Coaching Staff
Jason Kelske
Head Strength Coach, Owner
NSCA, Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Open Heart Surgery Survivor
USPA Certified Powerlifting Coach
Competitive USPA/IPL & USAPL Powerlifter
CPR/AED Certified, FMS Certified, TRX Instructor
Jason is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), life long scholar of human movement and performance, as well as a former collegiate athlete & D1 Men’s Club Lacrosse Coach. In 2009 he earned a spot in the Top 20 (220lb) Powerlifters and set a new WPF World Record in the Deadlift. Currently, he has competed as a drug free powerlifter in the 198, 220 & 242 lb weight classes and is listed on the All Time Ranks.
In 2014, after a routine physical, Jason was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart condition which required immediate attention. On January 29th 2015, he underwent a 4 hour open heart surgery procedure to repair his bicuspid aortic valve. The surgery was a humbling, yet amazing experience. During the forced time off Jason continued to hone his coaching, technique and programming skills. It gave him the ability to relate to many of his novice clients as he re-experienced what it was like to start from scratch at 35 years old. He has since made a full recovery and stronger than ever!
In addition to his accomplishments on the field and as a strength athlete, Jason has also competed as an endurance athlete, and has the training and nutritional knowledge that has allowed him to successfully (& naturally) both gain and lose over 40 lbs in last few years! Although the pursuit of strength and speed has always been a passion of his, Jason doesn’t subscribe to a single training philosophy. He has studied and implements a variety of training modalities and techniques designed to improve all aspects of human performance while striving to prevent the risk of injury in the gym and on the field. Workouts are fun, full of energy and offer innovative exercise techniques guaranteed to get you looking, feeling and performing your best.
Dennis Kerr
Assistant Strength Coach
USPA Certified Powerlifting Coach
Competitive USPA/IPL Powerlifter
When you think of the typical strength, health and fitness professional you most likely don’t think of someone that used to be morbidly obese that eventually turned their life around, but in Dennis’ case that’s exactly what you get.
Weighing in at 165 pounds in high school, he watched his weight slowly creep up once his days of playing football, baseball and judo ended. The poor eating habits he had gotten away with in his active youth now began to slowly take their toll on his sedentary body. His weight eventually topped out at 288 pounds, he had a list of prescription medications he took, and he suffered from physical ailments that grew at an alarming rate.
Of course all along the way to becoming morbidly obese he tried every fad diet that came along, but as is almost always the case with such diets he ultimately failed to either lose weight or maintain whatever meager weight loss he was able to temporarily achieve. Then, thanks to Game Time Strength, he discovered something old, something that has stood the test of time, resistance training and macro nutrient manipulation, and lo and behold he started to see the results that had eluded him for so long.
Before joining the coaching staff at GTS, Dennis spent over 25 years honing his skills as an educator and trainer, helping both individuals and organizations improve their performance and achieve their goals, and it’s this experience combined with GTS’ proven training and nutrition programs, as well as his own success at overcoming obesity that make him such a passionate and effective trainer and coach.
Recently Dennis has deadlifted 600lbs and is in the best physical shape of his life. He not only no longer takes any medications or suffers from any physical ailments, but he holds the USPA California state record in the deadlift for his age and weight, and has been ranked in the top 30 nationally in two different weight classes according to powerliftingwatch.com. When he’s not helping others achieve their strength and weight loss goals, you’ll most likely find him off on some adventure doing things that his once obese self could only dream about.
Phil Gautieri
Assistant Strength Coach
N.A.S.M. Certified Personal Trainer Certification
CPR/AED Certified
Phil’s passion for health and fitness began at 10 years old, after his Dad gave him Dr. Franco Columbo's 1977 book "Winning Bodybuilding". He was fortunate to learn the power of discipline and building consistent habits and realized quickly how it could transform his body and mind. His teenage years were spent playing Football and Baseball.
Phil spent the last 15 years in the music industry, traveling the world. But he never lost his passion for staying healthy and fitness. Being on the road taught him how to stay strong and fit with minimal equipment.
Phil joined the GTS Coaching staff in 2018. He’s fun, has great energy and quickly established himself as a top notch coach.
When he’s not coaching GTS athletes, he’s usually busy in the kitchen or by his BBQ and smoker perfecting and concocting new recipes.
Kelly Evans
Assistant Strength CoacH & Facility Manager
USAPL Certified Club Coach (USA Powerlifting)
Loyola Marymount University , B.A
2002 McDonald’s All American Finalist
2002 West Coast All American
2002 Runner Up California State Player of the Year
2001 & 2002 1st team All State
Top 10 All Time State 3 pointers made
Kelly’s basketball achievements were beyond impressive. She was very competitive at a very early age. This competitiveness still burns inside. Moving from an established basketball program in Moorpark Ca. to El Segundo Ca, she found herself on a team that hadn’t won a game in at least 15 years. As her coach has always said “she taught us how to win”
As California’s 2nd leading scorer, she led El Segundo to their first playoff appearance in the schools history. Heavily recruited, she ended up playing 1 year at Whittier College, where before an injury, she led the nation in scoring. She went on to graduate from LMU in 2006. She has coached at El Segundo HS and St Monicas HS, where she was extremely successful. She coached both teams to deep playoff runs and still, to this day remains a sought after coach.
She is the former Athletic Director at St Bernards HS in Playa Del Rey, Ca.
Kelly has found a passion in strength training. As she has stated “strength training saved my life”. After giving birth to her son Jack in March 2015, Kelly sought Game Time Strength (GTS) to get back into shape and find that competitive edge again. Kelly lost 40lbs while getting stronger, through hard work and dedication, following Jason’s macro plans and strength training programs. Kelly joined the GTS Staff in summer of 2020 to help open and manage the Westchester location in Los Angeles and quickly became an integral part of the coaching staff.
Kelly enjoys snowboarding in the winter with her family and quoting movies in the gym. She resides in Westchester with her husband, John an Aerospace Engineer and her 6 year old son Jack, a grey belt in jiu jitsu.
Saul Cervantes
Assistant Strength Coach
NSCA Certified
ISSA Certified
GMB Fitness Certified
Level 1 Kettlebell Certified
CFSC Certified
Saul's passion for fitness really started when he was recovering from a significant knee injury he sustained while skateboarding. He rehabbed himself by working out and focused on gaining muscle. Through this experience, he got a feel for how life changing fitness can be, which led him to creating a career out of it.
Saul is a certified Personal Trainer and Strength Coach and has been in the business for over 8 years. In that time, he has helped countless clients to get fitter, stronger, leaner and more muscular. What keeps him motivated is seeing his clients become better versions of themselves and also continuing to push himself with his own training.
Over his career, he has developed expertise in many fields, including gymnastics rings, calisthenics, handstands, animal flow, bodybuilding and most recently, barbell strength training. Also a Spider-Man cosplayer, Saul combined his love of superheroes and fitness to create Spideyfit. This turned into his Instagram & YouTube channel, which have both grown significant followings due to the ways in which he inspires others to become their own hero.
Saul now runs his business, called Heroic Strength, with his wife, a Nutrition Coach, and they work together to get clients fit, healthy and strong.
Aside from training, Saul is always challenging himself with various physical activities, like acrobatics, skateboarding, rock climbing and surfing.