Senior Spotlight: Brody Myers
By Michael Linnell
University Communications Director
michael.linnell@minotstateu.edu
MINOT, N.D. – Brody Myers has a passion for human performance and what he calls, “a pursuit of knowledge.”
That pursuit helped lead the Murrieta, California native to Minot State and, once here, to three degrees, including completing his master’s degree in sports management this spring.
“I’ve always enjoyed school — maybe some aspects or classes I didn’t look forward to —but I enjoy learning more about the things that I’m interested in and furthering myself,” he said. “I want to find every possible way to maximize an athlete’s athleticism so that they may have a competitive edge over their opponent.
“I chose to continue my education at Minot State because they had the curriculum that I was looking for with sports management and ultimately, I love this place and I want it to be a powerhouse in the Division II scene.”
Myers, who earned undergraduate degrees in athletic training and corporate fitness, has been associated with the Minot State football program during his entire collegiate academic career, first as a player and then as a coach. He has held two coaching positions, including his current title as human performance assistant, but mentioned both are identical jobs, just different titles.
His current title is under Heilman’s Performance, a company former MSU baseball player Caleb Heilman formed that is currently the athletic department’s strength and conditioning company. While he continues to work with MSU football, Heilman’s has helped him diversify his training portfolio working with high school athletes.
“It’s definitely an interesting dynamic; I personally enjoy working with the college athletes more because my mindset is closer to theirs than the high school athletes’ mindsets but seeing giant leaps of progress in a high school athlete is something special,” Myers said. “High school athletes are often a bit more moldable than the college athletes are, and when they do start to understand the necessary components to specific lifts, their numbers start to skyrocket, and they get excited to come into the weight room every day to beat yesterday’s personal bests. I might favor the college a bit more, but I love working in both environments and watching the growth of both demographics as they gain more and more strength and confidence on a consistent basis.”
Not heavily recruited out of high school, Myers took as much of a chance on Minot State as MSU did on him, even though he pronounced the name of the city incorrectly at the start. Since moving to Minot, however, he has formed some of his best memories including winning his final collegiate game in St. Cloud and winning the “Battle of the Big Lake Trophy” over rival University of Mary three times, to getting on stage during the LOCASH concert at the North Dakota State Fair, to completing and presenting his capstone research on the Effect of Instantaneous Feedback on College Football Players.
“I knew absolutely nothing about Minot State or the city of Minot before getting recruited here. But, the number one thing that has kept me here for seven full years is the people of Minot and the surrounding area,” he said. “I’m a born and raised Southern California boy and from the moment that I got here in 2013, I’ve been accepted here like one of Minot’s own. I’ve made so many relationships here that I will carry on for the rest of my life and this seven-year period has been the best time of my life, hands down. The professors, coaches, administrators, athletes, and people of the town have shown genuine love to me and I will be forever thankful for it.
“Now, I want to give back all that I’ve learned along the way and make Minot an even better place and leave an impact on the athletics of this city.”
Having a chance to work with MSU football and Heilman’s Performance — quality, hands-on experiences — are a part of why Myers decided to continue his education at Minot State.
“Playing college athletics helped me gain the perspective of the athletes, but my clinical hours in athletic training, practicum hours in corporate fitness, and my hours as a graduate assistant in the weight room have all showed me what it takes to succeed from the human performance aspect of it,” he said. “I’ve had a few thousand hours of experience between the clinic and the weight room as a student alone and that experience has shaped me into the professional that I am today.
“Not many students get this much hands-on experience during their undergrad and graduate programs and I think this is what separates Minot State from everyone else.”
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 05/28/20 |
