Athletes Edge - The Ultimate Sports Performance System

About Us

The Athletes Edge is a sports performance training company committed to building the superior athlete. We have experience in training the most elite athletes in the world including, but not limited to, over 150 NFL players. It is the vision of The Athletes Edge to bring the unparalleled style of training used with these elite athletes to the collegiate and scholastic levels. Our goal is to assist each athlete to reach their physical potential in a safe, time efficient manner with an emphasis on hard work and leadership

JEFF SANDERS: DIRECTOR OF TRAINING
SAP Program My name is Jeff Sanders and I am the Director of Training for The Athletes Edge. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science from the University of Florida, as well as being certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES). During my tenure with the Baltimore Ravens, I worked with some of the most influential coaches in the NFL, including: Chip Morton of the Cincinnati Bengals; Mark Asanovich of the Jacksonville Jaguars; Kurt Schultz of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Juney Barnette of the Minnesota Vikings; and Jeff Friday and Paul Ricci of the Baltimore Ravens.

I have experience as a Speed and Agility Coach at Cris Carter's FAST Program focusing predominately on speed dynamics and innovative sports specific training modalities. Prior to working in the strength and conditioning field, I gained clinical experience working in the inpatient post operation division of Shands hospital in Gainesville, Florida. While at Shands, my primary focus was on rehabilitating total hip and knee replacements as well as gait training for brain and spinal chord injuries.

DON ICSMAN: BS; IFPA
SAP Program My name is Don Icsman and I am the Director of Operations for the Athletes Edge. As a retired Pro Football player, I have years of first hand experience in the mainstream athletic arena. Following an all star kicking career at Heidelberg College in Ohio, I was invited to the national football combine where I gained my first NFL contract from the Kansas City Chiefs. From there I went on to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Baltimore Ravens, the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe and the Ottawa Renegades of the Canadian Football League.

I have coaching experience as the assistant kicking coordinator for the Miami Dolphins as well as for the Ray Pelfrey National combine service.

MIKE SMITH
SAP Program My name is Mike Smith and I am an Athletic Performance Coach for The Athletes Edge. I come to The Athletes Edge after having spent 4 years working as Strength and Conditioning Consultant to various athletes, teams, and High Schools in the North Jersey Area. I hold a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management from Towson University. As a member of the Towson football program I played both running back and defensive back. I am currently certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA-CSCS) and USA Track & Field as a Level 1 Coach. In addition to my involvement with The Athletes Edge I also hold a position with the National Athletic Testing System (NATS) as a National Field Consultant (NFC). NATS is an organization backed by the AFCA, NCAA, and NFL which conducts high school football combines throughout the country.

The primary focus of my training programs is to help the athlete reach their full athletic potential. In addition to my general training programs I also specialize in combine preparation training in which I base much of my program on the ideas of the Parisi Speed School combine preparation model.

SCHOOLS CONTRACTED WITH ATHLETES EDGE