On any given week in Lake County, Jared Massey can be found on the sidelines, in the training room or mapping out ways to help athletes improve their game. 

Whether it’s coaching competitive soccer or working one-on-one with players, his focus is building stronger, faster and more confident athletes.

Although he currently coaches for SOL Soccer Club, Jared’s path into sports wasn’t limited to soccer. Growing up, he was focused on football and weightlifting and only briefly played soccer in high school. 

Soccer moved to the top of his list once his children became involved in the sport.

“When I first watched my kids play, I wanted to know more about it and support them, so I dove head first into learning everything about the game,” he says. 

That led him to local recreation leagues in Fruitland Park and Leesburg, where he began coaching. From there, he transitioned into SOL SC, a Lake County-based club that trains out of the Hickory Point complex in Tavares.

Now in his third year with the organization, Jared coaches multiple competitive teams, traveling across Florida for league play and tournaments.

His coaching style is shaped by both his background and his commitment to growth. While he once considered becoming a teacher, Jared ultimately found coaching offered the same opportunity to mentor, but in a setting he grew to love.

Alongside coaching, Jared has built his own training business, Massimum Sports Training Services to help athletes improve performance through specialized conditioning programs. The focus goes beyond traditional workouts, emphasizing speed, agility and injury prevention.

“It’s like a personal trainer specifically for athletes,” he says. 

Jared tailors each program to the individual and works with athletes across multiple sports. Whether aiding youth players or college-level competitors, his goal is to translate training into real gains on the field.

Balancing a full-time career as a construction manager, coaching responsibilities and running a business takes careful coordination. At home, he and his wife are raising four children who are involved in sports, which keeps the family constantly on the move.

“I love being a dad,” he says. “It’s my number one favorite thing in life.”

That family-first mindset carries into his work with athletes. Jared sees sports as more than competition. It’s about development, discipline and building confidence while giving back to his local community.

Photos: Cindy Peterson