Coach and former Aspire student Brian Kern helps coach Rob Survick get his chair across the gym during Aspire’s 30th birthday celebration Sept. 13, 2025 at the gymnastics facility in west Chandler. Survick died Jan. 21 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
Courtesy of Scott Barclay
Rob Survick, a former Arizona State University gymnast and longtime coach at the Aspirte gymnastics facility in west Chandler, died Jan. 21 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
This week, Scott Barclay sent out the news release he probably knew he’d have to make — albeit probably sooner than he anticipated.
Barclay, owner of Aspire, a gymnastics gym in west Chandler, announced coach Rob Survick died on Jan. 21. He was 48.
Survick had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, for the past nine years, Barclay said in the news release, though the coach and former Arizona State University gymnast wasn’t officially diagnosed until 2020.
“Rob was a coach, father, husband, mentor and a friend,” Barclay wrote. “Since (the 2020 diagnosis), he committed to coming into the gym every day he could to do what he felt would keep him going — and that he did right up until four weeks ago.”
After the loss of the use of his arms and legs within the past few years, Survick relied on staff capable of picking him up, and various chairs to position him in the gym, would use a mic placed on his head to coach the team.
Gymnasts who train at Aspire range from those barely old enough to tumble to college-age young adults. Barclay said Survick was a “vital member” of both the Arizona State University and Aspire families.
“His impact on our athletes, families, and staff is immeasurable,” Barclay wrote. “He brought passion, love, and a vibrant spirit to our gym every day. His influence on both the junior and senior levels will be felt for a long time to come.”
An Arizona State graduate, Survick competed on the ASU Club team from 1998 to 2002. During his time as a student-athlete, the team faced significant challenges, Barclay wrote, including a complete end of university gymnastics funding and the loss of its ASU training facility.
“Rob was at the center of the effort to preserve the program, striving passionately to build this team from the ground up,” Barclay wrote.
Following graduation from ASU, Survick coached the Sunrays and Desert Devils before partnering with Dan Hayden in 2005 to coach the Junior Sun Devils at the newly opened Aspire Kids Sports Center, located near the Chandler Fashion Center.
For the next 20 years, Survick served as the ASU club’s assistant coach.
“Beyond his titles, Rob’s heart was dedicated to developing young men,” Barclay said. “He used gymnastics as a tool to help them grow into strong, responsible, and caring individuals.”
Barclay wrote that Survick was a devoted father to Charlie, age 14 and Gracie, who’s 11, and was “deeply in love” with his wife of 16 years, Missy.
Per Survick’s wishes, Barclay wrote, Aspire will wait until after the season to gather and celebrate the coach’s life with all those he loved and influenced.
Barclay wrote that many people have asked how they you can help or what they can send. The best way to help at this time is to send the Survicks a food gift card; email Barclay at scott@aspirekidsports.com or call Aspire at 480-820-3774 for more information about donating.
“Thank you for keeping Rob and his family in your thoughts during this difficult time,” Barclay wrote.
Survick, in September, spoke at length as Aspire held a 30th anniversary celebration, where Survick spoke to the hundreds in attendance at length. He was also the was the subject of a profile in the Chandler Independent leading up to that event.
“My wife and my kids are the most important people in my life,” Survick told the Independent. “But this sure is important, too.”
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