Online Coaches Directory
Learn more about our Online Coaches at Starting Strength Gyms
Jeff Bernitz
Jeff coaches at Starting Strength Austin. Coach Jeff is dedicated to helping people reach their strength goals. He likes seeing people transform as they get stronger, especially those who never saw themselves enjoying barbell training.
Mark Diffley, SSC
Mark Diffley is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Austin. He holds a Master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Mark is a former firefighter and has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He helps clients of all ages and ability levels learn how to get stronger using the Starting Strength method.
Andrea Mates, SSC
Andrea is a Coach at Starting Strength Austin. She has decades of teaching experience in her professional portfolio. Andrea holds a doctorate in Applied Linguistics from UCLA and bachelor's degrees in Russian language and Public Policy from Duke.
*Offers Nutrition Coaching
Amanda Sheppard, SSC
Amanda is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Beaverton. She started her strength coaching career at the collegiate level, as both an athlete and coach. She spent six years as a collegiate strength coach at Sacramento State University and then Northern Illinois University, where she was the Olympic Director of Sports Performance.
John Dowdy, SSC
John is the Head Coach of Starting Strength Boise. John has coached a wide variety of clients from different demographics using the Starting Strength method to help get them stronger.
*Offers Live Online Coaching
Avery Martz
Avery is a Coach at Starting Strength Boise. Avery is a former swimmer and cross country runner and has been training with the Starting Strength method for 3 years.
Michael Avery Shammas, SSC
Michael is a coach at Starting Strength Boston. He graduated from Berklee College of Music. Michael is interested in fostering a community of strong, confident lifters and providing for them the same life-changing benefits that Starting Strength has provided for him.
Keith Freeman
Keith is a coach at Starting Strength Chicago, where he enjoys working with new and experienced lifters alike. Keith has a degree in Technology. He enjoys helping others become stronger, whether their goal is to improve sports performance or to simply enjoy a long healthy life.
Chris Olson, SSC
Chris is a Starting Strength Coach at Starting Strength Chicago. Chris is a former collegiate athlete and graduated from Denison University in 2012. He enjoys coaching anyone looking to get stronger for athletics or everyday life.
Alex Ptacek, SSC
Alex is a Starting Strength Coach at Starting Strength Chicago. Alex graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in Philosophy. In May of 2022, he earned his Starting Strength Coach credential. Alex also competes in powerlifting.
Adam Martin, SSC
Adam is a Coach at Starting Strength Cincinnati. He has a history of training and coaching Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Adam specializes in working with the special needs population.
Jarrett Beck
Jarrett coaches out of Starting Strength Columbus. He served his country for 8 years in the Marine Corp Reserves. Jarrett has a strong passion for helping people achieve a higher quality of life.
*Offers Live Online Coaching
Jordan Burnett, SSC
Jordan is a coach at Starting Strength Dallas. Over his years of coaching, Jordan has worked with clients from all different demographics. Jordan particularly enjoys working with clients that are looking to get strong for general health.
Brent Carter, SSC
Brent is the Owner and Head Coach at Starting Strength Dallas, and Owner of Starting Strength San Antonio, Starting Strength Plano, and Starting Strength Fort Worth. Brent coaches Starting Strength Seminars across the US. He holds a degree in Exercise and Sports Sciences from Texas Tech University with an emphasis in biomechanics and exercise physiology.
Jayne Peyton, SSC
Jayne is a coach at Starting Strength Dallas. Jayne graduated from the Focus Personal Training Institute, a state-licensed vocational school, in 2013 with a diploma in Personal Training Theory and Application. She enjoys working with clients of all ages and ability levels.
Jared Nessland, SSC
Jared is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Denver. He has been coaching Division I athletes in Strength and Conditioning for over 20 years. Jared has competed as a thrower in Track & Field, in Olympic Lifting and Powerlifting, and is currently a competitive open level racquetball player.
Tony Stein, SSC
Tony is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Houston. He enjoys working with people from a variety of backgrounds, skill levels, and age groups to improve their strength and quality of life. Tony graduated from UCLA in 2010 with a degree in biological anthropology.
