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)
• From Lemont, IL

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

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: lou_simios_bio_.pdf

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

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 Frontier League Draft by the Joliet Slammers
• From New Lenox, IL

to know Steve: Full Length Bio

Pat McInerney - Utility Instructor  

• Four year starter at the University of Illinois
  • Hit .309 his senior season. 
• Signed by the Milwaukee Brewers.
  • Retired from playing in 2020 after playing 4 years professionally in the Brewers organization. 
• From Downers Grove, Illinois, and a Benet Academy alum.

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. 

Travis Weber - Catching Instructor

• Played Collegiate Baseball at Lawrence University
  • Starting catcher for four consecutive NCAA seasons
    
  • Named team co-captain after freshman season
    
  • Two-time Academic All-Midwest Conference baseball selection
    
• From Evanston, Illinois 

Bryan Roberts  - Pitching 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

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

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

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

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