Our Coaches
Train under coaches who have competed at the highest levels. Our team brings real-game experience, proven methods, and a commitment to developing elite athletes.
Elijah Thurmon — Wide Receivers, Elite Speed & Combine Born: Heidelberg, Germany
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He was considered a Consensus All-American, having earned every award available in IAA football. Among his most prestigious awards are Associated Press All-American, NCAA Academic All-American, and Howard University Excellence Award Scholar-Athlete of the Year, among others.
Elijah signed his first professional contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. He went on to play with the Oakland Raiders, where he was coached and inspired by NFL Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff. As a Raider, Elijah played alongside Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
Elijah Thurmon took his talent to the Canadian Football League (CFL), where he continued to excel, making an immediate impact and earning recognition as a CFL All-Pro Wide Receiver while surpassing the 1,000-yard mark. Along with playing in the CFL, he was also able to spend time coaching wide receivers there.
Elijah Thurmon was recently inducted into the Howard University Hall of Fame, which stands as one of his greatest accomplishments.
Elijah is a student of the game known for his sharp route running, creative footwork, and physical prowess. His speed, size, hands, and wide catching range made him a consistent playmaker with the ability to change a game in an instant. He specializes in human performance, developing and teaching elite speed mechanics and agility.
Coaching Philosophy: The game changer mentality is the root from which his teaching stems, including a focus, poise, and relentless pursuit of goals. Elijah speaks about “inspiring creativity along with physicality at the line of scrimmage while teaching wide receivers to run the best routes of their lives.” This teaching and learning platform prepares athletes for every element that the game will present. “The so-called pressure situations are when we thrive and separate ourselves from the competition because we are familiar with the situation and have been here before.”
Curtis Allen — Linebackers & Defensive Line Born: Staten Island, New York
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Curtis led his team to a 4-A State Championship in 1993, a #6 USA Today ranking, and a 4-A State runner-up trophy in 1992. Curtis’s skills and leadership led him to Howard University in 1994. A four-year starter at Howard, Curtis anchored the defense that won a Black College National Championship in 1996 and led I-AA in five statistical categories. Curtis earned All-MEAC honors in 1996 and 1997.
After his successful collegiate career, Curtis entered the coaching ranks, where he has been coaching linebackers on the college level for over 8 years. As a member of the Perfect Performance team, Curtis will use his expertise to work with linebackers.
Allen is an experienced, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable coach with over 10 years of college and high school coaching experience.
Coaching Philosophy: Curtis’s coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of discipline, effort, and mental toughness. He believes that extraordinary players do the ordinary things better than anyone else.
Kireem Swinton — Offensive Line Born: Washington, DC
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At the conclusion of his senior year, he was selected to the Chesapeake Classic All-Star Game for Maryland versus Virginia and was named team captain as an offensive tackle.
He received a full athletic scholarship to Howard University. At Howard, he was coached by Fred Dean, an original member of the Washington Redskins Hogs. As a three-year starter, he was part of two championship teams and was the recipient of many awards, playing all five positions on the offensive line.
Kireem signed his first professional contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was coached by Jon Gruden and Bill Callahan, former Washington Redskins offensive line coach. He later signed with the Baltimore Ravens and received guidance from standout players such as Orlando Brown and Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. Kireem is a specialist in footwork precision and quickness from stance to start.
Coaching Philosophy: Kireem’s coaching philosophy includes stance perfection, quickness, and proper technique through repetition, footwork, and violent hand usage to create space. He trains the critical importance of the first two steps of a lineman. “As the game evolves and quarterbacks become more mobile, linemen will have to hold blocks longer and create space. We work on quickness, power in your base, and violent punch, showing your opponent within your first two steps and your initial punch that he has a long day ahead of him.”
David Johnson — Running Backs
Born: Largo, Maryland
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As a sophomore, David helped lead his team to the State Championship game as the starting defensive end and also as a backup offensive guard. However, in his junior year at Largo, he was finally given the opportunity to run the football and rushed for over 1,300 yards, helping his team reach the semifinals of the playoffs.
As a senior, he finished with an impressive season at Largo High School, becoming one of the few running backs to rush for over 2,200 yards in his final year while scoring 24 touchdowns. He also set several school records along with some Maryland state records. Although he was recruited by many top schools, it was Howard University that ultimately won that battle.
During his tenure at Howard, David was a running back who was hard to tackle. He had the ability to make defenders miss in the open field and also take it to the house. His vision and ability to change directions without losing speed made him an exciting player to watch.
