January Spotlight Coach: Michael Headley
This month’s Spotlight Coach, Michael Headley, is a long-time coach who owns and operates a private facility out of Chico, CA, North State Barbell. He has a robust combination of experience throwing, lifting, and coaching both sports. It was a pleasure to answer the thoughtful questions he threw out during the course. And he’s been in touch regularly with questions and successful performances from his lifters using the method. Let’s take a look at his experience so far, in his own words, using our method with clients.
Tell us a little about your background, and what got you interested in coaching.
Coach Michael here. I’m 54 years old. I started lifting when I was 14, as I was a small chubby kid who was bullied quite a bit. I threw shot put and hammer in High school, threw hammer for a year in college, then transitioned to Highland Games where I competed for 15 years, and made the A Division. I concentrated on my nursing career for a while and my family, but still trained. I started talking to Louie Simmons of Westside barbell way back 1988 by phone, and visited Westside Barbell during a break from school in 1992. I continued to learn from Louie over the next 15 years, and read everything he told me to read. I applied the conjugate system to my throwing "career,” and learned the ins and outs of that system and how to manipulate the variables. Fast forward to 2016, I retired from nursing and pursued my dream of opening a gym and becoming a coach, obtaining multiple Westside Barbell Certifications.
What does your training business look like? Do you train out of a private studio or commercial gym, or online? Where is it located?
I own and run North State Barbell, a small, 3000-square foot, private gym. It’s not so much membership driven, but more of a coaching, personal training model. We are located in Chico, Northern California. I also have online clients.
North State Barbell, Chico, CA
What aspect of the coaching certification course most benefited your business, or the services you offer?
I pursued the 5thSet certification to further my ability to coach the powerlifters at my gym. I competed in powerlifting sparingly, but my primary sport was Highland Games. I like the simplicity of 5thSet and the focus on the basic lifts for those who need more practice with technical aspects of powerlifting. I felt 5thSet would fit the needs of some of my clients best, and I’m already seeing them make big improvements.
What demographics do you typically work with?
My demographics are diverse! Competitive powerlifters, grapplers, footballers, cyclists, soccer players, lacrosse players, police, military, and regular everyday people who just want to get stronger and healthier, ages 10-74!
