When ZOOZ athletes see Coach Will Chapman, their faces light up.
“Hi, Coach Will! I like your beard!” Owen Tran, a ZOOZ athlete, shouts with enthusiasm.
For nearly three years, Will has brought energy, joy, and motivation to every athlete he works with—whether he’s pushing them during one-on-one training, leading a high-energy Zumba class, or coaching the Rock-Steady-Boxing program for people with Parkinson’s.
“Zumba with Coach Will is the best!” exclaims another ZOOZ athlete.
And as much as the athletes love Coach Will, he loves them even more. To him, working at ZOOZ is more than a job—it’s his calling, shaped by the events and people in his life who led him here.
Early Life: A Passion for Fitness
Will’s love for fitness began at just eight years old when his stepfather introduced him to working out.
“He bought weights and taught me the basics,” Will recalls. “We did push-ups, dumbbell curls, heavy bags, speed bags—he helped me build strength. Looking back, we probably could have tweaked a few things, but at the time, just getting in there and doing it meant the world to me.”
Those workouts became a core memory, one that only grew stronger when, at 15, Will was diagnosed with a seizure disorder after experiencing multiple grand mal seizures.
He vividly remembers his first episode, which happened just before a church trip.
“I woke up feeling off, but I got ready and went anyway,” he says. “I was in the back of the car talking—because if you know me, you know I talk a lot—and then, out of nowhere, I stopped. My friends in the car turned around and told me that I was hunched over, foaming at the mouth.”
His condition forced him to adapt, at first, even limiting certain freedoms like driving because of a seizure that happened right before he got his license. It made him ask: Why did this happen? How will my life change?
Rather than letting the diagnosis hold him back, Will doubled down on his commitment to health and fitness. He stayed active and became disciplined – even about nutrition and hydration, hoping it would help with the seizures.
A Winding Road to Fitness Coaching
Despite his passion, Will didn’t immediately enter the fitness industry. Instead, he worked in cosmetology, plumbing, and in-home support services for friends with mental health disorders, among other jobs.
But fitness remained constant—he was always training family and friends, always staying active.
“No matter what job I had, I was working out,” he says. “I always had weights, a bench, dumbbells—something to keep me going.”
At 39, he finally took the leap and became a certified personal trainer through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). From there, his career took off. He started at LA Fitness, gaining experience before moving on to the UFC Boxing Gym and F45 Training.
Zekés: The Inspiration for ZOOZ
While Will’s stepfather and seizure disorder sparked his love for fitness, it was his son, Zekés, who inspired him to work with people with disabilities.
Zekés, now 24, was born with cerebral palsy and lissencephaly, a rare brain malformation that affects motor function and development. He is nonverbal, uses a wheelchair full-time, eats with a G-tube, and requires 24-hour care.
“When the doctors told me he was disabled, my reaction was, ‘Alright, whoever our creator is, I’m glad they gave him to us because we’re going to make sure he’s good,’” Will says.
Caring for Zekés changed Will’s perspective on life. He realized that while his dreams might shift, his purpose remained clear.
So when he saw a job listing for ZOOZ Fitness, he applied immediately.
Finding a Home at ZOOZ
From the moment Will joined ZOOZ, he knew he had found something special. His passion for coaching, combined with his personal experiences, made him an invaluable part of the team.
“Will is an exemplary employee,” says Jake Weiner, the founder of ZOOZ Fitness. “He brings infectious energy, authenticity, and meets every athlete where they are. We’re lucky to have him.”
At ZOOZ, Will has helped countless athletes grow—physically, mentally, and socially.
“I remember working with our athlete Syrus when he wouldn’t make eye contact or talk to me,” Will recalls. “Now, when I walk by, I can’t get him to stop talking! Seeing these athletes open up, get stronger, and gain confidence—it’s amazing.”
Another athlete, Blair, was initially resistant to workouts.
“She didn’t want to start,” Will says. “Now, we have a whole schedule written down. I even ask her, ‘Can we try something new today?’ and she’s open to it. It took patience, but we got there.”
His work at ZOOZ also helps him care for Zekés at home.
“This place is about growth,” he says. “If you want your loved one to get stronger, healthier, and more confident—this is the place to be.”
The future
Now, Will splits his time between ZOOZ and the UFC gym, and he hopes to stay at ZOOZ for the rest of his career. He continuously pursues new certifications—including one in yoga—to expand his coaching expertise.
“I mean, ZOOZ, Jake, Shahar—they created something incredible for this population. They show them they are athletes. And I get to be part of that.”
He smiles and adds, “People say to find a job that makes you feel good about what you do. At ZOOZ, you have no choice but to feel good about it.”
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