Steph
Coach Steph has been with EFT Sports Performance for over three years. She received her undergraduate degree, and her Master’s in Exercise Science: Human Performance from Loyola University Chicago and is an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She has had the opportunity to intern for Clemson University’s Men’s and Women’s Basketball Strength & Conditioning program, TC BOOST as well as Spellman Performance during Combine and Pro Days preparation. She has had the privilege to work as a rehabilitation aide under a Sports Medicine Specialist and a team of athletic trainers. Coach Stephanie clearly knows what it takes to succeed and makes sure her athletes do too.
COREY
Corey Cooper was a three-year at Proviso-East High School. He was selected to the All-State team twice and was rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com. He went on to play at the University of Nebraska where he was academic All-Big-Ten, First Team All-Big Ten (BTN 2013), also was voted as a team captain. Corey was selected to play in the East West Shrine (college all-star) game after college career. Currently a certified fitness trainer and recognized as an “Elite Trainer” through credentials with the ISSA.
Buke
Michael Buchanan, also known as Buke, is a former American football defensive end. Buke went to Homewood-Flossmoor High School, where he was selected to the Champaign News-Gazette All-State team, and was rated as a 4-star recruit by Rivals.com. He continued on to play college football at the University of Illinois where he was selected to the Second-team All-Big Ten in 2011 and 2012. Then during his senior season, he was selected to the Illinois Fighting Illini’s Outstanding Defensive Player and Defensive Lineman. Michael Buchanan was drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Then in 2015 played for the Buffalo Bills and BC Lions, and Toronto Argonauts in 2016. Michael has been training at EFT since 2010 and started training athletes in 2015. At EFT Buke specializes in performance training for strength, speed, and agility, and specific football development training.
Marco
Marco started with the EFT family as an intern in January of 2021. Since then, Marco has graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a degree in exercise science and was brought on as a full- time trainer. Marco has since been involved in programming/running our adult morning Bootcamp classes, as well as all levels of athletes from foundations to pros. Prior to his internship with EFT, Marco was a rehabilitation aide for Athletico Physical Therapy for two years and has a wide range of knowledge in injury treatment and prevention. In his free time, Marco is a competitive powerlifter in the 165lb weight class for the United States Powerlifting Association. Marco plans on attending graduate school in the next few years to get his Doctorate of Physical Therapy and eventually work as a physical therapist.
Matt
Matt began training at EFT when he was 15 years old. He attended Mount Carmel High School where he ran track and played football, winning back to back state championships in 2012 and 2013. During his Junior and Senior Year, Matt won numerous Catholic League Player of the Week and 2013 Times Player of the Year accolades. Originally attending University of Illinois, he transferred and found home at Bowling Green State University where he helped BGSU to achieve a MAC Championship in his first season. After back to back season ending injuries, Matt completed his degree and graduated from BGSU. Upon returning to Chicago, Matt took it upon himself to help out with his father’s business while he overcame being diagnosed with Cancer and Covid- 19. After a successful recovery, Matt decided to return back to EFT to become a trainer and help give back the knowledge of the game he learned along his journey for the young and upcoming Running Backs that come through EFT’s program.
Kylah
Kylah graduated from North Chicago in 2015 where she played basketball, being named MVP her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. Being a part of the Beyond Sports Foundations, Kylah spent much of her off seasons at EFT, training. After high school, she went on to play Division 2 basketball before transferring to a junior college. Much of her success came during her time in Junior college, where she was named an All-American, leading the nation in rebounds and second in the nation in points per game (28). Kylah has been training at the elite level since 2013, meeting some of the trainers that molded her into the athlete that she is today, all of whom she loves and is greatly appreciative of. Kylah is excited to pass on the knowledge that she has learned from those trainers, to make young athletes dreams and goals come true.
