Coaches who
actually coach.
Every class at Excel is led by a real coach who knows your name and watches your reps. Meet a few of them in their own words.
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▶More coach features from our channel get added here as they go up.
Meet Danny and Buddy
The two coaches behind Excel, both born and raised right here in Manteca.
Danny Lehr
Co-Owner, Excel Health & Fitness
Born and raised in Manteca, Danny is driven by a clear purpose: to help people in the community get fit and live healthier, happier lives. He has been coaching for over 20 years and holds an M.Ed. in Education with an emphasis in cross-cultural communication, plus a B.S. in Physical Education.
Danny stays active in and out of the gym. He competed in Olympic weightlifting from 2010 to 2019 and won the 2019 Masters World Cup in the M35 89 kilo class, on about three hours of training a week. He also rode a bike 73 miles around Lake Tahoe to support leukemia research, and is the bestselling author of Win Your Next Hour, a book on discipline and personal growth.
Certifications
- CrossFit Level 3 Trainer (CF-L3 / CCFT)
- USA Weightlifting Level 1 Sports Performance Coach
- Pendlay Level 1
- CrossFit Endurance Trainer
- CrossFit Football
- CrossFit Bodyguard
- CrossFit Coaching the Aging Athlete
- American Council on Exercise Certified Fitness Trainer
Outside the gym, he is all about family time with his wife Jessica and their two kids.
Buddy Hitchcock
Co-Owner, Excel Health & Fitness
Born and raised in Manteca, Buddy discovered CrossFit in 2006 while training for track and field, and quickly fell in love with both the methodology and the sport. Nearly 20 years later, he is still coaching with the same passion that first pulled him in.
Over the past 15+ years, Buddy has competed in CrossFit-sanctioned events, national-level weightlifting meets, and televised fitness competitions alongside some of the world's top athletes. At Excel, he is all about helping members move well, stay strong, and build lasting habits.
Certifications
- CrossFit Level 2
- CrossFit Gymnastics
- CrossFit Football / Power Athlete
- RKC (Russian Kettlebell Certification)
- CrossFit Kids
- CrossFit Running
Outside the gym, Buddy enjoys life with his wife Jessica and their kids, often found fixing something, lifting something, or coaching someone through their next breakthrough.
Come meet the team.
Book a free consult and sit down with a coach. No sales pitch, just a real conversation about your goals.