Staff
Mike Young, PhD
Director of Sports Performance
In his role as the Director of Sports Performance, Mike serves as the strength and speed coach and primary biomechanist for Athletic Lab. Mike brings the unique qualities of being a nationally recognized researcher, coach, and educator. His depth of knowledge and experience in the field of athletic development is evidenced by his stays at all three U.S. Olympic Training Centers as an athlete (Lake Placid), sport scientist (Colorado Springs & Chula Vista), and coach (Colorado Springs). Mike has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology, a Master of Science degree in Athletic Administration and a PhD in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Biomechanics. He has studied extensively in anatomy, physiology, sport psychology, motor learning, training theory and biomechanics. Mike is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a certified USA Weightlifting Club Coach, a Crossfit Level 1 Certified Trainer, is one of less than 20 USA Track & Field (USATF) Level 3 coaches in the country and has a USATF Level 2 certification in 3 event areas.
More than just education and experience however, Mike is a world-renowned expert in the field of speed development and conditioning for sport. He is well-versed in coaching the Olympic Lifts and creating specialized strength, speed and conditioning programs to help maximize the performance of any athlete. He has developed training plans for sports ranging from dragon boating, to soccer, to swimming and has helped prepare numerous players for the NFL combine (most notably Bradie James - Dallas Cowboys and Super Bowl Champion Marquise Hill - New England Patriots) and MLB (Andres Torres). He is currently serving as the Fitness Coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the MLS. Prior to that, Mike was the sport performance coach for the 2x NASL Champion Carolina Railhawks. In the sport of Track & Field he coached or assisted multiple Olympians, National Champions, and Collegiate National Champions. As the coach of the HPC Elite team, a team of internationally competitive track and field athletes, he has coached 6 USATF National Champions and the team has placed over a dozen athletes in national championships since its inception in 2008. Previously, Mike served as a jumps and multi-events coach at Ohio University where his athletes set 2 school records. Following OU, Mike moved to Baton Rouge where he mentored under legendary track and field coach, "Boo" Schexnayder for 4 years. While at LSU, Mike was on the staff of 6 National Championship teams. Following his time at LSU, Mike became the sprints and multi-events coach for Army Track & Field. In his short 3 years at Army, Mike's athletes rewrote the record books with 9 school records, 54 All-Time Top Ten performances, 24 Conference Championships, and achieved the three highest point totals ever recorded in a single event at the conference championship.
Mike is equally qualified as a sport scientist and educator. His research on sprinting, stretching, balance, and throwing activities have been published and presented in Regional, National and International journals and conferences. He has been the biomechanist for the United State's men and women shot putters since 2001. They are consistently ranked among the very best in the world and have won numerous World Championship and Olympic games medals. In 2010, Mike also took over as the biomechanist for the American high jumpers.
As an educator, Mike has been an instructor or professor at Ohio University, Louisiana State University and the University of North Carolina. He is one of the most sought after speakers in the country on athletic development. He has lectured for USA Speed Skating, the Chinese Olympic Coaches at the Beijing Sport University and the North Carolina Justice Academy where he regularly instructs on the Physical Preparedness for Law Enforcement Officers. He is a Level 1, 2, and 3 Instructor for USATF, and has served as the Director of Technology, Biomechanics Chairperson, Sport Science Chairperson and Vertical Jumps Chairperson for USATF's Coaches’ Education division. He is only one of two people to be a Level 3 instructor in three different event disciplines (sprints, throws, and jumps). In his role as a USATF Coaches Education instructor, Mike became the youngest Level 2 (at the age of 26) and Level 3 (at 28) instructor ever in the 30 year history of the program. He has also taught more Level 1 schools than anyone in the history of the program. More recently, he has taken over as the sport science chair and one of the lead instructor for the USTFCCCA's Coaching Academy. Additionally, Mike is also a prolific author, having written 2 book chapters, 2 books, and over 20 articles published in nationally distributed publications ranging from Maxim to Track Coach.
