Known as the “Rubberband Man”, Dick Hartzell invented the Flex Band® exercise equipment and founded his company, Jump Stretch, Inc., in 1980. Before that, he held numerous place-kicking records at his alma mater Youngstown State University that remained intact from the early 1960s to the mid 1990s. Since 1964 he has coached athletes on the high school, college and professional levels.

Hartzell has developed innovative ways of training athletes of all ages, in all sports. He uses the bands to help athletes improve their flexibility, foot
quickness, vertical jump and coordination.
A front-runner in the area of therapeutic exercise, Hartzell is able to reduce “downtime” from sprains and strains from weeks and months to literally
hours and days.

Coach Hartzell has set up strength training programs (that utilize the Flex Band® equipment) for pro teams in all major sports. The teams purchase bands on a regular basis and many of their trainers consult with Hartzell throughout the season, especially when injuries occur.

Hartzell is the foremost speaker in the country on alternative training methods. Now over 65, Hartzell does a full split during his motivational presentations to prove that his flexibility program really works. With more than 25 years in the rubberband strength training arena, no one knows more about band training than the "Rubberband Man" himself!