Staff Info

Xcel 360 Staff

Owner/ Founder

(All Star Cheer/ Tumbling Instructor/ “Mental Block” Specialist)

Christopher “Coach Chris” Highbrown

Bio:

Originally from Syracuse, NY, Coach Chris started his gymnastics training at age 9 with West Side Gymnastics. After winning many awards and medals throughout his years with West Side, Chris left at age 14 as a level 3 optional when he started school at East Syracuse –Minoa HS. There he became MVP of the Boys Gymnastics Team, County Pommel Horse Champion and Section 3 Floor Champion. Coach Chris then put himself through college by working as a gymnastics instructor at CNY Gymnastics Center, New Generation Gymnastics, Champions For Life, Director of Clay Gymnastics Center and Co-Head Coach of the Girl’s Varsity Gymnastics Team of Central Square HS. Upon finishing college with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Oswego State University of NY, Coach Chris moved to Tampa, FL where he became Tumbling Director of Cheer Champs and 3^rd Grade Fuse teacher for 4 years at Sulphur Springs Elementary and 1 year at Mort Elementary. Chris received the Golden Educators award at Sulphur Springs Elementary, a Fuse Classroom Co-Teaching award for excellent performance, and the Principles Award for high performance based on classroom FCAT math scores. Coach Chris has developed a proven system of coaching/teaching that allows for each child to grow at his/her own pace in the areas that he/she needs most work on. “By teaching to the “individual” I am able to get more results from each child which makes the group grow as a whole both in the classroom and in the gym.” Through the economic hardships, Coach Chris was driven to make his dream of starting a Sports Academy come true. Although faced with many adversities in the beginning, Coach Chris has developed and grown Xcel 360 into the Academy you see today! “We will continue to grow into one of the world’s leading Sports Training facilities!”

Work Experiences:

Tumbling Experience – 23 years

Cheerleading Experience – 17 years

Elementary Education – 6 years

Florida Certified Teacher

Coached All Levels of Tumbling from Parent & Tot Classes to Advanced Levels of Gymnastics, Cheer, Free Running, Martial Arts, Dance/Acro tumbling.

Throughout the years Chris has coached many teams and individuals into winning a variety of State & National Championship titles.

Through Champions For Life, Coach Chris worked with Children with varying abilities/ special needs. Chris worked one on one with children with different levels of Autism, Aspergers, Down Syndrome, Osteogenesis imperfecta (Britle Bone Disease)… etc. Chris worked with each child and worked on individualized skills that would directly benefit the growth and health of these children.

Office Staff

Sean Highbrown

7 years Management experience

Chrissy LeBlanc

Nena Myers

Director/Owner of Xcel Gators, 8 years volunteer with PPAL, Government Administration over 20 years

Marc Nuzzi

After School Driver

Hitting Academy Staff

Baseball/Softball Instructor

Justin Byler

Bio:

Justin was born in warren, Ohio. He attended Howland High School and Warren G. Harding High school where he excelled in baseball, football, and basketball. Justin was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2004 amateur draft after his senior season. Justin elected to accept a full baseball scholarship to the Gulf Coast Community College instead. There he spent 2 years, setting several school hitting records and being awarded all-conference, all-state, and All-American status. Justin was then drafted by the Pittsburgh pirates again after his 2006 season and signed right away. He spent his first few months in the Gulf coast league, leading the team in batting average, hits, RBI’S, and Homeruns. Justin was selected as an all-star his first two seasons and was named first baseman of the year in 2007. Justin started his coaching career at age 18, under the close tutelage of Jim Devine, (professional scout) at SwingLab Technologies in warren, Ohio. There he learned to evaluate all ages of players and fine tune hitting and pitching mechanics. After spending 6 years there, Justin has brought his playing and teaching experiences that have proven results at all levels to Xcel 360 Training Academy.

Work Experiences:

20 Years of Baseball Expereience

7 Years Coaching Baseball & Softball

5 Years Professional Baseball Experience

Former Player with the Pittsburgh Pirates Organization

College All American

Team MVP (Pro)

All Star Selections (Pro)

Chris Joyner, CSCS, RSCC

Bio:

As a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Chris has 9 years experience in professional baseball.

Chris graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in physical education, majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Management. Upon graduation he coached high school baseball, football, and weight lifting for two years at his alma mater North Marion High School in Sparr, FL.

In 2002 Chris joined the Toronto Blue Jays organization as a strength and conditioning intern with the club’s Triple-A Syracuse SkyChiefs and Class-A Short Season Auburn Doubledays. He was named the Minor League Strength and Conditioning coordinator in January 2003. Each year Chris coordinated the strength and conditioning programs for over 150 players on six minor league affiliate teams and assisted the Major league Coordinator throughout the year.

Chris was named the Major League Strength and conditioning coach for the Milwaukee Brewers in December 2006. After serving 4 years with the Brewers, he has returned to Florida to pursue his passion in athletic development full time.

During the 2011 season, Chris returned to the Toronto Blue Jays organization as a assistant to the Minor League Coordinator. He helped coordinate the design and implementation of in-season strength and conditioning programs for all players during Regular and Extended Spring Training, Gulf Coast League, and Fall Instructional League.