727-328-8500
2301 26th St N
St Petersburg, FL 33713

Coach Bio's

Brad Harris - Co-Owner, Head Coach              Click here for Brad's DVD's

Brad Harris is the head-coach and owner of Tampa Bay Turners Gymnastics and Swimming in St. Petersburg, Florida. As the Head Coach of TBT, Brad has become well known both regionally and nationally for qualifying over 150 athletes to the J.O. National Championships since 1993, including numerous Regional and National Champions. In addition, Brad has been the coach of 8 Junior Olympic National Team Members, 4 athletes with original skills named after them and 18 scholarship recipients - 4 of which went on to become NCAA All-Americans. Brad has been a very involved clinician at events such as Region 4, 6, 7 & 8 Congress, GAT & the 2000 - present National Congress. He has also been published in USA Gymnastics magazine and has had several of his previous lectures recorded for the US Elite Coaches Association video club. Among all of that, Brad is also highly honored and recognized as the current Region 8 Junior Olympic Committee Chairman and has been named the 2011 USAG State, Regional and National coach of the year.
 Further Accolades: 
 -  USA Gymnastics competitor from 1983-1988
 -  Began coaching high level gymnastics in 1989
-  Recognized as a gymnastics expert, Brad has presented at the USA Gymnastics National Convention every year since 2000 where    over 2,000 gymnastics professionals attend every year. 
-  Represents USA Gymnastics as the Junior Olympic Program Committee Chairman for the Southeast of the United States for Levels    1-10.
-  Member of the Region 8 Hall of Fame
- 2011 USAG State, Regional and National Coach of the year.
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Colleen Barger - Co-Owner, Office Manager, Compulsory/Optional Coach

Colleen Barger was born and raised in St. Petersburg, began ballet at age 3 and gymnastics at age 8.  Since then gymnastics has been a part of her life and is now a business partner with her husband, Brad Harris, owning Tampa Bay Turners Gymnastics and Swimming. Thanks to all of the supportive families, TBT has grown into a very reputable team and successful business. Colleen is so happy to continue being a part of what she loves. She currently runs the business and coaches the lower level team where needed, but her favorite levels to coach are 5 and 6. Her gymnastics career was a very memorable time in her life. She became a State and Regional Champion as well as part of a Level 10 National Championship team. She graduated from Shorecrest Preparatory School in 1996 and from there was offered a full athletic and academic scholarship to Louisiana State University. At LSU she became an All American on Balance Beam, received All SEC in the All-Around, was an Academic All American and was named Team Captain for two years. She was also a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and was involved in the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. She graduated from LSU in 2000 with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Psychology. She continues to support LSU and is an active Booster for their Athletic program. If that wasn't enough, she is also chair of the LSU Gymnastics Alumni Events. She has two younger siblings that reside in St. Petersburg. Her sister and best friend, Kimberly, works with her father; running their commercial Real Estate business called KBarger Realty and her brother Mick owns his own print shop. She wants to encourage everyone to always believe in their dreams!

Dreams are what get you started - Discipline is what keeps you going.

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Ron Patt - Compulsory/Optional Team Coach

Ron Patt has been coaching competitive gymnastics (levels 2-10) for 22 years in the state of Florida. His first sixteen years of coaching were at Palm Beach Gymnastics in West Palm Beach. He was the head coach there from 1992 to 2004; he and his staff developed top contender teams at all levels - year in and year out. In 2004 he opened Gym Like This with two partners. He owned and coached there until 2009, where he and his staff again produced top-notch teams at all levels on a yearly basis. In the summer of 2009 he followed his heart, which had been captivated by his sweetheart, and he retreated to St. Petersburg where he is now a member of the "TBT Unit!"

