OUR COACHES
Director of Human Performance
CHASE ENGDAHL, MS, CSCS
Chase’s extensive sports performance education and qualifications include earning his master’s degree in applied exercise science, holding his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and previously completing his undergraduate studies in Kinesiology at Colorado Mesa University. Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Chase held sports performance internships with both the Colorado Avalanche and Landow Performance. After completing his internships, he stayed on with the Avalanche and eventually became the organization’s first full time Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach. Meanwhile, Chase started Denver Human Performance alongside Andy Howard in 2020. His practical and applied experience primarily involve working with men’s and women’s hockey players of all levels (NHL, Olympians, NCAA, Junior Hockey and youth AA & AAA players).
After 3 years in Colorado working with the Avalanche and operating DHP, Chase had the opportunity to become the University of Vermont’s Director of Hockey Performance, where he currently oversees both the men’s and women’s hockey programs at UVM. Chase continues to share his experiences and knowledge that he has gained from working at the highest levels of hockey with the entire staff at DHP. He works alongside Andy Howard in creating the best training practices, developing relationships and enhancing our training philosophy at DHP to provide the highest level of sports performance training for our athletes.
Head Strength & Conditioning Coach
ANDY HOWARD, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F
Andy earned his masters degree in Exercise Physiology, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and previously completed his undergraduate in Exercise Sport Sciences at Western Colorado University. Following the completion of his undergrad degree, Andy held internships with Severyn Sports and the National Strength and Conditioning Association where he trained a variety of athletes. Andy has had the opportunity to volunteer and learn from the Colorado Avalanche and University of Vermont Men’s and Women’s hockey. He currently holds his CSCS, TSAC-F, and CPT certifications through the NSCA. After his internships, he spent one season working for the Colorado Rampage as a strength and conditioning coach before starting Denver Human Performance with Chase Engdahl.
Through Denver Human Performance Andy has primarily trained hockey players over the last three years ranging from all ages of youth hockey to NCAA. Andy has worked with Total Package Hockey, Colorado Thunderbirds, Team Colorado, Colorado Rampage, Colorado Springs Tigers, Chaparral High School Hockey, Ignite Performance Hockey, and Arapahoe Warriors. Growing up he played a wide range of sports, primarily excelling in ice hockey and playing at the junior hockey ranks. Andy strives to make a difference in each athlete every day, both physically and mentally and is passionate about sharing his time and knowledge through sports performance.
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Joel Barreras
Joel received his bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State university and currently has his Certified Personal Trainer certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Applied Exercise Science with a focus in Strength and Conditioning. He was a high school track and field sprints, relay, and weightlifting coach for 3 years at Heritage Christian Academy during his undergrad. After completing his undergrad, he had the opportunity to intern at Landow Performance where he studied and aided in training athletes ranging from youth to professional. Before joining Denver Human Performance, he worked as a personal trainer and assistant training manager at Zone Athletic Club in Fort Collins. He was responsible for overseeing the entire training staff and mentoring new and current trainers.
Joel is approaching 3 years with Denver Human Performance and has had the opportunity to work with athletes ranging from youth to college. He has worked with Total Package Hockey, Ignite Performance Hockey, Team Colorado, and Arapahoe Warriors. He enjoys training athletes in the hopes of improving their athletic performance as well as being a role model for them in their daily lives.
Strength & Conditioning Coach
Connor MacGregor, MS, CSCS
Before joining Denver Human Performance, Connor spent the 2021-2022 season as an assistant athletic performance coach for the University of Vermont where he was responsible for designing and implementing programs for swimming, diving, and both men’s and women’s soccer. Assisted co-staff with supervision of men’s/women’s hockey and men's lacrosse. During and prior to his time with UVM, Connor worked with a current top 10 ranked women’s doubles player on the WTA tour, for both the 2021 and 2022 summer seasons. facilitating improvements in strength, performance qualities, fitness specific to her needs, as well as the implementation of routine injury mitigation.
Connor achieved his master’s degree in exercise science from Merrimack College while coaching as a graduate fellow at Boston College, where his primary responsibilities were the program design and implementation for men's and women’s swimming and diving as well as men's tennis.
In addition to multiple years of coaching at the collegiate and professional level, Connor completed internships with both Harvard University strength and Conditioning and Saddlebrook Sports Performance. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), as well as a USAW certified coach (USAW1).