MIDWEST BOOM

J.R. Niklos - General Manager

• High School All-American in Football & Track

• 2 sport athlete at The Ohio State University

• 3 time All-American at Western Illinois University

• 6 year NFL Veteran with St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Cleveland Browns

• Has lead BOOM to 13 National Championships under his time as a General Manager

• Coached High School football 2008-2021. Currently coaching at College Of Dupage

• Current Director Of Sports Performance at Acceleration Sports Performance

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Michael Bertschinger - Assistant General Manager

• Played football at Nebraska Wesleyan University

• Director for BOOM's In-House programs

• Director for BOOM's 10u, 12u, 14u, & 15u National Programs

• Led BOOM to a 15u National Tournament Championship​

• Offensive Coordinator for BOOM's Future Teams

• Has led BOOM's In-House teams to 15 total championships

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Mike Niklos - Head Strength & Performance Coach

• 3 time All-American at Robert University (PA)

• Invited To Rookie Camp with Pittsburgh Steelers

• Played Arena Football with Chicago Rush

• Has won 4 7v7 National Championships and 18 Regional Championships as a Coordinator

• Current Head Performance Coach at Acceleration Sports Performance

• Has developed over 1000 athletes to be faster, quicker, and stronger in their sport(s)

 

Elliott Ivory - Director Of Media, 15u Defensive Coordinator

• Played football at Western Illinois University

• Current owner and talent scout at GametimePros, working with the top High School, College, and Pro athletes in the country

• Producer of the BOOM Highlight Mixtapes, which has drawn over 2 million total views

• Has led the BOOM's 10u-15u teams to 7 National Championships

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Sam LeDeaux - 18u Offensive Coordinator

• All-American WR at Knox College

• Has won 2 National Championships and 10 Regional Championships as a Coordinator

• Former Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Current District Level Administrator

• High School Coach

• Leads Club 212, BOOM's exclusive character development program

 

Kendale Farlow - 18u Defensive Coordinator

• Played High School football at Evanston Township where he finished as a Top 25 player in the state

• Played college football at Northern Illinois

• Played semi-pro football for the Leyden Lions

• Current EFT DB coach with multiple years of youth football coaching experience

 

Gregg Kirkwood - 18u Offensive Coordinator

• Currently coaches for Judson University (NAIA)

• Has won multiple Pop Warner National Championships

• Has won 3 Regional 7v7 Championship as a Coordinator

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​Jeff Richardson - BOOM Linemen Team Manager

• Former strength coach at Iowa State University

• Head High School Strength Coach

• Over 10 years coaching experience 

• Current Director Of Sports Performance at Acceleration Sports Performance

 

Brad Kunz - Linemen Trench Warfare Coach

• Played at the University Of Miami

• Won a National Championship with Miami in 2001, considered one of the best college teams of all time

• Played 4 years in the pros in the AFL, CFL, & Indoor Leagues

• Current High School Football Head Coach

 

A.J. Lindeman - Linemen Trench Warfare Coach

• Played Tackle at the University Of Toledo

• Played for the Chicago Bears

 

Matt Biermann - BOOM St. Louis Head Coach

• Played at the University Of Missouri

• Has won 1 Regional 7v7 Tournament as a Coordinator

• Current owner of Elite Sports Performance

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Gus Ramos - Advisor

• Has helped promote BOOM athletes since joining BOOM in 2015

• Current reporter for NBC

• Current director for the Adidas All-American Bowl​

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Elias Karras - Advisor, Recruiting Coordinator

• Graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelors of Science in Natural Science and Nutrition

• Owner of EFT Sports Performance Training

• Honored by the United States Olympic Committee with a Special Recognition Award

• Has received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Sports Sciences Association

• Assists BOOM in college recruitment and exposure

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