Owner | Professional Fitness Coach | Biblical Counseling (In Training)
CJ was born and raised in Zion, Illinois—about an hour north of Chicago. He grew up loving sports and strength training, even building a weight room in his family’s garage during high school. A multi-sport athlete, CJ competed in wrestling, baseball, football, and track and field, including the 400m.
After starting college at Northeast Mississippi Community College, CJ earned the opportunity to try out for the Northeast Mississippi Community College football team—but a major knee injury changed his path. Following multiple surgeries, he turned to CrossFit to rebuild strength and resilience. He later transferred to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), earning his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 2015 while continuing to compete in CrossFit and sprint triathlons.
Driven by a deep curiosity about how the body moves and adapts, CJ has spent over 10,000 hours coaching clients to move, feel, and perform better. His own journey—marked by injury and the hard lesson of overtraining—shaped the way he coaches today: structured, individualized, and centered on long-term progress. CJ is especially passionate about helping youth athletes and everyday adults train smarter, reduce setbacks, and build a strong foundation through intentional programming, nutrition, sleep, mindset, and breathing mechanics.
CJ also races motocross and is still actively competing, which continues to sharpen his coaching approach for performance, durability, and recovery.
Faith is a meaningful part of CJ’s story and influences how he leads and serves, while still providing a welcoming, respectful space for people from all backgrounds.
What you can expect: thoughtful coaching, individualized programming, and a clear plan built around your goals—not a cookie-cutter template.
“I’ve always been fascinated by human movement and how the body communicates through pain. What I love most about ID Fitness is that every program is truly individualized—built from each client’s data.”
Fitness Coach
Ben is originally from Memphis, Tennessee, and finished high school in Oxford, Mississippi. He went on to attend the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), graduating in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.
With a background in baseball, Ben has always been drawn to performance and athletic development. Outside the gym, he enjoys gaming, building PCs, longboarding, and lifting weights. Ben joined ID Fitness as an intern—and never left—turning what started as an opportunity into a long-term calling.
Although his original plan was physical therapy school, Ben’s passion shifted after seeing how effective training can be in improving health, preventing setbacks, and building confidence through consistent habits and strong coaching relationships. Known for his nutrition knowledge and ability to help clients build a strong mind-muscle connection, Ben thrives on serving others and helping people reach their potential.
Ben’s training background includes bodybuilding-style programming, giving him a sharp eye for strength development, muscle-building, and smart progression. He also has a strong passion for developing youth athletes—helping them build strength and explosive power that carries over to their sport. In addition, Ben has experience working with clients with autism and those navigating memory-related challenges, including Alzheimer’s/dementia, and he approaches each person with patience, care, and intentionality.
His coaching is built on excellence and the belief that most people are capable of far more than they realize. Faith is also an important part of Ben’s life and influences the way he aims to honor Christ in how he leads and serves. Ben is married to his wife, Kyrie, who also trains at ID Fitness.
What you can expect: clear direction, supportive accountability, and training that builds confidence and measurable progress.
“I chose this path because I’ve seen how powerful fitness can be in improving health and preventing illness. Working at ID Fitness has challenged me to keep growing—both as a coach and a person—and being part of such a supportive community has made the journey even more rewarding.”
At ID Fitness, we’re a one-stop shop for helping people feel, move, and perform their best. Our gym has become a second home for busy adults, parents, and professionals who want to get stronger, healthier, and more confident in their everyday life.
We offer everything you need to reach your goals: customized strength training, guidance on nutrition and recovery, and hands-on coaching that meets you right where you are.
Whether you’re building a strong foundation, toning up, or simply wanting more energy for the things you love, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
(662) 872-9050
1420 North Lamar Blvd, Oxford, MS 38655
staffidfitnessoxford@gmail.com