ABOUT OKC BARBELL
Learn more about who we are.
It all started with a professor in a small classroom at Oklahoma City University in 2012. Dr. Jason Miller is the founder of OKC Barbell Club; he began with university students on campus and only one platform in the classroom. His background of strength conditioning and Olympic weightlifting led him to grow a university club and a community club (OKC Barbell). In 2020, Dr. Miller then handed the leadership role over to his longtime athlete and former head coach of OKC Barbell, Victor Vargas. In October 2022, the club then moved from OCU’s campus to the amazing facility of CrossFit HomeBase Central. Currently, OKC Barbell is the longest living barbell club in Oklahoma with 10+ years of experience. This club has produced athletes of all age groups and skill levels, from local competitors to national medalists. Our coaches ensure training programs are tailored specifically to each lifter. OKC Barbell strives to cultivate local talent and provide the best training environment for its members. If you want to improve your lifting or see what Olympic weightlifting is all about, please come on in and join our family!
OKC BARBELL COACHES & STAFF
JASON FRIMPONG
HEAD COACH
Jason Frimpong is the head coach of OKC Barbell. Coach Jason obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications and has his CPT Certification from the National Council of Strength and Fitness (NCSF) as well as a USAW Level 1 certification. He started out playing collegiate Division 1 football at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and then finished off at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Soon after he graduated from college, he quickly began competing in Olympic Weightlifting for OKC Barbell Club. He was an athlete under Dr. Jason Miller for 4 years and has been involved ever since. He is currently a personal trainer at Lifetime Athletic and runs an Olympic weightlifting program where he serves as head coach. Coach Jason does a great job of helping all athletes achieve goals as well as being extremely passionate throughout it all.
ISAAC CHRISTOPHER
YOUTH COACH
Coach Isaac is the youth coach of OKC Barbell. He has four years of childcare experience, two years of experience as an elementary Sunday School teacher, and a USAW Level 1 certification. He was previously a youth trainer at Lifetime Athletic. He has always been passionate about working with youth, always considering them a future worth investing in. At OKC Barbell, he provides a program for youth to engage in Olympic weightlifting; this program is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and make friendships along the way. Youth lifters will obtain crucial life skills that set the foundation for success later in life.
SAM NALAGAN
ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Sam currently assists Coach Jason with the Barbell Basics classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He works with beginning lifters of all ages to focus on the building blocks of the Olympic lifts. He has been Olympic lifting since 2019 and has been a member of OKC Barbell Club for 6 months. He has a CPT certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as well as a USAW Level 1 certification. In addition to Olympic lifting, Sam is also a coach at Arsenal Strength & Conditioning; he has been a personal trainer for one year. Coach Sam is happy to be a part of the OKC Barbell family and enjoys helping lifters achieve their goals.
JOY KOTEY
TEAM ADMINISTRATOR
Joy serves as the ‘Team Mom.’ She assists Coach Vic with planning, communications, logistics and of course, snack patrol! She has been Olympic lifting consistently since 2021 and has been a member of OKC Barbell since July 2022. She is a USAW Local Weightlifting Club (LWC) Referee, has a USAW Level 1 Certification, and is SafeSport Certified. She tracks USAW memberships for coaches and lifters, sends team communications, coordinates team apparel and runs meets hosted by OKC Barbell. She also referees and marshals volunteers at various meets all around Oklahoma. By day, Joy works full-time as a wastewater treatment manager for the City of Oklahoma City Utilities Department.