www.albanycrossfit.com > Staff

Jason Ackerman

Jason is the man we all have to thank for the amazing facility that is Albany CrossFIt. He opened shop in 2007 and has been forging elite athletes in the Capital Region ever since.

Jason is one of the most well known and respected CrossFit Coaches in the Northeast. Coaching is truly his passion, but he is a fantastic athlete as well. He routinely punishes himself keeping up with athletes outweighing him by over 40 pounds.

Jason's infectious personality is apparent as soon as he walks in the room. He loves to have fun, and can be found make anyone laugh who is willing be distracted. He can and routinely does make small tweaks in even the more advanced athletes technique to squeeze just a little more efficiency out of that movement.

Jason's personality is certainly not for everyone, but between his jokes, his knowledge on nutrition, and his expertise on CrossFit movements...He has something to offer to everyone. He is truly one of a kind.

Jason is a Level 2 Certified CrossFit Coach in addition to the following Certifications:

CF Barbell
CF Olympic Lifting
CF Gymnastics
CF Barbell
CF Rowing
CF Endurance
CF Science of Excersise
CF Nutrition
CF Mobility and Recovery
Hybrid Strongman
IKFF Kettlebell
Performance Menu Olympic Lifting

"...the ads blind us,commercials deafen us,
rich foods clog us.
we strive so hard
for the good life.
sensible folks
take care of their bodies,
just this is plenty."
--Jason Ackerman

Kevin "KeHo" Houston

Kevin is one of our Head Coaches, and simply put...is one of the best we have. He does the programming for most of the WOD's that the athletes at Albany CrossFit love to hate. He is great at building workouts for beginners and elite athlete alike.

Also, Kevin is great at coaching the big picture and minute details of all CrossFit movements. He always finds the best way to communicate to each individual in a way they fully understand. Kevin also heads up our "Competitors" program, and can often be found helping an athlete really punish their weakness until it becomes a strength.

Kevin is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach in addition to the following Certifications

CF Endurance
CF Running
CF Powerlifting
POSE Running

Austin Malleolo

Austin is one of our head coaches, and one of the best CrossFit athletes on the planet. His 6th place finish at the 2010 World Crossfit Games was just a debut act. As a member of our Coaching Staff and CrossFit Headquarters Level 1 Training Team, Austin is a great asset and a wealth of knowledge for each of our athletes. As our nutritional guru, he has helped our community 'dial in' their nutrition to help us all achieve our fitness goals.

Austin is one of CrossFit's brightest young stars. His is as good a coach as he is an athlete, and we look forward to watching him grow in both aspects. Whether you are a veteran, or new to CrossFit, seek out Austin for help with any aspect of fitness. He is always available to lend his expertise.

Austin is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach in addition to the following Certifications:

CF Olympic Lifting
CF Kids
B.S. Exercise Science
AFFA Personal Trainer

Caleb Nelson

Caleb is one of our Head Coaches at Albany CrossFit. Upon completion of his Bachelorette in Kinesiology: Fitness and Development from SUNY Cortland he began working with us as an intern. He quickly displayed an immense knowledge and great willingness to share it will all. Caleb jumped in head first, and hasn't looked back since. He is a quick learner and always growing within the community. The sky is truly the limit with this young prodigy.

Caleb believes everyone's life can be improved by CrossFit, and he isn't shy about sharing that opinion. Whether you need an tip on a movement, or a laugh to help brighten your day...Caleb is your man. His insight with health and nutrition have helped nearly each and every member reach their fitness goals at Albany CrossFit.

Caleb is a Level 1 CrossFit Certified Coach and also holds the following certifications

CF Nutrition
CF Endurance
CF Powerlifting
Hybrid Strongman
Whole 9 Nutrition

Nicole Weden

Niki is our local pound for pound Champion. She is one of the smallest athletes at Albany Crossfit, but can move around the type of weight on the barbell that will turn heads every time. She coaches our regular classes, a weekly yoga class, and our Ladies Only Powerlifting Class. She is one of the most experienced and well respected coaches we have. The athletes at Albany CrossFit have benefited from her knowledge for years. Niki is always smiling and having fun, and anyone that takes her class...will have the same problems!

