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Coaches

Company Philosophy
Sterling Sports Group strives to provide cutting edge performance solutions to our athletes that make use of both state-of-the-art technology and personal service to achieve your goals. By combining these elements our coaches are able to effectively create, manage, and communicate the program to each athlete directly.

Matt McNamara
Matt Idler
I am a USA Cycling Certified ELITE Coach with a B.A. in Exercise Physiology and over 20 years of competitive racing, team management and coaching experience. I love cycling, whatever the type! I've raced road, track, cyclo-cross, cross country, 24 hours, and even downhill! Most recently I've received the USAC Power Certification to augment my work with power based training programs. I believe that power is a great tool, when used appropriately, but it isn't a miracle solution - you still have to do the work! I build my programs around the specific needs of each athlete and a structured assessment and feedback process that helps keep you on track. The pinnacle of performance is built on the foundation of consistency.

I've been lucky enough to have some great experiences in cycling and adventure sports. From serving as Director Sportif of the Specialized/Mt Dew Global Team in 1997, to managing the Outdoor Adventures Program at San Jose State University from 1997 - 2004, to serving as a reporter/correspondent for Velonews and VioSport (now VIO-POV) covering U.S. World Cup and NCS events. On the competition side some of my State and National level results include:
  • 2007 Nor Cal Masters Track Championships - 3rd Match Sprints, 35-39
  • 2007 Nor Cal Masters Track Championships - 5th Points Race, 35-39
  • 2005 Nor Cal Masters Road Championships - 10th Criterium, 35-39
  • 2003 Nor-Cal Masters Road Championships - 2nd Time Trial, 30-34
  • 2003 Nor-Cal Masters Road Championships - 8th Road Race, 30-34
  • 2003 Muddy Buddy Duathalon - 2nd Overall
  • 2002 Masters National Championships - 16th Criterium, 30-34
  • 2002 So-Cal Masters Road Championships - 10th Criterium, 30-34
  • 1999 Nor-Cal District Cyclocross Championships - 2nd Elite Men
  • 1999 Donner Summit Downhill - 2nd Sport Men
  • 1998 24 Hours of Adrenaline, Laguna Seca - 3rd Elite Men 4x Team
  • 1996 Colorado District Criterium Championships - 1st Elite Men Cat 2
  • 1995 Colorado State Criterium Championships - 9th Elite Men P/1/2
 I grew up in the bay area and moved to Sacramento in 2004. I started my cycling in 2004, switching over from soccer where I played internationally and competitively at the college level. I quickly realized my strength lay in the hilly road races and I enjoy challenging rides with climbs. After getting some good results my first year of racing, I quickly upgraded and was selected for the US National Deaf Cycling Team. As part of that team I participated in the Deaf World Games held in Melbourne, Australia in January of 2005. In 2006, I was again selected to represent the US National Deaf Cycling Team participating in the World Deaf Cycling Championships held in Fremont, California in July 2006.

I became a cycling coach because of my passion for the sport of cycling and the satisfaction of helping others achieve their goals. My approach is personal and focused on the athlete-coach relationship. I am big on communication and involvement, I want to ride with my athletes and develop the one on one relationships that is so important. I do not just send training plans but a customized plan that takes into consideration the busy lives of the athletes.