Founder of Competitive Edge Sports, Chip is recognized as one of the foremost speed and strength experts in the United States. Chip holds a BS in Physical Education from Liberty University. He did post-graduate work in speed and strength at the world-renowned Soviet Sports Institute in Moscow. He holds a Masters of Sports Science Certification from ISSA. Other certifications include: Exercise Specialist from Cooper’s Aerobic Institute and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He also spent three years as the speed coach with Phil Niekro’s Silver Bullets. Chip was one of only three Master Trainers in the U.S. for SPARQ and Nike and was a NIke coach for four years. He is currently sponsored by Under Armour.

Chip has trained over 300 NFL players currently on rosters, and has trained over 1000 players who have signed pro contracts. Chip does Combine preparation for scores of players each year in the NFL Draft and has trained over 30 first round draft picks. Chip’s clients include three Heisman Trophy winners. Other award recipients under his tutelage include: Outland Trophy, 30 All-Americans, Dave Remington Award Winners, Jim Thorpe Award Winners, and many more. Chip has trained over 50 Pro Bowl Players, one NFL Comeback Player of the Year, two Defensive Rookies of the Year, the 2005 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Brain Urlacher, and the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison.

Currently, Chip is working with 14 Chinese Olympic Teams and recently returned from Beijing where he trained 41 Olympic medalists including 21 Gold Medalists from the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Last summer, Chip spent time in Liberia, Africa training their Olympic athletes and has been a consultant to other countries as well. He is also a long time member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, NFL Alumni Association, and trainer to many current NFL, NBA and MLB stars. Chip was the Director of Athletics at the prestigious Atlanta Athletic Club for 12 years, during which time the club was voted the #1 Athletic Club in America by Newsweek Magazine four times.

Chip is an accomplished author who has been published in numerous trade periodicals. Recently published by McGraw-Hill was Chip’s book, Football Training Like the Pro’s. He is a frequent guest on syndicated and local radio and television programs, including ESPN, CNN, NFL Sirius Radio, and CSS. He is also a sought after speaker and a consultant to numerous sports teams.

An accomplished athlete in his own right, Chip was a former collegiate two-sport athlete, playing football and baseball. He was a four time offensive MVP in football and, after 30 years, still holds numerous University rushing and scoring records.

Robby Stewart is Director of Strength Development at Competitive Edge Sports and the regarded as the leading strength expert in the sports training industry today. Robby has established himself as the premiere strength coach in America by training over a thousand NFL players, as well as Olympic, collegiate, and high school athletes. His unparalleled training has increased the power and strength of athletes in sports such as football, baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, tennis, and hockey.

Before co-founding CES, Robby served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Georgia. While there, Robby established UGA’s first Olympic strength program for both men’s and women’s sports. In 1992, he took over the strength and conditioning for the defensive front of the Bulldogs. Robby is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He was certified in 1992 as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Robby also had the opportunity to train the Swedish National Federation power-lifting team for the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta.

Since then, Robby has traveled throughout the US and other countries implementing the sports performance lifting division of the CES program. He has also served as a speaker for the National Strength and Conditioning Association at numerous universities around the country. Robby is responsible for assisting in the design and implementation of many aspects of strength and power training at CES. He currently oversees the weight room and strength training conducted at the CES Atlanta master training facility.

Tripp Smith, the oldest son of Chip Smith, founder of CES, began full-time in December 2004.  He was a four-year football letterman and team captain at the Virginia Military Institute and holds a degree in biology.  Before attending VMI, Tripp played one year of football at Hargrave Military Academy in 2000. 

He holds numerous certifications including: CES master trainer, Cooper Institute fitness specialist, USAW club coach and sports performance coach, Nike SPARQ certified trainer, and a purple belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Tripp also had the opportunity to train members of the Chinese Olympic Team this past Spring.

At CES he is in charge of program implementation for all athletes, as well as certification and education for CES licensees.

This is Aaron’s 10th year with CES, starting in May of 2000. Aaron has a Bachelors Degree in Physical Education from Cortland College in NY, and he did his Strength and Conditioning internship with Syracuse University working with many of the athletic teams in the weight room on their conditioning drills.

Aaron works with our Pro and collegiate athletes on both speed agility drills and strength and conditioning. He is a CES Master Trainer in both Speed and Strength. When Aaron is not working with our Professional athletes, he can be found developing youth and elite amateur athletes in all sports in the Atlanta community.

Aaron is a critical component to the development of our elite amateur athlete programs.     

Gary Price is the newest member to our CES family. He has come to us from Hampton, VA where he became AFPA certified to be both a personal and athletic trainer. He is a graduate from Virginia Military Institute where he played college football and ran track. He has also had the opportunity to play under Boo Williams AAU basketball, starting at the age of 10.

Gary was recently inducted into Potomac High School’s Athletic Hall of fame in Dumfries, VA. He currently holds two records at VMI for games with a consecutive catch and first duo in the Big South to have 1000 yards receiving.

Gary trained within the CES system for his own Combine and has worked closely with Chip Smith and Robby Stewart to learn the CES system. Gary is also a very active Coach within our amateur programs.