Meet the Coaches
Nathan Hansen
Co-Founder + Coach
Nate is local to the Northern Denver area, growing up in Brighton, Colorado then later attending CU Boulder to pursue his degree in Marketing. Nate has had a passion for the sport of ninja since he was only 10 years old. Growing up as a kid, it was his favorite show and he always dreamed of competing on it one day. Fast forward to 2024 and he now has 5 seasons of American Ninja Warrior under his belt and his story has inspired kids and adults alike. In 2023, Nate felt that it was time to support the growing sport of ninja and opened a ninja warrior gym of his own. With a vision and incredible people by his side, Ark Ninja was built. Nate still holds a passion for coaching and competing, but making a positive and lasting impact in his community is what matters most.
Austin Gray
Gym Director + Coach
Austin has nine years of coaching experience, ranging from Gymnastics to Climbing and Parkour. For seven of those years, he has been coaching Ninja in facilities worldwide. His coaching expertise spans from working with fresh beginners, helping them understand the sport, to guiding elite performers in squeezing every ounce of potential on the course. After dedicating a few years to pursuing victory on American Ninja Warrior, Austin has returned to the gym with a renewed focus on making Ark the best facility for the ninja community he has cultivated throughout his career, as well as any new ninjas joining our growing community.
Jaelyn Bennett
Team Coach
Jae is a team coach at Ark with 11 years of coaching experience. Her coaching journey began at the age of 13 as a volunteer gymnastics coach. For the past 7 years, Jae has coached special education and team gymnastics, and she has been coaching ninja for nearly 5 years. Known for being the loudest coach and biggest cheerleader at every practice and competition, Jae believes in the success of the team stemming from individual success. She is enthusiastic about building the ninja community at Ark and competing alongside the strong Ark ninja students and coaches.
Gaiden Morrison
Coach
Having been a football and track athlete throughout high school, Gaiden became interested in ninja just after graduating. Originally from Washington, he didn't live near a ninja gym and didn't enjoy his previous job. In 2021, he made the decision to move to Colorado, applied for a coaching position at Ninja Nation, and never looked back. He finds immense joy in coaching and working at a ninja gym. This includes building relationships with kids and their parents, helping people learn ninja skills or achieve things they didn't think were possible, being involved in the most enjoyable part of everyone's day, and being a part of the ninja community.
Taylor Greene
Coach
Taylor, a Colorado native, started her ninja journey at the age of 9. She has participated in three seasons of American Ninja Warrior Junior and two seasons of American Ninja Warrior. Taylor began conducting clinics and coaching at the age of 14 and is thrilled to be teaching new ninjas at Ark now. She finds joy in coaching because it helps expand the sport and allows her to share her knowledge and experiences with beginners.
Emily Keener
Coach
Emily Keener has over seven years of training and competing in ninja. Some of her notable achievements include competing on American Ninja Warrior in seasons 15 and 16, winning the Ninja Sport Championship in season 2, and securing second place at the USA Ninja World Cup. Although she's relatively new to coaching, Emily finds it incredibly enjoyable and loves witnessing her students grow and develop a passion for the sport, much like she did at their age. She eagerly looks forward to continuing her work with the team at Ark and seeing their collective progress.
Jonah Munoz
Coach
Jonah Munoz is a former contestant on American Ninja Warrior and the Las Vegas National Finals in season 13. He has a passion for working with children and finds inspiration in their joy and energy. Jonah aims to embody an energetic, grown-up child himself. Despite facing traumatic injuries in his career, he uses those experiences to empathize and better understand each athlete's journey.
Caleb Blaustein
Coach
Caleb Blaustein has been a competitive Ninja athlete for six years. Alongside his passion for Ninja, he enjoys activities such as rock climbing, skiing, and leading outdoor whitewater canoe and hiking trips. Caleb finds the sport of Ninja to be fun, dynamic, and athletic, with new obstacles constantly challenging him to learn and improve. He takes pleasure in teaching others and witnessing both adults and kids gain confidence and make progress in their abilities.