Shelley Wells, SSC
Shelley is a coach at Starting Strength Houston. She applied Starting Strength to various populations in NYC at a Center for Preventative Medicine and has coached many SS and Olympic Weightlifting camps. She has a Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training and Master’s of Science in Exercise Physiology from Midwestern State University. Shelley likes working with people who are willing to put in the work and follow the program.
JD Shipley, SSC
JD is the owner of Starting Strength Houston and Starting Strength Katy. JD’s goal is to help people understand the need to train. Not just to get strong, but for the all-encompassing benefits that come with becoming stronger; general health and psychological resilience.
Jonathan Chung
John is a coach at Starting Strength Houston. He has 15 years of experience training, competing, and training Muay Thai and Dutch Kickboxing. John is passionate about providing the benefits of strength training for those looking to improve their general health or athletic performance.
Josh Wells, SSC
Josh is the Head Coach of Starting Strength Katy. Josh has 20 years of experience competing and coaching in Olympic weightlifting. As an international-level lifter, he was a member of the Jr. Pan-American Team and a member of the Junior World Team, competing all over the world. Josh holds a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. He enjoys working with anyone looking to get stronger.
*Offers Nutrition Coaching
Matthew Gemmill
Matt offers Online and Nutrition Coaching at Starting Strength Katy. He enjoys helping people gain strength to expand their capabilities to do what they love outside of the gym.
*Offers Nutrition Coaching
Scott Acosta, SSC
Scott is the Head Coach and general manager at Starting Strength Memphis. He is an active member of the Starting Strength Prep Course, where he mentors aspiring coaches. At Starting Strength Memphis, Scott’s goal is not just to make his clients stronger but to help them develop into self-sufficient lifters along the way.
Gretchen Geist
Gretchen is a coach at Starting Strength Memphis. Her goal is to help people enhance their quality of life in many dimensions through strength acquisition.
*Offers Nutrition Coaching
John Haun
John is the owner of Starting Strength Memphis and Starting Strength Nashville.
Chase Lindley, SSC
Chase is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Oklahoma City - Westmoore. He is a former collegiate football athlete and has been training using the Starting Strength Method for over 10 years. Chase enjoys working with clients who are consistent and have no excuses.
Greg Herman
Greg is a coach at Starting Strength Oklahoma City - Westmoore. He is a USMC veteran and former rugby player. He enjoys coaching clients who understand that hard work works.
Jacob Pearce, SSC
Jacob is a coach at Starting Strength Orlando. As a combat veteran who spent four years as an infantryman in the ARMY’s 101st Airborne division, Jacob enjoys training veterans and anyone looking to get stronger.
Pete Troupos, SSC
Pete is the Head Coach at Starting Strength Orlando. Pete supports social media for Starting Strength and is part of the Starting Strength Seminar staff. He has experience coaching clients of all populations and with various goals and skill levels. Pete believes effective strength training is essential whether the goal is independence, longevity, or athletic performance.
Michael Jones, SSC
Michael coaches at Starting Strength Plano. He enjoys working with athletes of all ages. His coaching background includes training individuals involved in football, golf, CrossFit, martial arts, weight lifting, and rugby as well as people looking to get stronger.
Victoria Diaz, SSC
Victoria is the Head Coach at Starting Strength San Antonio. Victoria is also a Licensed Massage Therapist and actively competes in Strengthlifting. She has years of experience helping men and women of all ages become stronger versions of themselves.
Matt Hebert, SSC
Matt is a Coach at Starting Strength San Antonio. He is a former collegiate baseball player. Matt enjoys working with clients who are consistent and inquisitive.
Aaron Frederick, SSC
Aaron is a coach at Starting Strength Tulsa. He is a 20 year U.S. Army veteran and has a background in endurance and strength sports. Aaron is certified through Precision Nutrition and enjoys helping clients achieve their dietary and strength goals. Aaron is well equipped to handle both sensitive situations and those that need a firm or discipline based coach.
Darin Lovat
Darin coaches at Starting Strength Tulsa. He is dedicated to helping people become stronger, more capable, and more confident versions of themselves.