About Me
My Calling
I trained my first client in a church parking lot my junior year of high school and knew instantly — this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Out of every job I'd ever had, nothing was quite like seeing athletes grow — watching things click for them, as they do something they couldn't do before. That first session lit a fire in me that hasn't gone out since.
My Story: Basketball
I grew up with a basketball in hand, dribbling before I could speak and shooting before I knew how to keep score. When asked "what do you want to be when you grow up?" the answer was always "an NBA player!" I joined my first organized basketball league at six years old and started training with my dad a few years later, going to the gym before school to get extra work in. I loved the grind, and I knew I was on my way to becoming a serious athlete.
Then came AAU ball, where I quickly learned that there were plenty of players bigger, stronger, faster, and better than I was. I went from dribbling through entire teams to not even being able to bring the ball past half court, repeatedly being embarrassed by this new competition. This sudden shift shot my confidence, and I spent the ensuing years playing timid and afraid.
After my sophomore year, though, something switched. Covid hit, so organized basketball wasn't much of an option. As I started playing more pickup, without the pressure of high school ball, I realized that confidence was everything. My skill was always there — I just had to stop letting fear dictate how I play. Once that clicked, my play skyrocketed, and I fell in love with the sport all over again.
Now, I coach with that experience in mind. I don't want kids to spend years stuck in fear like I did. I want them to develop lasting confidence early, learn to handle pressure, and grow to command the game, not the other way around.
My Story: Football
Football is actually my favorite sport. I was raised in a football family — my dad and both brothers played — and I was suiting up for practice before I was even old enough to be on a team. Football has been a part of my DNA from the jump.
Unlike basketball, though, I was always confident in my ability as a football player. In all my playing days, there was never a time where I wasn't certain I could beat the man in front of me. That confidence was often rooted in the fact that I knew my job, and I knew how to do it well.
In high school, I learned and began to love the context surrounding my job (playcall, down and distance, situation, etc.), which unlocked a level of play I hadn't been to before. I wasn't just playing the game, but I was seeing it unfold in front of my eyes. That difference ultimately led to an All-Conference nod my senior year and the best record the school had seen in a decade.
My coaching is aimed at helping kids achieve that level of confidence early on. I want to equip athletes with the mental tools to understand their job and the physical tools to execute it.
My Approach
I believe kids learn best when they're given room to experiment. I use a guided discovery approach, where the focus is more on the objective than on the technique or mechanic. When they need a nudge, I narrow the scope, but when they discover a skill for themselves, it sticks. I'm not here to build robots or drill-performers; I'm here to develop effective, intelligent players. (More about my full philosophy on the Philosophy & Methodology page.)
My Why
My goal has never solely been to make better athletes. While I want them to grow in their sport, my deeper desire is to see them grow as people. The current sports culture can entice kids to idolize their sport and put their performance at the center of their identity. This is incredibly dangerous, since sports can, and will, fail you. When injuries occur, losses stack, and seasons end, what's left?
I believe that every athlete is made in God's image, made for more than a stat sheet or highlight reel. We are made to experience lasting Joy in God and in His creation. When our identity is rooted in Him, we can pursue excellence in our sport without being attached to it, having greater Joy playing the sport than we could otherwise.
I want athletes to know this Joy — to know that their worth is in so much more than the game that they play.
"Tommy brings out the best in
every athlete"
-Janey S
Let's Get to Work!
I've been training athletes in the Arlington area for more than 5 years now. I've seen kids make travel teams, earn varsity spots, and grow into smart, confident players. But more importantly, I've seen them grow as people. If you're a parent looking for someone you can trust with your kid — for more than just the court or the field — I'd love to connect.