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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Amanda Smith
Powerlifting Coach & Personal Trainer
Amanda is a CSCS-certified coach with over five years of experience in the strength and conditioning field. As a professional powerlifter, she ranks among the top seven female lifters of all time and within the top 25 lifters overall, showcasing her commitment to excellence and her deep understanding of high-level performance.
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With a background as both a strength coach and personal trainer, Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge to every session. She strives to make training an enjoyable, empowering experience for everyone she works with.
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Powerlifting is her passion—one she has devoted more than six years of focused training to. The sport has shaped her discipline, resilience, and mindset, helping her overcome challenges both on and off the platform.
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Now, Amanda is dedicated to helping others unlock that same potential and discover what they’re truly capable of.
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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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