Success Starts In The Heart

Rashan Cylar, NASM CPT-PES-CES certified and an All-Conference football standout during his years at Alabama A&M, opened his gym at MicroFlex-Hoover in May, 2026 — four months before this profile was published. He now has dozens of membership-paying athletes who train with him anywhere from one to five days a week — some coming from as far away as Huntsville, a 220-mile round trip according to Google Maps. And to think he owes it all to his success, in 2020, as the coach of his son’s 4K Pee Wee Soccer team.

“Actually,” he says with a chuckle, “there’s a little bit more to the story.”

Rewind to 2024

Rashan, a successful construction engineer, was a VP with the company that lured him away from his position as East Coast Director Of Business Development with a global energy-services firm. It was not going well. So not well, in fact, that he stepped-away from his job without another one waiting for him. His search for a similar position led to several solid prospects — but no open doors.

Finally, after months of soul-searching and prayer, Rashan’s wife Antonia convinced him it was time for a new direction. “Rashan has always had an amazing gift for recognizing potential in young athletes,” she says. “More than that, he has a passion for developing their potential as athletes and human beings. That’s the dimension of our program that has resonated with so many of the parents who trust their children to our care.

“When he was in high school,” Antonia continues, “Rashan’s youth pastor told him something that’s always stuck with him: ‘You have an ability to connect with people, and a spirit that people love.’”

Fast. Forward.

Like so many young entrepreneurs, Rashan launched Athletes Unlimited in the family garage. Word got around. And around. By early 2025, he and Antonia knew it was time to consider a formal location. “I researched a lot of gym spaces, and none of them felt like a perfect fit,” she says, “Then I found MicroFlex. On Facebook of all places! I saw they were opening Spring, 2026 — and that was right in line with our timeline.”

“MicroFlex checked so many boxes for us,” says Rashan. “First, there’s the location itself. It’s in a good neighborhood, which is so important for gaining our clients’ trust. Then there’s the size and layout of our unit. It’s just right for our equipment. Upstairs we’ve got our office space, and there’s enough extra room for the after-workout recovery and stretching area we’re planning.”

And, of course, there’s Antonia’s favorite thing about the unit: “I love the sunlight we get from all the windows in our door.” While Rashan appreciates the sunlight, he’s especially grateful for the community around him. “There are so many good people here, and I love seeing them every day. Tenants here look out for each other. Several mornings I’ve come-in, and found a note on the door from a neighbor who’s holding a delivery for us.”

I hear you.

Regarding the 13-letter certifications Rashan holds, the question arises about his training method. “You know,” he replies, “I could write ‘programs’ all day — agility, speed, strength, whatever. That’s not how I work. Everything starts with listening, and understanding. If you don’t read a child correctly, you can’t help them progress the way they should.”

What’s interesting about his clientele is their variety of athletic pursuits. While the majority come from the primary team sports — particularly football, basketball and soccer — Rashan also serves a number of athletes in “individual” sports, like golf & tennis. And he’s recently added several out-of-town clients pursuing Olympic sports, including track, swimming, figure skating and fencing.

Maybe you’re asking yourself: How in the world did the parents of an Olympic fencing hopeful find him? If we had to guess, they probably heard about Rashan’s epic success coaching Pee Wee Soccer.