welcome head coach shaye!
Sanitas Community,
Melissa and I are thrilled to share that Shaye Patel has joined CrossFit Sanitas as Head Coach.
When Dwight and I discussed a head coach transition two months ago, we couldn't have hoped for a better outcome. Dwight stays with us as a senior coach, programmer, and key pillar of the community — and we feel genuinely fortunate to have found someone so well-suited to lead Sanitas into the future.
Many of you met Shaye during his twenty-hour audition in the gym last week, and your feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Shaye and I have also spent about fifteen hours together planning the future of Sanitas, working out, bonding, and philosophizing on the roles of fitness, coaching, performance, and community in a life well-lived.
Shaye begins coaching with us on May 3 and moves here full-time on June 1 with his wife, Laura, from Miami. And he’ll be with us on May 6th to chat with you all (see below for more).
Until then, here’s a bit about our new head coach. Shaye is…
A former nationals team water polo player.. A Canadian of Indian descent who has spent two-thirds of his adult life in Brazil… Fluent in 5 or 6 languages, including Portuguese, which he used in his former career as a Brazilian attorney… One of the <1% of all CrossFit coaches with a coveted Level 3 certification… An endurance athlete and repeat finisher of the Navy SEALs NYC Hudson River swim… A coach to NFL superstars, Special Forces, CrossFit Games podium finishers, and adaptive athletes… An expert in breathwork, contrast therapy, and stress response… A repeat guest lecturer to West Point varsity athletic teams… A certified Hyrox trainer who helped bring the sport to San Diego two years ago…and more…
But what convinced me that Shaye is our guy wasn't the resume. It was his energy and presence — paired with technical depth and a rare ability to connect across the diversity of our membership with genuine caring and warmth. I’m excited for the impact Shaye will have on our community.
You can reach him at shaye@shayepatel.com if you’d like to shoot him a note of welcome.
And please join us at the gym at 6:30p on May 6 for a fireside chat, Q&A, and BBQ with Coach Shaye!
— Eric