For Matt Spitz ’08, leadership has always been about showing up, on the field, in the classroom, and now, in communities across Ohio. A Capital alumnus, Hall of Fame athlete, and chapter director for All Pro Dad, Spitz is helping lead a growing movement that connects fathers and children in meaningful, lasting ways.
Spitz, who was inducted into the Capital University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018, first made his mark as one of the most decorated placekickers in program history. A two-time All-American and three-time First Team All-OAC selection, he helped power record-setting offenses from 2005–07. By the time he graduated with a degree in public relations, though he jokes he “majored in football,” Spitz had rewritten the record books and developed skills that would extend far beyond the game.
Today, those same skills are shaping his work with All Pro Dad, a national organization founded by Super Bowl-winning coach Tony Dungy. Designed to create shared experiences between fathers and their children, the program operates through school-based chapters that focus on monthly character-building conversations.
Spitz’s connection to All Pro Dad began during his time with Athletes in Action, a global sports ministry headquartered in his hometown of Xenia, Ohio. There, he had the opportunity to introduce Dungy at an event, an experience that sparked his interest in the organization’s mission.
“I started doing a ton of homework on Tony and what he was involved in,” Spitz said. “And about 30 years ago, he founded All Pro Dad. It’s designed to create a shared experience between dads and their kids and help equip dads to love and lead their families.”
After launching a successful chapter in Springboro, Ohio, growing attendance from just 10 participants to more than 120, Spitz brought the program to Plain City, where he now lives and works. His current chapter is smaller but steadily building momentum in a rapidly growing community.
Each month, dads and their children gather before school for breakfast, conversation, and connection. Meetings center around a character trait, such as integrity, responsibility, or emotional intelligence, and offer practical ways to strengthen relationships at home.
The impact, Spitz says, is both simple and profound.
“All Pro Dad breaks it down into one minute a day, 30 minutes a week, one hour a month, and one event per year,” he explained. “Even something as small as a daily question at the dinner table can change the way you engage with your kids.”
One of the most meaningful moments comes during what Spitz calls the “Dad Brag,” when fathers publicly affirm their children and the kids return the encouragement.
“It’s powerful,” he said. “There have been tears in the room. It’s a unique opportunity for dads to speak life into their kids, and for kids to acknowledge their dads in a way we don’t always see.”
That local impact is now expanding statewide. In partnership with Ohio leaders, All Pro Dad recently announced a major initiative to grow its presence across the state, backed by a $20 million investment. Spitz was invited to represent chapter directors at a press conference held at Ohio Stadium, alongside Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jim Tressel, and All Pro Dad leadership, including CEO Mark Merrill.
“It was a huge honor,” Spitz said. “To share my experience on that stage and talk about the impact this program can have. It was a big moment, not just for me, but for communities across Ohio.”
The partnership aims to increase access to All Pro Dad chapters in schools statewide, reinforcing the organization’s mission at a critical time for families and communities.
For Spitz, the work is deeply personal. Whether through his media company, Plain City Living, or his leadership with All Pro Dad, his focus remains the same: building stronger communities, one relationship at a time.
“I get to impact our community at a macro level through my business,” he said. “And at a micro level, through All Pro Dad, I get to help dads love and lead their families.”
It’s a full-circle moment rooted in his time at Capital, where he developed a foundation in communication, leadership, and service.
“Those seeds were planted at Capital,” Spitz said. “And now I get to carry them forward.”
For families interested in bringing All Pro Dad to their own communities, Spitz emphasizes that getting involved is simple and impactful.
“There’s a very easy opportunity to make a difference,” he said. “And it starts with showing up.”