MEET THE COACHES

Evan Carr serves as the Head Coach and Competition Team Head Coach, bringing a decade of training, competing, and coaching experience in combat sports across MMA, kickboxing, and boxing. Raised in the Dallas combat sports scene at Fortis MMA before moving to Nashville, he now leads one of the region’s most decorated competition teams — which produced a Collegiate National, State, Regional, and National Champion in 2026.

Evan has head coach experience with BKFC athletes and professional boxers, notably leading Efetobor Apochi to the WBC NABF Championship title in March 2026, while continuing to coach Olympic-style boxing and serve as a striking coach for MMA fighters.

Nick Hicks is a dedicated boxing coach with four years of coaching experience and a USA Boxing Silver Certified coach. He specializes in developing strong boxing fundamentals, helping athletes build a solid technical foundation. His coaching focuses on proper technique, footwork, defense, and effective movement.

Nick works with athletes of all experience levels to help them develop confidence, discipline, and consistency. His goal is to build well-rounded boxers who understand the fundamentals and can apply them effectively in the ring.

Jeremiah Cline is a USA Boxing Silver Certified Coach and a competitive Masters Boxer with USA Boxing, bringing 21 years of dedicated experience to his coaching. A native Nashville resident, Jeremiah specializes in boxing fundamentals, competition team training, and one-on-one coaching, driven by the belief that anyone can benefit from the sport.

He is honored to coach at FIGHTERS alongside some of the city’s top athletes and coaches, dedicated to helping everyone realize that their potential is truly unlimited.

Ernie Rodriguez has been a dedicated boxing trainer since 1990, bringing an elite athletic background that includes a 16-4 amateur record in Puerto Rico and playing football for the University of Maryland. Throughout his career, he has worked with legendary world champions and top contenders, including Hector Camacho, Alexis Arguello, Jonathan Reid, Owen Beck, and Vinroy Barrett.

His expertise earned him a spot on the USA team coaching staff against England in the Contender competition, and he has also trained participants for Nashville’s Rumble on the Row. Driven by a strictly “old school” training philosophy, Ernie firmly believes that gadgets, fads, and fancy labels don’t mean a thing, proving instead that the basics and conditioning can’t be beat.

Brac Hooper is a former Division I wrestler for Purdue University who has been an athlete his entire life, starting his wrestling journey at just three years old. Following his collegiate career, he transitioned into boxing and MMA, where he continues to train and compete as an active fighter.

As a coach, Brac brings firsthand competitive experience, discipline, and a passion for helping others reach their potential, focusing his training on proper technique, athletic development, conditioning, and building confidence in athletes of all experience levels.

Crisman Arnold is a USA Boxing Elite Division National Champion currently ranked in the top 5 nationally. She brings three years of elite ring experience and a deep background in combat sports to her coaching.

As both a NASM certified personal trainer and a Registered Dietitian, she uniquely combines high-level athletic performance with scientific expertise in fitness and nutrition. Crisman has extensive experience coaching clients across all age ranges and skill levels, helping everyone from beginners to advanced athletes achieve their goals.