To Jet Sports Training owner Bobby Rodriguez, training athletes and anyone wanting to be physically fit is an important duty, one that requires a wealth of knowledge of the human anatomy through education.
“At the end of the day, our mission is to impact the community and change lives,” said Rodriguez, who started training people in 2012 and began operations with Jet Sports Training since 2016.
“The staff we’ve assembled right now are exactly that, they’re mission-oriented, they want to help people out and they’re educated. They understand what it takes to deliver results. They all have science degrees. They’re not hobbyists. This is what they want to do as far as their careers. That helps a lot here with what we want to deliver as far as the product of training.”
Rodriguez, director of sports performance Jose Felix and the Jet Sports Training coaching staff train all types of fitness-minded people at their facility near Park Avenue and Ajo Way (221 S Santa Rita Ave, Suite 103, Tucson) — aspiring athletic-minded children in middle school, high school-aged youth, college and professional athletes and adults wanting to stay in the best shape possible.
Rodriguez’s “Jet” nickname was created by his late friend Jacob Rocky Samorano and former fellow Sunnyside football teammates after Rodriguez returned an interception 99 yards and dived head-first into the end zone for a touchdown.
He has used the energy to help Jet Sports Training get to where it is today.
He was a walk-on when Mike Stoops was coach at Arizona, where he earned his Agricultural and Life Sciences degree in 2012 before he moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to live with his aunt. He wanted to get away and experience something new in his life after Samorano passed away in a car accident.
He found his profession as a sports-fitness trainer on the beach near where he lived and his life has never been the same.
Two years after returning from Brazil, where he also started training in Jiu-Jitsu and became a bull rider, Rodriguez generated the operations of Jet Sports Training in 2016. The first gym had a small area about a block from where the larger facility is now. Plans are in place to move to a bigger, brand new facility soon.
The business has grown to the point that merits trying to meet the demands. The growth stems from the amount of respect Rodriguez and his coaches have generated over the last decade.
“With anything with respect, you have to earn it,” Rodriguez said. “You have to put in the daily work and understand why you’re doing it. Since Jose and I have been working together since 2017, I don’t think there’s ever been a day that we forget why we’re doing it.
“At the end of the day, it’s about delivering results inside of our own community. Now, it’s not just the southside of Tucson. It’s the entire four corners of Tucson. … Respect is earned and I feel like we’re earning it, bit by bit.”
The following are interviews with Rodriguez, Felix and the coaches at Jet Sports Training with information on each. Interesting to note that three of them earned their bachelor’s degrees in college late last month:
- Isaiah Sierra, Human Performance & Sport, with a minor in Exercise Science, New Mexico Highlands University
- Andruw Martinez, Neuroscience with a focus on neurobiology, University of Arizona
- Jaeden Barker, Nutrition and Human Performance, University of Arizona
BOBBY RODRIGUEZ
Owner | Sports Performance Coach
Bobby is a 2007 graduate of Sunnyside High School, where he was a key contributor to the Blue Devils’ football state championship teams from 2003 to 2006 under legendary coach Richard Sanchez. He continued his football career at Pima College before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences in 2012.
JOSE FELIX (CSCS)
Director of Sports Performance
Jose graduated from Sunnyside High School in 2009, where he showcased his versatility as a utility player on the baseball team. In 2019, he served as an assistant strength coach with the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Northern Arizona University, earned in 2013.
SAM MEDINA (CSCS)
Director of Speed Training
Sam is a 2014 graduate of San Miguel High School, where he played basketball before attending Northern Arizona University. There, he gained valuable experience on the student training staff for track & field, women’s volleyball, and football. He is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and earned his bachelor’s degree in Fitness and Wellness in 2017.
ISAIAH SIERRA
Sports Performance Coach
Isaiah is a 2019 graduate of Empire High School, where he competed in both football and wrestling. His collegiate football journey took him through the College of the Desert, Saddleback College, Harding University, and New Mexico Highlands University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Human Performance & Sport, with a minor in Exercise Science, in May 2025.
JESUS GARCIA
Sports Performance Coach
Jesus graduated in 2017 from Pueblo High School, where he played football under University of Arizona Desert Swarm legend Brandon Sanders. He went on to join the UA football program as a student trainer under head coaches Rich Rodriguez, Kevin Sumlin, and Jedd Fisch. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Arizona in 2022.
EVAN LACKNER
Director of Adult-Group Training
Evan began his group fitness career in 2014 at CrossFit Nemesis and has since coached across Arizona in Safford, Thatcher, Show Low, and Tucson. With over 10 years of experience, he’s a Certified Personal Trainer (ACE) and Certified Stretch Practitioner (NBMB). Passionate about fitness and community, Evan leads with heart and purpose. Since joining Jet Sports in fall 2024, he now directs the adult-group training program.
ANDRUW MARTINEZ
Sports Performance Coach
Andruw graduated in 2021 from Bellarmine College Prep, where he played football and competed in track & field. At the University of Arizona, he worked with the football team as a student athletic trainer throughout his undergrad studies and later as a strength & conditioning intern from winter 2024 through graduation. He was part of the historic 2023 season that ended in an Alamo Bowl win, gaining hands-on experience in both sports medicine and performance. He earned his degree in neuroscience with a focus on neurobiology in May 2025.
JAEDEN BARKER
Sports Performance Coach
Jaeden graduated in 2019 from Menlo-Atherton High School in California’s Bay Area, where he was a key player on the school’s 2018 CIF State Football Championship team. He continued his football career at the College of San Mateo before transferring to the University of Arizona, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Human Performance in May 2025.
TYLER CASE
Sports Performance Coach
Tyler Case is a 2007 graduate of Santa Rita High School, where he excelled in both baseball and basketball, helping lead the Eagles to the basketball state championship. He continued his athletic career at Buena Vista University, competing in three sports: track & field, baseball, and basketball. He played in the College World Series as a standout baseball player and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Human Performance in 2012.
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