Meet the AE Staff

After an outstanding high school and college football career at Reading Memorial High School and Syracuse University, Erik focused his career on improving athletic performance and health and wellness for people of all ages and abilities. Erik has personally trained over 60 local athletes whom he has helped receive Division 1 scholarships in football, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and baseball.  Recently Erik had a local athlete sign a professional contract in each of the 4 major professional sports (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) including Chris Shaw who was drafted in the 1^st Round of the MLB draft.

Erik was selected in the past as one of 7 strength coaches to travel with NIKE and SPARQ to perform various speed and agility camps across the country. Erik is viewed as one of the nation’s leading NIKE SPARQ trainers. He was recently asked to travel across the country and speak at Keiser Power Summits on their behalf due to the work he has done using their products.

Over the past 4 years Erik has started and grown both an NFL and NBA combine training program; giving New England athletes an alternative to programs down south and out west.  Erik takes great pride and modeling his craft after his time with world respected speed coach Tom Shaw.  During the past 4 years Erik has been behind 50 signed NFL contracts and 2^nd Round NBA draft pick, Pat Connaughton, who recorded the 2^ndhighest max touch ever recorded at the NBA combine.  Erik is a certified by the NSCA as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

Reggie comes to AE after spending the past 8 years coaching D1 football.  In 2013 he was the DB coach for URI.  2014-2016 he was the secondary coach for Pace University before heading to Temple where he became the Director of Player Personnel / recruiting.  After a coaching change at Temple he came to UMAINE where he went back to his roots as secondary coach.

Reggie attended Norfolk State University where he played Wide Receiver. During the pandemic, when the UMaine Football season was suspended, Reggie made the decision to switch to the private sector where he believed he could better serve student-athletes.  He spent the spring of 2021 interning and training under Dana Barry at Athletic Evolution.  He was hired full-time in the summer of 2021 and took over the AE Football Academy from Dana in the fall of 2021.

His wealth of knowledge as it relates to college football gives him a unique skill set that will help any high school football player achieve their dreams at the next level.  Whether you are looking for strength and conditioning, position work on the field, linear speed development, combine training, recruiting consulting, or a combination of all of these, Reggie is your guy!

Reggie is currently studying to become a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

Katie O’Brien joined the AE coaching staff full-time in the summer of 2021. She was hired after first coming to AE as a graduate fellow in the fall of 2020. Katie received a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from the University of New Hampshire, graduating in 2019.  Katie continued her education at Merrimack College where she received her Master’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She is currently the Director of Education at Athletic Evolution, working with interns and graduate fellows throughout the year. She also works as a personal trainer, specializing in soccer, volleyball, field hockey, and softball athletes of all ages.

Katie also previously worked as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Bentley University, working directly with Bentley’s Women’s Basketball, Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, and Softball teams. 

Originally from Peabody, MA, Katie grew up playing basketball, field hockey, and softball. She continued her passion for softball at the University of New Hampshire, competing as a member of their Club Softball team.

Katie is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA.

Kyle spent the summer of 2021 interning at AE working with high school programs and athletic development. In the summer of 2022 Kyle returned for a part time position and will now be hired as a full time strength and conditioning coach after completing his undergrad degree at Umass Lowell.

Kyle was a three sport athlete at North Reading High School in football, track, and lacrosse and in 2019 after a year of playing football at Springfield College he became an assistant coach for his alma mater’s football team, where they won 4 league titles and had two super bowl appearances including one super bowl win in his time there.

With Kyle’s experience training athletes on and off he field he has a vast understanding of the needs and demands placed on them and is able to help these athletes achieve their goals.

Before Athletic Evolution, Eric was the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Delaware Valley University, where he lead all Division 3 teams in the weight room. He was also a Defensive Line Coach for the Delaware Valley University Football Program. Prior to DelVal, Eric spent three years as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Curry College, while also coaching the defensive backs, linebackers, and running backs during that period.  Prior to Curry College, Eric held internships at both Brown University and Plymouth State University in their Strength & Conditioning Departments in 2019 and 2020. 

