Teacher and Coach
Mike has been teaching
professionally for nineteen years. He was in the first level I school
in 1990. The first level II School was in 1992 and again Mike was
there. He waited until the third level III School to sign up so that
he could gain the needed experience. This proved to be a good move as
he finished in the top of his class.
In 1997, Mike was offered the job of NSCA Chief Instructor which he
proudly accepted. His determination and dedication helped the program
achieve new heights and almost quadrupled participation. Mike created
such programs as the Youth Coach Instruction School and was the
founder of the Team USA Super School. This program has raised over
$100,000.00 for the team.
Course Designer
With over almost nine hundred course
designs in his career, Mike McAlpine is again one of the most
experienced designers in the business.
He set both World All Round Championships
2007 - 2008. Set the 2009
US Open at Elk Creek in Kentucky and the 2009 New Mexico State
Shoot (largest state shoot for New Mexico).
He has designed courses for
four World Sporting Clays Championships; eleven National Championships
including the prestigious Krieghoff Cup each of those years. He was
also the Chief designer of the 2004 US Open and a designer for the
2009 US Open. He has set the Texas State and Zone 6 Championships
twice each along with several other state championships. Mike was
selected by Scott Robertson as the designer for the first two World
All Round Shotgun Championships. Mike has also designed new clubs
across the US as well in Canada and Mexico.
Management
For many years, Mike was a
consultant for the San Angelo Claybird Association, his home club.
Under Mike’s guidance SACA has become one of the NSCA’s top clubs when
it comes to registered targets thrown. In 2000, SACA finished fifth in
the nation for registered targets thrown. In 2002, they finished
fourth and that is out of over 600 clubs. The San Angelo area has a
population of less than 100,000 people but SACA still is able to
compete with some of the major metropolitan areas in the nation.
Equipment Designer
Mike is also a designer of clays
equipment. The Attitude Adjuster, a multi angle trap base is one of
his creations. This base can give the range owner or target setter up
to thirty degrees of tilt in any direction just by turning a crank. He
was the first person to design a counter weighted tower for commercial
use. Several companies have since tried to copy his design but you
can’t beat the original. He and his partner have created a wireless
computerized version of this base.
Communicator / Philosophy
It has been said by many people that Mike is
one of the best communicators in the business. Because Mike was a salesman for
years, he understands what, how and when to say things. There are times when
information is better received. Mike refers to these times as teaching moments.
He believes that all shooters have a natural way or method when shooting a
moving target. Mike will build off of this natural method, using it as the
foundation of a shooters shooting style. He will incorporate all other methods
in their style to make them a complete shooter.