Eric Broadbent
Athletic Development Coach
Eric Broadbent is is a certified USA Track and Field Level 1 and 2 Coach, holds a USTFCCCA Track & Field Technical Certification, and a USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coach. He coached at West Chester University for two years as the Jumps Coach and took on roles / responsibilities of head coach for half of the 2008/2009 season and worked with sprinters, jumpers, hurdlers, and multis. Eric has also worked as a Strength and Conditioning Coach for High School and Collegiate Hockey Players at the Ice Works Skating Complex in Aston, PA. At West Chester he completed his Undergraduate Degree in Health and Physical Education with a Minor in Coaching. Eric has been training under Mike Young for the Decathlon for the past 3 years and has a thorough understanding of his training methodologies. As an athlete, he is a national level competitor including top 6 finishes at the 2009 and 2010 USA Indoor Combined Events Championship. Prior to switching over to the decathlon two years ago Eric was a 3 time All American (Long Jump, Triple Jump, High Jump) and 8 time Conference Champion for West Chester University.
Calah Young
Director of Operations / Athletic Development Coach
Calah Young serves an important role for Athletic Lab as the Director of Operations. In this role she manages daily facility operations, coordinates schedules, conducts training sessions and manages web and phone correspondence. Calah has been a member of Athletic Lab's parent company staff, HPC since its inception. Prior to joining the Athletic Lab staff, Calah was an accomplished athlete. Competing as a sprinter and long jumper for Federal Hocking High School, she set school records in the 100m, 200m, long jump and career points scored. These honors earned her a spot in the school's Athletic Hall of Fame. Following her high school career Calah went on a successful collegiate track and field career. At Ohio University, Calah set two school records in the pole vault. She later transferred to LSU, where she also broke two school records in the pole vault and became a member of the SEC All-Academic team. Following her graduation from LSU in 2005, Calah earned certification as a USA Track & Field Level 1 coach and served as a volunteer assistant Track & Field coach at the United States Military Academy at West Point from 2005-2008. While at West Point, Calah continued her athletic career as a member of the US Skeleton Elite Development team and resident of the Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid. During this time she also assisted HPC in implementing USA Track & Field's High Performance Plan.
Chris Garret
Athletic Development Coach
Chris is an athletic development coach at Athletic Lab. He played two seasons of basketball at Dean College avg.16 points and a brief stint on the Binghamton University State University of NY Basketball team where he later graduated with a degree in Sociology. Chris is certified as a USATF Level 1 coach, a USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coach and holds a USTFCCCA Track & Field Technical Certification.His desire to stay connected to athletics through training has become his number one goal. Chris is a graduate and instructor at the National Personal Training Institute and plans to become CSCS certified, while gaining additional experience and education in sports performance.
Greg Maness, MS
Athletic Development Coach
Greg Maness is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sport Performance Coach, an IYCA Youth Speed & Agility Specialist Level 1, an NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES), and an ACE-certified Personal Trainer. He also holds a USTFCCCA Track and Field Technical Certification. Greg earned his Bachelor of Arts in Exercise and Sport Science from East Carolina University and his Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion (Performance Enhancement and injury Prevention) from California University of Pennsylvania. Greg has been a trainee at Athletic Lab since May 2010. He has participated in the Athletic Lab's CrossFit / Performance Fitness classes and weightlifting practices. In addition to competing as a member of an amateur ice hockey team, Greg has taken up competitive weightlifting, having competed in his first meet in January 2012.Chris Hoina
Athletic Development Coach
Chris is certified through the ACSM as a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). In addition to his CPT certification, Chris is a USA-Weightlifting Level 1 Sport Performance Coach. Chris has been a certified Fitness Professional for over 4 years and is continuously enhancing his skills through continued education and hands-on experience. Currently he is working towards his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Chris graduated Cum Laude from Troy University, AL with a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He is in the process of completing his M.S. Prior to his entry into Sports Performance, Chris served in the USAF as a Survival Evasion Resistance Escape (SERE) Specialist/Instructor as well as both an Airborne and High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) parachutist. Currently, Chris is a member of the U.S. Skeleton National Development Team, HPC Elite & Olympic Development Team, and a 2014/2018 Winter Olympic hopeful.Drake Webster
Athletic Development Coach
