BRANDON DAVIS
The Next Chapter for MAC Athletics & Fitness C.J. Martin & Lisa Miller Aligned in Moving MAC Members Forward By Jake Ten Pas
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s music, movies, and even a Nintendo Switch game have postulated over the years, sometimes “It takes two.” Once, it was “to tango” and later, “to make a thing go right.” Now, with the reimagining of MAC’s leadership structure to add a Fitness & Performance Director to the traditional position of Athletic Director, perhaps a new saying is called for? Somehow, “It takes two to help MAC members reach their full potential” doesn’t have the sound of a hit single, or even a bad romantic comedy, but it does make for a compelling argument when listening to C.J. Martin and Lisa Miller dive into their personal histories and shared hopes for the future of the club. A former litigator, Fitness & Performance Senior Director C.J. Martin arrived at MAC three months ago after years as mastermind of the Invictus Fitness brand and a successful CrossFit coach. Athletic Director Lisa Miller brought a bounty of leadership know-how from her time at schools such as Oregon State and Portland State, as well as her most recent role as Senior Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations at Miami University in Ohio. Each brings ample experiences in their respective fields, and as the following interview demonstrates, skill sets that complement one another’s beautifully. Read on to find out what the dynamic duo of Miller and Martin are excited to explore and champion at MAC in the future.
24 | The Wınged M | JANUARY 2024
Jake Ten Pas: MAC now has two parallel leadership positions focused on different but complimentary aspects of the member experience. How do you see yourselves working together to provide new opportunities for both recreational and competitive athletes? C.J. Martin: I think we have a great, tangible example. Right now, Tennis is extremely busy, so how can we support players in both their performance and their enjoyment of the sport? If they can’t get on a court, then Lisa and I can put our heads together and say, “Hey, we’re going to create performance sessions with the Fitness team, whether that’s Group Exercise, Pilates, or Strength & Conditioning, for those athletes.” We can then target specifically sessions that will make them better at the sport that they enjoy playing without them needing to be on the court playing it at all times. JTP: Court space does seem to be a big issue. How do you fit all of these puzzle pieces into this finite amount of real estate? CJM: Even where you don’t have limited real estate, I think there’s an understanding that in any collegiate setting, in any performance-based setting, you don’t just play the sport — you also take care of your body, you get stronger, you make sure that you’re counterbalancing repetitive movements, and you do all of that in the gym. It’s the opportunity to make sure that we’re working hand in hand with coaches in the Athletics programs to make sure that our offerings complement what people want to do here at MAC.
