Private Coaching
True personalization. RCA’s private coaching is the best instruction you can get. Many of our private students have gone on to become state and national champions. Join them, and get the best with private coaching!
Details
Time: A time convienent for you and the coach!
Location: Zoom & Chess.com or ChessKid Online
Price: Varies based on the coach’s skill and experience.
Rasberry Chess Academy Coaches
Jonathan Rasberry - Head Coach
Jonathan Rasberry is a husband and father who now makes chess teaching his full-time occupation! He has coached chess since 2015, leading multiple students to state scholastic championships. Two of his students have won a national girls’ team championship.
Jonathan is a candidate chess master with a peak USCF rating of over 2100 and has won three Alabama state championships. He also served as the president of the Alabama Chess Federation for over three years.
Note - Due to demand, lessons with Jonathan are limited to either 4 or 8 weeks and are great to get your rating “unstuck” or preparing for a major tournament.
Victor Lundy
Victor Lundy is currently a college sophomore attending the University of Alabama. He has been playing chess since 4th grade and started coaching in his ninth-grade year. He coached for the Madison City Chess League, where he would teach at local schools and tournaments. Victor has worked with complete beginners to kids who are top 100, in their respective age groups, in the US!
Currently, Victor is one of the highest rated teenagers in the state of Alabama with a peak rating of 1856. He has played, and placed at tournaments on the national, and state level, numerous times. He has also won against several opponents who are chess masters, over the board and online.
Derek Miller
Derek Miller is an active duty member of the Air Force, husband, and father of three children. He has played chess all of his life and has been coaching for RCA since 2021. He founded his alma mater’s chess club in 2010 and has always been passionate about teaching others and inspiring them to be the best version of themselves.
Derek’s accolades include 3rd place cadet in the 55th Annual Armed Forces Open Chess Championship, the 2021 Clarence Kalenian Reserve Champion, and most notably the Top Active Service Member from the 62nd Annual Armed Forces Open Chess Championship.
Jaiden Trawick
Jaiden Trawick is a chess teacher and current president of the Trojan Chess Club at Troy University. He's played chess competitively since 2020, was elected Chess Club president in 2021, and began coaching and assisting with tournaments in 2022. Since starting competitive chess, Jaiden has reached a USCF rating of 1000.
Jaiden has a personalized and analytical coaching style and specializes in teaching beginners. In his free time, he works on cars, makes music, or plays basketball. Jaiden is passionate about chess and works to promote it in his hometown of Troy.