BRAD STONE
A graduate of CBC HS in 2003 Brad was a multi-sport athlete playing baseball and basketball. Upon graduation, he went on a baseball scholarship to Quincy University in Illinois where he received all-conference honors all three years and was First Team all-Region and an All-American as a Junior.
Drafted twice, in 2005 by the Houston Astros in the 31st round and again in 2006 by the Florida Marlins in the 12th round. He played for 6 years including two at AAA New Orleans before retiring after an arm injury.
For almost two decades Brad has been a private pitching instructor in the St. Louis area and a strength coach since 2012, owning his own business since 2015. He has worked with hundreds of athletes from the high school, college, and professional ranks. He has also helped coach with Bishop DuBourg High School during their state championship season as well as Webster University and St. Mary’s High School.
In the weight room, Brad has over 20 years experience on both sides of the equation, as a coach and a client. Having been an athlete for most of his life he has had access to some world class coaching. These opportunities to learn from the best in the business have helped him formulate his personal philosophies and create the foundation for his career as a strength coach.
“My unique perspective, having been a client and a coach, allows me to see all sides of the equation. I know what works to be motivated and pushed as an athlete as well as what needs to be done as your coach. Having been a client allows me to understand the day to day struggles real people go through and how to help push through the tougher days!”
Russ Uka
Having been involved in organized sports for most of his life, Russ decided to take his passion for athletics, fitness and holistic health to a professional platform by obtaining his NASM Personal Trainer’s Certification before joining the Stone Strength Systems team in the Fall of 2018.
Born and raised in the St. Louis area, Russ originally received his Bachelor of Accountancy from Saint Louis University as well as his MBA from Webster University. Russ started his professional career as an Accountant before making the jump into the fitness industry, and says his experiences not only as an athlete but as a business professional gives him a unique and broad perspective of what folks from all levels of fitness go through.
“During my time as an accountant, I witnessed firsthand the tolls that a sedentary lifestyle can place on your physical health. Watching the health of my coworkers deteriorate over time left me feeling frustrated yet motivated to help make a change in their lives. And for me personally, I also felt the consequences of sitting in front of a computer screen for 8+ hours/day, as injuries started to occur with more frequency and my athleticism started to decline.
This inspired me to not only undergo the education to better understand my own body but to share this knowledge by serving others through one of my biggest life passions, and that’s training! I feel as if it is my duty to educate and empower others to lead a healthier lifestyle by encouraging and motivating them to fulfill their purpose and inspire those around them.”
