​Erik Lis - Hitting Coordinator

• Co-Founder of Baseball Institute. 
• Played collegiate baseball at University of Evansville. 
• Played professionally in the Twins Organization.
  • Spent seven years with the Twins.
  • Peaked at Triple-A. 
• From Oak Lawn, Illinois. 

Get to know Erik: erik_lis_bio_.pdf

​Josh Altmann - Hitting Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at Olivet-Nazarene University. 
• Drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2015 in the 22nd round. 
• Currently in high-A. 
• From Lockport, Illinois.

Get to know Josh: josh_altmann_bio__.pdf

​Ron Biga - Utility Instructor 

• Played collegiate baseball at Triton Community College and St.
  Xavier University. 
• Managed professionally for the Sioux City Explorers and
  Southern Illinois Miners. 
• Retired Field Manager and Dir. of Baseball Operations for the Windy City Thunderbolts.
• From Chicago, Illinois.

Get to know Ron: ron_biga_bio_.pdf

Chris Pack - Pitching Instructor 

• Co-Founder of Baseball Institute
• Played collegiate baseball at Villanova University and the University of Illinois. 
• Played professionally in the Arizona Diamondbacks Organization and Independently in the Frontier League. 
• From Darien, Illinois.

Email: [email protected]
Get to know Chris: chris_pack_bio_.pdf

Connor Powers - Hitting Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at Mississippi State University. 
• Drafted in 2010 by the Padres.
• Played three seasons with the Padres. 
• Founder and operator of Dead Red Hitting
• From Naperville, Illinois.

Email: [email protected]

​Steve Heilenbach - Utility Instructor

• Played 4 seasons at Illinois State University
• Played Independently with the Windy City Thunderbolts
• Was a 1st Round Pick of the Frontier League Draft
• Named 2nd Team All-Missouri Valley
• From Western Springs, IL

​Jake Suchor - Pitching Instructor  

• Pitched for the University of Saint Francis (Joliet) 
  
  • Graduating with a bachelors degree in Business Management (Spring of 2021)
• Played at Joliet Junior College
  • Hit .410 and pitched 52 innings his Sophomore Year
• Graduated from Lockport Township High School in 2017 
• Favorite Hobby: Disc Golf 

​Anthony Ortiz - Consulting Analyst

•  Previously worked within the Seattle Mariners High Performance Department. 
  
• Analyzed Performance Metrics, Projects and Department Direction for the Mariners 
  
• Played Collegiate Baseball at Lawrence University
  
• 2-Time All-Academic Award Winner in College
  
• Currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Rochester. ​

​Jake Bartels  - Pitching Instructor 

• Played collegiate baseball at Western Michigan University.
  • Served as Closer for all four seasons
  • 7th All-time in single season saves and appearances 
• Currently attends The John Marshall Law School
• From Westchester, Illinois
• Get to know Jake: jake_bartels_bio_.pdf

​Carson Bartels - Hitting/Fielding Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at St. John's University and Heartland Community College
• Earned first team All-Big East Conference Honors in 2021 as starting 2nd baseman in 36 of 37 appearances, batting .279 with 26 RBI's, 9 doubles and 2 home runs.
• Currently In his first season with the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.
• Previously a three year varsity standout for Nazareth Academy. 
• Carson had the second best average of .282 during league play and hit .319 over his last 39 games, with 16 multi-hit games. 

Ryan Haff  - Utility Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois. 
  • Member of the 2015 Super Regional Team 
  • Big Ten Regular Season Champions 
• Holds a Finance Degree and MBA from the University of Illinois 
• Hinsdale Central Graduate 
  • Holds the record for triples hit and runs scored 

Colin Cruz - Pitching Instructor

• Played Collegiate Baseball at Robert Morris University (Chicago) 
• Graduated with a bachelors degree in Sports & Exercise Science in 2017
• Graduated with a masters degree in Human Performance in 2018
• Previously assistant pitching coach at RMU 
• From Homer Glen, Illinois 

Lee Milano - Utility Instructor

• 22 Years as Nazareth Head Baseball Coach 
• 28 Years of Coaching Experience 
• Approaching 500 Career wins at the High School Level
• Coached over 130 players that have went on to play Collegiate Baseball
• 6 former players have went on to play Professional Baseball 
• 2018 Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Member Inductee

Kevin Kaczmarski - Utility Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Evansville. 
• Drafted in 2015 in the 9th round by the New York Mets
  •  Made Major League Debut in June of 2018 with the NY Mets
  • Ended the 2018 season in AAA.
• From Cary, Illinois.
• Get to know Kevin: Full Length Bio​

