The Team
Chandler Parsons
Founder, Owner, and Head Coach
Starting powerlifting at the age of 13, Coach Chandler fell in love with the sport and used it as a way to increase sport performance in high school and college sports. After, he started Backyard Barbell.
The gym started in his Backyard with literally only two clients. Today, with over 15 years of Powerlifting experience, Coach Chandler has built up a resume of over 50 State, American, and World records broken by clients and himself
In addition to training clients for the past decade to smashing PRs, he also has put up some weight in competition himself. His current best lifts are a 727lbs squat, 520lbs bench press, and an 832lbs deadlift. He has totaled 2044lbs in the 275lbs weight class.
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Diego Rivera
Powerlifting Coach & Personal Trainer
Diego is a NASM certified personal trainer and holds a degree in both Kinesiology and Computer science. He was introduced to powerlifting by his desire to lose weight. ‘I weigh 240, I want to lose 60 lbs’. Throughout his weight loss journey he quickly realized he was bitten by the ‘Iron Bug’.
Possessed by powerlifting, he embraces every aspect of it. Powerlifting became his pleasure, strength coaching his passion.
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Brian Kemp
Powerlifting Coach & Personal Trainer
Brian Kemp is a nationally qualified drug-free powerlifter who is currently competing in the United States Powerlifting Association (USPA). With concentration in human movement and rehabilitation, Brian is currently studying full time in the disciplines of kinesiology, athletic training, and physical therapy.
Brian has worked as a certified personal trainer at multiple gyms - where he has helped his various clients lose body fat, gain muscle mass, or rehabilitate from their injuries and become better suited to complete daily physical tasks.
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Oliver Werner
Strongman Coach & Personal Trainer
Oliver is a competitive strongman athlete with over a dozen competitions under his belt. Oliver's passion for weightlifting and love for the unorthodox led to his discovery and commitment to competing in strongman. He has his eyes set on competing on both the national and international stage.
Oliver is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and USAW-L1 Coach with both a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Kinesiology. Oliver wants to help others find their love for fitness as well as help them set and meet their goals.
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