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.
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.
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!

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!