Athletes Edge Sports Performance Training for Football, Baseball, Lacrosse and other Sports Disciplines

Jeff Sanders | Director of Training

Jeff Sanders is the Co-Founder and Director of Training for The Athletes Edge. Following an all-star baseball career at Naples High School, Jeff received a scholarship to play outfield for High Point University in High Point, North Carolina. Jeff started as a true freshman finishing up the season batting .326. Following a career ending injury during his sophomore season, Jeff transferred to the University of Florida where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science. In 2000, Jeff was certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES) in 2004.

Jeff worked as a Strength and Conditioning coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2001-2003. While with the Ravens, he worked with some of the most influential coaches in the NFL, including: Chip Morton of the Cincinnati Bengals; Mark Asanovich of the Jacksonville Jaguars; Kurt Schultz of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Juney Barnette of the Minnesota Vikings; and Jeff Friday and Paul Ricci formerly of the Baltimore Ravens.

Jeff has experience as a Speed and Agility Coach at Cris Carter’s FAST Program focusing predominately on speed dynamics and innovative sports specific training modalities. Prior to working in the strength and conditioning field, he gained clinical experience working in the inpatient post operation division of Shands hospital in Gainesville, Florida. While at Shands, Jeff’s primary focus was on rehabilitating total hip and knee replacements as well as gait training for brain and spinal cord injuries.

Don Icsman | Director of Operations

Don Icsman is the Director of Operations for the Athletes Edge. As a retired Pro Football player, has years of first hand experience in the mainstream athletic arena.

Following an all star kicking career at Heidelberg College in Ohio, Don was invited to a national football combine where he gained his first NFL contract from the Kansas City Chiefs. From there he went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe and the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.

Don is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES). He has coaching experience as the assistant kicking coordinator for the Miami Dolphins as well as for the Ray Pelfrey National combine service.

Mike Smith | Director of Sports Performance

Mike Smith is a Sports Performance Coach for The Athletes Edge. He comes to the Athletes Edge after having spent 4 years working as Strength and Conditioning Consultant to various athletes, teams, and High Schools in the North Jersey Area. Mike holds a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management from Towson University where he was a member of the football program playing both running back and defensive back. Mike is currently certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and USA Track & Field as a Level 1 Coach. In addition to Mike’s involvement with The Athletes Edge he also holds a position with the National Athletic Testing System (NATS) as a National Field Consultant (NFC). NATS is an organization backed by the AFCA, NCAA, and NFL which conducts high school football combines throughout the country.

The primary focus of Mike’s training programs is to help the athlete reach their full athletic potential. In addition to his general training programs he also specialize in combine preparation training, in which much of his program is based upon the ideas of the Parisi Speed School combine preparation model.

Rick Bryant | Director of Soccer Performance

Played Soccer for: Auburn HS, Auburn, NY, 3 yrs Varsity, All CNYCL Jr & Sr years, Captain Sr yr; SUNY Morrisville, Morrisville, NY, 2 yrs Varsity, teams finished 3rd & 7th in NJCAA final poll; Springfield College, Springfield, Ma, 2 yrs Varsity, Captain Sr yr; Men’s Open Division for Central NY in Empire State Games, 1978; Western Massachusetts in Bat State Games 1982 & 83, Silver & Gold Metalist; represented both Massachusetts & Connecticut Senior State teams at regional championships 1983 & 1986; Waterbury Portuguese SC Men’s Over 30 & 40 teams that won numerous state championships and competed for regional championships.

Coached for: University of Massachusetts Men’s Soccer (1982-83), UMass Women’s Soccer (1984), Lyman Memorial HS Boy’s (1985-86), Post University Men’s Soccer (1991-2003), Post Women’s Soccer (1999-2003), Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association (1981-85) and Connecticut Junior Soccer Association State Staff Coach for ODP & Youth Coach Licensing (1986-2008); Region I Player Pool Selection Coach (2004-07)

Coaching & Training Certificates: USSF “A” & Youth National Licenses, NSCAA National Goalkeeping Certificate, NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Performance Enhancement Specialist, New Leaf Metabolic Testing Certification

Formal Education: BS in Physical Education, Springfield College, 1981; MS in Exercise Science, University of Massachusetts, 1986

Joshua “JT” Thompson | Sports Performance Coach and Personal Trainer

Flavia Fernandes Pereira | Volleyball Coach

Over 13 years as a volleyball athlete (9 in Brazil 4 in D1 Universities in the US)
Trained with Olympic Level Volleyball and Strength and Conditioning Coaches in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 1998 to 2004.
Outstanding defensive player award – Nationals 2006, MVP on 2006 tournament, Academic All American 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
Head Coach Indoor Volleyball- Ocean Breeze Volleyball Club – The largest volleyball club in South Florida – since 2008 – 14, 15, and 18 years old athletes
Head Beach Volleyball Coach – Club Beach Dig
Co-author in the article – Preventing Volleyball injuries AVCA Oct 2010 issue
Conditioning Coach for Palm Beach Soccer Academy–ages 11 to 14 – 2009-2010
Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science – Georgia Southern University
Master of Science in Exercise Science – Florida Atlantic University
Certified Personal Trainer
Certified Pilates Instructor

Richard Woodroof | Director of Tennis Performance Training at Athlete’s Edge

After playing tennis at the University of North Carolina, he competed on the USTA Pro Circuit. In his 20 year career Richard has worked with elite tournament players at every level. After coaching players on both the WTA and ATP tours, he was the women’s head coach at University of Texas-El Paso. Richard has trained dozens of nationally-ranked juniors including 2 players #1-ranked and 4 Gold Ball winning national champions. His players have earned scholarships in every major Division I conference.

Richard is a National Exercise & Sports Trainers-certified Speed, Agility & Quickness coach (NESTA-SAQ). He is also certified by the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) and by the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Sport Science Testing Level I. He has published articles on tennis conditioning for the USTA Atlanta website. His experience with tennis scheduling and periodization allows players to peak for the biggest tournaments throughout the year.

Stephanie Svoboda: Strength and Performance Coach

Stephanie Svoboda received her Masters degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Florida Atlantic University. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Sports Nutritionist, Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Water Fitness Instructor, and Certified Swimming Instructor.

Svoboda was an NCAA Division I and semiproffesional soccer player in both the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and the W-League. She recieved All-Conference honors in college, and was named an All-American in the WPSL. In college, she was named a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American.

Svoboda currently trains and coaches in Boca Raton, Fl. She enjoys working with all populations and ages.