Player Bio
I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio where I graduated with honors as an all-star offensive and defensive lineman football player from Buckeye Valley High School in Delaware, Ohio. I then attended Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana on an athletic scholarship where I was a three-year letter winner as the long snapper and a defensive lineman in football, and graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor's degree and honors in physical education and health education. I attended graduate school at Indiana University in Indianapolis, Indiana and earned a Master's degree in kinesiology in 1997. While in graduate school, I also taught undergraduate physical education classes and played minor league professional football as an offensive lineman for the Indiana Mustangs. I also earned a Doctoral degree in human performance and health promotion in 2002 through my post-graduate coursework at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. I have since completed post-doctoral coursework through Augustana University online out of Augustana, South Dakota.
Trainer Bio
I then served as the strength coach for Niles High School in Niles, Michigan until 2001 and then worked as the wellness coordinator for the Bangor (MI) High School wellness center until 2003. I was also the personal trainer for Gold's Gym Harbor Country in New Buffalo, Michigan until 2005 and then was the personal trainer at the Long Beach Fitness Center in Michigan City, Indiana until 2009. I then was the fitness trainer at Lakeland Athletic Club in Niles, Michigan until 2013. I have taught health education, wellness education, and physical fitness education classes at Ring Lardner Middle School in Niles, Michigan until 2007. I then taught health education, wellness education, physical education, and weight training classes at Niles High School in Niles, Michigan. I retired from teaching in the Michigan schools in 2013. I then became the sales manager at Charter Fitness in Mishawaka, Indiana until 2016. I had since been the physical Education teacher at DePaul Academy in South Bend, Indiana until 2023. I also have two daughters, Emily and Lizzy, who have been state champions in taekwondo, swimming, and powerlifting.
Current Bio
Today I am the physical education teacher at Pierre Moran School in Elkhart, Indiana and the owner operator of Mike Michelakis Personal Training in Niles, Michigan. I help my clients in the areas of strength training and conditioning by using free weights and machine weight equipment, as well functional training devices. I work with dozens of clients on a weekly basis annually. Over the four years of 2000 through 2003, I had the opportunity to coach two powerlifting teams to three 2nd place finishes at state level competition and one 3rd place finish at national level competition. During my tenure at Niles and Bangor, I had the chance to create sport specific weight training programs as well as build brand new fitness centers. These programs earned state and national recognition awards. I also coached the Midwest Power teen and youth powerlifting team to multiple individual state tiles in 2021. Today I offer personal training packages to my student-athletes and clients from all over the Michiana area, including places like Niles, Michigan and Granger, Indiana, as well as South Bend, Indiana and Mishawaka, Indiana.
