Our Staff

Meet the Experts

Our expert staff at Athletic Advantage is the best in the area, boasting advanced educational degrees, professional licenses, and industry-recognized certifications to provide top-tier care. With extensive hands-on experience in sports rehabilitation, performance training, and injury prevention, we deliver cutting-edge, evidence-based care tailored to each client’s needs.

Christopher Hope

Founder | Owner

Physical Therapy

  • Licensed Orthopedic Doctor of Physical Therapy Specializing in Sports Medicine

  • Top 10% of therapists nationally for orthopedic outcomes

  • Certified in Dry Needling

  • Credentialed Clinical Instructor

  • Judy Capps Beswick Certificate of Merit for Clinical Performance

  • Judy A. White Professional Development Award

  • Academy of Orthopedic Physical Therapy

  • American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy

Sports Performance

  • Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

  • Former Level 1 CrossFit Coach

  • Certified in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment

  • National Strength & Conditioning Association

  • Youth Sports Coach: Baseball, Basketball, Flag Football

Baseball Development

  • Certified Baseball Rehabilitation Specialist

  • Certified in Youth Baseball Development

  • Advanced Certifications in Shoulder Rehabilitation & Rehab for the Baseball Pitcher

  • Head Baseball Coach

    • East Chatham Little League 10u, 8u, 6u, All-Stars

    • Orange County Crushers 10u

Josie Stiffler

Director of Operations

  • Professional experience as an Executive Assistant

  • Degree in Human Development and Family Studies

  • International logistics experience as a Team Leader

Jay Weatherington

Performance Coach

  • Former NCAA Division I Strength & Conditioning Coach

  • B.S. Exercise Science - Fitness Specialist

  • US Soccer Coaching Licenses

  • US Center for SafeSport Training Certification

  • Former NCAA Division I Football Captain, 2x All-Conference, 3x Conference Champion, and 4-year starter

  • 20+ scholarship offers across football, lacrosse, and wrestling

Mac Radcliffe

Performance Coach

  • Former NCAA Division I Strength & Conditioning Coach

  • NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

  • EXOS Certified Specialist in Fitness & Performance

  • EXOS Certified Specialist in Movement & Mobility

  • B.S. Exercise Science

  • National Strength & Conditioning Association Member

James Merritt

Performance Coach

  • ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist

  • NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist

  • Athletic Lab Level 1 High Performance Coach

  • Prior Educational Instructor at UNC Chapel Hill & ECU

  • Accomplished Biomedical Researcher, Presenter, and Published Author

  • M.A. Exercise & Sport Science - Exercise Physiology

  • Led clinical exercise physiology research and sports performance testing for the Gatorade Sports Science Institute

Erin Tilley

Adult Fitness Instructor

  • Fitness Instructor at Fit4Mom - Chapel Hill

  • General Manager at Yoga Six - Chapel Hill

Derrick Loveless

Baseball Instructor

  • 8-year Professional Career (MiLB)

    • Drafted by the Blue Jays out of high school

    • All-Star in two different leagues

    • All-Star Game MVP

    • Team Player of the Year

    • Quality At-Bats Award Winner

  • High School (Iowa) - Multiple Sports

    • 4x All-State

    • 6x State Champion (2x Baseball)

    • Male Athlete of the Year

  • Youth Baseball Coach

    • Local Little League Board Member

Performance Coach

  • NASM Certified Personal Trainer

  • USAW Level 1 Olympic Weightlifting Coach

Mason Pooley

Baseball Instructor

  • Seaforth High School Baseball

    • JV Most Valuable Player

    • Certified in Youth Baseball Development

  • Played previously with OC Crushers and Pollard Middle School Baseball

    • Most Improved Player

  • Quarterback for Seaforth High School Football

    • Most Effort & Hustle

  • Played previously with East Chatham Chargers youth football

  • High School Wrestling

    • State Champion Runner-Up (Seaforth High School)

    • State Champion Runner-Up (Kansas)

Jace Young

Baseball Instructor

  • Chatham Charter School Baseball

    • 2x All-Conference

    • All-Region

    • 2x All-Conference Honorable Mention

  • Summer Baseball

    • Chatham County American Legion Post 305 Baseball

    • 2x League Champion - Chatham County Pony League Summer Baseball

  • Dynamic World Championship - Most Valuable Player

  • MLB Stadium National Showcase - Best in the US

    • Noble Bats Impact Defensive Performer

  • Previous Baseball Experience

    • Chatham Mustangs, C35, Extra Reps, The Performance Academy

    • Pollard Middle School

    • 7x All-Star at East Chatham Little League

Daniel White

Baseball Instructor

  • Seaforth High School Baseball

    • 4-Year Varsity Starter

    • 4x All-Conference

  • Summer Baseball

    • 9-Year Travel Baseball Player

    • 3x Team Captain

    • American Legion

Colin Dorney

Baseball Instructor

  • Seaforth High School Baseball

    • 4-Year Varsity Starter

    • 3x All-Conference

    • Team Captain

    • Conference Defensive Player of the Year

    • Gold Glove Winner

    • Academic All-American

  • Summer Baseball

    • 9-Year Travel Baseball Player

    • Student Athlete Honor Roll

Doug McLaren

Baseball Instructor

  • Chapel Hill High School Baseball

    • 4 year varsity player

    • 5-1 record as a junior pitcher

    • Contributed to 3 playoff births 1 conference championship

    • Student athlete honor role

  • Summer baseball

    • 9 year travel baseball player

  • Previous experience

    • OC Crushers, Riptide, guest player for many teams

    • Smith Middle School

    • Chapel Hill baseball camp coach

Kasey Craft

Softball Instructor

  • High School Fastpitch Softball (Virginia)

    • State Champion

  • Former Head Coach, NC Challengers | 8 seasons | 10u to High School

    • TopGun World Series Champions, Coach

    • TopGun National Champions, Coach

Anna Goldman

Softball Instructor

  • Played collegiately at Meredith College (NC)

  • Northwood High School Softball

    • 2x All-State

Vivian Martin

Softball Instructor

  • Carrboro High School Softball

    • 2x All-Conference

    • Offensive Player of the Year

    • Team Captain

    • Freshman of the Year

  • Lady Lightning Gold (LLG) travel softball

  • Certified in Youth Softball Development

Lauren Steiner

Softball Instructor

  • East Chapel Hill High School Softball

    • 4x All-Conference

    • 2x Most Valuable Player

    • Rookie of the Year

  • ECHHS Basketball

    • 4-Year Starter

    • 2x All-Conference

    • Most Valuable Player

Emma Grace Hill

Softball Instructor

  • Seaforth High School Softball

    • Conference Pitcher of the Year

    • 2x All-Conference & All District

    • 2x Team MVP

    • All-America Scholar Athlele

  • Additional Softball Experience

    • 2x Body Armor State Games High School Softball Showcase N.C. Regional Team

    • 2x South Wake 19U USA Softball Hero's League Legion Softball

    • Chatham County State Championship Softball

  • Multi-Sport Athlete

    • Seaforth High School JV Volleyball

    • Seaforth High School JV Basketball

    • Pollard Middle School Student Athlete of the Year