Iron Pirate Strength & Conditioning began with four high school athletes in the summer of 2005. Coach O’Neill began working with them in a garage jammed with weights, medicine balls, jump ropes and high hopes.  In January 2006, he began working with 12 football players at Grand Haven High School and the program was born. This past school year (2008-09), more than 600 students tested to begin work in the program.  Iron Pirate Strength & Conditioning has received tremendous support from a variety of coaches of boys and girls sports at the high school and middle schools, the Boosters and school administrators. Coach O’Neill’s sons, Jim and Dann, currently play football for Western Michigan University. Coach O’Neill played football and was a hammer and discus thrower in college. He is a writer and editor.