CEO/Founder

Chris McSwain is the founder and President of Top Flight Sports and Top Flight Elite Basketball. Chris graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology with a minor in Human Performance. He also has a Masters degree in Education from National University.

Chris McSwain started coaching basketball at Del Mar High School in 2004 where he was both a JV Head Coach and Varsity Assistant for 7 seasons. In 2010-2011 Chris won a league title as the JV Head Coach at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino. From 2011-2013 Chris was the JV Head coach at Leigh High School in San Jose where he also served as a Varsity assistant under the 2010-2011 CCS Coach of the year, Pat Judge. In 2012 and 2013 the Leigh Varsity won a league tournament title in the Blossom Valley Athletic League. Since 2013 Chris has been the Valley Christian Girls Varsity Head Coach. During his time at Valley Christian, Chris has led the Warriors to 2 CCS Division Championships, 6 CCS Open Playoff Births, 7 CIF State Playoff appearances and holds the record for most career wins at the school. 

In 2020 Chris and the other two Top Flight Elite Executives launched a brand new basketball training facility in San Jose called Splash Lab Bay Area, LLC.     

Chris’s wide range of sports experience has led him to a teaching youth life lessons through sports. Chris’s main goal is to give back to the community that has given him so much during his upbringing.

NFHS Certified
ASEP Certified
CPR Certification

COO/Co-Founder

Stephen Giles graduated from San Jose State University in 2007 with a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Physical Education. In August of 2010, he completed his Masters in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education through National University. Before attending college, Stephen was a three sport athlete in high school. He played football, tennis (first team all league three consecutive years), and basketball-where he was captain two out of the four years played. Following his playing career, Stephen started coaching basketball at Piedmont Hills High School in 2003 where he was an assistant for both the Junior Varsity and Varsity programs. In 2004, he started coaching at Del Mar High School where he was the head boys’ Junior Varsity coach for four consecutive years and won two league titles. During his four years at Del Mar High School, he was also a varsity assistant under Eric Ostrowski and helped them win a league title in 2007. Stephen continued his coaching career as the head F/S boys coach at the following schools: Oak Grove High School, Valley Christian High School, Saratoga High School, Willow Glen High School and is currently in his second season as the head boys’ Coach at Los Gatos High School.   In 2021-2022 season, Stephen help lead the Wildcats of Los Gatos High School, their first league title the last 10 years.  Stephen brings a coaching style with high energy and an emphasis on fundamentals/player development, both physical and mental. Stephen’s passion and dedication for athletics has been helpful when teaching young adults how to be successful in athletics and beyond.

Favorite Quote: “The will to win is important, but the will to prepare is vital” - Joe Paterno

Director of Operations  

Julia “Julz” Allender played Division I basketball and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a minor in Coaching from Southern Utah University.  She also received her Master's degree in Human Movement from A.T. Still University.  

 Julz was a successful women's basketball college coach for 13 years. In her tenure as a head coach, she created a culture of success both on and off the court. In just a short time she took two collegiate programs and turned them into high-powered programs where they were constantly in the discussion as one of the top women's basketball programs across the state of California. Julz had a winning percentage of over 70%, won 3 conference championships, 3 coach of the year honors, had 9 state playoff births and finished ranked in the top 10 in the state 3 years. Marking those as the best seasons in both program's history. 

More importantly, it has been Julz's ability to develop high school athletes and turn them into successful collegiate basketball players and then transfer them with basketball scholarships to the next level in one or two years, the main job of every community college coach.

Julz has successfully produced 12 all-state players, 5 conference MVPs, 30 all-conference players, and the 2012 Northern California Player of the Year. 70% of all players that make it through her program transfer to the next level on basketball scholarships. Julz's personal experience as a Community College athlete and NCAA Division I transfer and a collegiate coach gives her unique insights into the process of getting athletes to not only reach their full potential but to get them to reach potentials, physical, technical, and mental skill levels not yet imagined.