Niki is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach and also holds the following certifications:

CF Kettlebell
CF Nutrition
CF Mobility
CF Barbell
CF Olympic Lifting
CF Endurance
CF Gymnastics
C2 Rowing
IKFF
Hybrid Strongman
Whole 9 Nutrition
Performance Menu Olympic Lifting

Brett "morning guy" Andrus

Brett is one of our longest tenured, and best coaches. He has coached the 5:45am class since 2007, and is one of the most experienced coaches in the Northeast. He has a meticulous eye for CrossFit movements, and can communicate critiques to any and all ability levels. His "Morning Mayhem" class is one of our most dedicated groups, and is chock full of CrossFit Firebreathers. Anyone who has spent time in his class is a big fan of his coaching.

As an athlete, Brett has competed at high levels of both Judo and CrossFit. His tenacity in training himself is only overshadowed by his tenacity coaching others. Brett always cheers up his morning crew, and drops in to help in the evenings when possible. Take advantage of Brett's experience by asking him for help with that one movement you haven't quite figured out yet.

Brett is a Level 2 Certified Crossfit Coach and has the following certifications:

CF Olympic Lifting
Starting Strength

Viv Guicheney

Viv is our resident Kettlebell Expert and our Minister of Pain on Sunday. If you need to fine-tune your Kettlebell Skills, she is always there to help. Once a week, on Sunday mornings, Viv leads our faithful thru a workout that is not for the faint of heart known as “Viv’s Sin on Sunday”.

Viv is one of our original athletes, and has been a coach here for over 2 years. Her jovial personality and British wit make her a favorite at ACF. She has a great ability to make anyone at any skill level understand the movements she is coaching.

Viv is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit coach and also holds the following certifications:

CF Nutrition
RKC Level 1

Tom DePalma

Tom is a part-time coach at Albany CrossFit, and is also the Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Albany. He has significant experience and knowledge developing strength and power with athletes at all levels.

His positive attitude, and ability to lead by example make him a favorite of many of our athletes. The first thing you notice about Tom is his big presence, and outgoing personality. The lasting impression he will leave on you is his heart and passion for helping all reach their full athletic potential.

Tom is a Level 1 Certified Crossfit Coach, and also holds the following certifications:

NSCA
CF Nutrition
FMS

Dean Leber

Dean is one on our young up and coming coaches. He is a student of CrossFit, and is highly in tuned with the methods and methodologies. Dean always brings new knowledge and significant energy to every class he leads. He always comes to class with and inspired attitude, and the goal to enrich each athletes fitness.

Dean's has a vast knowledge of mobility and stretching. He can often be found helping athletes after class or before on specific joint manipulation. Dean is universally liked and is a future star of the sport. We look forward to Dean growing with us, and helping our athletes more and more as his experience builds.

Dean is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Trainer and also holds the following certifications:

AFAA Personal Trainer
Hardstyle KB Instructor

Sean Wells

Sean is one of our sharpest trainers at Albany CrossFit, which should come as no surprise based on his Military experience. He has participated is Search and Seizure Missions throughout the Gulf, trained with the Joint Task Force Marine Training Unit, and for the past 5 years has prepared young adults for Navy Boot Camp. His fitness programs have worked for hundreds of men and women.

Sean’s first hand experience of why functional fitness is so important helps him relate to each and every athlete he coaches. Always willing to give extra attention to those who need it, Sean is generous with his time and is eager to share his knowledge and experiences with fitness and nutrition. He is as good a coach as he is a great American. We are lucky to have him on staff.

Sean is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach, and also holds the following certifications:

CF Endurance
CF Rowing

Kim Hans

Kim is one our newest trainers at Albany CrossFit, and we couldn't be happier to have her coaching with us. Her energy, knowledge and enthusiasm are just a few reasons why she embodies all the great things a crossfitter can, and should be. Kim has competed at high levels of CrossFit in the past, and plans to compete again in the years to come. Anyone who has taken a class with Kim knows her passion for CrossFit is contagious and inspiring. We look forward to Kim growing with us as an athlete and a coach even more in the future.

Kim is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach and holds the following certifications

CF Nutrition
CF Powerlifting

Kia Henderson

Kia is one of our newest coaches. After years of training and competing in the CrossFit arena, she has decided to make the transition from student to teacher. Kia has been truly inspired by CrossFit, and is looking to spread the good word and love for fitness in every class she coaches. The best asset Kia brings to us is her tenacity and experience. She is as seasoned an athlete we have at Albany CrossFit, but also has a great perspective for what will work for the different athletes at our box. She is a great addition to our already renowned coaching staff.

