Adaptation is the key to success in both my jobs. I almost never get the same call for the fire department and the cheer industry is also constantly full of changes. Adapting to each situation is key.

Twist and Shout coach Matt Ramirez is a hero in and out of the gym. When he's not coaching the Senior 5 Medium All Girl team, he's on the streets of Oklahoma City putting out fires and saving lives.

Ramirez shared with FloCheer what it's like to a firefighter by day and an all-star cheerleading coach by night.

FloCheer: Tell us about your day job.
Ramirez: I work at Fire Station 24 for the Oklahoma City Fire Department. A typical day consists of anything from putting out fires to car wrecks and various medical calls. We have a lot of responsibilities since we are typically the first at the scene. We work 24-hour shifts 10 times a month and our shift is from 7 AM to 7 AM. I wake up about 4:45 in the morning, and I'm at the station around 5:45 AM to relieve the shift before.

How did you get into coaching?
I cheered for Oklahoma State University from 2006-2012. My coach at the time, LeRoy McCullough, invited me to be a part of the NCA college staff where I staffed for nine years. The experiences that I gained in college and with NCA opened many opportunities for me. Since then, I've coached levels 5 and 6 in all star and at the collegiate level.

Tell us about transitioning from the fire station to the gym. How are they different?
The transition from jobs can be very difficult. Obsession athletes have a high commitment level due to practicing long/late hours. There have been some cases where we don't leave the gym until 11 PM, and I'm up at 4:45 AM for work. Unfortunately, my fire schedule switches every week; therefore, there are some weeks that I can only attend one of the three scheduled practices for Obsession. I'm fortunate enough that the owner of T&S, Orson Sykes, the athletes and other coaches are very understanding and supportive of my career. I'm almost always tired, but I love what I do, so it's all worth it!

What do your co-workers think about your cheerleading job?
I get a lot of confused looks, as if I'm joking, when I say I coach cheerleading. But it's almost always followed by tons of questions.

How can you apply what you do in your day job to your coaching job and vice versa?
Adaptation is key in being successful in both my jobs. I almost never get the same call for the fire department. Adapting to each situation is key. On the other hand, the cheer industry is constantly full of changes. Every coach can attest to redoing a routine, conforming to what seems like constantly changing rules and rubrics, moving personnel for an injured athlete, or as simple as scheduling a last-minute practice.

DAY VS. NIGHT

What do you wear to work?
DAY: A polo with our name, rank, and the city's seal or bunker gear for fires.
NIGHT: Staff shirt and gym shorts or sweat pants.

What kind of people do you work with at each job?
DAY: My station has all males, ranging in age from upper 20s to mid-40s.
NIGHT: There is a total of four people that coach Obsession, including the owner.

What are your goals at each job?
DAY: To get through my day safely and help as many people as I can.
NIGHT: To have a positive impact on every team member.

What do you primarily do at each job?
DAY: Serve the citizens of Oklahoma City.
NIGHT: I would say my specialty is skills maintenance and choreography.