THE Team
Danny Diaz
Owner/Director of Strength & Conditioning
Kinesiologist
Olympic Lifting Coach
BKin - Sport Performance & Physical Activity
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NSCA - CSCS
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CSCA - CSCP
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CSEP-CPT
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CFSC-LVL 1, NASM-PES, FMS LVL 1
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NSPA - CPDS, CSAC, CWPC, CSNC
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PFSCCA Combine Preparation
Athletics has been a cornerstone of Danny’s life from an early age. A multi-sport athlete in soccer and football, Danny competed at a high level throughout his playing career, winning provincial and national championships in high school before going on to play with the Edmonton Huskies (CJFL) and the University of Alberta Golden Bears (CIS). Along the way, he earned numerous individual athletic honours and developed a lifelong passion for sport, performance, and training.
Danny’s experience extends beyond competing. He has coached football at the high school level and with the Edmonton Huskies, where he served as a Receivers Coach and helped develop athletes both on and off the field.
Danny graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Kinesiology, specializing in Sport Performance and Physical Activity. He has continued to expand his education through certifications in strength and conditioning, performance training, movement assessment, speed and agility, and athlete development.
As the Owner and Director of Strength & Conditioning at Elevate Sports Performance, Danny works with a diverse range of clients, from youth and amateur athletes to collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes. His work combines strength and conditioning, sport performance, kinesiology, and exercise therapy, allowing him to support individuals with a wide range of goals and abilities.
Whether working with an athlete looking to improve performance, an individual building strength and movement capacity, or someone using exercise therapy to return to activity, Danny takes an individualized, purpose-driven approach to training. His focus is on helping each person move better, get stronger, build confidence, and perform at their best.
Serhat Yayla
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Olympic Lifting Coach
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UEFA-B Soccer Coach
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NSCA-Certified Strength and Condiotining Specialist
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NSCA-Certified Performance and Sport Scientist
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EXOS-Performance Enhancement Specialist
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Functional Movement Screen Specialist
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NCCP-Weightlifting Coach
He is an experienced strength and conditioning coach who works with various clientele and their respective goals.
He has played professional soccer in the Turkish Super League and at different Turkish National Team levels.
After his career ended, Serhat completed his bachelor's degree in Sports Performance and Coaching. He also attended a graduate program in coaching at the University of Alberta. During the program, Serhat had a chance to work as an assistant instructor and a primary instructor for undergrad courses at the University of Alberta.
He has worked as an assistant coach for the Turkish Olympic Weightlifting Team for two years with 3x Olympic Champion Halil Mutlu during his coaching career. He has worked with Golden Bears Soccer as an assistant coach and with the Green and Gold Soccer Academy. Serhat was also a Strength and Conditioning Coach at the High Performance and Research Centre at the U of A.
Serhat has been coaching for more than a decade now. He is very passionate about coaching. He strongly believes strength training should be an important part of everyone's life regardless of their age, occupation, and physical goal.