​Scott Popiwchak - Utility Instructor

• Played Collegiate Baseball at Illinois State
• Played in the Independent Northern Great Lakes League 
• Coached at Romeoville High School  
• 20+ years of Coaching Experience 
• Graduated from Weber High School out of the Chicago Catholic League 

Kevin Johnson - Pitching Instructor 

• Four year starter at the University of Illinois.
  • All-Big Ten his Freshman year.
  • Team Captain his Jr. and Sr. years.
  • Top 10 in career strikeouts, appearances, Big Ten innings pitched, and wins.
• Drafted by the NY Yankees and Oakland Athletics.
• Played 2015 season and part of 2016 season with the Class A affiliate for the A’s.
• From Midlothian, Illinois.
• Get to know Kevin: Full Length Bio

Rick Lapka - Pitching Instructor

Played Collegiate Baseball at Morton Jr. College where he made all-conference and all-region teams

• Went on to play his last two collegiate seasons at Missouri Southern State on full scholarship
• Signed by the Cincinnati Reds and played 3 seasons amassing 220 innings with a 4.38 ERA and continued his career in the Northern and Frontier Leagues before retiring
• Over 5 years as a professional-member of 2 league championship teams and appeared in playoffs 4 of the 5 seasons
• Coached by many talented instructors, including Fergie Jenkins, Mack Jenkins, Brad Kelly and Tom House, who helped shape his foundations for pitching instruction.
• Was the pitching coordinator at a facility in Ashland, KY prior to his move to Chicago.
• Member of Nation Pitching-Tom House Sports which works with all facets of pitching and throwing development.

Mike Kornacker-Utility Instructor

• 4-year varsity starter for St. Lawrence HS
  • 2x All-State recipient
  • 2013 Chicagoland Player of the Year
  • 2014 Chicago Catholic league Player of the Year
• Started his collegiate career at Purdue University
  • logged over 100 innings for the Boilermakers as both a starter and reliever
  • Was a three-time All-Academic BIG-10 Recipient
• Played his last collegiate season at Valparaiso University
• Holds a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Master's Degree in Sports Administration
• Get to know Mike Full Length Bio

​Jordan Mikolajewski-Pitching Instructor

• 2015 graduate of Mount Carmel HS and played all 4 years for the Caravan
  • 2015 IHSA Class 4A State-Runner Up Team
• Played collegiately at Iowa Wesleyan (2016), Oakton Community College (2017-18) and Roosevelt University (2019-21)
  • ​2018 NJCAA DIII World Series Championship (Oakton CC)
  •  logged over 86 innings as a starter for Roosevelt Lakers
• Holds a Bachelors in Business Administration/Management from Roosevelt University.
• Believes that mental control and the ability to adjust as a pitcher are keys to making yourself "invaluable" to a team.
• Get to know Coach Miko  Full Length Bio

Michael Sclafani-Pitching Instructor

• Current player at Lewis University, having completed his freshman season earning a 3-1 record and a 4.54 ERA.
• Lives in Oak Brook, IL
• A 2020 graduate of Montini Catholic High School
  • Member of the 2019 IHSA Class 3A State Championship Team.
  • Named IHSBCA All-State Player, Daily Herald All-Area Player, as well as CCL All-Conference Player in 2019.

Shon Keener-Speed/Strength Trainer

• Played 4 years at Augustana College in Rock Island.  Started at 3rd base his sophomore through senior years.
• CCIW first team all-conference sophomore through senior years: 1993-1996
• Led the team in RBI and batting average his junior year
• Oswego High School Baseball Coach
  • Head Freshman Coach 2001-2013.  
  • Varsity Assistant Coach  2014-2017.
  • Built and ran programs speed/strength/conditioning program where first team in program progressed from below .500 batting average as sophomores to winning conference with a record of 25-6 as seniors.
• Head Coach with Minooka Rivercats from 2017-2020.
• Current Head Coach for IL Premier 14U Team. In 2020-2021, at 13U, his team won 7 of 10 tournaments and finished with a 57-5-2 record.

Connor Lowman-Pitching Instructor

​

• Pitched for the University of Wisconsin Parkside 
• Holds an associates degree in fire science 
• Graduated from Lincoln Way West High School
• Has been a pitching coach for the last 3 years for various organizations 
• 3 year varsity starting pitcher 
• Currently work as a Firefighter/Paramedic 
• Favorite hobby- hunting/fishing 
• From New Lenox, Illinois