By Aaron Castrejon
BroncoAthletics.com
DALLAS - For former Cal Poly Pomona student-athlete Mike Munoz, baseball is in his blood.
His parents even named him Mike Munoz because they felt the name would sound good as it echoed from the public address system at Dodger Stadium one day.
Not only would he find success as a Major League pitcher, Munoz won in the business world as well while creating several companies. He is in the beginning stages of his latest venture, Above the Game SP, which specializes in sports camp management and promotions.
Munoz and his ideas keep a particular focus on student-athletes, whom he says need better mentorship from professional athletes.
“We only have a small percentage of the athletes being marketed," he said. "There's another 90 percent out there that, in my opinion, are low-profile individuals. We don't get to hear from them."
Above the Game will allow student athletes to network with the pros and acquire skills needed to be successful on the field while gaining physical, ethical and mental fitness. The company will also provide professional athletes with tools to build a brand name for themselves and help them transition from the sports world to the real world.
“An athlete needs to continue to be involved," Munoz said. "The professional athlete, at some point, will have to make that transition into the business world. It's a tough transition.”
Munoz pitched for the Broncos of CPP from 1984 to 1986 under legendary coach John Scolinos.
“My appreciation, not only for who he was, but what he stood for means more for me now then it did when I was playing for him,” Munoz said.
Broncos' assistant coach Jimmy Ramos was a coach for CPP during Munoz's years in a Bronco uniform. Ramos appreciates what Munoz is setting out to do for student athletes.
“By interacting with pros and coaches who have been there," Ramos said, "they will be able assist in what they had to adjust to and help them go in the right direction beyond playing sports."
After graduating in 1986, Munoz signed a minor league contract with his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, finally getting his chance to pitch in the big leagues in 1989.
Munoz also played for the Detroit Tigers, the Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers. He helped Colorado clinch a postseason berth in 1995 and guided the Texas Rangers to a division title in 2000.
After retiring in 2001, he aspired to break into the business world. Having watched his mother work in the temp industry, Munoz started an employment agency in Texas.
"It was truly a 'learn by doing' situation,” Munoz said. “I had to learn on the job and I had to learn the hard way.” In 2005, he acquired Active Temporary Services, a small hiring agency in Pomona.
In October 2010, Munoz became president of the newly created baseball division at Synergy Sports, Inc., a sports agency located in the Dallas area.
“When I first met Mike, I was immediately impressed with his values,” Synergy Sports President Gary Glick said. “Mike has a love for the game and enjoys working with and teaching mechanics to players.”
As he continued to build success for himself by embodying the “learn by doing” philosophy, Munoz said he always remembered and followed the wise words of Coach Scolinos - "Surround yourself with great people."
