Jimmy Walker
Owner & Performance Coach | CrossFit L2 | Level 3 Fascial Stretch Therapist | Life Stretch Educator
Jimmy Walker has been in the fitness and performance industry for over 15 years and has owned and operated his own training facility for the past eight. A husband, father, and lifelong coach, Jimmy has a true gift for encouraging and training youth, helping them develop not only physical strength but also confidence, discipline, and belief in themselves.
Before becoming a full-time coach and business owner, Jimmy built a strong foundation in boxing, competing across the Midwest and earning recognition as the 2017 Chicago Golden Gloves runner-up during his amateur career. His boxing background continues to shape his approach to movement, mindset, and athletic performance.
Jimmy is a Level 2 CrossFit Trainer, a Level 3 Fascial Stretch Therapist, and a certified Life Stretch Educator through the Stretch to Win Institute. He also holds certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the National Personal Training Institute, where he completed over 500 hours of education in anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and strength training.
His ongoing professional development includes The Gymnastics Course, which influences his focus on body control, mobility, and movement efficiency.
With a proven track record of helping young athletes unlock their potential, Jimmy creates an environment where parents can feel confident their kids are learning, growing, and training the right way—making Youth Performance Lab the clear choice for lasting development.
Coach Elijah
Owner & Coach
With over 13 years of dedicated experience coaching youth and high school football, Coach Elijah brings passion, purpose, and proven leadership to every program. Having worked within Chicago’s South, West, and North Side communities, he has served in diverse educational environments—empowering young people from all backgrounds to discover their potential through discipline, mentorship, and movement.
As a Co-Owner and Team Chaplain of Top Gun 7v7 Football, Coach Elijah has helped guide and develop hundreds of student-athletes, collectively ushering over $23 million in collegiate
scholarship opportunities. His work extends far beyond the field—cultivating character, accountability, and the mindset of excellence.
At ProForce Performance Training in Batavia, IL, Coach Elijah specializes in youth athletic development with a focus on systemic activation, intentionality, and recovery. Each program is
designed to build proper load tolerance, enhance movement efficiency, and reduce injury risk—creating a foundation for both athletic performance and long-term physical well-being.
While rooted in sports performance, Coach Elijah’s training philosophy reaches beyond athletics.
His holistic approach helps youth cultivate confidence, body awareness, and resilience that carry into all aspects of life—from the field to the classroom and beyond. A lifelong student
of biomechanics and optimal human function, Coach Elijah continues to explore the latest discoveries in movement science to help the next generation train smarter, move better, and live stronger.
Coach Devin Harkins
Devin Harkins is a Performance Coach at Youth Performance Lab, where he focuses on developing well-rounded athletes through strength, speed, and movement-based training. With experience coaching youth football and group performance sessions, Devin creates a positive, structured, and motivating environment for every athlete.
His coaching philosophy centers on consistency, effort, and confidence—teaching athletes how to show up, work hard, and take pride in the process of improvement. Through a blend of functional strength work, athletic movement drills, and competitive energy, Devin helps athletes not only perform at their best but also build discipline, resilience, and leadership skills that carry beyond sports.