Meet Our Coaches

No one expected Holly to become a coach and spend now well over a decade owning a gym. PE was not a favorite growing up, and sports have never been anything other than somewhere to get bullied or fall short. An overweight kid, she spent her young life in activism, and punk rock/hardcore, booking and playing shows, touring, etc.

After a young career spent as a professional chef, and an aggressively amateur musician, she saw CrossFit and a sport that appealed, a sport that looked cool, tough, equal. Where women were held up as the incredible athletes they are, rather than marginalized to "women's sports". Lifting weights seemed like someplace to belong. Competitive CrossFit became Competitive Powerlifting became Competitive Weightlifting, with a non-linear path circling back to each other occasionally in pursuit of the simple act of loving strength and movement. She loves working with athletes of all kinds, and currently has a full roster that is the Resilient Powerlifting Team.

She's coached athletes to state records, national qualifiers, international meets, countless gold medals and PRs, multiple back-to-back "best teams" in USAPL, and holds the current CA state record in Bench in USPA as well as American and Pan-American records in the Snatch. The Resilient Strength Powerlifting team accepts applications in in a rolling fashion so please reach out asap if you'd like to join, as we can get you training and in with the team.

Brian is a lifelong athlete who played football professionally in Spain and France. He came to strength coaching through the confluence of sport and teaching, a former high school football coach and math teacher he found his calling in working with athletes.

He is our Head Weightlifting Coach at Resilient Strength and coaches both our Youth and Adult teams in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting to develop athleticism and teach grit, resilience, kindness, and perseverance. He’s a a competitive weightlifter himself, retired quarterback, and former offensive line coach who also uses weightlifting with ball-sport athletes who compete on the national stage in, football, rugby, and more.

Brian holds Pan-American records in snatch, clean & jerk, and total and is the 2025 America’s Cup 94 kg class champion. He received his Masters in Coaching and Exercise science at Concordia University-Irvine. He is a USA Certified Weightlifting Coach, and International Youth Coaches Association Speed & Agility Coach.

For the entirety of her adulthood, Paola has been countering negative stereotypes about strength to encourage young women to take up space in the gym. She is well-versed in the challenges faced by new and seasoned lifters and has experience breaking down barriers. In her own fitness journey, Paola has transformed her body and mind through the power of strength training and her own coaching. She analyzes the bigger picture, not just progressions in the gym, to boost wellbeing, performance, and confidence.

As a UC Berkeley student and certified personal trainer, Paola is always learning from her research and network of fitness professionals to become the best coach she can be. She has advanced skills in collaboration and problem solving, so whatever your circumstances are, Paola will work with you to make your fitness goals your reality. Paola loves what she does and is excited to show you how strength can improve every aspect of your life.

Paola is a decorated competitive powerlifter who holds the USPA California State Record in Deadlift and is competing at 2026 USAPL Equipped Nationals.

Sierra is our assistant weightlifting coach and incredible athlete. She’s a former professional rugby player with extensive experience in training speed, explosive power, as well as the core movements of olympic weightlifting: snatch, clean, jerk, squat, pull.

Ash is a seasoned mental health professional and dedicated motorcycle rider coach with over 15 years of experience in each field. Combining a passion for psychological well-being with hands-on leadership in site management, he brings a unique blend of empathy, organizational acumen, and strategic vision to every role he undertakes. Let’s not forget that Ash spent much of his youth racing bicycles with the USCF as a category II rider. Throughout his 15‐year career in mental health, Ash delivered individual and group counseling to diverse populations, including adults and families, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams—psychiatrists, social workers, and community organizations—to design and implement treatment plans. As a rider coach, I developed and delivered advanced motorcycle rider training programs, emphasizing safety, technique, and mental readiness, as well as risk assessments to ensure client safety and stress management.

Cycling taught me how to compete both as a team and as an individual, and that my performance had a direct impact on everyone on the team. Cycling taught me grit and how to win the battle in my head, and to keep pushing forward, no matter what that voice says. In powerlifting, I have used this same mindset to keep moving forward and stay focused on goals and live life as an athlete. Finding the Resilient Strength community has been a true gift that has shown me that I have a blend of skills that would lead me to the joy of coaching strength training techniques and helping people find that “Fight and Grit” that we all have inside us. I have found that his love for powerlifting has made me stronger in all aspects of life.

My passion for helping others succeed drives me to help you, from where you are, to where you want to be, as a guide, mentor, and warrior at your side. I look forward to helping you find your strength, passion, purpose, and joy. I look forward to meeting you at The Resilient Strength!

I’m Danny, a coach dedicated to helping people realize their strength and potential—no matter their size, background, or starting point. With a degree in Social Science and Psychology, and a career as a sales manager in the health and wellness industry, I bring both professional insight and personal experience to my work.

My own journey began after the devastating loss of loved ones and a pre-diabetic diagnosis, moments that forced me to prioritize my mental, emotional, and physical health. Through resilience, healing, and determination, I transformed my life and discovered a passion for empowering others to do the same.

As a proud Latina and person from the LGBTQ+ community, I strive to represent strength, perseverance, and authenticity. My mission is to guide others in embracing wellness, building confidence, and conquering challenges—proving that transformation is possible for anyone, at any stage!

Jamie coaches seniors to start strength training safely and confidently. Using a patient, evidence-based approach, she builds mobility, balance, joint health, and functional strength to boost independence, lower fall risk, and improve quality of life. She is here to work with you towards your goals, emphasizing pain-aware loading, sound mechanics, and sustainable habits.

Dash is a USA Weightlifting Level 1 certified coach who began training at The Resilient Strength in 7th grade to prepare for high school football. Now a senior at Piedmont High School and a captain of both the football and track teams, Dash brings years of athletic experience, leadership, and a deep passion for strength training into his coaching.

He specializes in working with youth athletes of all skill levels, helping them build strength, confidence, and a solid foundation that translates to performance in any sport—or life in general. His approach goes beyond just lifting: Dash believes that athletics is the most powerful tool for learning grit, resilience, perseverance, communication, and leadership.

Dash has personally studied the science and strategy behind programming for athletic development and continues to train regularly himself. While his athletes are just beginning their strength journeys, he’s already seen major growth. Whether it’s making a form breakthrough or hitting a new PR, Dash thrives on helping others discover their potential and develop lifelong habits through training.