Further Accolades:

- CPR Certified

- Safety Certified

- Florida Board Member

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


 

Amy Schulthess - Optional Coach, Preschool Instructor 

Graduated Northeast High School in 1995
Gymnast for 10 years
14 years of experience teaching/coaching Pre-school levels through Level 10
3 year Member of the USAG Florida Committee
Florida State Coaching Clinician
Region 8 Congress Clinician
Has recorded lectures for the US Elite Coaches Association

 


 

TBTStaff_001Angie Bowman - Compulsory/Optional Coach, Preschool Instructor 

Angie was born and raised right here in St. Petersburg where she graduated from Gibbs High School with honors in 1994. Angie competed as a gymnast for 11 years and has coached at TBT since 1998. She loves the sport of gymnastics and knows from experience how it can influence a child in a positive way. On top of being a USA Gymnastics Florida State Clinician, Angie also has a degree from USF in Psychology. She coaches pre-school classes and Levels 3 through 7. Angie believes in the TBT approach and knows that whether its recreational or competitive gymnastics, TBT hosts the most knowledgeable staff who truly know how to properly teach all aspects and levels of the sport.

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Carlee Bingham - Compulsory/Optional Coach

Carlee Bingham was born and raised in St. Petersburg Florida. She graduated from Northeast High School in 1994 and has been coaching gymnastics ever since. She has always loved gymnastics. It is a true passion of hers and she enjoys being a part of the TBT family. She deems it a great honor to be at TBT among not only the best staff and owners, but among some of the best kids as well. She has been an employee of TBT since 2001, but previously coached at a local gym for 8 years. She currently coaches preschool classes, Tiny Turners half-day camp, and 3-6 competitive levels. She really appreciates the creative side of gymnastics: making new drills, creating catchy tunes to coordinate with skills and/or developing fun new lesson plans! She considers the opportunity to touch so many children's lives a blessing; even if it is only for a short period of time. She cannot imagine a more fulfilling way to spend her time. Carlee will be finishing her degree in elementary education in the spring of 2011. She has two wonderful children of her own who she considers the sunshine in her day. She has also been married to her high school sweetheart since 1996. Carlee's favorite event in gymnastics is Bars, which allows her to watch every child grow in strength and confidence in this challenging yet wonderful sport.

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Melinda 

Melinda Abadal- Swim Instructor


I have enjoyed teaching people to swim for the past 20+ years.  I have worked in the public and private sector. I am an Alumnist of Saint Petersburg College & USF. My family and I are long time Saint Petersburg residents. I am thrilled to be back at TBT. I love our pool and all of our great students.

* American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard
                                                   * American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructor
                                                   * American Red Cross Certified CPR/AED
                                                   * US Swim School Association Infant Instructor 2
email me - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Alicia Buchanan - Recreational Instructor, Compulsory Coach

Alicia Buchanan is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. She moved to St. Petersburg in 1999 and is the youngest in her family. She has two brothers, one of which lives here whereas the other lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Her long-distance brother is married and has made her an aunt of five - the youngest three being triplets! Alicia has been with Tampa Bay Turners since 2002 and has been coaching competitive team gymnastics for over 5 years. She loves going to competitions, however, she especially loves when TBT hosts them. She appreciates to see the other teams gather from all over and thoroughly enjoys meeting new people, which suits her bubbly personality. Her interests outside the gym are watching and attending Florida Gator games and Tampa Bay Rays games! Among all of that, she just loves to have fun and relax with great friends and family.

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Lexi
Lexi Perry

staff_pic_03Katie Bennett - Recreational Instructor, Compulsory Coach

Katie Bennett was born in Slidell, LA, moved to St. Petersburg when she was 2 and has lived here ever since. She has a sister who is 11-years-older than her and now, a brother-in-law. She began gymnastics at TBT at age 4 and has been coaching at TBT since 2005. In 2009, she started coaching the competitive team and now works with Levels 2-4. Katie currently attends school at St. Petersburg College and plans to join/graduate from their Physical Therapy Assistance program. When she is not coaching or in school, Katie enjoys going to the beach, fishing and spending time with her neice.
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

