About Us

Puggy Blackmon

Legendary hall of fame golf coach Puggy Blackmon brings decades of golf experience and knowledge to Apex Athletic Performance.  With experience mentoring, developing and coaching at all levels, including collegiate, amateur and professional, Blackmon brings his holistic coaching methods to help golfers of all ages and all skill levels.

For the past 10 years, Blackmon has served as director of golf for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks athletics program and associate head coach for Kalen Anderson and the women's golf team. During his time with the women's team, they have made eight consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and won five NCAA Regional titles, while producing tour professionals Justine Dreher (2011–2015), Katelyn Dambaugh (2013–2017) and Sarah Schmelzel (2012–2016).

Prior to becoming the director of golf, Blackmon was the South Carolina men's golf coach from 1995–2007, leading the Gamecocks to the NCAA Tournament every year, including eight NCAA Championship appearances. While coach of the men’s team, six Gamecocks earned 10 All-America honors, including future PGA standout Kyle Thompson (1997–2001). In 2005, Blackmon was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame.

Previously, Blackmon was the men’s golf coach at Georgia Tech for 12 years (1982–1995) where he won five Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, made 11 consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and won 34 team tournament titles, making the Yellow Jackets a dominant force in college golf. He earned ACC Coach of the Year honors four times and his program produced numerous All-American golfers, including future PGA stars David Duval, Michael Clark and Stewart Cink.

Lisa Money

Lisa Money received her training in dietetics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, where she lettered four years in collegiate tennis and participated in the U.S. Olympic tennis trials in Flushing Meadows, New York. She is a graduate of the U.S. Army dietetic internship and served five and a half years as an active-duty U.S. Army dietitian, where she helped train soldiers and West Point cadets on sports nutrition strategies. She is a registered dietitian, board certified in sports dietetics, and holds memberships in SCAND, SCAN, CPSDA and IAEDP. Also a lifelong athlete, Money is active in local team and individual United States Tennis Association (USTA) events as well as yoga and hiking.

Jay Patel, PHD

Sports Science Director

Born in Fiji and raised in Mobile, Alabama, Patel currently serves as the director of research at Apex. A former multi-sport athlete at the high school and collegiate level, Dr. Patel has vast knowledge and experience in the application of scientific assessments to improve athletic performance and reduce injuries. He received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, a master’s degree in exercise science and a PhD in kinesiology with specializations in anatomy and sport biomechanics from Auburn University. While at Auburn, he worked closely with the athletics department’s strength and conditioning staff as well as several varsity athletic teams as a sport biomechanics consultant.

An expert in the field, Patel is a sought-after guest lecturer and publisher and has worked with professional and Olympic-level athletes. He also has served as a personal trainer for almost a decade, a mixed martial arts and tae kwon do instructor, an instructor of biomechanics and an instructor of anatomy and strength and conditioning. Patel holds certifications including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association; Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine; and Functional Movement Screening certified through Functional Movement Systems.

Mickey Plymale, MD

Physician and Clinical Director

A former collegiate pitcher at Marshall University, Dr. Mickey Plymale serves as the clinical director of Apex Athletic Performance. He is a graduate of the Marshall University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Following his residency, Dr. Plymale completed a fellowship with the world-renowned Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama. As clinical director, Dr. Plymale provides clinical oversight and leadership for Apex Athletic Performance by developing, maintaining and constantly improving clinical protocols.

Brian Wiley, DPT

Accelerated Therapy Program Coordinator

Brian Wiley graduated from Airport High School and attended Citadel College, where he lettered for four years in baseball, was inducted into the Citadel Hall of Fame, and received his degree in health and wellness. A college baseball All-American, he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox organization as a pitcher, where his career was cut short due to injury. After his short baseball career, Brian completed his physical therapy degree and a master’s in rehabilitation sciences. He is certified in orthopedics  and sports physical therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties.