Alex Niznak is a highly motivated, educated, and focused athlete, coach, and public speaker with experience both playing and coaching on four different continents. Over the course of his journey through high school, college, and the professional levels of football Mr. Niznak has traveled all over the United States and the world working to both develop and grow the game of football as well as the young men who play it.
Before his football journey took him overseas, Alex began his playing career at Ithaca High School where he played for Hall of Fame Head Coach Terry Hessbrook. As at Ithaca in 2010 Alex lead his team to an undefeated record and the school’s first ever State Championship. Immediately following his championship game Alex graduated high school in December and enrolled at Central Michigan University in January of 2011. This enrollment fulfilled a lifelong desire to become a Scholarship Division 1 Student Athlete and was the culmination of years of hard work including several in the Rising Stars program.
During his time as a college athlete Alex spent three years at Central Michigan University where he was part of a bowl champion team in 2012 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Sport Management in the spring of 2014. Following his graduation Alex moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri where he once again accepted an offer to be a Division 1 Student Athlete and play for the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks. Following his two years as a Redhawk Alex graduated in December of 2015, this time with his Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration.
Directly following the conclusion of his college athletic and academic career Alex began his career as an International Professional Athlete. In the spring of 2016 Alex signed his first professional contract to play for the Tyreso Royal Crowns in Stockholm, Sweden. Following his first season in Europe which produced a heart breaking loss one game before the Championship Alex was on the move again. His next stop would be in Recife, Brazil to play for the Recife Mariners. At the conclusion of his time in Recife at the end of 2016 Alex returned to Michigan where he began training Quarterbacks all over the State of Michigan, including working with Rising Stars again as a QB Coach. In March of 2017 Alex signed a new contract with the Asahi Soft Drink Challengers, a team in the Japanese X-League. This contract made Alex the first foreign born Quarterback in Franchise history. Upon his arrival in Osaka, Japan Alex also began his career in College Coaching as he became a Quarterbacks Coach at Ritsumeikan University. This role was expanded the following year in 2018 when along with continuing to be the QB for the Challengers Alex transitioned into a dual role as a QB Coach and Offensive advisor at both Ritsumeikan University and Kindai University.
Alex Niznak has used football as a conduit to pursue his education, travel the world, and make his passion his profession. He has an unwavering belief that education is the key to bettering one’s life and the lives of those around them, and often football can be the key to getting that education. On the field working with athletes of all ages Alex stresses moving with a purpose and attention to detail in everything. Off the field when focused on the even bigger game of life Alex often speaks of the three pillars to success, passion, dedication, and adaptability. With these three qualities no dream is to large and no task impossible.
