MIKE CROSS believes endurance sports can be one of the most powerful tools for transforming your life—not because of the finish lines you cross, but because of the person you become along the way.

A former collegiate football player at Illinois State University and a Division I football coach, Mike discovered triathlon in 2018 while seeking a healthier lifestyle. What started as an attempt to lose weight became a complete transformation, resulting in more than 100 pounds lost and a passion for endurance sports that continues today. Since then, Mike has completed multiple Ironman 70.3 races, a full Ironman, a double-century bike ride, and expanded his athletic journey into competitive bodybuilding, giving him firsthand experience in both endurance performance and body composition.

As a husband, father, business leader, and coach, Mike understands the challenge of pursuing ambitious goals while balancing career, family, and everyday responsibilities. Those experiences have shaped his coaching philosophy: consistency over perfection. Sustainable fitness isn't built through short bursts of motivation. It's built by showing up, making intentional choices every day, and learning how to integrate training into a full life rather than letting it consume one.

Mike believes lasting transformation begins with establishing The Standard—a set of daily behaviors that align with the person you want to become. He also believes growth requires intentionally pursuing hard things. Whether it's training for an Ironman, stepping on a bodybuilding stage, or chasing a goal that feels just beyond your reach, difficult challenges develop the discipline, resilience, and confidence that carry into every area of life.

Today, Mike's greatest passion is helping fathers become the strongest version of themselves—physically, mentally, and as leaders within their families. He believes too many men stop investing in their own health after becoming husbands and dads, believing they have to choose between taking care of themselves and taking care of their family. Mike believes the opposite. When a father prioritizes his health, builds discipline, and pursues meaningful challenges, everyone around him benefits. His mission is to help men build sustainable habits that allow them to accomplish hard things while becoming healthier, more present husbands, fathers, and leaders.

Since joining NVDM Coaching in 2020, Mike has coached athletes ranging from first-time triathletes to Ironman and Ironman 70.3 World Championship qualifiers, age-group podium finishers, and an overall Ironman 70.3 champion. His coaching is built on trust, communication, accountability, and individualized guidance that fits the realities of everyday life.

Mike serves as Chief Operating Officer for NVDM Coaching while continuing to coach athletes across the country. He and his wife, Camie, live in Waco, Texas, with their daughter, Kenzie, and Australian Shepherd, Logan.

Athletic Achievements:

• Ironman Finisher

• Three-time Ironman 70.3 Finisher

• Double Century Bike Ride Finisher

• TriWaco Age Group Runner-Up

• Competitive Bodybuilding Athlete

Coaching Achievements:

• Ironman World Championship Qualifiers

• Ironman 70.3 World Championship Qualifiers

• Ironman 70.3 Overall Champion

• Multiple age-group podium finishers across sprint, Olympic, 70.3, and Ironman distances

From Coach Natasha:

“Mike is a fantastic addition to the NVDM Coaching team, as he is an extremely fast learner who always has a willingness to understand the scientific principles applied at NVDM Coaching. More importantly, Mike is a fantastic and timely communicator. It is one thing to understand the sport and how to train for it; it’s another to effectively communicate it to athletes—and this is where Mike shines through.”