COACHES’ BIOS

Melanie Barnes – Head Coach, Austin Programs

“I am for all people moving. I believe that if you move, you will feel better and enjoy a higher quality of life. Success (for me) is being a part of people finding fitness, well-being and having fun! Being a coach, teacher, and educator is the best job in the world.”

Melanie is a head coach for Capital of Texas Team Survivor. She is an A.C.E. certified personal trainer, a registered yoga teacher, and a cancer exercise specialist.

Jimmy Bynum – Head Swim Coach

“More important than my swimming career is my coaching and teaching accomplishments. I’ve taught over 3,300 people swimming. The athletes I helped coach are: 8 NCAA Division I swimmers, 21 Hawaii Ironman Qualifiers, 24 Triathlon World Championship Qualifiers, numerous Olympians, lots of district, regional, and state UIL champions, numerous State Masters Champions,100s of women competing in Danskin Triathlons, 100s of men competing in all sorts of triathlons.”

Jimmy is the head swim coach for Capital of Texas Team Survivor. He has helped teach many of our members to swim, and just a few months later many of them complete their first triathlon!

Sharon Harris – Coach

Sharon believes in the benefits of MOVING. Sharon is not only a coach for Capital of Texas Team Survivor, she's also a member since her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in 1999. An accomplished triathlete before her cancer diagnosis, as a survivor Sharon has competed at an elite level. Sharon also enjoys running in many local area races and participating in long (60+ mile) bike rides. In addition to CTTS, Sharon has a long history of mentoring women triathletes and has coached programs for Runtex, Move Through Cancer and others. Sharon and her husband are also the hosts of the Roadkill Bastille Day Triathlon, a fun & supportive event benefitting CTTS.

Sharon coaches swimming, cycling, and walking/running for Capital of Texas Team Survivor and serves on the CTTS Board.

Mary Elizabeth Morgan – Coach

Mary Elizabeth's background is in physical therapy and she has been a runner for 20 years. The one thing in her life that she is most proud of is her involvement with CTTS.

Mary Elizabeth coaches walking and running for Capital of Texas Team Survivor.

Leticia Olivarez – Head Coach, Williamson County Program

I first volunteered as a CTTS Pilates instructor in 2008, and the wonderful experience was more than I could have ever imagined. The determination, hard-work, inner strength and positive energy the CTTS ladies have is inspiring!

Leticia is a certified Power Pilates© Systems and Mat Instructor. She works at Pilates on the Square in Georgetown and a private studio in North Austin.

Monica Beard – Coach

Monica is a 33-year cervical cancer survivor and longtime CTTS member. She has been coaching for Austin Fit since 1999, and joined the CTTS coaching team in 2008.

Since 1998 she has completed 12 marathons, 10 half marathons, 12 triathlons, and 2 MS 150 bike rides... can you tell she likes a challenge?

"I am in awe of all of these ladies and what they have been through. It's a joy to know so many strong women who savor every minute of life, for with each minute we are blessed."

David Braswell – Coach

David is a personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. David personally embraces physical fitness as a lifelong commitment. He has 5 years of experience as a personal trainer and over 8 years of experience in the field.

He is currently an elite track and field athlete with a personal training style that makes his services unique and invaluable. His level of fitness allows him to train right beside you, thereby serving as your exercise partner, your motivator, and personal trainer. He is dedicated to using his own athletic skills and knowledge to help you achieve and maintain your fitness goals. In addition, he is a former U.S Marine with the experience of training over 100 military personnel as a combat instructor during Operation Enduring Freedom and he freely donates his time to working with underprivileged youth athletes.

Pam Stickler – Coach

I believe healthy living should be a goal for your entire life. My goal is to create diverse fitness programs that can improve energy levels, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Through proper motivation and goal setting, exercise will become more than 60 minutes in the gym, it becomes an attitude that affects every aspect of your life.

Along with personal training, I am a run/spin coach for the Central Texas Team Survivor group. We have trained together for the Austin Danskin triathlon for the past two years. My family and I enjoy all sports, specifically water and snow skiing.

Karen Pierce – Coach

Fitness became important to me as a high school athlete. In college, I continued my interest in sports as a competitive powerlifter, competing in 3 different National meets. I have completed a handful of marathons and triathlons and loved every minute of it. While earning my degree in Exercise Sports Science, I learned to work with those who are injured and those who are recovering from injury or surgery. My seven years of powerlifting gives me a lot of experience in lifting weights and knowledge of the benefits of strength training. Through training and completing marathons and triathlons I have learned proper training techniques in endurance sports.

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