Coaches

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Coach Jordan

USN Veteran and Founder of Rise and Defy Athletics

Services: Mobile Coaching, Online Programming, Contest Prep, and Gameday Coaching

Focus: Strength and Conditioning, Olympic Weightlifting, Strongman, Powerlifting, Adaptive Athletes, and Tactical Athletes of all levels.

  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certified (2020)
  • CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2)
    • Gymnastics Trainer Certificate (2015) with Pamela Gagnon, Owner of CrossFit Ballantyne, and Lead Coach for CrossFit Gymnastics
    • Kettlebell Trainer Certificate (2015) with Jeff Martone, Founder and CEO of TACTICAL ATHLETE® TRAINING SYSTEMS, INC. and CrossFit Kettlebell Subject Matter Expert
    • Powerlifting Trainer Certificate (2015) Shane Sweatt and Laura Phelps-Sweatt, Westside Barbell Athlete, World Record Holder, and owner of CrossFit Conjugate
    • Strongman Trainer Certificate (2015) with Hybrid Athletics owned by Rob Orlando
    • Weightlifting Trainer Certificate (2015) with Mike Burgener, Head Weightlifting Coach for CrossFit and Senior International Weightlifting Coach
    • Crossfit Judges Certificate (2017) (2015)
  • 5thSet Seminar (2017) powerlifting seminar and clinic with Swede Burns, creator of 5thSet methodology, owner of Keyhole Barbell, and 2016 Powerlifting Coach of the Year
  • WEMT (2018) with NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute
  • CPR/AED

Coach Alec MS, CSCS, TSAC-F

USN Veteran and Coach at Rise and Defy Athletics

Services: Mobile Coaching, Online Programming, and Contest Prep

Focus: Strongman, Tactical Strength & Conditioning, Athletic Development

  • Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Coaching Experience
    • S&C Coach for US Army 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne (Arctic) Division
    • Head S&C Coach Long Island University (Division I)
    • Assistant S&C Coach Pace University (Division II)
  • Education
    • MS in Exercise Science, Concordia University Chicago
  • Certifications
    • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
    • NSCA Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator (TSAC-F)
  • Personal Achievements in Strength Athletics
    • Pro StrongMan
    • Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships (u80kg) – 2nd
    • America’s Strongest Man u80kg – 2nd
    • 4 x OSG/WSM 80kg Competitor

Coach Brandon, BS, CSCS

USAF Veteran and Coach at Rise and Defy Athletics

Services: Personal Training, Mobile Coaching, and Online Programming

Focus: Strength and Conditioning, Strongman, Powerlifting, General Fitness for Athletes of all levels.

  • B.S. Exercise Science
  • M.S. Exercise Science – Student
  • NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
  • USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certified
  • OSG Mid-Atlantic Regionals 2022 (u90kg) – 3rd Place
  • Official Strongman Games 2022 (u90kg)

Coach Ethan, ISSA CPT

USMC Veteran and Coach at Rise and Defy Athletics

Services: Personal Training, Mobile Coaching, and Online Programming

Focus: Strength and Conditioning, Bodybuilding, and General Fitness

  • Certified Personal Trainer – International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
  • AAS Culinary Nutrition
  • Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association 2021 – 5th Place

Coach Andrew

Coach at Rise and Defy Athletics

Services: Personal Training, Mobile Coaching, Online Programming, Contest Prep, and Gameday Coaching

Focus: Strength and Conditioning, Strongman, Powerlifting, and General Fitness

  • Pro StrongMan
  • America’s Strongest Man 90kg 2023 – 1st
  • Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships 2024 (u90kg) – 2nd
  • Arnold Strongman Pro/AM World Championships 2025 (u90kg) – 3rd
  • America’s Strongest Man 90kg 2025 – 2nd