Personal Message from Coach Mike
Mike's Story
A Teen in Training
When Mike was 11, he found himself hiding out in a library, trying to avoid some bullies who had been after him. While waiting for the coast to clear, he picked up an exercise book from the shelf, and something clicked. From that moment, he was hooked on the idea of getting stronger. Soon enough, he was training on his own, prepping meals, trying different workout styles, and visiting local libraries after school to read anything he could find on fitness. By 16, all that effort paid off when he won his first state powerlifting championship, giving him even more motivation. By high school graduation, Mike had become the U.S. National Powerlifting Champion—also known as the strongest teen in America.
Competing in College
In college, while most people were going to campus parties, Mike was still focused on his passion: getting stronger and going after bigger titles. He trained with his eye on the world championship (which he won at age 19) and earned his first exercise certification through The International Sports Science Association. At 20, he was working with a small list of personal training clients by day and held down a job at a health food store by night. The store attracted elite athletes, personal trainers, bodybuilders, and Olympians—making it the perfect place for Mike to learn.
Talking to these athletes gave him insight into their fitness journeys, from their daily workouts and nutrition routines to the supplements they relied on and the plateaus they struggled to overcome. Every bit of knowledge fueled his own journey, helping him keep his edge in competition and deepen his understanding of fitness and human performance.
Learning on the Job
As he observed the common challenges athletes faced such as digestive discomfort, mental fatigue, joint pain, and poor recovery - Mike dove deeper into his research, searching for the root causes. Over time, he earned additional certifications as a specialist in nutrition, weight management, sports, injury, and women's fitness. As his client list grew, Mike studied not only their physical progress but also their entire well-being, sleep quality, and energy levels. He continued to work on his own physicality during this time, strenuously prepping for another sport—and eventually winning first place at the NPC Men's Lightweight Bodybuilding Championships. Throughout the process, Mike was vigilant about monitoring the supplements he took (and suggested to his clients). Dissatisfied with the options available in the marketplace, Mike began buying single ingredients from different manufacturers and designing his own blends that he believed would create far greater benefits.
Making a Difference
After his big win, Mike was nationally published as a champion athlete on FLEX Magazine, as a guest star on several talk shows, and became a spokesperson for several leading fitness products. When he was asked to represent a prominent supplement company, he was naturally excited and asked the executives endless questions about their nutritional formulations…only to be met with vague and disappointing answers from every level of the organization. Mike quickly uncovered several loopholes affecting quality (ultimately designed to minimize cost), learned about dangerous ingredients and additives, and discovered that the products’ claims and labeling were misleading (at best). Sticking to his own code of ethics, Mike passed on the lucrative endorsement contracts, deciding to take matters into his own hands, instead. Thus, in 2010, when he set out to develop his own line of products, Mike didn’t want to just create supplements; he wanted to create a DIFFERENCE.
Formulating for the Good
Mike poured his heart into developing formulas that would help people reach goals they once thought impossible, pushing past plateaus and feeling incredible both inside and out. Through exhaustive research and testing, he worked with top manufacturers to source only the highest-quality ingredients, ensuring every product was safe, natural, and effective. The result was MFN Performance—a supplement line that he could confidently recommend to clients, family, and friends.
Shaping the Future of Fitness
Today, Mike dedicates his life to research and empowering people to realize their potential. He is especially passionate about supporting anti-bullying organizations and encouraging others to believe in the transformative power of knowledge, just as he once discovered in that library so many years ago.
History of Coach Mike
Need to reach Coach Mike?
Mike is available for podcast interviews, talk shows, and guest blog posts, where he can share stories from his journey, practical health tips, and insights on staying motivated. He’s passionate about helping others find the confidence to pursue their own path to fitness, health, and well-being—no matter where they’re starting from.