Kia is a Level 1 Certified CrossFIt Coach.

Theresa Lang

Theresa is one of our new coaches, and is eagerly to join the ranks of our renowned coaching staff. She has competed in the CrossFit arena in the past, and competed well. She is one of our most fit women. Her knowledge on mobility and recovery is fantastic. We are all excited to have her coaching, and look forward to big things from her.

Theresa will be attending her Level 1 CrossFit Certification in the near future.

Eric Devine

Eric has been crossfitting since 2006, and has been a friend of Albany CrossFit since we opened. Recently he joined our coaching staff, and we are lucky to have him. With such a wealth of knowledge and the fact that he has been a teacher for over 10 years, he is sure to be a great addition to our coaching staff. Eric is one of the unusual characters you will encounter, so he obviously fits right in at Albany CrossFit. He has been published in the Crossfit Journal, and is always willing to share words of wisdom with our athletes.

Eric is a Level 1 Certified Crossfit Coach.

Marley

Simply put, Albany CrossFit would not be the same without Marley's company at the gym almost daily. One of the best dog's any of us have ever met, she is always quick to cheer up anyone willing to stop and pet her for a few minutes. She loves the summer time when she can hit outdoor workouts with her 2-legged foe.

Marley was adopted from Homeward Bound Dog Rescue.

Jason Murphy

The man is infamous. He is a motivation and inspiration to all. And, holy cow does he have a sick sense of humor! Jason was double his current size when he starting crossfitting in 2009. He is looking to pay back what CrossFit has given him, by giving back as a coach. He is extremely sharp, and his knowledge is growing faster than his waist is shrinking. We look forward to an even lighter, even better Coach Murph in the near future.

Jason is a Level 1 Certified Crossfit Coach

Becca Relyea

The CrossFit community is filled with passionate people. Among those, a few still stand out. CrossFit is clearly in Becca's heart and soul. She has always expressed her love for CrossFit, and her desire to coach. We are fortunate to have such a great person with such drive and desire as part of our team. She is growing as a coach each day. As an athlete, Becca is good, but coaching is what she was born to do.

Becca is a Level 1 Certified CrossFit Coach

Chris Cummings

Chris is one of our youngest coaches at Albany CrossFit, but certainly one of our brightest. His biggest asset is his ability to scale workouts for athletes who desire elite fitness, but aren't quite ready to do the workouts as prescribed. If you workout at ACF, chances are, Chris has helped you with his creative scaling ability. He also is extremely knowledgeable on technique and efficiency with the Concept 2 Rower and Ski-Erg.

Chris has been a mainstay of Albany CrossFit for years, and we still don't fully understand his sense of humor all the time...but when we do...he is hilarious. Seek out Chris for great scaling options, technique on the rower, or a hilarious joke you may or may not fully understand.

Chris has the following certifications

C2 Rowing
CF Olympic Lifting

Josh Klemm

You may think you know Josh, but you have no idea. Josh is new to our staff, and he has a bright future, but first a little background info. Josh has broken his spine in two places, worked for the United Nations, been arrested 4 times, received his Masters, lived with an indigenous tribe in Central America, and has eaten Paleo for the better part of 15 years. Yeah, no kidding. Lets talk CrossFit, the guy is a savant. If he tells you something, you better listen. The sky is the limit with Josh as a coach, with his attitude and aptitude, he is sure to be a very valuable piece of Albany CrossFit.

Josh is a Level 1 Certified Crossfit Coach

Arianna Komninos

Ari is one of the fiercest competitors we have at Albany CrossFit. Her time spent rowing in college developed her significant work ethic and unwavering passion to improve. Her strength and Olympic lifts are the envy of many women, and some men at our gym. She is a natural choice to transition from athlete to coach. She loves to study and entrench herself in all things CrossFit. She is also a big fan of all things pink. We are excited to see her grow with us!

Arianna is a Level 1 Certified Crossfit Coach

Derek Gelato

Derek came to us with quite an impressive Powerlifting background, but a desire to be adopted into the Albany CrossFit family. He holds the drug-free record in the NY State Record for Squat (500lbs), Deadlift (570lbs), and combined (3 lift) total (1415lbs) for his age and weight. HIs methods and ideals already align with those of the Crossfit community. He has significant experience, and holds many certifications in the training realm. If you are looking to add weight to your lifts...Derek is your man.

Derek is attending his Level 1 Certification in the near future. He holds a NETA Certification.