Who is Derek?
My name is Derek, I've been coaching for over 12 years, working with everyone from complete beginners to competitive powerlifters. Honestly, some of my most rewarding clients have been people stepping into a gym for the first time or coming back after years away. Watching someone go from intimidated by the barbell to confidently hitting PRs they never thought possible - that never gets old.
My Background
I started taking on clients when I was 18 - initially for free, just to build experience and test different training approaches. Over the past 12 years, I've coached over 100 clients with wildly different goals: beginners who'd never touched a barbell, people rebuilding after injuries or long breaks, athletes training for their first competition, and lifters chasing 600+ squats and 2000lb totals.
I've helped people lose weight, gain confidence, come back from setbacks, and hit PRs they thought were impossible. No matter where you're starting from, if you're willing to put in the work, we can make progress.
As for my own training - I've been lifting since I was 17 and competing in powerlifting since 2014. My all-time best lifts are a 615lb squat, 380lb bench, and 720lb deadlift at around 220-240lbs bodyweight.
The Rebuild
In October 2024, I went through a serious medical crisis that put me out of training entirely. I lost everything I'd built and had to start over from scratch. Rebuilding myself reminded me why I love this work - I know what it's like to feel weak and question if you'll get back. That experience made me a better coach, especially for people just starting out or coming back after time away.
What I Offer
I work with people in-person, and remotely through custom programming. I don't believe in one-size-fits-all programs - I've tested MANY styles of training on myself first, which lets me build programs that fit YOUR life, YOUR goals, and YOUR recovery. I also provide free training programs on this site for people who can't afford coaching but still want solid guidance.