SOAR Fitness Systems

Bios

• Mike Kozak

  Owner - Head Coach

  Mike Kozak graduated from Ohio State University in 2001 with a B.S. in Sport Performance and Coaching and a Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Education. In 2004, he became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He has also added a Speed and Agility certification through the International Youth Conditioning Association. After graduation from Ohio State, Mike was a physical education teacher at a variety of Columbus Public elementary schools. He also coached 6th grade basketball and worked in conjunction with the G2 basketball camps. In 2002, he created Soar of Columbus with his business partner Nate Fugitt. In between 2002 and 2006, Mike trained youth athletes in a variety of settings throughout Central Ohio including Marysville, Hilliard and Worthington. In 2006, Soar opened its first facility in Lewis Center. There he has trained hundreds of youth athletes as well as a number of current and prospective college and pro athletes. In addition to his duties at Soar, Mike is also working with the NFL as a National Field Supervisor for NFL Regional Combines. Two simple qualities guide Mike’s training philosophy - expert teaching and sound program design tailored to the individual. Youth athletes receive the teaching that is necessary to establish a sound base of strength and speed technique. Advanced high school and college/pro athletes are trained in a manner that best prepares them for their sport or event. No gimmicks, no bells and whistles - just coaching at the highest level.

• Michael Parritt

  CSCS

  Michael Parritt joined Soar Fitness as a Strength and Conditioning Coach in the Summer 2015. Michael is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, Missouri. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science. His certifications include NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Bioforce Certified trainer. Michael served as the voluntary Strength and Conditioning Coach at Southeast Missouri State University, under the tutelage of coach Ryan Johnson. He assisted with the supervision of training programs for a number of Southeast’s teams including men’s football, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s softball, men’s baseball, women’s tennis and women’s gymnastics. Other duties while at Southeast Missouri included developing programs for strength, speed and agility, and conditioning, administering and assisting with team warm up, agility, conditioning, and lifting, and coaching student-athletes on proper techniques and equipment use. He also administered and recorded data for a variety of pre- and post-season fitness tests. While completing his undergrad degree, Michael also worked on Campus as a Group Fitness Instructor. Some of his group fitness platforms include Yoga, boot camp, kick boxing, aquatic fitness, and spin class.

• McKenna Hammer

  Asst. Trainer

  McKenna Hammer has been with SOAR Fitness Systems since February 2017. She is a recent graduate from Capital University with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and minor in psychology. Her certifications include NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach, 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, CPR, First Aid, and AED certified. McKenna has worked with the capital volleyball team as a student athletic trainer, and often donates her time as a medical volunteer for marathons around Columbus. She is constantly training to improve her endurance, strength, and agility, and applies the methodology used at SOAR to her own training. McKenna has plans of attending graduate school to further her education in exercise physiology and exercise psychology, and is constantly striving to improve her coaching skills through continuous education.