The Team

Athletics:

Former NFL players, Gio Carmazzi and Alex Van Dyke, currently work as the top sports performance trainers and coaches in Sacramento. They will work with local high school quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Alex and Gio understand what it takes to perform at the highest level in football, and they will share their “tricks of the trade” with aspiring student athletes to teach them the tools and skills they need to maximize their potentials on the field, as football players, and off the field, as leaders.

Gio Carmazzi

Jesuit High School

Hofstra University

San Francisco 49ers

Giovanni's professional football career began when he was drafted by the San Francisco Forty Niners in the third round of the 2000 National Football League draft. He was a quarterback there until 2002. In addition, in the 2001 offseason, he played for NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire team based in Düsseldorf, Germany. He completed his career in 2004 while playing in Vancouver, British Columbia for the Canadian League’s B.C. Lions.

Giovanni received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. As a collegiate undergrad, he also attended the University of the Pacific as a student athlete studying Sports Management in Stockton, California. At the conclusion of his collegiate career, he was named the Burger King National Scholar-Athlete of the year in Division I Football, and he is one of only four individuals to be honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as a National Scholar-Athlete in both high school and college. Most recently, he completed a “Game Plan For Life” mentoring program with The Academy for Athletes in Naples, Florida.

Although his playing days are now over, Giovanni currently instructs youth quarterbacks for the national training institution Football University. He also serves as a board member for the Elite Sports and Academic Management Group headquartered in Sacramento, California, which provides tutoring, college preparation, internship and mentoring programs for youth and young adults throughout the world.

Alex Van Dyke

Burbank High School

University of Nevada, Reno

New York Jets & Oakland Raiders

After a successful Professional Football career, Alex utilized his background and experience to open a Going Vertical athletic training facility in Sacramento.

At the University of Nevada at Reno, Alex went on to become one of the University's leading receivers, breaking 3 NCAA records; receptions (129), receiving yards (1,854) and all-purpose yards (3,100), and is a member of the UNR Hall Of Fame. Alex walked away from UNR with 1994-1995 All-American Wide Receiver honors as well.

After graduating in 1996, Alex Van Dyke became the highest draft pick ever to come out of the University of Nevada at Reno; being selected by the New York Jets as the 1st pick in the second round, and 31st overall. He went on to play five years in the NFL, where he played with the N.Y. Jets, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Oakland Raiders. During his Professional Football career, Alex had the opportunity to line up with other great receivers, such as Keyshawn Johnson and Wayne Chrebet (Jets), Charles Johnson and Torrence Small (Eagles), and future Hall of Famers Jerry Rice & Tim Brown (Raiders).

Academics:

Academic mentors from Academic Impact will mentor students in math, writing, and college counseling to help them perform better in the classroom and prepare for college. Test preparation for the SAT and ACT tests will supplement these writing and math lessons, and the one-on-one college counseling mentorship services that students receive will position student athletes to play college athletics, attend colleges of their choices, and achieve their scholastic goals.

Brent Pottenger

Jesuit High School

UC Davis
University of Southern California

Brent completed his Master of Health Administration (MHA) graduate degree from the University of Southern California (USC) as a School of Policy, Planning, and Development Dean’s Merit Scholar. He studied physiology and financial management at the University of California, Davis, earning the Mary Regan Meyer prize while graduating with Highest Honors for his “commitment to serving others and bettering humanity.” Brent has completed over 1000 hours of voluntary clinical research in the Emergency Department at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, leading to his publication of “Regionalization of Care for ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction—Is it Too Soon?” in Annals of Emergency Medicine. In addition to his research work, Brent has co-founded an educational services firm, Academic Impact, which provides mentor-based tutorial services to students throughout the world. From this venture, he also led the founding of a nonprofit program, Game Plan Academy (GPA), which provides professional academic, athletic, and mentorship services to students who normally would not have access to these resources. In his free time, Brent plays sports and writes regularly about healthcare, fitness, and nutrition on his blog, Healthcare Epistemocrat.

Brian Geremia

Jesuit High School
Loyola Marymount University

Brian Geremia graduated from Jesuit High School in 2002 and Loyola Marymount University in 2006, earning a degree in English and a minor in Secondary Education. For his co-curricular involvements at Jesuit High School, Brian attended LMU as a four-year recipient of the LMU Leadership Scholarship.

In the spirit of his Jesuit education, Brian founded Magis, an influential student organization at Loyola Marymount. ‘The magis’, a common Jesuit credo, translates to ‘the more’ and urges individuals to be more, do more, and give more. While serving in various capacities throughout Los Angeles and guiding the vision of Magis, Brian developed his own authentic vision and life-view based on service to others. For his academic excellence, leadership, and justice work, Brian received many awards at LMU, including the Ignatian Award, the university’s highest honor given each year to one graduating senior.

Brian’s educational training and experience working with students of all ages and backgrounds make him a valuable mentor and tutor. He specializes in writing development, helping students develop confidence in their own opinions and abilities. Brian has also successfully tutored many elementary and middle school students in all subjects.

David Campos

Jesuit High School

Stanford University

California State University

David Campos is a Stanford graduate and an energetic educational specialist and mentor who enjoys working with students of all ages and abilities. He has tutored students for the past 7+ years in Spanish, English, and various levels of math. He graduated from Jesuit High School in 2002, receiving the Pedro Arrupe award at graduation for his outstanding community service. David graduated from Stanford University in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, making the honor roll every quarter. While at Stanford, David received a research grant to conduct social psychology studies in the Graduate School ofBusiness and was awarded the Charles Warren Kendrick Scholarship in Psychology for two years. He is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Counseling at California State University, Sacramento, where he is specializing in school and career counseling. He has recently been awarded the Vind-Peters-Canessa Scholarship in Counselor Education for his great academic performance and his dedicated efforts to helping students excel in their educational endeavors. Having a passion for learning and helping others, he intends to seek out and take advantage of all educational opportunities that he can and to continue developing great rapport with all of his students.

Matt Carmazzi

Jesuit High School

University of San Diego

Hofstra University

Matt graduated from Jesuit High School in 1994 where he ran track and played both football and basketball at the Varsity level. He graduated in 1998 from the University of San Diego with a degree in Business Administration where he participated in club rugby, intramural softball and basketball for four years. Following his undergraduate degree, Matt received a Master’s degree in Banking & Finance from Hofstra University in 1999. He currently heads his own company.

Matt is a Sacramento native born and raised who enjoys living and working in the City of Trees. He continues to participate in men’s league softball and basketball as well as hitting the golf links when time allows. Matt’s solid educational background along with his knowledge and experience as a businessman and small business owner are what make him a great fit as a mentor.