OUR TEAM

Basketball

  • Darren McLinton is a nationally renowned basketball visionary with decades of experience as an elite player, master trainer, and program architect. A two-time Hall of Fame inductee (Springbrook High School and James Madison University), Darren led the NCAA in three-point shooting his senior year before enjoying a 14-year professional career competing across Europe.

    Widely regarded as one of the country’s premier skill developers, Darren has trained NBA, WNBA, overseas pros, NCAA All-Americans, and elite high school athletes. Beyond skill development, he’s known for his mentorship, precision coaching, and dedication to helping players reach their full potential on and off the court.

    At SPARC, Darren brings his energy, vision, and expertise to lead the basketball program with a focus on developing not just elite athletes, but well-rounded players and confident leaders. He is dedicated to creating an environment that fosters growth, discipline, and teamwork—helping athletes maximize their potential on the court and in life.

  • Ibn Muhammad is a respected national trainer, coach, and mentor with extensive experience developing elite talent across all levels of basketball. He is the Co-Founder and President of Stay The Course—a premier Washington, D.C.-based training program known for producing McDonald’s All-Americans, NCAA All-Americans, and NBA lottery picks. Through personalized training systems and holistic player development, Ibn has become a trusted figure among athletes and families nationwide.

     A former standout point guard and assist leader at Bishop McNamara High School, Harcum College, and Iona College (2016), Ibn has also coached with Nike EYBL Team Takeover since 2016. His ability to connect with athletes as both a coach and mentor is rooted in lived experience and a deep commitment to helping players grow—not just as athletes, but as leaders and individuals.

     At SPARC, Ibn leads with passion, precision, and a proven track record of excellence in developing next-level players.

  •  Tyler Stewart is a former Division I athlete and international pro with a proven track record of success at every level of the game. A top-15 prospect in Maryland’s Class of 2016 (ranked by ESPN), Tyler earned a D-I scholarship to Binghamton University before transferring to Saint Francis University, where he played a pivotal role in their NEC Championship appearance.

     Following college, Tyler competed professionally in top leagues across Europe—including Iceland (D-1), Austria’s Superliga, and Hungary (D-1)—bringing a global perspective to player development. He was a MAC Champion in 2015 and earned All-Conference honors in 2016.

     At SPARC, Tyler brings international playing experience, advanced skill development expertise, and a high-energy, detail-oriented approach to helping athletes elevate their game with confidence, purpose, and a winning mindset.

  • Vado Morse is a high-level former NCAA and professional player with over a decade of elite basketball playing experience. A standout at Bullis High School, Mount St. Mary’s, and James Madison University, Vado finished his college career with 1,815 points and 175 made three-pointers, earning All-Conference honors in both the CAA and NEC.

    Known for his scoring ability, court vision, and leadership, Vado played professionally in Europe before turning his focus to player development. He brings a strong foundation in skill refinement, shooting mechanics, and guard development—built from years of competing and leading at the collegiate and pro levels.

    At SPARC, Vado brings elite scoring insight, technical skill development, and a leadership-driven mindset to guide athletes to the next level.

Sports PERFORMANCE

  • Bo Sandoval is a globally respected leader in high-performance training and a strategic advisor shaping SPARC’s sports performance model. With over 20 years of experience coaching elite athletes across collegiate athletics, Olympic programs, and professional combat sports, Bo brings unmatched expertise to the field.

    He currently serves as Assistant Athletics Director for Strength & Conditioning at Texas A&M, where he oversees performance programs for all varsity sports outside of football, driving athlete development at the highest collegiate level. Before that, Bo was Director of Strength & Conditioning at the UFC Performance Institute, leading world-class training initiatives across facilities in Las Vegas, Shanghai, and Mexico City.

    Bo’s leadership experience also includes key roles at the University of Michigan, the U.S. Olympic Training Center, and USA Weightlifting. As a CSCS and RSCC* certified coach, he combines scientific rigor with practical expertise to continually advance the standards of performance training.

    At SPARC, Bo brings visionary leadership and unparalleled expertise to shape the sports performance model with precision and innovation. His deep knowledge and strategic guidance ensure that every program is rooted in cutting-edge science and best practices, creating an elite training environment where athletes can achieve their highest potential.

  • Justin Landry is a highly respected strength and conditioning coach with more than 13 years of experience developing elite athletes at the collegiate and professional levels. As Director at SPARC, he brings a proven track record of maximizing athletic performance through individualized training, injury prevention, and high-level sports performance programming.

    A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Return to Sport Specialist, Landry has worked with nationally recognized basketball programs across the country, including Georgia Tech, San Diego State, Georgia State, UC Davis, Troy University, and the University of Texas. Most recently, he served as Director of Strength and Conditioning for Georgia Tech Men's Basketball, following a successful tenure at San Diego State where he helped support a men's basketball program that advanced to the 2023 NCAA National Championship game.

    Known for his detail-oriented coaching style and athlete-first approach, Landry specializes in building complete performance systems focused on strength, explosiveness, agility, recovery, and long-term athlete development. His Return to Sport Specialist expertise also allows him to guide athletes safely and effectively through injury recovery, ensuring a smooth transition back to full competitive performance. Throughout his career, he has helped guide multiple championship-caliber teams, NCAA Tournament appearances, and all-conference athletes while mentoring players to succeed both on and off the court.

    At SPARC, Landry leads the performance team with a focus on helping every athlete move at their best. Combining elite-level experience with a passion for leadership, discipline, and performance excellence, he oversees training systems designed to improve movement efficiency, strength, speed, and overall athletic performance. His mission is to help athletes unlock their full potential and become stronger, faster, and more resilient competitors prepared to excel in sport and in life.

