Our Founder
Coach Michael Carson
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Coach Michael Carson for his relentless commitment and dedication to the Beyond the Game Curriculum. Throughout his impressive 27 years in education, Coach Carson has not only inspired countless students but has also transformed the way we approach learning through athletics.
His passion for teaching and coaching goes beyond the game, instilling values such as teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship in every student-athlete. Coach Carson's insights and encouragement have shaped this curriculum, ensuring it reflects his belief in the power of education as a tool for personal growth.
We appreciate his unwavering support, innovative ideas, and the countless hours spent mentoring young minds. Coach Carson’s legacy is evident in the success of our students and the strength of our community.
Thank you, Coach Carson, for your extraordinary impact on education, sports, and the lives of those you’ve touched throughout your remarkable career.
Here are several inspirational quotes that could reflect Coach Michael Carson's philosophy and motivation:
1. “Greatness is not achieved by chance; it is built through hard work and determination.”
2. “Every setback is a setup for a comeback; it’s how you respond that matters most.”
3. “Teamwork makes the dream work, and together we can achieve incredible things.”
4. “Success is a journey, not a destination; embrace the process and learn along the way.”
5. “Believe in yourself and in your abilities; confidence is the foundation of achievement.”
6. “Coaching is not just about teaching skills; it’s about shaping character and building future leaders.”
7. “The lessons learned on the field are the same as those in life; it's all about perseverance and integrity.”
Our Team of Experts
Matt Jones, Nutrition
Matt Jones is a dedicated and experienced Registered Dietitian with 20 years in clinical nutrition. Specializing in long-term care, acute rehab, medical surgery, telemetry, ICU, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation. A graduate of West Chester University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Matt further honed his expertise through an internship at the University of Delaware. Throughout his career, he has provided compassionate care and expert nutrition guidance to a diverse range of patients.
Having always had a passion for sports, Matt now specializes in sports nutrition, helping athletes optimize their performance through tailored nutritional strategies. His extensive background in clinical settings, paired with his love for sports, has made him a go-to resource for athletes looking to improve their health and performance through proper nutrition.
In addition to his work as a Registered Dietitian, Matt has been deeply involved in coaching, serving as the head coach of the Coatesville High School Boys Soccer Team currently. With over 11 years of coaching experience, he is passionate about developing young athletes both on and off the field, instilling teamwork, discipline, and a love for the game.
A former multi-sport athlete, Matt attended Avon Grove High School in Chester County, PA, where he played soccer, basketball, baseball, and ran track. He continued his academic and athletic journey at East Stroudsburg University before earning his degree at West Chester University.
Along with his clinical and sports nutrition expertise, Matt is certified in Massage Therapy and Thai Massage. He is also a Certified Personal Trainer with certifications in DBC Level 1 Fitness and AFAA CPT.
Through his unique combination of clinical expertise, sports nutrition knowledge, and coaching experience, Matt is committed to helping individuals achieve their best health, whether through clinical nutrition, athletic performance, or physical wellness.
Chon Trent, Marketing and Branding
Chon Trent’s journey as a strategic marketing professional and customer experience expert is a story of innovation and impact. With over 15 years of expertise, she has masterfully conceptualized, created, and executed marketing campaigns that resonate deeply with audiences. Her work with Fortune 500 companies and industry giants like PGA TOUR Superstore, BNY Mellon, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, and HSBC Bank USA showcases her ability to drive success on a grand scale. Chon’s knack for defining customer journeys and crafting compelling go-to-market strategies has consistently led to successful brand and product launches, ensuring that each campaign not only reaches but captivates its target market. Her career is a testament to her strategic vision and unwavering commitment to excellence.
In addition to her professional achievements, Chon is a fervent advocate for youth empowerment. She dedicates her time to volunteer work, championing initiatives that uplift and support young individuals, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact beyond formal business settings.
In her personal life, Chon is an avid traveler, exploring new countries, immersing herself in diverse cultures, and drawing inspiration from global experiences. She values family deeply and cherishes moments spent with loved ones.
Chon Trent holds a B.B.A. in Marketing Management from the City University of New York, Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business, and is currently an MBA Candidate at Emory University Goizueta Business School.
Bobby Goodman, Financial Literacy
Bobby Goodman is the founder and CEO of Goodman -Tolbert Financial Group, Mulework business consultant group, and The Tax Viking, a tax prep company. His passion for helping unaware individuals led him to create all of these businesses. Being overcharged for services in our community has become all too common.
After graduating from an HBCU (Alabama State University) and Ashford University, Bobby focused on management. After managing several big box retailers, some with volume over 56 million, he got that entrepreneur itch. With the support of his wife, Mulework was formed. A business designed to help individuals start and run their businesses. After witnessing most of his clients being clueless about the financial aspect of running a business, The Tax Viking (formerly The Tax Nerds) was created. Bobby educated himself on the different tax laws and systems, eventually becoming an IRS Enrolled Agent.
Again, witnessing the need in our community for financial literacy, Goodman Tolbert Financial was formed. We help families create Wills, Trusts, Life Insurance, Tax Advisory, and Estate Planning. The lack of knowledge was just overwhelming and needed to be addressed.
Bobby holds certifications in Financial Literacy, Business Consultant, Public Management, Contract Law, and Tax Advisory.
