Our founder
Scott Grady
Scott Grady is a successful entrepreneur with over four decades of experience developing commercial and residential real estate that began with the founding of RayLee Homes along with his wife Laura in 1976. Over the course of his career, Scott has built over 7000 homes and developed approximately 4000 lots in Texas, Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. During his time at the University of New Mexico and as former player on the UNM Lobo football team, Scott has been an active member of the Albuquerque sports community for over 30 years. The New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame presented Scott with the 2015 Award of Distinction for his long-time contribution to athletics in New Mexico. The Award of Distinction is the most prestigious annual award given by the Hall of Fame. In addition, Scott also has been nominated for induction to the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame for his generous philanthropic support of high school and college athletics, including the Lobo House project that helped raise over $1 million for UNM student-athlete scholarships. Scott coached at all levels, including YAFL, club baseball & basketball, high school football, and high school volleyball at Bosque School, where as head coach, he led the Bobcats to their first state title in 2012. Scott used his love of sports to help co-found TEAM Broadcasting Inc (ESPN Radio 101.7 the TEAM) in 2008. ESPN Radio 101.7 The TEAM is the No.1 sports radio station in New Mexico and a two-time winner of Station of the Year from the New Mexico Broadcaster’s Association. 30-years of coaching experience and a desire to help New Mexico’s youth led to Scott founding 8 Gradys Performance Center in 2012. 8 Gradys is the premier sports training facility in New Mexico, providing the highest level of sports training and development for athletes in all sports, including football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and track & field. In addition to athletic training, 8 Gradys places a focus on academics, nutrition, and sports psychology to further enhance the overall benefits for every athlete that trains at the facility.
Administration
Jordon Haitsma
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS
Jordon Haitsma joined 8 Gradys Performance Center in October of 2021 as the new Vice President of Operations. Prior to 8 Gradys, Jordon spent 10 years with the University of Notre Dame Athletics Department where he most recently served as the Event Management and Olympic Facility Program Director for the past three years. His role involved coordinating all game day management for Olympic home sporting events and all event management aspects for special events held in the athletic facilities. Primarily focused on Women’s Soccer, Women’s Basketball, Fencing, Women’s Tennis, and Baseball, Jordon coordinated visiting team travel, practices, and was the main contact while in South Bend.
Monica Sandoval
FACILITY COORDINATOR
Monica grew up in Albuquerque and is a proud graduate of Cibola High School. She then graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics, where she played four years of Division 1 soccer. Her love for nutrition began in college while studying and playing collegiate soccer, she was able to provide herself and her teammates with appropriate meal plans to stay in shape and healthy.
Now, Monica wants to share that love of health and nutrition with others. Her goal is to help clients achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and determination.
Estevan Lucero
DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE
Estevan Lucero is a native New Mexican born and raised in Albuquerque. Prior to becoming a strength coach, he played collegiate football at New Mexico Military Institute and Fort Lewis college, and is a graduate of Valley High School. Post college Estevan played three years of professional indoor football, while simultaneously earning two masters degrees (Sports Administration & Marketing) and coaching at the high school level. Currently, Estevan is a Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM), Certified Functional Strength Coach (MBSC), and Athletics Coach from the New Mexico Activities Association. His aim is to create an avenue for athletes around the state to become not only capable in their sport but to develop as young men and women.
Our coaches
Adrian Baca
COACH
Adrian Baca is a New Mexican Native and fitness Enthusiast with a passion for helping others. A proud husband and Father of two daughters. Adrian is a proud Graduate of Rio Grande High School. After High School he received a Bachelor’s degree in Human Performance and Education, While running track and playing football at Adams State University.
An active member in the community, Adrian has taught for 9 Years, teaching both Physical Education and Health. Alongside teaching, Coaching is another passion having spent 9 Seasons as a Head Wrestling Coach.
The Former Raven became one of the more accomplished athletes the Rio Grande has seen in recent years having won a state championship in wrestling, Track and Field-100M & 200M, Earning 1st Team All-State Honors as a defensive back, and also New Mexico’s Athlete of the year.
Adrian has a passion for Strength and conditioning with an aim to assist athletes in becoming the best people and athlete they can be.
Sandra Casaus
COACH
Sandra Casaus is an Albuquerque native, graduate of Eldorado High School and EXOS certified Absolute Speed Specialist. During her time as an athlete she won multiple district, all metro and all state awards for volleyball, while also competing in track and field. Her passion is health, wellness and athletic performance and hopes to connect with every athlete in a way that inspires a lifelong relationship with fitness.
Natasha Currence
COACH
Natasha grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and graduated from Lahainaluna High School in Maui where she boarded and learned to be independent at a young age. She ran 4 years of D1 track at the University of Hawaii as a scholarship athlete and during the 2021 Covid season, earned a scholarship to finish out her eligibility at Biola University. Natasha was a member of two school-record breaking 4x400m relays at UH and Biola University and earned Big West All-Conference honors as a member of UH’s 4x100m relay. Natasha has a BA in Psychology and is a Certified Personal Trainer (NASM) and sprint coach at Sandia Preparatory School. Having coached high school track and at a sports performance facility in Hawaii, Natasha has the experience and passion for helping athletes become the greatest versions of themselves.
Mateo Chinn
COACH
Mateo Chinn, born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico played tennis for 9 years for AHSA, an undergraduate working towards graduating with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science while majoring in nutrition and hopes to one day become a personal trainer for the New Mexico Lobos.
Mateo began his fitness journey back in 2012 and played tennis through the spring of 2020. He coached middle school and high school for 5 seasons and finished his last season in early spring of 2021.
Golf
Gerome Espinoza
PGA HEAD GOLF COACH / INSTRUCTOR
A lifelong teacher / coach in New Mexico, Gerome has taught numerous golfers including having some of the biggest and most successful PGA Junior League teams in the Sun Country. He has coached both golf and basketball at the varsity level in Albuquerque for over 15 years. He is a competitive golfer in the Sun Country PGA and enjoys playing in tournaments, winning the Pro-Pro three times as well as the Assistants Championship in 2020.
His love for golf and teaching the game is obvious in his passionate teaching style. He has high expectations for his students and expects their best effort in every session. Gerome believes that golfers need to play the game, not be beautiful swingers of the golf club.
Robby Pernell
PGA GOLF COACH / INSTRUCTOR
Robby was born in Wichita, KS and raised in San Antonio, TX where he picked up golf at the age of 10. He started playing competitively at 13 and still competes in tournaments to this day. Robby attended Sam Houston State University and graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration along with his Class A PGA status. He learned the love for teaching the game of golf early in his career and has had a successful teaching business for the past 4 years.