Eric graduated from Plymouth State University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science while also being a member of their Football Program as a linebacker. Eric is currently Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach and specializes in football, speed training, and return to sport. 

Shannon Walton PT graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell in 1995 with a Masters degree in Physical Therapy. Shannon brings over 20 years of experience treating orthopedic injuries through manual therapy, functional exercise, and patient education, including 12 years as owner of his own practice in Woburn.

Shannon completed a year long manual therapy residency program at the Institute of Orthopedic Manual Therapy with Martin Langaas. Shannon is also McKenzie and Graston certified. He also completed the lumbar and cervical MedX certification at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

Shannon’s experience allows him to treat a wide variety of orthopedic injuries, working with children to the geriatric population, serious athletes to the weekend warrior. He has coached youth sports in soccer, basketball, and baseball.

Outside of work Shannon enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, hiking, and snowboarding.

Maureen joined Athletic Evolution Physical Therapy at the end of April 2019 with over 12 years of physical therapy experience.  She completed her Associates of Science (AS) in Physical Therapy at Baystate College in Boston in 2006. She then decided to attend Salem State College for another 3 years where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science (BS) in Athletic Training in 2010.

Maureen grew up a dancer, and loved ballet, tap and lyrical dance. Her love for dance sparked her interest in the human body and ultimately led her into the Physical Therapy field. Her clinical interest includes Orthopedics, evidence based treatment approaches, and hands on manual therapy.

When not in the clinic, Maureen enjoys chasing after her two young children, spending time with her family and friends, working out and baking.

Nate was a strength and conditioning intern turned coach for Athletic Evolution during the summer of his undergraduate college education. He received his Bachelor of Science at Plymouth State University and continued his education at  Simmons University where he received his doctorate in Physical Therapy. Nate joined the Athletic Evolution team again in 2022 as a Physical Therapist.

Nate is a Reading, MA native, with an extensive basketball background that includes a 4-year collegiate career at Plymouth State University. His interests include hiking, playing sports, watching/talking about Boston sports, and spending time with his family and their dogs.

Charlie served as a biology/nursing lab instructor/coordinator after graduating from Rivier University with a bachelor’s degree in biology education. He then worked as a personal trainer while pursuing a doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he graduated with his degree in May 2023. Charlie joined the Athletic Evolution team as a physical therapist in May 2023. He is a certified Titleist Performance Instructor and has received his modern strength training certification. 

Growing up in Tyngsboro, MA, Charlie immersed himself in a multitude of sports, eventually playing baseball during his college years at Rivier University. His vast knowledge of both soccer and baseball is a result of both playing and coaching these sports, demonstrating his deep passion and expertise.

Beyond sports, Charlie’s interests encompass golfing, engaging in spirited sports discussions, honing his culinary skills, and enjoying valuable moments spent with family and friends.

Jessica is an occupational therapist with over 22 years of experience treating clients of all ages and genders with a multitude of diagnoses. She has worked with clients in several settings all over the country while working for many years as a traveling therapist.

Through her training and experiences both personal and professional, she has developed the skills needed to assess and develop appropriate and effective treatment plans to fit each client based on their individual needs.

She began her journey in pelvic health 3 years ago after having her own pelvic floor dysfunction (although she had no idea this was her issue at the time).

She was introduced to pelvic floor therapy by a friend and that was it, she began working hard to learn all she could about this mysterious “pelvic floor.” Jessica had no idea that so many people struggle with bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction as well as pelvic pain disorders.

Jessica knows how valuable good health is for quality of life. Her goal is to help you return to all of the things you love, and be the best version of you as quickly & safely as possible.

Learn more about our Pelvic Floor Therapy services.

DJ is a new addition to AE PT, and brings a strong background in strength and conditioning, program design, and rehabilitation with the goals of working with the orthopedic and sports population of all ages.