ABOUT PREMIER
At Premier Gymnastics Academy we will channel each child’s natural energy and enthusiasm for movement into a fun and exciting athletic experience. We have classes for everyone, from the true beginner to the most demanding elite gymnast. We are committed to providing quality gymnastics instruction while giving every child a feeling of continued success.
Our gymnastics programs are year round and we are always taking registration.
OUR COACHES & STAFF
Coaches at Premier Gymnastics Academy have been recruited for their knowledge of gymnastics, years of experience and most importantly their rapport with children. Many of our coaches are nationally known; former collegiate gymnasts who have achieved the highest level safety certification and professional accreditation.
Mark
Owner/Director
Mark competed at Iowa State University where he was a 2 time NCAA Champion on Rings.
Has been coaching for 40 years.
…
He coached at the University of Wisconsin before opening Premier in 1995.
Inducted into the Iowa State Hall of Fame.
Coached many State and National Champions.
Coached many gymnasts that have gone on to compete at the college level.
Mark was a USAG judge for many years.
CPR certified.
Safe Sport Certified.
Esther
Office Manager
Began coaching in 1989.
Managed a gymnastics school from 1993-2007.
Coached competitive compulsory …and optional girls from 1993-2007.
Joined Premier Gymnastics Academy in 2013.
CPR Certified.
Gabi
Girls Team Coach
Gabi was a collegiate gymnast at UIC.
He has been coaching girls competitive team for 10 years. He has been coaching at…
Premier for 8 years.
CPR Certified.
Safe Sport Certified
Denise
Recreational Coach
All American Power lifter at WIU.
Former collegiate gymnast.
Degree in Rec. Program Administration Coaching gymnastics…
since 1993.
Glen Ellyn Park Dist. DirectorCPR Certified
Safe Sport Certified
Certified Leisure Professional
Edgar
Girls Team Coach
Camp Director at Lake Owen Gymnastics Camp
Safety and Risk Management certified…
Safe Sport certified
CPR certified
Began working at Premier in 1996.
Edgar has 3 kids and 2 grandchildren and enjoys running marathons.
Jaimee
Administrative Assistant
Jaimee was a competitive gymnast at Premier.
Began coaching at Premier in 2015.…
Now she enjoys working at the front desk helping our customers.
Bardha
Girls Recreational Coach
National Gymnastics Team member (Albania)
USAG Professional judge – Level 4,5,7,8…
5 years of coaching experience in the US.
Safe Sport Certified
Maria
Girls Team Coach
Maria was a competitive gymnast at Premier.
She coached the Xcel team for 6 seasons.…
In 2020 Maria began coaching the compulsoryand optional team girls.
She also does floor choreography.
CPR Certified.
Safe Sport Certified.
Kylie
Girls High School Coach
Member of the Bowling Green State University Dive Team.
Bachelor’s degree in biology.
Master’s degree in biomedical sciences.…
10 years of experience coaching gymnastics.
IHSA certified gymnastics judge.
Cuts floor music and can do choreography.
Assistant Coach for the Downers Grove High Schools Co-op girl’s gymnastics team.
Certified EMT.
Competes in Olympic weightlifting.
Eliza
Girls Recreational Coach
Born in Romania where she began gymnastics at the age of 4.
National and International Champion.…
Began coaching in 1995 in Romania.
Moved to the U.S. in 1998 to coach optional and compulsory girls.
Began coaching at Premier in 2021.
Beth
Recreational Coach
Beth was a competitive gymnast for the Palisades-Malibu YMCA.
Graduated from UCLA with a BA in Sociology. Beth has been coaching…
gymnastics for over 40 years.
CPR certified.
Safe Sport certified.
Max
Boys Team and Recreational Coach
Began gymnastics at the age of 2 at Premier Gymnastics.
Jr. National Still Rings Champion.…
University of IL Men’s Gymnastics
athlete from 2017-2021.
Won several vault titles at the University of IL.
Member of the 2018 Big Ten Championship winning team.
Graduated from the University of IL with a BS in Business Entrepreneurship.
Coached at CGA from 2021-2022.
Certified men’s gymnastics judge.
