Mike Kornacker - Pitching Coordinator 

• 4-year varsity letter winner at St. Laurence HS
  • Area Player of the Year in 2013
  • Catholic League Player of the Year in 2014
• Played Collegiate Baseball at Purdue University ('14-'18) and Valparaiso University ('19)
  • Earned a bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University in 2018 and masters degree in Sports Administration from Valparaiso in 2019. 
• From Lemont, Illinois

Email: mike@baseball-institute.com
Get to know Mike: mike_kornacker_bio__.pdf

    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: erik_lis_bio_.pdf

Chris Pack - Pitching Instructor 

• 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: baseballinstitute@gmail.com
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: 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: 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

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

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​

Kyle Wood - Utility Instructor

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

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

Brad Bass - Pitching Instructor  

• Pitched for the University of Notre Dame 
• Drafted 2 times in his career to the MLB
  • Drafted in 2014 in the 33rd round to the Cubs out of HS (Lincoln-Way Central)
  • Drafted in 2017 in the 7th round to the Detroit Tigers
• Currently Pitching in the Detroit Tigers organization
• From New Lenox, IL

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
  

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 

Carson Bartels - Hitting/fielding Instructor

• Currently playing college baseball as a 5th year senior at St. John's University
  • 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. 

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 

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 

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

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 

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