He is committed to family, and educating our community is his passion. We aim to foster sustainable growth, innovation, and financial independence by delivering practical solutions.
Bobby is married to Dr. A. Francine Goodman, and they have two beautiful daughters, Basha, who is currently a student at Georgia State, and Imani, who is currently a student at Spelman College.
Alanmichael Harkness, Career Development
- Former student-athlete at Appalachian State University, Recreational Management Degree focus (Sport management), Master in Social Work focus ( Sport Social Work)
- Work History: Intern for Yosef Club at Appalachian State University Athletics, Learning Specialist Intern for The Ohio State University, Success Coach for TheTodd Bell National Resources Center at The Ohio State University, Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development for the University of South Carolina.
As the Career Development Advisor of TTP, I oversee career initiatives, programs, and events for Georgia Tech Student-Athlete. There are 429 student-athletes that I assist in identifying career aspirations, internships, co-ops, job placement, and developing a career plan. If you want to be a dentist, lawyer, doctor, plumber, police officer, entrepreneur, teacher, or whatever you desire it's my job to support you in that.
Tyrone Tate, Instructor
Tyrone Tate is a seasoned serial entrepreneur and strategist with over three decades of experience in government, corporate, and nonprofit sectors in the fields of technology, film, music, sports, and education. He holds a BA and an MBA in Marketing. Tyrone has excelled in fostering academic and athletic success, securing millions in scholarships and fundraising efforts. He had professional career paths at IBM, Delta, Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Commerce, which served as proving grounds and a testament to his versatility and ability to work and thrive in diverse organizational structures.
Tyrone held a NBA Certification and successfully managed several players' sports and post careers. He has been tasked with many leadership roles over the years and has successfully led organizations in achieving extraordinary results. Tyrone's superior record of accomplishments has earned him local and national recognition from the United Way, The Watkins Award, and GPSA for being a super fundraiser, achieving a 100% graduation rate for 30 years, and securing scholarships for over 80% of the student-athletes in his associated programs. He has a distinction and passion for community engagement and adaptability, transforming businesses and student-athletes into high-level performers.
Clifford "Gator" Browning, Recruiting
Over the course of the past 8 years, Coach Clifford “Gator” Browning has helped over 1000 plus high school student-athletes receive scholarships to play college football. As the founder and CEO of Top Knotch Opportunities, LLC, an amateur sports consulting firm, Coach Browning secured over 7 million dollars in athletic scholarships with a 98% placement rate of student-athletes at colleges and universities across the country.
During his time as a football player at Clark Atlanta University (CAU), he was awarded All-SIAC honors as a top conference player. After earning his Bachelor of Education degree, Coach Browning played professional arena football for several years before returning to the Atlanta Metro area to teach and coach football. He coached 16 All-American athletes and assisted them throughout the college recruitment process.
His passion and successes as a coach led him to create Top Knotch Opportunities to help student-athletes receive more exposure to college recruiters while giving athletic programs an opportunity to recruit talented high school athletes who might otherwise be overlooked.
Coach Browning is committed to guiding student-athletes and their families through the recruitment process every step of the way.
Dwight Johnson Sr., Professional Trainer
Dwight Johnson Sr. is a business owner, real estate investor and motivational speaker known for his ability to inspire, motivate, and train youth and adults to get to their next level. He is the CEO of Total Athlete Sports Complex, TA Basketball Academy, Johnson Legacy Investment Group, and Stage One In Action non-profit organization.
Since 2011 TA Sports complex has helped over 150 student-athletes receive D1 scholarships. Dwight is a former NFl football player for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. Born in Waco, Texas in 1977, Johnson played football and earned his degree in finance from Baylor University.
As an orator, Johsnon uses compelling stories and life experiences to uplift and teach anyone to be resilient and to reach their goals. Dwight uses practical wisdom in his keynotes about how you can cultivate a resilient mindset, spark resilient teamwork, and amplify resilient leadership.
Dwight will inspire, uplift, and energize your audience. His message will resonate with participants, and partakers will learn how to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and face adversity. Listeners will leave positively impacted and understand that you can achieve success with hard work, discipline, and dedication.
Miss Monica Nelson, M.Ed.
For Miss Monica Nelson, ‘Teamwork Makes the Dream Work,’ has been her Battle Cry, throughout her professional career. While her Motto is taken from Proverbs 12:11: “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.” Miss Nelson is a FAIR and FIRM, hard working woman. She is a renowned Historian, a beloved Social Studies Teacher, and Assistant-Football Coach, specializing in Academic Advisement. She has helped more than 85 black male student-athletes attain college scholarships and college degrees.
Miss Nelson mentors current NFL players for the Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, The New England Patriots, and players for various Division I & II colleges. Miss Nelson obtained her Bachelor's degree from Georgia State University and her Masters degree from Central Michigan University. She has studied various facets of World, United States, and African American History at over sixteen different colleges and universities, including Harvard University as well as the University of Cambridge, in the United Kingdom. While teaching at the secondary education level.
Miss Nelson was awarded Teacher of the Year and was presented with a Senate Resolution in her name, for her contribution to education in Dekalb County, Georgia, by The Georgia State Senate. Miss Nelson is currently teaching Social Studies at the secondary level in Nevada and traveling to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as attending concerts and sporting events, when she has free time away from teaching and mentoring.