  • Corwin “Coach Pop” Acker is a nationally respected performance coach, master speed trainer, and youth mentor with over 15 years of experience developing elite athletes. As a certified personal trainer and co-founder of 90/10 Fitness and Producing Optimal Performance (P.O.P.), he is known for creating high-impact training programs that blend athletic performance with character development.

    Coach Pop’s holistic approach focuses on the core pillars of success—speed, strength, and skill—while building mental toughness, discipline, and leadership. Trained in elite speed development at the U.S. Olympic Training Facility in Utah, he leverages advanced video analysis and individualized programming to help athletes gain a competitive edge. His coaching background includes over a decade as an Offensive Coordinator at nationally ranked programs like St. Frances Academy and St. Vincent Pallotti.

    At SPARC, Coach Pop brings his energy, expertise, and mentorship to help athletes reach their full potential—on the field and in life. His mission is to develop not just top-tier performers, but confident, focused, and resilient individuals ready to lead in any arena.

Management

  • Kevin Roach brings a unique blend of athletic grit, operational excellence, and team-first leadership to his role as General Manager and Founding Partner at SPARC. A former basketball player at Magruder High School and Johns Hopkins University, he was known as the “glue guy” for his toughness and unselfish play.

    After college, Kevin coached and trained athletes before joining Precision Medicine Group (PMG) as its 10th employee. Over 12 years, he rose to VP of Global Operations, helping scale the company to 3,500+ employees through strong execution and collaboration.

    At SPARC, Kevin leads with humility, passion, and a clear vision—cultivating a culture of excellence, high accountability, and elite performance. He is dedicated to creating an environment where every athlete receives holistic support, empowering them to reach their full potential both on the field and in their personal growth.

  • Lonnie adds athletic experience, business strategy, and a passion for wellness to support the development of athletes and teams at SPARC. A former Division I soccer player, she competed at the University of Mississippi while earning her bachelor’s in Exercise Science, and later at Southern University while completing her MBA.

    As a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Lonnie has spent the past three years helping others build strength—physically and mentally. She previously served as a Big Ten Fellow at the University of Maryland, leading leadership and identity development programming for student-athletes. Her work is guided by the belief that athletes are more than their sport and thrive in environments that support both performance and personal growth.

     At SPARC, Lonnie brings a holistic, athlete-centered approach rooted in experience, empathy, and excellence—creating spaces where individuals can train with purpose, grow with confidence, and stay connected to who they are beyond the game.

Sports Nutrition

  • Colleen Carrion is a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics and currently serves as the Director of Sports Nutrition for Maryland Athletics, supporting athletes across 18 varsity sports. She provides individualized nutrition counseling, team education, hydration and fueling strategies, supplement guidance, travel meal planning, and oversees the Olympic sport fueling stations. Colleen also plays a critical role on the department’s eating disorder management team, ensuring a holistic approach to performance and wellness.

    Her experience includes previous positions at St. John’s University and the University of Florida, where she earned her Master’s in Food Science and Human Nutrition. A former Ivy League champion gymnast at Cornell University, Colleen understands firsthand the demands of high-performance athletics and uses that perspective to fuel her work. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Association (CPSDA), and the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition group (SCAN).

    At SPARC, Colleen serves as a strategic leader in performance nutrition, developing evidence-based fueling frameworks, supplement protocols, and education initiatives that support athletes across all programs. Her guidance ensures that SPARC’s approach to nutrition aligns with the highest standards in sports science and athlete wellness.

Sports PSYCHOLOGY

  • Dr. Michelle Garvin is a licensed clinical psychologist and nationally recognized expert in sport and performance psychology. She brings extensive experience supporting elite athletes, teams, and organizations with a focus on mental health, resilience, and high-performance mindset training.

    Dr. Garvin is the owner and founder of Elite Performance Psychology, a private practice dedicated to helping high performers optimize their mental game through individualized, evidence-based consulting.  She is the Head Team Clinician and Mental Skills Specialist for the Detroit Lions where she integrates mental performance strategies with clinical care to support athletes on and off the field.  The practice also contracts with the Detroit Pistons to provide mental health and performance services to their players and organization. Prior to starting EPP, Dr. Garvin was the Director of Clinical and Sport Psychology at the University of Maryland, where she built and led a comprehensive program serving over 500 collegiate athletes.

    Dr. Garvin holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Princeton University. She is a member of the Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association, the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, and is listed on the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee’s Mental Health Registry.

     At SPARC, Dr. Garvin and her team at Elite Performance Psychology bring a strategic, and science-driven approach to supporting athletes in achieving peak performance while prioritizing psychological well-being.

Leadership

  • Ethan Leder is a lifelong builder and visionary whose career spans over 30 years of creating impactful, mission-driven organizations. He is the co-founder of Precision Medicine Group, one of several ventures he has helped launch over the past three decades. Across his work, Ethan has remained focused on initiatives that drive meaningful, lasting value—for individuals, communities, and broader systems.

    As the founder of SPARC SCHOLARS, Ethan channels his passion for equity and education into supporting middle and high school students across the Washington, DC region. The program is designed for young people who demonstrate passion, perseverance, and a strong commitment to their interests—whether in the arts, athletics, or other pursuits—not just traditional academic achievement. SPARC SCHOLARS helps make private school education more accessible by bridging the financial gap for families in need.

    At SPARC, Ethan brings a founder’s mindset and a deep belief in the power of hard work. He leads with generosity, clarity, and purpose—uplifting the next generation of leaders by recognizing the grit, drive, and potential in every student willing to strive for their best.