MEMBER/COACH OF THE MONTH: TOM COOKER

Tommy is a lifelong Brigantine resident who spent many years serving on the Brigantine Beach Patrol and now works as a Captain with the Brigantine Fire Department. His wife, Liesje, is also a coach here at Ola Kai, and together they’re raising three amazing kids.

In many ways, Tommy has been the backbone of Ola Kai from the very beginning. During the planning and build-out stages, he was our biggest supporter—always encouraging, especially when Jimmy or I started to doubt the vision (he patiently fielded more than a few panicked phone calls from me). When we first opened our doors, Tommy taught classes and helped bring in some of our very first members. That’s just who he is: a natural leader. He’ll probably hate this spotlight because he’s so humble, but it’s the truth—whatever Tommy commits to, he gives 100%, and people naturally want to follow his lead. He motivates, hypes up, and pushes those around him to be their best.

These days, you’ll most often find Tommy at the 5:30 a.m. class—leading the charge as the rest of us try to keep pace (or in my case, jokingly trying to beat him). If he’s not there, you’ll likely catch him in Open Gym tackling one of his wild workouts—and if you’re in the room, be prepared to get pulled into it. He’s also the first to step up and cover whenever Jimmy and I sneak away for a quick family trip, which is just another example of how dependable he is.

This past year, Tommy also launched kids’ classes at Ola Kai. Last spring and summer, he ran FUNdamentals, our youth athletic program focusing on agility, balance, coordination, and strength. With his deep knowledge and passion for building essential athletic skills, he’s helping kids create a strong foundation for any sport—and we’re excited to see him continue to grow this program for our local young athletes.

Tommy is a great friend, a great member, a great coach and he hates getting any attention so make sure you give him a high five next time you see him! Thanks for all you do TC!