She has and will continue to use her skills to assist dedicated young women to get them where they want to be. Those who have been coached by Julz will tell you she has a way of getting you to get the best out of yourself. "I believe it is the job of the coach to not only develop the level of the team as a whole but to take each individual athlete for who they are and assist them in reaching their full potential. Many players in and recently out of high school are underdeveloped and lacking a physical or mental attribute that may be preventing them from performing at their highest level. I have an insight into the players that play for me, and I am able to get them to overcome whatever that may be so they can elevate their game."

Director of Girls' AAU Basketball

Co-Director of Camps

Regina Sankey (aka "Coach G!") has been playing basketball since she could walk.  Coach G was a first team all league selection multiple years as a varsity player at Branham High School.  After graduating high school, she continued her playing career, playing at San Jose City College.  After leaving San Jose City College, she received a scholarship to play at Cal State East-Bay which is where she finished her basketball playing career and where she received her degree in Psychology. After graduating, Coach G knew she wanted to give back by becoming a basketball coach.  In the Fall of 2020, she got that opportunity to coach for Top Flight Elite and Splash Lab Bay Area. At that time, Coach G also started her high school coaching career as the varsity assistant coach for the boys basketball program at Branham High School.  In 2021, Coach G began coaching at Valley Christian High School for the girls basketball team,  in 2021-2022 she was the assistant coach on varsity team and for the 2022-2023 season she is be the head  junior varsity girls' coach.  Coach G LOVES to see her players grow and be better basketball players through hard work and dedication. She also wants them to grow and be successful off the court as well and Coach G does this by mentoring young athletes about being a high character individual. She has a huge passion for coaching and will continue to coach for as long as she can! 

Director of Boys' AAU Basketball

Co-Director of Camps

Denzel Copeland was born & raised here in the Santa Clara County where he found his passion for sports, fitness, and coaching. At a very young age, Denzel began to explore interests in multiple sports; including soccer, basketball, volleyball, track & field, etc. Playing sports as a child equipped Denzel with many physical, emotional, and interpersonal benefits; such as proper motor skills development (coordination), social skills development, and most importantly self-confidence. Ultimately, Denzel gravitated more towards basketball where he produced the most success. Luckily, Denzel had the pleasure of playing at multiple levels for basketball ranging from YMCA youth camps to NJB (National Junior Basketball), to more competitive play in AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) to Varsity High School Athletics, to Collegiate NCAA to Semi-Professional ABA.

Denzel Copeland attended Santa Teresa High School in San Jose, California, where he played three years of varsity basketball, winning CCS championship in his Senior Year, as well as medaling in cross country and track & field. Denzel served as a Captain and Starter for his basketball team, earning multiple awards including: Scholar Athlete, Junior of the Year, Team’s Most Valuable Player, etc. On the verge of leaving Santa Teresa High School, Denzel had two basketball scholarship offers, one from UC Santa Cruz and the other from Bethany University. Denzel signed with Bethany University but due to the school’s investment issues, Bethany University was shut down. After hearing such terrible news, Denzel was extremely distraught but this did not stop his pursuit to becoming a collegiate athlete. Instead of choosing a four-year university and trying to “walk onto a team,” Denzel chose to go to De Anza College to keep playing and hopefully obtain a scholarship, which he eventually achieved. Earning All-Conference both years, Denzel gained the attention of eight four-year colleges, including Lewis & Clark University, California State University of San Marcos and Texas A&M International. After visiting and talking with several basketball coaches, Denzel decided to sign the letter of intent with the Texas A&M Dustdevils NCAA Division 2. Playing basketball at that level, Denzel finally understood how important it is to care for your body. It was at Texas A&M International University where Denzel found his passion for health & fitness as a whole. Denzel’s main focus is to pass on his excitement for fitness and to help athletes reach all of their goals. With his knowledge of being an athlete, Coach Denzel encourages you to be the best version of yourself. 

“I want to help people discover what their bodies are capable of doing and to teach them safe and proper technique. That foundation alone will serve them for the rest of their lives!! In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure!”