Former Iowa Hawkeyes and NFL player Chad Greenway opens 2 youth training gyms in the metro

A former Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker who retired from a career in the NFL has opened two youth athlete training facilities in the Des Moines metro.

Chad Greenway became a minority partner in ETS Performance to open two corporate-owned locations in Ankeny and Grimes in June. They're the for-profit company's first locations in Iowa, and for Greenway, "the first thing I’ve ever done like this," he told the Des Moines Register.

ETS Performance also has facilities in Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, some of which also were opened with the help of former professional athletes. The company offers training for athletes of all sports "in a challenging yet positive environment that will enhance performance, build character and improve lifestyles," according to its website.

More: The Register's list of the 100 greatest Iowa college football players

Pictures posted on the Ankeny and Grimes websites show weight benches and racks as well as open floor space. Descriptions of the offered services detail individualized and team training that can be done onsite or offsite, for in-season and off-season athletes.

The facilities are mostly for athletes ages 8 to 18 years old, according to a news release.

Greenway said he got involved with ETS after his children started training there. A native of Mount Vernon, South Dakota, Greenway earned a number of honors as linebaker for the Hawkeyes between 2002 and 2005 and was a first-round draft pick in 2006 for the Minnesota Vikings.

He announced his retirement in 2017 after 11 seasons with the Vikings, including 156 career games and 144 starts. He and some business partners later launched Minnesota-distilled spirit Gray Duck Handcrafted Vodka.

Greenway said he was impressed with the culture of ETS Performance. He described the company's goal as "trying to create a really good kid on the other end" in terms of character, not just in their athletic abilities.

“When you attach your name to something it better be something that’s really good," he said.

Prospective trainees do a series of exercises that elevate their heart rate, breathing and blood flow before they complete an assessment of their speed, agility, strength and running form. The results are reviewed with parents and compared with the programs ETS Performance offers.

Athletes who sign up for a training program have an individualized plan designed for them. They work with performance specialists — though Greenway will not be one of the trainers in Iowa.

More: Hear Chad Greenway's most memorable moment as a Hawkeye

One of the company's programs is geared to female athletes and seeks to "create a community of strong (physically & mentally), confident, female leaders who learn to embrace challenges, seek growth, and show up as an example for others to do the same," according to its website.

Greenway said he would like to open more ETS Performance locations and is considering Ames, Cedar Rapids or Iowa City.

The Ankeny location is at 405 S.E. Magazine Road and can be reached at 515-400-4002.

The Grimes location is at 4405 S.E. Beisser Drive and can be reached at 515-447-1028.

Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Chad Greenway, former Hawkeye, Vikings player, opens youth training gyms