an Exercise Physiologist for St. David's Hospital in Austin, Texas, working in the Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Center. Before working in Cardiac Rehabilitation, Sandy worked as an Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Under the direction of Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Larry Levermann, Sandy oversaw the performance training of Volleyball, Track and Field, and Softball.
Sandy received her Masters degree of Education from Concordia University with an emphasis in Sports Administration, and her bachelors degree in Exercise Sports Science from Texas State University. She is MSCCC and SCCC certified, and holds certifications from United States Weightlifting Federation, and USA Track and Field Association.
In addition, she is a former collegiate track and field heptathlete and power lifter turned Olympic Weightlifter. Sandy has held the title Master Olympic Weightlifting National Champion, 63 kg. Class, and competed as a nationally ranked weightlifter for over 13 years. A highlight of her weightlifting career was competing for a spot on the 2004 USA Weightlifting Olympic team.
