Meet The Team
David Hess
Coach Hess was born in Long Beach, California. Graduated from ACU in 1979 with a B.S. in Exercise Science. Manager of Fairway Oaks Country Club and the Abilene Country Club from 1979 to 1995. Owner of the Athletic Club from 1995 to 1999. Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at ACU from 1999 to 2011. Present Head Strength & conditioning Coach at The Forge. Coach Hess has his CSCS and CPT Certification. He has had the pleasure of working with many elite athletes over the years. Fifteen of those athletes went on to play pro football. Coach Hess’ goal is that every day is a new and different challenge while being fun.
Sergio Chacon
Coach Sergio is the Marketing Director as well as a coach and personal trainer at The Forge. Sergio is an Abilene High School Alumni and stayed local by attending college at Hardin-Simmons University. Sergio stayed committed to his training and tried out for professional MLS team Seattle Sounders where he was one of few out of 200 people who made the academy team. With years of playing experience, Sergio has dedicated his time on spreading his soccer knowledge and giving back to the Abilene community. Sergio enjoys investing into the youth and working people of all ages. During his time learning under Coach David Hess, he has developed his love towards Strength & Conditioning and is always trying to stay on top of his knowledge to help others achieve their personal goals. He is full of energy and is always trying to not only better himself but others as well.
Jess Beauchamp
Coach Jess is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She earned her degree in Kinesiology from Tarleton State University in 2015. She loves working with kids and helping them increase their spatial awareness and general awareness. She also desires to work with women who are expecting mothers or are already mothers to reverse the stigma of fit and active pregnancies and the return to exercise after having a baby.
James Findley
Coach James is the Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach at The Forge under David Hess. He grew up in Sachse, TX before moving out to Abilene to play football at Hardin-Simmons University where he was a 3-year letterman as an Offensive Lineman. With 15 years of football and weightlifting experience, Coach James is able to use his knowledge to improve athletic performance for any athlete looking to better themselves. He is also a NASM certified Performance Enhancement Specialist and a Level 1 USA Weightlifting Coach. Coach James runs our Elite Class, Youth Program, as well as the evening Adult boot camps. His goals are to focus on relationships, self-improvement, and the overall growth of any athlete at The Forge.