Matt V.

Ryan Hays, MIT freshman football player (Testimonial)

As a prospective collegiate athlete, I had vast holes in my game that needed improvement. Coach Van Praag had helped me make significant gains in the weight room in terms of muscle mass, explosive power, pure strength, and lifting technique, but after coming off of major ankle surgery during the last part of my senior season, my speed, agility, and footwork was nonexistant. My effective 40-yard dash time and my linear and lateral acceleration had fallen tremendously. In order to be able to compete at the next level, I knew that I was to regain the on-field explosion that I had prior to the injury, and then some. In the summer leading up to my first season as a college football player, I worked with Coach in order to improve my athleticism through pylometrics, resistance training, and various drills focusing on agility and start-to-stop acceleration. While I have done various "athletic performance training" during my years as an athlete, I can honestly say that my work with Coach Van Praag resulted in the quickest and most significant gains I had ever experienced per given the time. His ingenious drills were some of which I had never seen before, but the results were undeniable. After closely tracking the results of my testing data (including 40 time, L-drills, pro shuttle, and more), several areas of performance had improved by nearly 20% in the span of a month's time. I was put back on the performance level that I was at prior to my injury while also adding the extra athleticism necessary in making the major transition from high school to collegiate competition. Coach Van Praag is in constant pursuit of the latest studies and knowledge available in sports performance and training. His familiarity with professional and collegiate training and nutrition can help even the most advanced high school and collegiate athlete, but even with younger athletes who are looking to set themselves on the right path towards athletic success, Coach can scale back his abundant experience to age and skill-appropriate levels. Whether you are looking to learn valuable training regimens and techniques through strength and resistance training, working on invaluable technical skills that are required for your specific sport, or even introducing yourself to a new sport or athletics as a whole, Coach Matt Van Praag can help you make the improvement you are looking for in conquering your athletic goal.

Scott Curtis, NFL Alumni, Stryker Orthopedics (Testimonial)

I coached along side of Matt at Evergreen HS and he always carried himself with a great deal of professionalism. Matt has the traits that it takes to be a great Head Football Coach; high energy, discipline, knowledge and a passion for the game. He is always prepared and puts the time that it takes into studying the game and his opponents. Matt was my son’s QB coach in HS and he respected coach Van Praag as did the other players. I felt extremely lucky that my son had the opportunity to play for Matt.