City native lends hand in QB’s path to Super Bowl
Dak Notestine took a big leap of faith last year when he decided to leave his position as the director of strength and conditioning at Ohio University to begin a new venture as a personal trainer in Cincinnati.
It is safe to say the move has paid off.
Notestine, a 2006 Bellefontaine High School graduate and former standout athlete for the Chieftains, has acquired a famous client: Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
Notestine played a key role in Burrow returning from a serious knee injury to lead the Bengals to Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“Everything Joe does and says is legitimate,” said Notestine, who is the director of performance at Black Sheep Performance in the Cincinnati suburb of Blue Ash. “He is a leader by example to a T. His will to be successful bleeds over to those around him.”
Notestine, who spoke with the Examiner on Friday afternoon while waiting for a flight to Los Angeles for Sunday’s game, first crossed paths with the Bengals star quarterback when Burrow was a child.
After a successful high school career at Bellefontaine, Notestine walked on to the Ohio University football team, following in the footsteps of his father Tim, who also played some football for the Bobcats.
Notestine would eventually earn a scholarship and starting position as a defensive end for the Bobcats and was named a team captain for his senior season.
During his college career, Notestine recorded 110 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks.
At Ohio, he played under defensive coordinator Jimmy Burrow, the father of Joe Burrow.
Jimmy Burrow made recruiting stops at Bellefontaine when Notestine was in high school and the two developed a strong bond.
Notestine would also get to know Jimmy’s son, who would star locally at Athens High School and become the state’s Mr. Football.
Notestine provided strength and conditioning advice to Burrow then, and that had a lasting impact.
The pair reconnected in 2021 when Notestine was looking for a profession closer to Cincinnati, where his wife, Alex Stec, works as the Director of Digital Content for the city’s MLS soccer franchise FC Cincinnati.
Notestine joined up with Patrick Coyne, a former University of Cincinnati football player who opened Black Sheep Performance in 2018. Coyne previously worked with some Bengals players including defensive end Sam Hubbard.
With the gym’s existing Bengals connections along with Notestine’s relationship with Burrow, Notestine was able to land Black Sheep a big client.
“Joe was my only client,” said Notestine with a laugh. “Needless to say, business has been good. We have a 10,000-square foot facility and there are days when it feels we don’t have enough space.”
During the last NFL off-season, Notestine helped guide Burrow — along with a team of professionals from the Bengals — in his rehabilitation from a torn MCL and ACL suffered during his rookie campaign.
“The rehab team as a whole did a great job and Joe did everything right,” said Notestine.
“It was a lengthy process and Joe did everything asked of him. His work ethic and resilience is unbelievable. He’s a great role model for the next generation, a great example of how to lead and what it takes to live your dream.”
Despite the severity of the injury, Burrow was able to return in time for the start of the 2021 season.
And he has played at a level few expected.
Burrow built on his promising rookie campaign by earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and powering the upstart Bengals to the Super Bowl in the process.
“The product Joe put out there is even better than what we thought it would be,” said Notestine.
Watching Burrow hasn’t exactly been easy for Notestine, though. He endures every hit the quarterback takes, including the playoff record nine sacks Burrow absorbed against the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Divisional Round.
“That one was not fun,” said Notestine. “I think my neighbors could tell you how I felt about that game.”
And now, Notestine will get the opportunity, in person, to watch his client play for a Super Bowl title.
“Really, it’s just another game,” said Notestine. “I know that is how Joe is taking it. He is going to have the same mindset he’s had all along.”