Eric Henry

AKA "Big EZ"

I am the sole owner and head coach of Universal CrossFit. I am 39 years old and originally from Heber Springs Arkansas. I have been a life long athlete and have competed in and won several awards in many sports including freestyle wrestling, track & field, baseball, triathlons, marathons, kenpo, parkour and amature boxing. I have been doing CrossFit since 2007. I hold a CrossFit Level 1 Certification, CrossFit Gymnastics Certification a CrossFit Olympic Lifting, and will be attending a CrossFit Endurance Certification and CrossFit Power Lifting Certification in the next couple of months. I have a Bachelors Degree in Finance from the University of Central Arkansas. Was a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corpse during Desert Storm. I have held several sales and sales management positions with  many companies including The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Protection One, and  Thomson Reuters. I am the previous owner of Back Street Gym in Heber Springs,  Arkansas. I am the father of two.

My passion is to train my body to do new things and help others discover there are no limits to what they can achieve in this life. 

My personal CrossFit training goals in 2012 are: to be able to hold the Iron Cross for 3 seconds, and  to do "King Kong " as prescribed, and make it to South Central Regionals.

Jason Stein

I grew up in upstate New York playing volleyball, basketball, baseball, and holding every odd job imaginable (if you need a cook, bartender, contractor, golf course grounds keeper, or Christmas tree farmer I'm your man).  After high school, I attended the University of New Hampshire for 4 years where I played NIRSA Div. 2 volleyball, and earned my B.S. Geology degree.  Following that, I moved to Tucson, AZ where I earned my M.S. Exploration Geophysics degree from the University of Arizona.  I currently live and work in Houston as a geophysicist for ConocoPhillips in the Subsurface Technology group.  I continue to play volleyball competitively at both the local and national level, and early in 2011 a teammate introduced me to CrossFit.  I attended the Universal CrossFit On Ramp course in May 2011, and have been hooked ever since.

I attended my CrossFit Level 1 Certification in December 2011, and currently spend most of my free time coaching at the gym.  While finding oil and gas is my job, CrossFit is my passion.

CrossFit Certifications: Level 1 Trainer, Strongman, and Football, with Olympic Lifting coming up in April.  I also want to attend CrossFit Mobility, Kettlebell, Rowing, and Endurance when they're available in the Texas area and fit into my schedule.  Our goal is to make Universal CrossFit as rewarding an experience as we can for the people in our community.

My current personal goal is improving overall strength in order to do more muscle ups and handstand pushups.  Also, I'd like to do 100+ consecutive double unders (stuck at 85), and "Linda" Rx'ed.

I am the current record holder in the Keg Toss event at the Annual Valhalla Beerlympics, and an avid moustache enthusiast, organizing Houston area events for the charity Movember.

Russ Roberts

Born and raised in Fairfield, CT playing anything and everything I could outside. (yes, everyone, I’m a yankee living in TX) I lettered in football, basketball, and baseball during high school at Fairfield Prep (class of '04). Went on to play division 1 Big East baseball at Villanova University where I was honored to serve as captain my junior and senior year. Managed to graduate in 2008 with a BS in mechanical engineering, a general business minor, and took a job working for Navigant Consulting in Manhattan. I got bored though, and in April 2010 earned my commission in the United States Navy via Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. From there it was flight school in Pensacola, FL until I tried to transfer to the NSW community. I didn’t get picked up though, and instead of going back to flight, I was pushed into reserves… back into civilian life. I accepted an analyst position with Musket Corporation here in Houston, moved to the area in June 2011, and I'm currently scheduling crude for them.  

I on ramped at UC that same June and now here I am, working fulltime and coaching part time. I could not be happier though. CrossFit gives me an outlet every day around trade floor life and UC has given me friends that will last beyond my time in Houston (not to mention non-craigslist roommates, thanks J)

CrossFit Certifications: Level 1 Trainer, Strongman, Football, Endurance Level 1, and Olympic Lifting with Coach's Prep Course coming in early August.

Troy Miles

Hey y'all. I'm the coach that's actually from Texas, born in Galveston were the oil rigs and dead fish live in harmony (Not a yankee born or raised!). Currently I am  a student at the University of Houston. I am studying history and playing on the UH Rugby team, as a forward. Cause pads are for children with over protective parents...Go Coogs! I served 5 years in the Marine Corps prior to college. I served in Marine Corps Security Forces in the Pacific North West, and in Iraq with the 3rd Batalion 4th Marines, yes it was hot. I found CrossFit at the end of my deployment as things slowed down. Before that, I never knew what a double under or muscle up was, but now I know and love them both. Burpees are another story. Hope to see you soon, and don't forget free beer Friday! I won't.

I have a Level 1 certification and will have a few more as soon as my rugby season is over.

My personal goal is to get my Fran time in under 6 minutes by the end of the year since its my worst WOD. Also, to be even more strict with my paleo so I can look good for you in my Speedo in 2012.