Today we’d like to introduce you to DeAvera Todd.
Hi DeAvera, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story started long before college coaching or choreography contracts, it started as a little girl who fell in love with movement. Gymnastics gave me a language when I didn’t always have the words. It taught me discipline, creativity, resilience, and how to show up even when things were hard.
I grew up in the sport and transitioned into coaching fairly early, learning quickly that I wasn’t just passionate about skills or routines; I was passionate about people. I became the coach athletes came to when they needed guidance, honesty, and someone who truly saw them. Over time, that role expanded beyond the gym. I became a mentor, a choreographer, an educator, and a safe space.
One of the most defining chapters of my journey was founding Elite Talent Academy. I started ETA during a season where I needed to bet on myself. What began as a detour after a broken heart after coaching in programs became a space rooted in intention where I could teach athletes and coaches through structure, creativity, and care, and where families felt supported, not just serviced. It wasn’t just about gymnastics and movement; it was about building confidence, discipline, and identity in young coaches & athletes.
Eventually, college gymnastics became a natural next step. I now coach at the collegiate level, where I’m able to combine athlete development, recruiting, choreography, and culture-building.
Today, I stand at the intersection of experience and purpose. I’m someone who understands the technical side of the sport deeply but even more importantly, I understand the human side. My story is still being written, but every chapter has prepared me to pour back into this sport with intention, integrity, and impact.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My journey hasn’t been linear. I’ve navigated personal loss, including the passing of my mother, In the middle of grieving, I was still expected to function, make decisions, and lead; often without the space to fully process what I had lost.
Professionally there were career setbacks, and seasons where I had to rebuild from the ground up. I was traveling constantly, educating athletes and coaches, pouring into others, and helping create joy, confidence, and breakthroughs for people at a time when I didn’t always have access to that same joy for myself. There were moments where I was leading rooms, inspiring others, and then returning to hotel rooms alone to sit with my own pain. Learning how to carry both purpose and grief at the same time was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.
At the same time, I experienced growth; traveling the world for choreography, running camps and clinics, educating coaches, and working with athletes at multiple levels. Those contrasts shaped me. I didn’t just survive those seasons; I grew through them, and they continue to inform the way I show up for others today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work lives at the intersection of excellence, expression, and education. I’m a coach.
I started coaching in club gymnastics, where I built a strong foundation developing athletes with structure, consistency, and technical precision. Early on, my athletes found success not just in scores, but in confidence, longevity, and love for the sport. That foundation allowed me to expand my reach beyond one gym or one region.
As my career grew, so did my impact. I began traveling nationally and internationally as a choreographer, clinician, and educator—working with athletes and coaches across different systems, cultures, and levels. I’ve been fortunate to be involved in philanthropic work in multiple countries, using gymnastics and movement as a tool for empowerment, access, and education. Those experiences deepened my understanding of how sport can change lives far beyond competition.
What I specialize in is athlete development in the fullest sense; technical execution, performance quality, mental confidence, and identity. I’m known for choreography that is bold, intentional, and expressive, while still being grounded in the Code and built to score. My personality is flamboyant and unapologetic, but my work is disciplined, structured, and detail-driven. I believe athletes should feel powerful, not packaged and that creativity and correctness can coexist at the highest level.
Professionally, I’ve worn many hats. I’ve coached and developed club athletes, volunteered at the collegiate level at Fisk University, and now serve as an assistant coach, choreographer, recruiting coordinator at Southern Connecticut State University. In those roles, I’m involved in athlete development, recruiting, choreography, culture-building, and mentoring; helping shape not just competitors, but young women prepared for life beyond gymnastics.
What I’m most proud of is my ability to evolve without losing myself. I’ve grown from club coaching to international education to collegiate athletics while staying rooted in my values. I’ve maintained joy, authenticity, and impact in a sport that often asks people especially women to shrink or conform.
What sets me apart is my balance. I bring energy, creativity, and presence but also accountability, structure, and technical mastery. I understand the Code, the culture, and the human being behind the athlete. I don’t just build routines or lineups I help build confident, resilient individuals who know who they are when they step on the floor and when they step off it.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest piece of advice is to always remain coachable. As a coach, your growth should never stop. Be willing to learn from people who are more experienced than you. Put your pride aside, check your ego, and seek understanding of the sport on multiple levels technical, emotional, and human.
Equally important, take the time to understand who you are. Heal the parts of yourself that are still hurting before stepping fully into leadership, because how you manage or mismanage yourself will eventually show up in how you lead others. Coaches don’t just shape athletes; we shape people, and the impact we leave lasts far beyond the sport.
What I wish I had known earlier is that authenticity can intimidate others. Instead of trying to prove my worth or soften myself to fit certain spaces, I would have focused on continuing to do excellent work without shrinking. Excellence speaks for itself, and the right spaces will always make room for you as you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coachdeavera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdeavera?igsh=MTN2bDRleDBueWd3Mg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Czn88ZAHf/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coachdeavera?si=Hu2Mz_ccixL2sbn6
Image Credits
College Coaching Photos: Ciana Rios & Charlie Manzano
College Athlete Photos: Boise State University Pic – Steve Conner Photography, University of Illinois Chicago – unknown
Young Athlete and Dance Photos – Olivia Shirah & Bjorn Hermansen
