Roumen comes to our Houston Gymnastics Center with an extensive background in gymnastics both as a competitor and coach. He was a 1980 and 1984 Olympic Team Member for Bulgaria and was a four-time World Championships Team Member. He is honored with a Master of Sport Degree and has been coaching in Houston for the last 15 years.

Roumen has developed national, regional, and state champions in women’s and men’s gymnastics.  Roumen brings to us extensive knowledge and a great report with our team and recreational participants. He is a “hands on” coach that will give all our gymnasts special attention and training time.

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Deliana (Dee) Vodenitcharova

Women’s Team Coach, Class Coach & Coordinator

Deliana competed in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea and Barcelona, Spain.  She placed fourth on the Floor Exercise in Seoul and the Bulgarian National Team for which she competed placed fifth respectively.  Dee has an extensive background in physical education and coaching, and received her Bachelor Degree from the National Sports Academy in Sofia.

She has coached in the Houston area for more than 5 years and has trained many successful gymnasts who have competed in the state, regional, and national championships. We are extremely excited to have Dee as part of our prestigious and experienced coaching staff.

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Adam Benas

Women’s Team Coach, Class Coach & Coordinator

Adam came to us from a Head Coaching position in South Carolina, and is a former member of NCAA Championship Team Penn State University where he was on a full gymnastics scholarship and voted Team Captain.  He was also a former Jr. National Team Member and has an extensive background in progressive coaching and spotting techniques.

In addition to his team accomplishments, Adam was a two-time NCAA All-American at Penn State.  He has been coaching for 5 years and coaches boys as well as girls gymnastics.  Adam brings not only a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff, but a great positive style to coaching that shows his enthusiasm and love of the sport.

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Melina Viviano

Women’s Team Coach

Coach Melina is a former gymnast from Neimand's Gymnastics in Houston, Texas and is also a NAWGJ rated judge!  She has a Bachelor's Degree in Nutritional Science from Colorado State University.

Melina has been coaching competitive women's gymnastics for the past eight years.  She has produced many successful athletes, including several TOPs (Talent Opportunity Program) National Team Members!  We are overjoyed to have Melina as part of our elite team of coaches, and she is an integral part of our high quality program.

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Bo Morris

Men’s Team Head Coach

Bo has been coaching gymnastics since 1985.  He holds a BA from Louisiana Tech University in Education and has taught history, biology, and environmental science.  Bo has been a gymnastics club owner, gym manager, and program director in private gym clubs and has hosted numerous State and Regional Championships.  He was a member of the Texas Executive Committee for 3 years and has coached at numerous Region III Team Camps.  In addition, Coach Bo was the Louisiana State Chairman for 7 yrs. 

Bo worked for the USA Gymnastics National Governing Body (NGB) from 2001-2005. He was responsible for implementing and administrating the Men’s Program in the USA and oversaw all aspects of the Junior Olympic Program for Men.  He is a fixture in the USA Men’s Gymnastics community and his coaching experience has propelled numerous gymnasts to NCAA schools and the USA National Teams.

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Sam McArthur

Men’s Team Coach

Sam is a former gymnast from Capital Gymnastics in Austin, TX.  As a former gymnast he holds several state and regional titles both in Region III and Region V.  He has a Bachelor's Degree in Sports Administration from the University of Houston and looks forward to continuing to coach long into the future.

Sam has been coaching in Houston for the past seven years and has already produced many strong athletes at the state, regional, and national levels, including Future Stars Regional and National Teams!  We are very excited to have Sam as part of our distinguished coaching staff. 

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Jimmy Owen

T&T Head Coach, Class Coach and Coordinator

Jimmy is a native Houstonian with 12 years of coaching experience.  He has coached many successful athletes and teams in both T&T and Cheerleading, including numerous state, regional, and national champions.  Jimmy was a four-year varsity captain cheerleader for Westbury High School and an All-Star competitor right here in Houston.

Jimmy started coaching Trampoline & Tumbling in 2004 and has built a very strong reputation not only in Texas, but across the country.  Since 2004 Jimmy has received the National Honor Award twice!  We are incredibly happy to have Jimmy as part of our illustrious coaching staff.  

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Ed Karacek

Camp Specialist, Junior Team Coach and Class Coach

Ed Karacek, a native Bostonian, moved to Houston in 1973.  After graduating from Northeastern University he took a job as a physical education teacher with the Houston Independent School District and retired after 30 years of teaching.  During his career he was a gymnastics specialist for 22 years at Welch Middle School.

Coach Ed has coached part time at the JCC for the past 21 years, working with "tiny tots" through teens and adults.  He is currently working with the pre-team as well as teaching classes and working with the camp programs.  He believes that gymnastics is an "I Can Do It" sport that requires strength, agility, flexibility, coordination, and most importantly promotes good self-esteem!

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Lilia Li

Class Coach

Coach Lilia is a former elite gymnast and National Team Member from China.  After her own successful competitive career, Lilia became a coach of the Chinese National Team.  Coach Lilia has coached both artistic gymnastics and rhythmic gymnastics, and even had two rhythmic gymnasts compete in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta!

In addition to her competitive and coaching successes, Lilia is also a NAWJ rated judge.  Coach Lilia brings a wealth of knowledge to HGC and a wonderful positive energy that the kids all love!

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