StaffTBT_005Natalie Hullett - Recreational Instructor, Pre-Team Coach

Gymnastics has been a part of Natalie's life since she was 2-years-old. When she did gymnastics, however; she lived in the state of Missouri. Natalie did gymnastics for a total of 10 years, finishing up at the end of her level 8 year. Throughout those 10 years of gymnastics, Natalie developed her love for the floor and balance beam. Her previous coaches had a great impact on her gymnastics career, and she owes all her knowledge of the sport to them. Natalie absolutely loves being able to help gymnasts overcome skills they struggle with and/or are afraid of. She remembers her coaches helping her with those same types of skills/struggles, and remembers just how great it felt to be cared so much about by her coaches. Patience, patience, patience is what she believes it takes to do this job! Natalie loves being able to share her passion for this sport with such an amazing gymnastics program. She has been coaching at TBT since 2007, and wouldn't go anywhere else! Currently, Natalie is a student at the University of South Florida and is studying to become an elementary/special education teacher.
 

 

Contact:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

 

 


StaffTBT_005Melissa Tobin - Recreational Instructor, Pre-Team Coach

 

 

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


TBTStaff_002Madalyn Golightly - Recreational Instructor
Madalyn Golightly was born and raised in S.Petersburg, Florida and lives with her parents, older brother and twin sister. At the age of nine, Madalyn started doing gymnastics at Tampa Bay Turners. She competed until her freshman year of high school where she then chose to start diving. Madalyn greatly attributes her successes today to her experiences at TBT and has high hopes of receiving an athletic scholarship. Upon getting that scholarship, she hopes to study nursing. However, despite her new diving endeavor, and high hopes for her future, Madalyn still finds time to work at TBT with the goal to help each child reach their goals. She thoroughly enjoys seeing every child improve and succeed not only in the sport of gymnastics, but as young individuals as well. 
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

StaffTBT_001Diane Wiener - Aquatics Manager/Instructor
 Diane Wiener received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Parsons College with a major in Physical Education - with an Aquatics specialty. She also received her Master of Science Degree in Aquatics from Illinois State University. Diane coached high school varsity swimming/diving and gymnastics, producing many conference champions, state qualifiers and college scholarship recipients. She has coached elite level swimmers in the AAU and US Swimming programs. Diane managed all aquatic programs and facilities in Citrus County, City of Dunedin and the City of Largo before joining the staff at TBT. She served her country for 15 years in the US Navy obtaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Among all of that, she is actively involved in her community: volunteering as a Marine Mammal Training Assistant and an education and hospitality team member at the Clearwater Aquarium.
Further Accolades:
- Certified American Red Cross Water Safety
 - Instructor Trainer, Lifeguard Instructor Trainer
 - Water Safety Instructor
 - CPR/AED/Oxygen Certified
 - US Water Fitness Aerobics Instructor 
 - Certified Pool Operator
Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 Krysta
 
Krysta Postlethwaite

____________________________________________________________________
StaffTBT_013Lori Sudduth - Swim Instructor

"Hi TBT fans," says swim instructor Lori Sudduth who has a husband of 23 years named Perry, 3 children, 3 Siberian Huskies from the Husky Rescue of Florida and 1 cat. To this large family, Tampa Bay Turners has been like a “second home” since 2002. Lori's daughters, Sarah & Amanda, trained for several years in gymnastics under the fantastic TBT coaching staff. Even her son David grew up bouncing around in the fun-filled boys classes TBT offers.

As a child, Lori swam competitively here in St. Petersburg and has always loved the water. It is her privilege to now serve the children and families of Tampa Bay Turners as an Aquatics Instructor. Her certifications include Water Safety Instructor, Shallow Water Life Guard, CPR, and First Aid.

She believes that getting the opportunity to teach children to swim is an amazing blessing and urges all those who are not yet apart of the TBT family, to come join us today!

Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

StaffTBT_002Ember Rantz - Swim Instructor 









Website Design and Development by Sunstyle Design