BEHIND BUILT
Founded with a passion to bridge the gap between elite coaching and community resources, BUILT Sports Performance Academy brings unparalleled expertise, professional-level coaching, and transformative resources to every athlete. Inspired by Jacob’s journey from an under-resourced community to pursuing pro sports, BUILT’s mission is to offer the tools and coaching that athletes need to realize their full potential.
BUILT is backed by over 10+ years of hands-on coaching experience & expertise. Our team’s advanced educational and athletic backgrounds ensure our programs and systems are meticulously delivered to optimize the development experience. We pride ourselves on our authentic passion for coaching, evident in the strong relationships and exceptional results we deliver daily.
Combining our collegiate sports experience with advanced education, BUILT creates a comprehensive, high-performance environment that cultivates the best version of every human. Whether through personalized coaching, state-of-the-art training systems, or impactful mentorship, BUILT is dedicated to empowering all to achieve their dreams and goals.
Jacob Banegas
B.S. ExSc & SPORTS SCIENCE, USR1 Speed Specialist, APC, NHSSCA NM State Director
FOUNDER - Director of Performance Development | Director of Strength & Conditioning for Pima JC Baseball & Softball |
Former Collegiate S&C Coach | Former Pro Football & D1 Athlete
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The BUILT Team is led by Jacob Banegas, one of America's up and coming elite performance coaches. Currently wrapping up his Masters Degree in Sports Science & Biomechanics, Former Professional and Division 1 Athlete Jacob Banegas is an established sports science and human performance specialist located in the Las Cruces, NM, & El Paso, TX communities. While his CFL/NFL career was haulted due to COVID, he quickly realized that the game was much bigger than himself. Spending over 5 years in the collegiate and private strength and conditioning sector combined, He developed BUILT in early 2022 wanting to provide the right resources and create a level playing field of opportunities in the southwest region that is under recruited and under resourced. Since then, he has guided numerous youth athletes towards collegiate scholarships and teams to developmental success. Through every training session, Jacob's mission is to help develop these southwest athletes to become the best at any level.
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ANDREW ZAPIEN
B.S. Kinesiology
VP of Operations | Team Performance Solutions
Former D1 Football Athlete
Currently the Director at Samson Equipment, Andrew's leadership and strategic insight while helping with BUILT have played a pivotal role in the growth of the company. His education includes a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology, with a minor in Sports Marketing and Business Administration from NMSU. Andy's education alongside his collegiate S&C coaching, D1 athletic experience, and work within the high school & collegiate strength and conditioning industry nationwide over the past decade brings valuable knowledge in our Team Performance Consulting & Operations.
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MAXWELL CHAPMAN
B.S. Kinesiology / Exercise Science
Performance Coach
Former Collegiate Athlete
Prior to his role here as a S&C/ Performance Coach, Max played baseball at Eastern Arizona College where he learned the importance of hardwork and development. The experiences in his playing career drove him to his coaching career as he wanted to help the next generation of athletes perform better, stay injury resilient, and prolong their playing careers. Max helps run the Built Method programming which is tailored to each individual athlete. Coach Max focuses on helping athletes develop in the physical & mental performance realms to ensure long-term success of the program.
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Jenna Banegas
M.A. Ex & Sports Science / LMHC, CSCS
Mental Performance & Wellness Coach | Asst. Speed Lab Coach & Director
Coach Jenna, a Las Cruces native, brings over a decade of athletic and coaching experience to the Built team. With a background that includes winning State Championships at Mayfield HS, SPrinting at the D1 Level then coaching NMSU T&F and Olympic-level athletes, she's been a valuable addition. Jenna's expertise extends beyond her coaching as she holds a Masters Degrees in Mental Health Counseling as well. This unique blend allows her to support athletes' mental development growth alongside their physical growth. By integrating mental performance coaching support, Jenna helps athletes achieve balance and empowerment both on and off the field.
Mia MONTANO
B.S. KINESIOLOGY / Exercise Science
Performance Coach
Former D1 Collegiate Athlete
Prior to her role here as a S&C/ Performance Coach, Mia played soccer at New Mexico State University. The experiences in her athletic career and educational career gave her the passion to help the next generation of women's sports. Coach Mia faced an ACL knee surgery during her senior year of HS, managed to overcome that adversity and earn a D1 playing career. This moment has lead her on a journey to continue her education into a masters degree of sports psychology. Helping athletes develop not only physically but mentally as well is what drives her pursuits and passion for coaching.
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Lia Stewart
M.S. Kinesiology & Public Health
Nutritionist Educator & Consultant | PN1
Born and raised in NYC, Coach Lia cultivated a deep rooted passion for health and nutrition from an early age. With a background in dance that spanned many years and a lifelong dedication to staying active, Coach Lia discovered & learned the positive impact of nutrition on athletic performance. This led to the pursuit of a Bachelors Degree in Nutrition & Fitness, followed by a Masters Degree in Kinesiology & Public Health. Today as part of the BUILT Team, Coach Lia channels this passion into empowering athletes to unlock their full potential through optimized nutrition and custom meals tailored to their needs. With a keen focus on empowering young athletes to navigate their own nutritional journey, Coach Lia is dedicated to equipping young athletes with the tools and knowledge to make informed dietary choices, ensuring they can fuel their bodies on and off the field.
OUR CULTURE
The heart and soul of Built Sports Performance Academy are the athletes that show up and work hard week in and week out. They represent everything we stand for. Their success is the sole focus of everything we do.
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Our Culture of athletic development is fueled by an unrelenting desire to maximize performance, on and off a field. Through a collective pursuit of physical, mental, and emotional growth. As we provide tools that every athlete in the world should have. A System of progressions in the weight room. A Mental development method combining self-reflection and self-evaluation in a journalling process. As well as some unique recovery tools and resources to display the knowledge and add the missing piece of nutrition and sleep.
Daily, We strive to develop. Knowing that all sports give us the blueprint to achieve success in every phase of life. This is what it means to LIVE BUILT.