After a successful collegiate career, David began coaching a few years later at Archbishop John Carroll High School in Washington, DC, where he served as the running backs coach and strength coach. In 2007, David signed a one-year contract to play with a new indoor football team in the AIFA League called the Baltimore Blackbirds, where he played the sole running back position. At the midpoint of the season, he led the team in touchdowns with eight. Unfortunately, the team folded and started a new program, and David began enjoying life with his daughter.
Coaching Philosophy: David’s coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of commitment, hard work, and the desire to get better. “Running backs are born and not made” is one of his favorite sayings. David is also a very enthusiastic coach who preaches, “I can’t teach you something if I can’t do it myself,” which is why he demonstrates and sometimes participates in all of his drills.
Bryson Spinner — Quarterbacks Born: Alexandria, Virginia
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He led the team to an undefeated 9-0 season. Bryson earned First Team All-League, All-District, All-Met, and Interstate Athletic Conference First Team honors in both basketball and football. He was ranked the #1 quarterback in Virginia by The Washington Post during his senior year and ranked 12th in the country.
Following his stellar high school career, he chose to attend the University of Virginia on a football scholarship. After playing two seasons at the University of Virginia, he transferred to complete his college football career at the University of Richmond. Bryson excelled at the college level, which led to him signing a contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
He also played with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins and was allocated to NFL Europe by the San Francisco 49ers. In NFL Europe, he led his team to the championship and won the World Bowl. In 2007, he returned to Episcopal High School as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator.
Coaching Philosophy: Bryson understands that quarterbacking requires the discipline to remain calm under intense and chaotic conditions. He believes preparation, confidence, focus, and attention to detail are essential in the development of a quarterback, both on the field and in life. “I believe you are either getting better or getting worse. No one stays the same. What are YOU doing to better yourself?” states Bryson.
Colin Nelson — Defensive Backs Born: Largo, MD
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He later attended McDaniel College, a Division III school in Westminster, Maryland, where he became an All-Centennial Conference cornerback during his sophomore year. His stellar play earned him a preferred walk-on opportunity at the University of Maryland, where he played under Ralph Friedgen. While at Maryland, Colin saw time at nickel back and on special teams.
After college, he went on to play in the Indoor Football League (IFL) with the Maryland Maniacs from 2009 to 2010. In 2010, Colin was the runner-up for the IFL’s Most Improved Player Award. In 2011, Colin joined the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League (AFL), where he started at defensive back. In 2012, he played defensive back for the Philadelphia Soul, who advanced to the Arena Football League Championship in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Coaching Philosophy: Colin’s approach to coaching promotes diligence and consistency. He believes confidence is the foundation for high-level performance and always encourages his athletes to believe in their ability. His journey as a walk-on athlete transitioning from a Division III school to a Division I school has equipped him with not only the field skills but also the supplemental life skills necessary to maximize an athlete’s full potential.
Scott Barnes — Quarterbacks Born: Burtonsville, MD
Antonio Murray — Defensive Line Born: Wilson, NC
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In his junior and senior years, playing tight end and defensive end, he was selected to the All-Big East Conference First Team. Antonio was recognized as an All-State tight end by the NCHSAA during his senior year and made numerous appearances on Football Friday Night broadcast by WRAL 5 in North Carolina. After his senior year, he was selected to the North Carolina East vs. West McDonald’s All-Star Game representing the East. He was also selected as an alternate for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, where North Carolina’s best faced the state of South Carolina.
He received a full athletic scholarship to Howard University. At Howard, he was coached by Fred Dean, an original member of the Washington Redskins Hogs, and Ron Springs, former Dallas Cowboys running back. As a true freshman, Antonio started all 11 games for the Bison at H-back. He was part of a Black College National Championship team during the 1996 season.
After 1996, Antonio made the full-time switch to defensive end, where he was coached by Sanders Shiver, former Baltimore Colts linebacker. While playing defensive end, Antonio displayed a relentless attitude, speed, agility, and a knack for sacking opposing quarterbacks. After his collegiate career was complete, Antonio was invited to the Baltimore Ravens Free Agent Camp. There, he was coached by Marvin Lewis, current head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, and received direction from great players such as Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware.
Antonio also played semi-pro football for the Prince William Monarchs, formerly of Prince William County, Virginia. During his time with the Monarchs, he spearheaded one of the country’s best defensive units. Antonio is a specialist in hand usage, hip placement, and footwork precision.
Coaching Philosophy: Antonio’s coaching philosophy includes stance perfection, play recognition, take-off and quickness techniques, and proper hip placement through hard work and repetition, footwork, and violent hand usage to win battles at the line of scrimmage. He trains the critical nature of the first two steps and hand placement of a defensive lineman. He believes that an effective defensive lineman will continuously train his hands, hips, and feet.