MUSKEGON – West Michigan Ironmen fans may not know the whole story behind star defensive lineman Hunter Charneski.
They see him playing with a great deal of passion while terrorizing opposing quarterbacks, and might assume he’s a younger player polishing his skills for a push toward higher leagues.
The truth is that Charneski is a 35-year-old who had been out of organized football for more than a decade before joining the Ironmen last season.
If he seems like he’s having a great time on the field, that’s because he is, and it’s not just because he’s getting another chance to play a game he loves.
[1]It’s also because he’s learned how to play football and simply enjoy it, something he struggled with in the past, when he actually was a young player with big ambitions.
“I never approached the game like I should have approached it, in high school or college,” Charneski said, following a practice session for Friday night’s home game against North Michigan Muskies. “I was always focused on performance, rather than the ‘just play’ mindset.
“Instead of being childlike and having fun, I was trying to perform to expectations, and I never had fun. That’s a big problem that a lot of players fall into. When you just try to have fun, you can perform better than you ever imagined.
“The plays have been happening because I am just playing, instead of trying too hard or overthinking.”
Jack of all trades
Charneski grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin and played football at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
That only lasted one season, because he made a young man mistake and found himself off the team.
Luckily his defensive line coach at St. Cloud thought a lot of him, contacted former Grand Valley State University head coach Matt Mitchell and put in a good word for him.
“I got kicked out for being an idiot and doing some drinking with a recruit I was hosting,” Charneski said. “My coach at St. Cloud thought I got the raw end of the deal and asked Coach Mitchell to give me a chance, and he had me come in for a workout. That was in December of 2009.”
Charneski played at GVSU from 2010 through 2013. While it may surprise some Ironmen fans who watch him dominate on the field, he was a solid but unspectacular player with the Lakers, and left football when his college eligibility ended.
[2]He actually became an elite athlete after he left college and stopped playing football.
Charneski became interested in competitive powerlifting, had some success in the sport and put on a lot of bulk through the constant training.
He also owned a gym – the Freak Faktory Barbell and Sports Performance in Jenison – and developed a large clientele of school-aged soccer players. Charneski and his staff specialized in helping the young athletes develop more speed.
The trouble was that Charneski was a bulky guy with very little speed, so it was hard for him to speak with authority on the subject.
“There I was, a 300-pounder, calling myself a speed coach,” he said.
[3]He solved that by reaching out to a track coach he knew, learning some skills, and becoming – of all things – a track runner specializing in short-distance sprint events.
While that sort of endeavor is usually reserved for very light, nimble athletes, he became pretty good at it. He ended up competing in many track events in the area and throughout the nation, and eventually built a successful business as a speed development consultant.
He was competing at a GVSU track meet – which are not limited to just college athletes – when he caught the attention of Ironmen head coach Terry Mitchell, who he had played a little football with in the past.
They talked, Charneski consulted with his wife, and agreed to join the Ironmen for the 2025 season.
Returning to football after more than a decade might seem far-fetched, but it was hardly a stretch for a man who has never shied away from new challenges.
[4]Besides being an athlete, business owner and consultant, Charneski is also the author of a best-selling self-help book, and has been a successful life insurance salesman, hospitality executive and award-winning public speaker.
He is currently a multi-unit training manager for Border Foods, a company that owns and operates hundreds of Taco Bell restaurants.
“It took me 35 years to figure out, but it’s okay to be a jack-of-all-trades,” he said.
Fighting Father Time
Charneski immediately became a force on the field for the Ironmen, anchoring the defensive line and helping the team post a perfect record and win the 2025 American Indoor Football league championship.
He is back at it this season, and looks just as impressive as he did a year ago.
Of course arena football is played on a 50-yard field, and has a ton of scoring, but that actually makes defense all the more important. It’s a huge plus any time a team can get a defensive stop and keep the opponent out of the end zone.
Since most offensive plays involve passing, the constant pressure Charneski puts on opposing quarterbacks makes a huge difference.
The best example of his skill in that regard came in the season opener against the Michigan Falcons, when Charneski recorded an amazing total of three safeties by sacking the quarterback in the end zone.
[5]“That was one way to put up six points!” he said. “It was a total blast!”
Charneski had not been looking for a chance to get back into football, and admitted it was a little tricky at first to get used to the indoor version of the sport.
“It’s a different game – football in a phone booth – and there were challenges,” he said. “If you asked our defensive line coach for an honest answer, he would probably say he was ready to cut me the second day of training camp. I was once again thinking too much and trying too hard.
“When I just shut my mind off and started to attack, things started happening for me.”
Charneski’s on the field performance, as well as his leadership skills, have left a big impression on the Ironmen front office.
[6]“We knew immediately that he would be a game-changer,” said Ironmen General Manager Nate Smith. “He has an incredible motor, he’s in great shape, and he’s fast and strong with great technique. Relentless is a good word to describe how he plays the game.
“What really separates him is that he’s also a leader of men. The way he was able to gain the respect of teammates right away and push and encourage other guys, that just jumps right off the page.”
The admiration is mutual. Charneski said he loves playing for Ironmen owner Mario Flores, Smith and everyone in the organization, and really enjoys having close contact with the fans.
“Mr. Flores and Nate Smith do a great job of taking care of us, from providing equipment to means of travel and hospitality,” he said. “The fans are great. They are right there on top of you, a real part of it. I really love the kids. I didn’t realize how many fans I have. It’s pretty cool.”
Charneski said wants to keep playing as long as his body will allow it.
“I’m having more fun than I have ever had, so I don’t know,” he said. “I am fighting a battle with Father Time, and right now I am winning. Until I start losing, I don’t see myself stopping.”
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