Alana
Recreational coach
Alana was a gymnast at Premier for 8 years. She is currently on her high school’s varsity gymnastics team and varsity track team. …She enjoys working with kids as well as traveling, sightseeing, and cooking.
Kristyn
Girls High School Coach
Began gymnastics at 7 years old.
Competed in USAG and in High School gymnastics at Willowbrook High School.
…
Became Head Coach of the Downers Grove South girl’s gymnastics team in 2007.
Teaches Social Studies at Downers Grove South.
President of the Illinois High School Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association.
IHSA official.2021 IHSA Coach of the Year.
NFHS Coach of the Year.
2022 IHSGGCA Coach of the Year.
Jordan
Recreational Coach
Hometown is Chickasha, Oklahoma.
2016-2017 Men’s USA Junior National Team Member. University of IL Men’s…
Gymnastics varsity athlete from 2018 -2022.
Member of the 2018 Big Ten Championship winning team.
Won event titles in the All-Around, Rings and High Bar while competing for the Illini.
Graduated the University of IL with a Bachelor’s in Sport Management.
Jon
Recreational coach
Jon began gymnastics at the age of 6. He was on the competitive boys team at Premier. Jon has coached competitive boys team …for 4 years. Jon enjoys coaching boys and girls and enjoys helping them develop in the sport of gymnastics.
Todd
Recreational coach
Todd began coaching in 1987 where he coached preschool, boys and girls recreational gymnastics classes, tumbling classes, Men’s and Women’s… competitive Gymnastics through level 10, and competitive trampoline team (double mini and power tumbling). Todd has also coached dance acro and cheerleading tumbling competitively. Todd has coached many different league competitive programs through the YMCA, Park Districts and Turners. Todd has been a professional member of AAU, USAG and the USTTA.
Sam
Boys Team Coach
Sam was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana where he trained at and competed for Geist Sports Academy. He placed …2nd in AA at the Indiana State Meet and also qualified to JO Nationals his senior year of high school. Sam went to UIC for D1 collegiate gymnastics where he competed each of the six events at least once during his time there. Sam majored in Entrepreneurship at UIC. Sam’s favorite event to compete during his career was floor. Sam has 10 years of coaching experience. He has coached multiple boys to state and regional teams and has had several state and regional champions.
Theo
Recreational coach
Theo was 2 years old when began gymnastics at Premier. He was the level 9 AA State Champion and competed as a Level 10. …After a few years out of the gym, Theo is excited to get back to gymnastics and to be coaching at Premier.
Devin
Boys Team Coach
Devin has been coaching boys team since 2002. Devin has coached several State, Regional, and National Champions as well as several …gymnasts continuing to collegiate gymnastics. Devin is also a member of the Region 5 coaching staff and has accompanied our Region 5 Team to various camps as well as national and international events. Devin graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemical engineering and works for a local energy research company.
Eddie
Girls Xcel Coach
Eddie is a highly experienced gymnastics coach with over 15 years of expertise in developing gymnasts at all levels. …He has coached USAG Levels 2-6 and served as an assistant coach for Levels 7-10, while also working extensively with Xcel athletes from Silver through Diamond divisions. Throughout his career, Eddie has led multiple gymnasts to state championships in the Xcel program. In addition to coaching team athletes, Eduardo works with our Mighty Mights and Hot Shots, providing younger gymnasts with a solid foundation in skill development. He brings a wealth of knowledge from a background in personal training, specializing in sports performance and corrective exercises, which enhances his ability to guide athletes toward peak performance. A former high school football player and track athlete, Eddie applies a well-rounded approach to training and athletic development in the gym.
Tyler
Recreational coach
Tyler began gymnastics at the age of 4 at Premier. He has been a member of Premier’s competitive team since …the age of 8. Tyler is a 5-time National Qualifier. Tyler began coaching at Premier at 16 years old. Tyler is still part of our Elite training program.
Matt
Boys Team Coach and Recreational Coach
Matt grew up and trained at Premier Gymnastics from the age of 3-18 years old.…He was a member of the University of Illinois-Champaign Men’s Gymnastics Team from 2014-2018.
He is a nationally ranked men’s gymnastics judge.
He worked at the US Gymnastics Development Center in New Jersey.
Matt loves to help kids grow in the sport and to be a positive influence in their lives.