I’ve known about Mike for 20+ years since I watched Defranco’s YouTube of him doing crazy feats in the gym. Since then he’s becoming an incredible coach and gym owner and has trained some of the most elite athletes and champions. His knowledge, experience and wisdom are extremely valuable and we dive into all aspects of athletic development, coaching and communication.
Mike is currently a Coach, Writer & Owner at Freak Strength and has been coaching for over 10+ years. He has coached levels of athletes from NFL, MLB, NBA, MLL, MLS, WWE, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Olympic Gold medalists to pre-pubescent athletes. He has also consulted for high caliber athletes and coaches worldwide.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
=> From being a training gym freak at Defranco’s Gym to becoming the director of performance, and then opening up Freak Strength - how has Mike’s philosophy around athletic training changed
=> Wearing different communication hats when coaching youth, college or pro athletes (this is where coaches get it wrong).
=> Why training pro athletes can get buy in with high school athletes but what NOT to do.
=> Two powerful experiences that shaped how Mike coached; and how Mike’s brother’s journey changed his “tough love” approach to coaching.
=> The “hot chick” coaching strategy that helped Mike an “un-coachable athlete” buy into the program.
=> You’ll learn more from a 1,000 coaching sessions than you will from a 1,000 coaching books - why you need to get reps in.
=> The mistake coaches make when coaching youth athletes and how to build incredible athletes in high school.
=> Being boring and “vanilla” IS the best strategy for high school athletes.
=> How Mike’s influences went from Ed Coan, to physical therapy, to Joe Defranco, Buddy Morris, James “The Thinker” Smith, Dan Pfaff, Cal Dietz, and how this shaped his philosophy to today.
=> Why “slow cooking” athlete development is the way to go when it comes to long term success.
=> How Mike trouble shoots what the athlete needs and why bigger, faster, stronger many times is NOT the answer.
=> Meeting athletes where they are and why what you believe they need and what they think they need are many times two different things (and how to make it work).
=> How Mike took a different approach with NBA star Kevin Love and improved his performance and extended his career.
=> Why getting bigger and stronger may be the way to go with offensive linemen, but with baseball that may make them worse (how to assess specificity of the sport).
=> Why we don’t do online coaching for athletes and how it doesn’t match our standards for coaching (and we can’t truly assess where they are).
=> What it takes to become world class at coaching athletes and what won’t get you there guaranteed.
=> Why Mike wants to make Freak Strength free and the reason you should want to make great income in coaching.
=> The #1 prerequisite for becoming a successful coach (both in terms of results with clients as well as income).
=> The BIG differences in training elite pro athletes and high school or college athletes (why your goal for pro athletes is to make them feel and look more like themselves).
=> Continuing to build your toolbox to help athletes and why Mike dove into bodywork to unlock better results.
=> How to build your network to have more resources to help your people win (dropping the ego is key).
=> You MUST be curious and want to learn and have a desire to be better (as a way of being rather than a period of life).
=> Mike’s advice for upcoming coaches to build a successful career (which on average is shorter than an NFL career).
=> You’re not the start of the show and once you understand that you’ll be a better coach.
=> Why you may have to get better at business so that you can continue coaching forever.
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