Meet the instructor

Too many people make mechanics their sole focus. However, being a good player is so much more than good mechanics.  You need to develop a strong body through smart training plans that balance pushing your limits while avoiding injury. You need to watch and study the game  to stay mentally prepared  for every situation in the field, and stay a step ahead of your competition on the mound or at the plate. You need to develop grit and emotional discipline because this game will humble you and how you respond is a reflection of your character. Mastering these areas of your game, in addition to your mechanics, will put you ahead of your peers and take your further. Therefore, I bring a holistic philosophy to the game of baseball. In the end, not only will you be a better baseball player but you'll also be a better person.

In addition to what I described above, I follow Joe Maddon's model of "connect, trust, lead...in that order" when it comes to coaching. It's important to connect with the people you are coaching or leading. You can't just tell people what to do and think you're doing a good job. You have to show that you care and connecting with someone gives you common ground to work with. Connecting is also the first step towards building trust. Trust is also important before leading. One's ability to lead another will be constrained by the amount of trust there is. To further develop this trust I always make sure I'm prepared for the type of instruction I need to be giving. Likewise, I put my trust in the player(s) I'm coaching to show up with the same level of preparedness so we can hit the ground running and get the most out of our time together. Then, the process of leading can begin. This is where the holistic philosophies kick in. In concert with above, I train and lead athletes to uphold high standards of self-respect and respect for others; bring a growth mindset; see failures as opportunities; express gratitude; and set the example. These values will be useful in their playing careers and their personal lives.

Since finishing my time playing with the USC Club Baseball team, I've been something of a baseball journeyman. From American Legion teams to NABA teams, I continue to play to this day. Everywhere I've played, I've hit. I get asked "where did you play?" and compliments on my swing all the time. I absolutely love this game and honing my craft as a player. Turning to coaching and instruction now gives me an opportunity to pass on the same knowledge and love for the game to the next generation of players.

Kinesiology is the study of human movement. Baseball is a series of complex mechanical movements. My background affords me the ability to understand these movements in a way that others do not. It also equipped me with  knowledge concerning proper exercise techniques for strength and conditioning oneself for the game of baseball. 

When I earned my Masters degree in Human Performance I gained a new base of knowledge that included cognitive and psychological elements to performance. I learned about the key ingredients to success, developing expertise, and how to more effectively grasp and retain information.

My time in the navy as an aviator was an honor and a privilege . Not only was I afforded an amazing career flying the MH-60R, I met amazing people with the chance to lead them as either their Division Officer or their Pilot in Command. I believe my time in the service has helped shape me into the person that I am today, complete with intangibles that are hard to come by anywhere else.

I've spent the last decade as an educator at various levels, whether it be as a flight instructor or as a graduate school professor, teaching has proven to be a calling for me. I find it incredibly rewarding. So, when the time came and I decided I wanted to get back to baseball, coaching and instructing was a no brainer!

Most people look for player accomplishments when judging someone as a potential coach or instructor. This isn't a valid measure though. Coaching and playing are different skills! I know players "better" than me that couldn't lead a simple series of stretches - pitiful! 

There also isn't a single active manager in the MLB that is a Hall of Fame player. In fact,  most were nowhere even close, often lasting only a single season as a player. The most accomplished active manager as of 2024 - Bruce Bochy - was a career .239 hitter with only 26 home runs and an OPS+ of 92. Yet, he has won manager of the year (1996),  made nine postseason appearances, and won four World Series titles. Therefore, you'll be better off if you judge your coach or instructor by their baseball mind and their ability to teach, not their playing abilities!