Our Coaches

Anna Sanders received her B.S. degree in Exercise Science and Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from The University of Mississippi. During her undergraduate career she was a 4-year starter on the Ole Miss Rebels Soccer Team. While completing her master’s degree she served as graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Ole Miss Rebels athletic department and also completed an internship in strength and conditioning at Auburn University where she worked with 14 Olympian swimmers. After completing her master’s degree she became the assistant soccer coach at The University of Arkansas where she spent 4 years coaching the LadyBack Soccer Team. While in Fayetteville, AR, Anna competed as a triathlete and road cyclist. She was the Arkansas State Triathlon Champion as well as the Arkansas State Criterium and Road Race Champion. In 2008, she moved to Phoenix, AZ where she joined the Arizona State Sun Devils as assistant soccer coach. While coaching she still managed to compete in triathlons and cycling events. She represented Team USA in the Age Group World Championships Triathlon in Vancouver, Canada where she finished second among Americans and 12th overall in the world in her age group. Currently, Anna races competitively for a women’s professional cycling team, TriSports.com based in Tucson, AZ, where she is the Arizona State Road Race Champion. Anna was also invited to the Olympic Training Center this past summer to compete at the US Cycling Endurance Program Talent ID Camp. She also competes in several endurance mountain biking events across the state of Arizona.

 

Matthew started running at the age of 16 where he ran on the cross country and track team at Canton High School in Northern, NY. After High School he attended the University of New Hampshire earning a scholarship to run while competing on the cycling team for one season. In 2006, he was the Division 1 New England Champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase. He graduated with a Master’s degree in occupational therapy with a minor in kinesiology. Right after college Matthew started competing in duathlons and has two elite duathlon national titles. (2008 & 2011)  In 2010, he started swimming and competed in triathlons. He quickly excelled and earned his pro card in his second triathlon. He is now one of the top American athletes at the half ironman/Ironman distance. Matthew competed in his first Ironman World Championships in 2011 as he crossed the line as the third overall American in a time of 8:43. Six weeks later he competed at Ironman Arizona finishing as the first American in a new personal best of 8:29. Currently he is living in Scottsdale, Arizona as a full-time triathlete and coach.  

 

Amy has been a competitive distance runner for 16 years. She was a member of the Vilonia High School Cross-Country and Track Team where she earned a cross-country scholarship to Arkansas Tech University. At Arkansas Tech, Amy ran under the direction of former Arkansas Razorback, Tom Aspel. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art-education with a minor in Physical Education. She later went on to obtain her coaching endorsment from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. Amy taught five years at a public school and coached the jr. and sr. high cross-country teams. During her teaching career, Amy remained a highly competitive runner by competeing in the Arkansas Grand Prix of the Road Runner Club of America earning the title “2nd Overall Female of 2009″ in the state of Arkansas. She continues to compete in the Grand Prix racing distances from 5k to the Marathon.

 

Katie completed the official Dietetic Internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to become certified as a Registered Dietitian (RD). There she simultaneiously obtained a Master’s of Science degree in Nutrition, emphasizing Sports Nutrition. Katie’s passion has always been to assist anyone wishing to attain their individual nutritional goals through accountability and dedication. This passion led her to focus on sports nutrition because she believes that “each person has a unique need to meet their specific fitness goals. “Katie is dedicated to increasing an individual’s nutritional status through addressing the athlete’s metabolism specific for each of their goals. Katie make’s it a priority to educate athletes on their diets, provide follow-up, and establish a clear pathway geared towards long term success.