Dusty Schmidt is the absolute epitome of an online grinder. The man known by the handle ‘Leatherass’ at the online poker tables is an absolute multi-tabling monster who routinely puts in 100,000 hands at the online poker tables every month.

Schmidt was one of the first successful online poker training site instructors, when he started creating videos for StoxPoker, and his insights into the game quickly propelled him to the top of the poker coaching food-chain. His tight/aggressive style, combined with his total focus and dedication to his poker game has made ‘Leatherass’ loved, feared and loathed all at the same time. Now a head instructor at DragtheBar.com, Leatherass is one of the most sought after poker coaches in the world, and is one of the most successful poker coaches in the history of the business, with numerous students now crushing the online poker games –fellow DragtheBar instructor Matt ‘mBolt’ Bolt being just one of those former students.

Schmidt was an unlikely online poker player –in fact he didn’t play a hand of poker until he was well into his twenties—having been a golf prodigy growing up in Southern California he looked to be primed for a run at the PGA tour and after one year at UC Irvine Schmidt decided to become a professional golfer. At 23 Schmidt was the top money-winner on a mini-tour and looked to be on his way to that PGA tour card when disaster struck. Schmidt suffered a heart attack, and was told to take 6-months off to recover –and this is when he discovered online poker.

At one point Schmidt made the decision to go for it, and quit his job at his parents store to play online poker –and it was during this period of time that he learned the benefits of grinding. ‘Leatherass’ put his last $1,000 on an online poker site and grinded away deposit bonus after deposit bonus to make enough money to pay his bills. And then he hit his stride, and the rest as they say is history.

Now ‘Leatherass’ –the name was chosen as a tribute to the John Turturro character in Rounders, Joey Knish—can be found grinding high-stakes poker games, 12 at a time, in addition to pumping out training videos for Drag the Bar, and working with his publishing company –which he created along with his book—on some new project.

Here is a look at just some of Schmidt’s accomplishments in the online poker world:

• Over $3 million in online cash game earnings
• Has never had a losing month at the online poker tables
• Made PokerStars Supernova Elite in 8 months
• Supernova Elite in 2008 and 2009
• Member of Team PokerStars Online
• Lead instructor at DragtheBar.com
• Wrote the wildly successful Treat Your Poker Like a Business (the follow-up is due out soon)

The 28 year-old Schmidt now makes his home in Oregon with his wife and daughter, and despite his successes away from the poker tables you can still find ‘Leatherass’ grinding away on PokerStars.com. For more information on DragtheBar.com and the poker coaching they offer check out our exclusive link.