Michale Spicer - Coach Mike
Coach Mike is the Founder and Head Coach of Hidden Gems Academy and brings extensive experience as a collegiate coach, former professional athlete, and longtime youth sports mentor. With a coaching career that spans more than a decade across youth, high school, collegiate, and professional levels, he is deeply committed to developing athletes through high-level training, mentorship, and character development.
Since 2017, Coach Mike has served on the Pomona-Pitzer Football coaching staff as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator. During his tenure, he has coached multiple First- and Second-Team All-SCIAC Defensive Linemen and two First-Team All-SCIAC Specialists. He has also guided athletes to all-region honors, including Nick DelBiaggio and Ethan Norris. In 2023, Coach Mike coached Cam Shirangi to a historic dual All-American selection as both a First-Team punter and Second-Team kicker—the first student-athlete to ever achieve this distinction.​​​​
Coach Mike’s playing career includes a standout collegiate tenure at Western Carolina University, where he earned All-American and First-Team All-Southern Conference honors in both 2002 and 2003. His 2003 season included recognition as the Southern Conference’s Top Defender by Street & Smith’s Magazine, along with Dean’s List honors. He went on to play professionally as a defensive lineman across the NFL, UFL, and Arena Football League, earning All-UFL First Team honors in 2010, Team Defensive Lineman of the Year with the New Orleans Voodoo in 2008, and All-AFL Rookie Team recognition.
In addition to his collegiate and professional experience, Coach Mike has dedicated much of his career to early youth development. He began coaching young children in 2008 and, in 2019, founded All We Do Is Ball Sports, a for-profit youth sports business offering multi-sport classes for children ages 2 to 5. Through partnerships with Beach Babies locations throughout the South Bay, he introduces toddlers and preschool-aged children to sports fundamentals, movement, and teamwork in a fun, age-appropriate environment.
Previously, Coach Mike coached at Bishop Montgomery High School from 2010 to 2014 as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator, helping lead the program to four consecutive CIF playoff appearances and coaching four All-League Defensive Linemen during that time.
Through Hidden Gems Academy, Coach Mike applies his broad coaching experience to serve youth athletes who benefit from structured training, mentorship, and access to opportunity. His approach emphasizes discipline, confidence, and personal growth, with the belief that sports are a powerful tool for building strong athletes—and even stronger individuals—both on and off the field.​