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Sabo in charge of revived Akron baseball program

AKRON - Baseball is returning to Akron University and Chris Sabo is the man chosen to lead the way.

“I was looking for one more big challenge in life,” explained Sabo, who will soon turn 57. “This is a great opportunity to build something from nothing … to build a program back up and create a legacy for the kids.”

Akron, which began a baseball program in 1873, last had a team in 2015 before the program was disbanded when the school made cuts as part of a three-year plan to repair financial issues.

“I didn’t even know Akron had dropped baseball a few years back,” Sabo admitted.

Now the former major league player, most known for his years with the Cincinnati Reds from 1988-93 and again in 1996, has the responsibility of reviving baseball at the Mid-American Conference school.

“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be part of baseball in Akron,” said Sabo, who has been married to his wife Sarah since 1989 and has three daughters. “People have greeted me there with open arms. It kind of caught me off guard.”

Akron athletic director Larry Williams is happy with the choice of Sabo.

"We are excited to welcome Chris Sabo to the University of Akron,” Williams said in a release. “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, who played with the Orioles, White Sox and Cardinals as well as the Reds during a career that spanned from 1988-96, has been involved in coaching with the University of Cincinnati, Xavier and his alma mater Michigan in addition to a stint with the Reds’ organization from 2003-07.

Most recently he has been the manager of the IMG Academy team in Florida since 2014, with 10 players drafted by major-league organizations in those four years.

“I’m ready to go up to the next level,” Sabo explained. “I think my record speaks for itself. I’m a good coach and a good leader of men, getting kids better at baseball. But I hope to make them more than that outside the game. I hope to make them winners in their job and as quality husbands and fathers. That’s my goal.”

On the field it will be quite a challenge at Akron, which had a 29-30 record the last year of the program.

“I’m going to try and stay in Ohio and make this an Ohio team,” Sabo said about his recruiting philosophy. “My goals is to have 35 guys from the state of Ohio. If the majority is from northeast Ohio, that would be even better.

“But we’re not going to bring in 35 freshmen. We have to mix in junior college guys with the new transfer rule.”

Sabo, a member of the Reds Hall of Fame, is confident about getting things done right for a program that will begin play in the 2020 season.

“My biggest challenge will be fund raising,” noted Sabo, adding the program will be on “limited scholarships” at the beginning. “The first year I want to see if I can help get the program running full gear. We want 35 guys by September 2019 for fall ball with the first spring schedule in 2020.”

It starts with completing a coaching staff.

“I’d like to have everything in place by Christmas break,” Sabo said. “I’m a good judge of character. I have 200 resumes in front of me and I hope to find guys that have strong Ohio ties to help in recruiting that know coaches in Ohio. And they’ve got to be younger guys.”

Finding coaches and recruiting players that fit the program is exciting for Sabo.

“I talk to coaches all the time,” Sabo said. “Coaching a nationally-ranked team in Florida, all I do is talk to coaches and they lead you to players.

“I’m looking for staff members that are go-getters, that are excited to have this opportunity. They’ll do most of the work. I’ll do luncheon banquets, breakfasts and talking to the fine people of Akron.”

Being part of the Mid-American Conference is a challenge that Sabo understands.

“I went to Michigan so I’ve very familiar with the MAC,” noted Sabo, who was born in Detroit and attended Detroit Catholic Central before going to UM where he led the Wolverines to a third-place finish in the College World Series in 1983. “Those teams used to beat us up. It’s a great conference with great quality baseball. It’s an opportunity to coach against a lot of men that are major league prospects.”

So after playing in the major leagues - including making three All-Star Game appearances in 1988, 1990 and 1991 - and then moving into the coaching ranks at different levels, Sabo is ready for another baseball challenge.

“I like new challenges and I’m looking forward to it,” Sabo said. “I hope in three or four years the University of Akron will be proud of the young men we’ve developed.”