Coach Rick
Rick’s passion for fitness began at the age of ten when he competed in his first cross country race. Since then he has competed in races at various distances including the JFK 50 miler twice. With a lifelong passion for health and fitness, Rick earned his Bachelor’s degree in Health and Sport Science from Wake Forest University and his Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Virginia Tech. While at Virginia Tech, he completed internships in cardiac rehabilitation and with the strength and conditioning department working primarily with the men’s and women’s basketball teams. Rick graduated with honors from graduate school and his Master’s thesis was published in American College of Sports Medicine journal. He also presented it at the ACSM National Conference. In 1991, he began his career as a personal trainer while working on his undergraduate degree. Rick has worked in various roles in the fitness industry over the past 20 years including commercial gym sales and management, country club fitness director, regional fitness director as a contractor for the federal government, and one to one and group personal training. Rick has worked with many different types of clientele ranging from ages 8 to 85. He has worked with not only healthy individuals but also many different populations including participants with orthopedic limitations, heart disease, pregnancy, auto immune diseases, strokes, and diabetes.