COACHES
Meet the coaches shaping the next generation of elite athletes — as elite athletes themselves.
What Makes our Coaching Elite
Our coaches don’t just talk performance — they’ve lived it.
✅ Proven Playing Background – Our coaches have played D1 football and trained at the pro level.
✅ Certified & Science-Based – Led by a Certified Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCS), grounded in performance science.
✅ Real-World Wisdom – We coach from experience, not just theory — training what we’ve actually done.
✅ Faith & Character-Driven – We lead by example, instilling discipline, humility, and integrity.
✅ Mentorship Mindset – We go beyond sets & reps to build relationships, accountability, and leadership.
✅ Rooted in Community – Deep ties to Chicagoland, with a heart to grow leaders from our hometown.
ABOUT PALMS GROVE PERFORMANCE
We believe sport is more than performance — it’s a platform for transformation.
Palms Grove Performance is an elite athlete development system — rooted in performance science, biblical truth, and experiential wisdom. Across every season of the athlete's journey — from youth to high school, college to pro — we train the complete athlete through our Seven Pillars of Elite Athletic Performance — always for their highest good. Palms Grove is more than a training system— it's a community of purpose-driven athletes and coaches, united by a shared pursuit of excellence in sport and life.
Our Mission
We exist to cultivate real, lasting growth in serious and committed athletes. We aim to shape young men and women into disciplined, powerful, and rooted leaders — athletes who impact their sport on the field and the world beyond it. Through the disciplines of performance training, we equip them to live long, healthy, and fruitful lives in sport and in life.
Our Vision
To orchestrate a symphony of athletic excellence in the lives and communities of Palms Grove athletes — as an act of worship and witness. We envision a grove of athletes who rise like palms: rooted, resilient, upright, and fruitful in all seasons — carrying the presence of God into every arena of life, sport, and influence.
What We Believe About Coaching
Our philosophy is simple — train the complete athlete, not just the body.
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Train spirit, soul, and body — heart, mind, and will — shaping not just performance, but identity and character.
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Develop the athlete's body as one integrated system — built for real movement, not muscle isolation.
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Build athleticism from the ground up — strength, speed, and power begin at the feet and transfer through the kinetic chain.
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Train football IQ and on-field skill — not just in drills, but through intentional development of decision-making, positional excellence, and game-speed execution that translates.
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Coach from experience — not just theory. Every rep shaped by both wisdom and science.
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Ground every session in performance science — for results that endure.
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Pursue excellence with humility and grit — showing up, growing daily.
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Lead by example — reflecting Christ in how we coach, compete, and care.
COACH GRANT DEPALMA (PALMS)
FOUNDER | DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE
MOMENTS IN SPORT
Bio
Grant DePalma, aka Coach Palms, is a former Division I linebacker, team captain, and professional football player with over 17 years competing in the game of football and 7+ years of performance coaching experience. He has trained athletes at every level — from NFL veterans and D1 athletes to high-potential high schoolers and hungry youth players — guiding them through each phase of the elite athletic journey.
His coaching blends science-backed performance systems, football IQ and on-field skill work, and whole-athlete development — with a heart for the greatest good of each athlete he coaches. “We don’t just train to look good — we train to play long at an elite level and lead well.”
Credentials
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Former NCAA Division I Athlete
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Bahamas Bowl Defensive MVP
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300+ Career Tackles (College)
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Burlsworth Trophy Nominee
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D3 MVP → Walk-On → D1 Captain → Full Scholarship
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Multiple Leadership & Character Awards
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Professional Football Linebacker (1 year - Europe)
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Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
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NFL Off-Season Training Coach
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Trained 5th-Round Pick, Corey Davis
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B.S. in Construction Engineering
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7+ Years Coaching
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Youth, High School, College & Pro Athletes
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Specializes in:
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Athletic Performance Development
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Football Skill & IQ Development
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Off the Field
When he's not on the turf or in the weight room, Coach Palms leads discipleship groups, helps manage a pooled investment fund, and spends time with his extended family in the Niles/Park Ridge area. Deeply rooted in his faith and hometown community, he’s committed to building a life — and legacy — of impact, excellence, and purpose.
COACH JUWAN BRESCACIN
AFFILIATE FOOTBALL SKILLS COACH
Bio
Coach Juwan Brescacin first made his mark at Northern Illinois University (2011–2015), where his combination of size, speed, and reliable hands helped the Huskies secure multiple conference championships and bowl appearances.
In 2016, Brescacin signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and became a key player their 2018 Grey Cup Championship victory.
He later joined the Toronto Argonauts where he won a second CFL championship in 2022.
His clutch performances on the field are no accident, but rather the product of meticulous preparation and a commitment to developing as a complete athlete.
Now, Juwan applies the same passion and attention to detail in mentoring high school athletes, guiding them to elevate their game and realize their full potential.