Maryanski and Hogan Join Professional Ranks

KEENE, N.H. 12/21/05 - A pair of recent Keene State grads are going pro. While John Maryanski, a four-year member of the KSC baseball team and Jimmy Hogan, a former standout member of the Owl men’s soccer team, won’t be playing on the field, they will be working behind the scenes for professional athletic teams.

A Nashua native, Maryanski will be serving as a strength and conditioning coach in the Texas Rangers farm system while Hogan, from Plymouth, was recently hired by D.C. United of Major League Soccer to work on its sales staff.

“When you meet John, you immediately say here’s someone who knows what he wants and is going to work for it,” said Chris Miles, manager of Keene State’s BodyWorks Fitness Center, who supervised Maryanski during his year as a student instructor. “We’re very proud of John and proud that he came from here.”

“Jimmy always had a plan from day one when he came to Keene State,” said KSC soccer coach Ron Butcher. “You knew he was going to be successful.”

Maryanski, who earned his degree in health science last May, recently fulfilled his degree requirement doing an advance practicum at Athletes Performance, a highly regarded fitness facility located in Tempe, Ariz.

As a student, Maryanski, who played both third base and outfield for the Owl baseball team, found his niche off the field with Keene State’s strength and conditioning program. With Sarah Testo, KSC’s strength and conditioning coach, serving as his mentor, Maryanski got the chance to work and help design strength and agility programs for KSC teams and athletes. Serving as a role model for others in the program, Maryanski saw his hard work pay off when he was promoted to senior fitness specialist and later awarded National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-America honors.

Through the encouragement of Miles and Testo, Maryanski applied for the highly competitive internship with Athletes Performance.

“I was so excited when I found out I got the internship,” Maryanski said. “I rushed into the gym to tell everyone.”

Assisting the coaches at Athletes Performance, Maryanski had the opportunity to work with top amateur and professional athletes, including the Red Sox’s Kevin Youkilis. “I was a little overwhelmed at first, but my training at Keene State prepared me well,” Maryanski said. “You really get to see the athletes as human beings.”

Like Maryanski, Hogan, a 2005 business management major, honed his skills away from the Granite State at the Game Face Academy, an international training and career placement company located in Portland, Ore.

A two-year captain for the Owls who capped off his career by being named Little East defensive player of the year, Hogan said Keene State allowed him to explore a number of opportunities on and off the field. “The business program helped me determine what career path I wanted to follow while the soccer team gave me the ability to showcase my talents as a player and a leader,” he said.

Learning the tricks of the trade at the Game Face Academy, Hogan began his job as a sales representative with D.C. United in mid-October. “This is a dog-eat- dog job, where the harder I work, the more results I’ll see,” Hogan explained.

Hogan sees the fruits of his labor on game days when the stadium is packed. “It’s a great feeling to know you played a part in filling the stadium,” he said. “It creates a special atmosphere for our players and fans.”

As far as making the transition from in front of the crowd to the front office, Hogan said “If I couldn’t play the sport at the next level, I always wanted to be involved with the sport in some capacity. It seems like an easy transition so far.”

One thing that Hogan doesn’t want to lose from his playing days is his competitive spirit. He feels those traits will come in handy in his new position. “Anyone will tell you at the office or in the industry that having been an athlete and a fierce competitor will help you achieve your goals,” he said. “This is a very driven environment to meet certain numbers, and exceed expectations. The MLS is trying to expand its market all the time. They want people who are driven and work hard. As a former player, you have that same mindset.”

Hogan said that soccer will never leave his blood. He and his roommate, a former player for Princeton and a reserve for the N.Y./N.J. MetroStars plan on joining a league this spring. “Soccer has always opened up a lot of doors for me and I don’t expect that to stop anytime soon,” he said.

While Hogan is firmly entrenched in the D.C. area, for the time being, Maryanski isn’t quite sure of his next destination. In February, he will report to Surprise, Ariz., the spring home of the Rangers. Hoping to hook up with the Keene State baseball team, which will be traveling to Phoenix for Spring Week, Maryanski will work with both major and minor league players before being assigned to a team. “I don’t have a preference where I go, but I was told by one of the players I worked with at Athletes Performance to push for the team in Texas [the Frisco RoughRiders, the Rangers’ Double A affiliate] because it has the best living situation.”

Regardless of where he ends up, Maryanski couldn’t be any happier as he begins his professional career. “I hope to have a great season with the Texas Rangers and will work every day for their respect and to establish myself in the professional sports field,” he said. “It’s every boy’s dream to some day be involved with a pro sports team. Thankfully, I have my shot. And I hope to make the best of it.”