Push Performance Arizona

Push Arizona Coaching Staff

DJ Edwards

Owner/Founder/Strength Coach

DJ is the Owner and Director of Push Performance. He played college baseball at Metro State University.

DJ has developed many programs for a wide range of elite athletes. He uses his background in S&C and knowledge in corrective exercise, flexibility limitations and biomechanics to develop personal programs for each client. 

He has developed the Elite Baseball Program and has had over 50 athletes drafted in baseball, including 7 first rounders, multiple MLB All-Stars, a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove winner.

Push Performance works with every MLB organization and is home to over 100 professional baseball athletes. 

Taylor Davis

Director of Development

Born and raised in Federal Way, WA, Taylor Davis played collegiate baseball at Lower Columbia College for two years, before transferring to Gonzaga University.

While at Gonzaga Taylor majored in Kinesiology and Physical Education.

Taylor started as an intern at Push and then spent time as a strength intern at both Gonzaga and TCU before taking a full-time position as a strength coach at Push Performance in Arizona. 

Taylor coaches numerous athletes around the valley including many across the country. 

Andrew Amato

Director of Pitching
Andrew Amato - Push Performance

Andrew Amato comes to Push fresh off his playing days at Point Loma Nazarene University where he, not only pitched for the Sea Lions, but learned under the tutelage of their coaching staff and world renowned biomechanics program. 

PLNU is among the leaders in baseball biomechanics research.  During his playing days, Andrew trained with progressive baseball minds and developed an intricate understanding of how the throwing motion works. He deploys that knowledge through creative movement solutions to maximize the output and resilience of his athletes.

eric Everett

Strength Coach
Eric Everett - Push Performance

Born and raised in South Jersey, Strength Coach Eric Everett attended Camden County College before transferring to Robert Morris University located in Pittsburgh,PA to finish his undergraduate degree in sport management. 

After that, he became a strength intern at Cressey Sport Performance in Hudson, MA followed by a strength internship for the Cleveland Indians(Guardians).

After, he attended graduate school at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA, where he studied physical education: concentration in strength & conditioning and worked as a Graduate Assistant. 

Over his tenure as a strength coach, Eric has worked with athletes and coaches across many different sports and levels from youth to the professional level. 

Austin Ryf

Next Era AZ Physical Therapist

Bio coming soon.

Ashton Newell

Operations/Marketing Manager and Yoga Instructor

Ashton Newell is the Operations and Marketing Manager as well as the Push Yoga AZ program instructor. 

Previously, Ashton worked in marketing for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Spring Training for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. 

Additionally, Ashton is a certified personal trainer and was a former collegiate athlete at Arizona State University. 

Daulton Barry

Throwing Trainer

Daulton played at Southwestern Junior College before transferring to Holy Names University, where he played collegiate baseball and later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  

Throughout his career as a player, he was able to amass experience and training knowledge at several high-profile performance facilities. He brings with him an extensive understanding of rehab and the challenges it brings, having gone through UCL reconstruction himself.

He continues to enhance his knowledge of analytical, biomechanical, and statistical data with us here at Push Performance.

Julian Kodama

Director of Hitting and Strength Coach

Julian Kodama was born and raised in Edmonds, WA. He earned a degree in Sports and Exercise Science at Seattle University.

During his time at Seattle University, Julian played on the baseball team all four years.

In his Junior year, he was named to the Perfect Game Preseason All-Conference team and the All-WAC team as a third baseman.

During his senior year, he interned at Seattle University in the Athletic Performance Center, working with multiple D1 teams.

He continues to learn about all things related to human performance, to help his athletes flourish on and off the field. 

Julian has helped numerous athletes of all ages perform through strength and hitting, and he’s excited to be a part of Push AZ.