Being raised on Long Island in the 80s and 90s by the real star of the show, my SuperMom Kimberly, who made it all happen, I became immersed in a culture of sports and being active. Surrounded by Olympic-level mentors, elite athletes and world-class coaches. All of these benefactors shaped my athletic ability, coaching prowess as well as my identity, values and lifelong love for sport. 

I witnessed first hand how to run successful programs and most importantly how to keep kids coming back for more.

My grandmother was both a gymnastics coach and a judge, deeply respected for her eye for detail and passion for the sport. Alongside her was my aunts and uncles who were all former gymnasts and coaches. They dedicated their lives to inspiring kids, creating champions through a family-like atmosphere.

In 1988, my Nana, Peggy Tiess, founded Exper-Tiess Gymnastics, a gym that became home to thousands of families and successful gymnasts for over 30 years. 

By age 14, I began teaching a summer camp program at my family’s gym. I soon realized coaching was about so much more than just flipping kids. Observing how others in my family did it so well, I learned that the glue that holds it all together was building a cohesive gym family bond while making it challenging and fun for kids to learn by being creative with workout progressions, motivating others, leading with a smile and big heart and demonstrating to every child what’s possible when they have a coach who believes in them to believe in themselves.

with my Nana

Coaching kids came naturally to me from watching my family do it with so much enthusiasm, fun creativity and precision.

On the other side of my family, my uncle managed a swim school on L.I., where I discovered the joy and value of teaching swimming as a water safety instructor.

Becoming a multi-sport athlete and having a strong foundation in gymnastics gave me a competitive advantage in any sport i participated in. I played soccer, basketball, tennis, hockey and baseball with great success through discipline and lots of practice.

 Baseball became my greatest love and my big dream was to become a Major League Baseball player.

Today, I carry forward his legacy by being the mentor I once needed, for kids to believe in themselves, rise to their potential by dreaming big and giving it their best until it becomes reality. 

In 1992, I faced the biggest loss of my life as my superhuman Uncle Donald tragically passed away. He was who I wanted to grow up to be like. Without him as my most influential male role model, I let my time slip away and sadly missed the narrow window I had to follow through on my dream of being a big leaguer.

That turning point reshaped my path and forged my mission. 

Over the past three decades, my calling has only deepened as my horizons have broadened. I’ve coached thousands of kids across the country, worked alongside world-class coaches and brought my passion for movement and mentorship to Kauai, where I now live and serve families year-round.

That’s the magic I live for.

Whether I’m coaching in the gym, teaching in the pool, working online, or bringing high-vibe energy to the dance floor, my mission here is to create fun, empowering experiences that makes kids and families feel connected and alive by giving them the tools to thrive.

As an only child, I can never be an uncle. Yet here on Kauai, that's what they call me. So I coined title of "SuperUncle", who was created out of being that fun, strong, safe, encouraging and virtuous role model I once had, for kids worldwide.

Parents often tell me they’ve never seen their kids so lit up, confident and proud.

I’m proud to stand strong as a Leadership & Fitness Mentor for kids, a DJ & Event Host for families as well as co-founder of CLC’s Gymnastics Academy on Kauai.