HGC Staff
Tim Erwin, Gymnastics Director
Tim has been coaching and/or directing gymnastics
for more than 23 years. He has been fortunate enough to coach
many of the highest ranked Junior Gymnasts in the United States.
One of which went on to become an Olympic Team Member.
In addition, Tim has traveled as a representative
of the USA Gymnastics Federation Coach with gymnasts and teams
to Russia and Japan. He formally served as a Jr. National Team
Coach (6 years), a Junior Olympic Program Committee Member (3
years), the Texas State Chairman (9 years), and currently is on
the Texas State Committee and is the treasurer of Texas State
Sims Scholarship Committee.
Tim is a former gymnast, and competed on
two Illinois High School State Championship Teams. He has directed
and coached at the JCC’s Houston Gymnastics Club for 10 years.
Bryan
Kiser, Men’s Head Coach
Bryan is a former Elite Gymnast,
who has developed into one of the premier Men’s coaches in the
State of Texas. The Men’s Team annually qualifies gymnasts to
National Championships, and develops many Elite gymnasts.
He has been coaching for 13 years, and coaches
one of the top Men’s Programs in the country.
In addition, Bryan is a competitive bodybuilder
and personal trainer. His athletes are in great condition, and
he works with children from beginning gymnastics to Elite. He
understands the discipline of training athletes, yet also makes
training fun for all the participants.
Brad Epperson, Women’s Head Coach
Brad has more than 20 years experience
in the coaching field, and has a B.S. Degree in Recreation and
Administration from Eastern Illinois University and a M.S. degree
in Recreation Administration from the University of Illinois.
He has developed more than 40 girls’ district and state champions
in Texas and South Carolina. He has coached gymnasts from Levels
1-10 and assisted at the Elite Level.
Under Brad’s leadership the girls program
at the JCC has grown from a group of 27 Level Fours, Fives and
Sixes to a group of 40 Level Fours – Eight’s!
Nina
Pentcheva, Women’s Coach and Coordinator
Besides a background as an Elite
Level gymnast and international competitor from Bulgaria, Nina
has an extensive background in physical education and coaching.
She has a Master of Sport degree from the National Sports Academy
in Bulgaria, and numerous National Championships awards. She
began her coaching career in Bulgaria in 1990 and moved to the
United States in 1998 where she coached in Beaumont.
Her Houston connection came about in 1999
when she took a job at Champions Gymnastics. She came to HGC
in August of 2001, and has helped make a tremendous impact on
the program.
Pentcho Pentchev,
Men’s and Women’s Coach, and Trampoline/Tumbling Coordinator
Pentcho came to our staff along
with his wife, Nina, and also has brought with him a wealth of
gymnastics knowledge mixed with his World Championships experience
in Trampoline and Tumbling. He also, has a Master of Sports Degree
from the National Sports Academy in Bulgaria and numerous European
and World awards in Trampoline and Tumbling.
He has contributed vastly to the HGC Men’s and Women’s programs,
and has developed the Trampoline/Tumbling program into a competition
group.
Lisa
Leva, Preschool Coach and Coordinator
Lisa has been involved with JCC/HGC
preschool program for more than 5 years. She came to us with an
extensive background in Baby and Toddler programs. She has since
been involved in our programs from babies to five-year-olds! She
loves to work with preschoolers and is not shy when it comes to
singing songs, laughing, playing and teaching young ones the joy
of activity!
Christina Rong Zhou, Class Program Coordinator
and Team Coach
Rong Rong has been with the JCC and Houston Gymnastics
Club for more that 15 years. She received her gymnastics training
in China, where she excelled until an injury prevented her from
competing. She has attained degrees in both bio mechanics and
mathematics. She is a gymnastics expert, and puts extra effort
into the developmental stages of gymnastics. She formally ran
our team program, and now we are fortunate to have her help run
the recreational class program. Coach Rong Rong has helped our
children grow both physically and mentally, and continues to give
a huge amount to the program.
