The Secret Behind Floortech

Local Flooring Store Doubles as Baseball and Soccer Training Facility

Writer  /  Christy Heitger-Ewing
Photographer  /  Brian Brosmer

Several years ago, Jeremy Swinford was training Jeff Montfort’s daughter in soccer when the two men got to talking and learned they had a shared passion for sports and flooring. Montfort is the owner of Floortech, a family owned and operated business for the past 32 years (Jeff has been running it for 12). Montfort also trains elite athletes — his specialty is baseball.

With a background in sales and a combined love of sports, Swinford and Montfort became friends. Now the men work together at Floortech, which recently moved to Meridian Parke Drive in Greenwood. At Floortech’s new 2,000 sq. ft. warehouse, they had the space to build their training facility in the back section of the building.

Montfort runs one side of the training facility — Lefty’s Bullpen — where he works with clients on fielding, hitting and pitching. He teaches students how to manage their bodies and abilities through the proper mechanics.

“I like helping kids mature and develop, not just in sports but in life,” says Montfort, who was an exceptional baseball player at Perry Meridian High School.

He went on to play at the University of Indianapolis, then was drafted into the White Sox organization following college. After playing with the Richmond Roosters, he coached at Southport High School, Perry Meridian High School and is currently the freshmen baseball coach at Center Grove High School.

For 12 years, Swinford worked with athletes on speed and agility work for all sports, but at Footworx, the other half of the training facility, he has narrowed his focus to soccer.

“When kids are learning the game of soccer, they often get rushed through the fundamentals and don’t learn what they need to on the front end from a movement, passing and field positioning standpoint,” says Swinford, who trouble shoots athletes’ weak spots and runs repetitive drills to inspire improvement. “My niche is that I supplement the technical help that coaches don’t have time to offer up when they have 12 to 18 kids.”

Having been a stand-out soccer player at Lutheran High School, Swinford signed on to play at the University of Indianapolis, before transferring to IUPUI where he earned a degree in fitness and sports studies.

Swinford and Montfort, who train about 15 to 20 athletes a week, share similar visions when it comes to life goals.

“It goes, ‘God, family, work, sports,’” Montfort says.

Swinford agrees. With a wife and two toddlers at home, he wanted to pursue a career in which he could preserve precious family time.

“I’ve always dreamed of walking out the back door of my flooring store and into my training facility,” Montfort says. “Now, it’s actually happening. Jeremy and I are still in awe of how it’s all come together.”

In the future, the men plan to hire additional trainers in order to expand their clientele.

“We’ll never water down the training to filter kids through more quickly because we’re not doing this for the money,” Swinford says. “We’re doing it because we love to see our clients grow.”

And that’s exactly what happens. According to one client, Lindsey Ciampa, after just a few months of training at Footworx, she’s already seen dramatic improvement in her play.

“I’ve learned new foot skills and how to control the ball, all while having an amazing time,” Ciampa says.

Swinford, a handyman at heart, says that his dual career fulfills his desire to impact lives.

“If you’ve ever seen someone who has gotten a new floor, they’re pretty excited,” Swinford says. “And when training kids, it’s all about building trust and pushing them to be the best they can be.”

Lexi Fraser, 12, one of Swinford’s clients, notes that her trainer is good at breaking things down in an understandable way.

“Sometimes coaches can be intimidating, but Jeremy makes me feel comfortable,” Fraser says. “He motivates me to work hard but doesn’t pressure me, allowing me to focus on my training.”

Currently rehabbing from ACL surgery, Fraser says Swinford has helped re-build her confidence by getting back to the basics and following a customized plan designed to meet her goals.

Adds Fraser’s mom, Linsey, “He truly is awesome and so much more than a trainer to our family.”

Check out Floortech/Footworx/Lefty’s Bullpen’s new Greenwood location at 3115 Meridian Parke Dr., Suite H. For more information, visit floortechcorp.com.