Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt Camargo.
Hi Matt, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember growing up, my parents, coaches and mentors would always express to me the importance of giving to others and not throwing in the towel when situations got uncomfortable. With those teachings, I had the fortunate opportunities to practice those teachings by being involved with playing sports and leadership camps that provided a strong foundation of not settling for complacency. Like most individuals in my field, sports from day one has always been a huge part of my life. I had aspirations of playing professional sports, but God had other plans for me. Even with my sports background, I did not want to be a sports performance coach, I did however want to impact other’s lives in the best way possible. I generally wanted to always be a good person to others but the real work did not start until one of the most chaotic times in my life during my senior year of high school happened.
After one of my high school basketball games, I was getting severe chest pains to the point where I collapsed and my high school basketball coach rushed me across town to the emergency room. There would begin a dark time in my life where I felt lost, angry and scared. I was out of school completely for three months, with no sports, no interaction with others in the classroom and lots of medical tests. The doctors I saw all said the same thing where the EKGs and medical tests showed one of the valves in my heart not performing how it should be. The consensus was to have open heart surgery. Between my parents, close friends, some family members and friends from our church at the time, everyone said I was in their prayers. At that time, there were numerous times where hearing that just made me more angry. It was not until the last doctor I saw to get one last professional opinion I tried to have a more positive mindset and have faith everything will work out. That was the only time during those several months I had any moment of faith. After finally being cleared to go to class the athletic director called my English teacher and said my dad was in the office with the news about whether or not it was confirmed to get open heart surgery. Walking into that office, it was just my dad and he was crying, instantly I told myself well here we go, assuming his tears were conveying I am definitely getting open heart surgery.
Until he said something I hoped to hear but did not expect to, “Dr. Cole called and said she can’t believe it but the tests and imaging showed your heart to look perfect.” Immediately my dad and I embraced each other and started crying. From that moment on, my mindset of not settling elevated at a whole new level and still is going to this day. What Dr. Cole also said in that phone call just to be sure was I would need to come in and take another couple of tests just to be certain. For some time after that, I would go a couple of times a year to get specific checkups on my heart. And they all showed the same thing, my heart looked healthy. I had multiple doctors all tell me that it was highly likely I would get open heart surgery and 12 years later, I have had zero complications. I felt I was given an opportunity to lead others through performance training and fitness and learn how to navigate through life because life is tough, and even the strongest or most fit individuals need accountability. Through that experience, test of my faith and keeping good people around me, I believe is why have gotten to where I am today.
Those good people would point in me in the direction of going to Graduate School at Cal State Fullerton to get my Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. There I would learn from great minds such as Dr. Lee Brown, Dr. Galpin and Dr. Coburn. Around that time, I have worked at a PT clinic as PT aide, a commercial gym as a personal trainer, complete an internship in a Division 1 weight room, as well as a performance gym in the private setting. I would try to connect to as many great minds to learn and network as well as put myself in situations to just learn. I always felt I was way behind others in my field, so I reached out to anyone I could think of through social media which opened up a lot of great friendships. In all the jobs I had, I always made myself available and asked what else can I do to help or get better. I have seen how that mindset and approach has helped me and taught me more ways to keep challenging myself for as long as I am alive.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
On this journey, I have had struggles as well. Working a couple of jobs and going to graduate school was tough to balance at times because anyone who has been in this field knows you do a lot of hours of work and a lot of times for free or very little pay. I have never been this best of saying no and balancing life, especially at that point of my life. Definitely had to learn when to say ‘no’ and not feel bad saying so.
In the beginning of my career there were times of feeling unsure if I made the right decision as well as just being insecure and trying to compare myself to others. It was not until a couple of mentors of mine now close friends (PJ Nestler and Chase Cameron) shared their stories and challenged me to focus on what I could control as well as to continue to push through those trying times.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My current job title is Regional Director of Sports Performance. I oversee two-sport performance departments with about 16 coaches and trainers for a company called Prosport. I also am a strength and conditioning coach for Orange County Fire Academy (OCFA) and have worked as an adjunct professor at the college level.
My role is to manage the two facilities by making the business successful and creating a system and team that creates a winning culture. I manage and guide my staff in regards to the art of coaching, create new ways of generating business, handle all day to day training operations. On top of that, I am very passionate about continuing education by provide staff development meetings and frequent internships to give back and create a coachable environment for everyone. With OCFA, I am part of a team that works with 50 fire recruits and our goal is to create a training methodology that over time helps all the recruits be physically and mentally successful so they can pass all their necessary physical and written tests to begin the process of becoming firefighters.
I train a variety of athletes that range from NFL athletes, MMA athletes, tactical athletes, high school and collegiate athletes of all sports and some general fitness clients. If I had to choose, one thing to be most proud about is helping my clients that are recovering from an injury and giving them hope that they will get through those uncomfortable moments.
If I had to choose one of my passions or specialties is getting athletes and all individuals in general to recover and be back to 100%, so return to sport or return to play type training. I spend a majority of my time with individuals who have had serious injuries to where their professional or collegiate careers depend on them being physical prepared and capable. I love strength training but I also have fell in love with the mastery of speed and agility mechanics. Searching to really know the why for all prescribed movements and exercises is something I believe separates me from others. I generally try to be as prepared as possible to have any possible reason for any scenario that may come up. There is still a ton out there, but that is what makes this field fun for me is the learning never stops. The more learning the more ways I can help others no matter the reason. Nothing is absolute in this field with learning and methods to create stronger individuals, the human body is not linear, therefore I believe is why we should always intentionally think big picture.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can reach out through our website, ProSport Therapy and Performance via email or phone to set up a performance evaluation. Or they can reach out to me directly through my Instagram, @coach_camargo as I am pretty active on there or email me at [email protected] either of those works just fine.
There I can help guide people if they are wanting to work with me.
Pricing:
- $60-$99 Online Training
- $79-$110 for Private Training
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: prosportpt.com
- Instagram: @coach_camargo
Image Credits:
Mariah Camargo Marketing Manager from ProSport
