Chris Pack - Pitching Coordinator

• Founder of Baseball Institute.
• Played collegiate baseball at Villanova University and University of Illinois. 
• Played professionally in the Diamondbacks Organization.
  • Peaked at High-A.
• From Darien, Illinois. 

Email: baseballinstitute@gmail.com
Get to know Chris: Full Length Bio

    Erik Lis - Hitting Coordinator

• 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: Full Length Bio

Alex Schell - Asst. Program Coordinator & Utility Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at North Central College. 
• Played two years as a shortstop, and two years as a relief pitcher.
• Played in the D3 College World Series in spring of 2017.
• From Lansing, Illinois.

Email: alex@baseball-institute.com
Get to know Alex: Full Length Bio

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: connor@baseball-institute.com

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: Full Length Bio

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: Full Length Bio

Lou Simios - Pitching Instructor

• Runs Baseball Institute Performance Group
• Former Assistant Coach at Benedictine University 
  • Primarily a Pitching Coach at Benedictine 

​Get to know Lou: Full Length Bio

Matt Milroy - Pitching Instructor 

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois. 
• Drafted by the Red Sox in 2009 and then again by the Marlins in 2012. 
• Peaked at High A with the Rangers. 
  • Career ERA of 4.54.
• From Aurora, Illinois. 

Bryan Roberts - Utility Instructor 

• Played collegiate baseball at the University of Illinois. 
• Pitched 125 career innings for the Illini.
  • Posted 17 career saves and 113 strikeouts. 
• From Lisle, Illinois

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: Full Length Bio

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

Pat McInerney - Utility Instructor 

• Four year starter at the University of Illinois
  • Hit .309 his senior season. 
• Currently in the Brewers organization.
  • Ended the 2017 in Rookie League. 
• From Downers Grove, Illinois

Steve Heilenbach - Utility Instructor

• Played collegiate baseball at Illinois State University. 
  • Pitched in 46 games (24 starts) over 169 innings pitched and went 9-6 with a 3.36 ERA and 106 career strikeouts
• Plays Professionally for the Windy City Thunderbolts
  • Joined the team in 2018 as a first round pick of the Thunderbolts in the Frontier League draft and appeared in 6 games compiling a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings of work
• From Western Springs, Illinois

Get to know Steve: Full Length Bio

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

Jake Roberts - Utility/Catching Instructor

• Played Collegiate Baseball 2 years at Yakima Valley Community College and 2 years at Gonzaga
  • 2017 Second Team All-WCC, WCC All-Academic Honorable Mention, and named to the WCC Championships All-Tournament Team
  • ​Senior Season Jake had 51 hits, a .290 average with 10 doubles, six home runs, 31 RBIs, and 38 runs scored
    
• Played professionally for the AZL Dodgers 
  
• From Plainfield, Illinois

Matt Holliday - Utility Instructor

• Played Collegiate Baseball at Lawrence University
  • Pitched and played IF
  • Holds the Lawrence career records for hits (194), doubles (48), RBI (113), runs scored (95) and at-bats (514)
  • 35 career appearances on the mound, pitching 113 Innings with 7 Wins, 1 Save, and striking out 59
  • 4x All-Midwest Conference team selection
  • D3baseball.com 3rd Team All-Central Region and American Baseball Coaches Association 3rd Team All-Central Region​
• From Hong Kong, China

Kevin Mampe - Utility Instructor

• Current Graduate Assistant Coach at University of St. Francis
• Four Year starter and 3 time all-CCAC pick for the USF Saints between 2015-18
• Drafted with the 22nd pick in the 2019 Frontie League Draft by the Joliet Slammers
• From New Lenox, IL

Mitch Zack - Utility Instructor

• Played 2 seasons at Spoon River Community College in IL
• Played at University of St. Francis 
  • Pitched for both Colleges
• Current Graduate Assistant Coach for USF Softball
• From Romeoville, IL

Michael Mateja - Utility Instructor

• Played 3 Seasons at North Central College in Naperville, IL
  • Was a two-time DIII All- American at third base
  • Was a two-time CCIW Player of the Year
  • Left after his Junior Season for MiLB
• Drafted in the 25th round in the 2018 MLB Draft to the Atlanta Braves
• Played the last 2 seasons in the MiLB and Frontier league with the Braves and the Windy City Thunderbolts
• From Bourbonnais, IL

Kyle Wood - Utility Instructor

• Played 1B and P at Purdue (West Lafayette) 2012-16
  • 3rd Team All-Big Ten his Senior Year
• Played in 2016 and 2017 for the Windy City Thunderbolts
• From Orland Park, IL

Elliot Thompson - Strength and Conditioning 

• Does Strength and Conditioning/Athletic Performance at Wheaton Academy in West Chicago, IL
• Currently serves with Chicago Eagles Ministry as a Soccer coach 
• Elliot earned a BS in Biology and a Minor in Ministry from Greenville College
  
  • ​Is in the process of earning credentials as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
    
  • Plans to pursue a D-Class soccer coaching license
    
• Played Soccer for 22 years