Drake Webster competed in football, baseball and basketball at the high school level. Football was the sport where he excelled the most in receiving letters from many divisions 2 and division 3 universities. He decided to forgo football at the collegiate level to focus on school at East Carolina University where he received his degree in Kinesiology. Drake is a certified USA weightlifting sports performance coach and is recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).John Grace
Athletic Development Coach and Operations
John is a Sports Performance Coach, as well as, the Social Media Assistant at Athletic Lab. John, originally from Utica, New York, attended the State University of New York at Oswego where he earned a degree in Marketing with a minor in Heath Science. John is certified though the ACSM. John is focusing on expanding his knowledge in the exercise sciences and coaching. He is in the process of earning his CSCS.Stephanie Shaw
Athletic Development Coach
Stephanie is an athletic development coach at Athletic Lab. Before joining the Athletic Lab staff she played for the East Carolina Women’s soccer team. During her time there she helped lead the team to a conference championship and worked closely with the strength and conditioning coaches. Prior to playing as a collegiate athlete for four years, Stephanie played soccer for Enloe high school in Raleigh, NC. There she was a four-time Cap 7 all-conference team, three-time all-region selection, and all-state her senior year. She was also the team captain for three years and named MVP. Stephanie played club soccer for CASL ten years where her team continuously won state championships and a regional championship. She is a certified USA Sports Performance Coach and has a B.S. degree in kinesiology. Stephanie is working towards her CSCS certification.Doretta Gaudreau
Nutrition Consultant
Doretta is currently an undergrad in the Nutrition Science program at North Carolina State Univerisity. Originally from East Hartford, CT, Doretta moved to Southern Pines, NC after graduating high school in 2002 to pursue a career riding and working with horses. Focusing mainly on the discipline of Three Day Eventing, she had the opportunity to ride and work with some of the best riders in the country. She improved not only her riding skills, but also learned how to manage and maintain the equine athlete at the highest level of competition. She has traveled up and down the east coast and over to Europe grooming at some of the biggest three day events in the world. Most notably in 2006 she traveled as a groom with the US Three Day Event Team to the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. Working with elite horses and riders, Doretta learned the importance of proper nutrition for both the human and equine athlete. In 2009, Doretta decided to put horses on the back burner to pursue a career in the field of nutrition. She applied to and was accepted into the Nutrition Science Program and NCSU and started that fall. Upon graduating from NCSU she plans on attending graduate school and eventually becoming a Registered Dietician. Doretta has always been physically active; growing up she participated in various team sports, she currently participates in CrossFit, and is an avid runner. In 2010 she completed two full marathons and one half marathon. She hopes to complete her first triathlon in 2011.Reuben Schooler
Yoga Instructor
Reuben is a dedicated yogi with multiple certifications in wellness. As a teenager and young adult, he was an active runner, rugger, and indoor volleyball player. Later, Reuben turned to the practice of yoga postures to heal his body from the many acute physical ailments that began to plague him as an older adult. After several years of yoga practice, he joined the yoga teacher training program at the Wilmington Yoga Center and completed 220 hours of intensive training. Since his graduation from teacher training in 2004, Reuben has been a registered yoga teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. In 2005, he met his mentor and teacher, Dr. Samuel Sasu of Ghana (West Africa). Since that time, Reuben has devoted himself to the study and practice of radiant health and well being in order to help others. Studying Ayurveda with Dr. Sasu led Reuben to become a licensed massage therapist (LMBT) in early 2008. He is licensed to practice bodywork in North Carolina and is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.Reuben also holds a certification in Yoga and Mind-Body Therapy from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre. Reuben’s unique qualifications, experience, and training allow him to create yoga training programs specific to his client’s needs. As such, he has taught at a variety of venues to clients of all age groups and levels of expertise. The premiere programs he created for and taught to NC State University’s mens’ varsity tennis and baseball teams from 2008 through 2010 are the latest examples of his teaching skill, knowledge of yoga for athletes, and versatility.
Reuben earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Duke University where he was a Reginaldo Howard Scholar. As well as continuing to enjoy a successful career in the Information Technology industry, Reuben has traveled extensively in North and South America, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and South East Asia and is grateful for the opportunity to bring a world of experience to his offerings as a holistic healer, Ayurveda practitioner, bodyworker, and yoga teacher.
