STAFF
Adam Merrell
Adam has coached in a dual role for over 15 years in both the strength and sports medicine professions. He is a graduate of UNC-Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, and is a Licensed and Certified Athletic Trainer (LAT / ATC), a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS), and a USA Weightlifting Sports Performance Coach Level-1 (USAW-1)
His career, began as a Reservist with the U.S. Army. He eventually transitioned to orthopedic outpatient physical therapy with Carolina’s Healthcare System, which lead to working with a variety of high school, NCAA, and pro athletes, including UNC-Charlotte, Davidson College, Charlotte Rugby Club, and extensively within the motorsports industry, coaching and performing sports medicine tasks with NASCAR, IMSA, and IndyCar team’s pit crews and drivers.
While involved with the racing industry Adam has coached, strength trained or performed physical therapy for a variety of race teams including; Hendrick Motorsports, Red Horse Racing, Red Bull Racing, Furniture Row, Richard Petty Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Team Penske.
All of his experiences have strengthened his biomechanical knowledge and he utilizes that understanding with both his teams and his personal clients including young athletes and elder fitness enthusiasts.
With age he has personally transitioned into endurance events, and trained and competed in many full and half marathons. With this passion, he has enjoyed adding this skill set to his field of expertise regarding performance, injury prevention and treatment.
When he is not working, he enjoys lifting weights, hot yoga, training for half and full marathons with his wife, and hiking as a family with their golden doodle, Willow.
Ben Cook
Ben worked as a Strength and Conditioning Professional for 35 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Pfeiffer University and a Master’s degree in Exercise Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He was an active CSCS and NSCA-CPT member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
Along with having given many interviews on the subject of strength and conditioning, Cook has taught and has written numerous articles on exercise science. He is the author of the books, “52-Week Football Training”, “Total Basketball Fitness: A 52-Week, Year-Round Training Program” and co-authored the book “Jumpmetrics”.
Through his career Cook has trained athletes from every sport, with his career highlights being 1993-2001 Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team. From 2001 -2003 Cook headed sports performance programming for Carolina’s Health Care and Miller Orthopedic Clinics, where he worked with athletes from the Charlotte North Carolina’s area high schools, colleges and professional sports teams including the Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Sting and Charlotte Eagles Soccer.
In 2003 he became one of NASCAR’s first full-time strength and conditioning coaches for pit crews and drivers. He worked with Evernham Motorsports from 2003 -2006, Red Bull Racing from 2006-2009, Michael Waltrip Racing from 2009-2011 and with Richard Petty Racing in 2015.