2008 Fox Valley Sports Academy Professional Instruction Staff
Fox Valley Sports Academy has assembled the finest professional coaching
and instructional staff in the Midwest. Each coach listed will be giving instruction during the fall and winter months of 2006-2007. Some coaches are available year round while others work at the academy during the professional offseason. A short bio regarding the coaches’
playing and coaching experiences of the past and present are listed as
well as their areas of expertise and number of years with Fox Valley Sports
Academy noted in parenthesis.
Fox Valley Sports Academy Staff 2007
| Chuck
Abbott, BB |
Mike Hawkins, SB & BB |
| Earl
Andersen, SBP |
Randy
Kaczmarski, BB |
| Steve Arnieri, BB |
Jim
Kating, BB |
| Andy Bisceglia, BB |
Justin Kees, BB |
| Becky Bruns, SB |
RC Lichtenstein, BB |
| Bill Campbell, BB |
Ron Madej, BB |
| Buzz Capra, BB |
Ken Nagler, BB |
| Jaci Corn, SB |
TJ Nall, BB |
| Mike Daughtry, BB |
Tim Nolan, BB |
| Rick DeHart, BB | Bobby Roan, BB & SB |
| Jerry Donahue, BB |
Anne Vogt, SB |
| Ben Erickson, BB |
Kim Wendland, SB |
Click A Name To View Information!
Scheduling Information
Each coach has designated dates, days and times when they are available
to provide private and group instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy.
To find out when a particular coach is available (Days, Dates &
Times), contact the academy at mail@foxvalleysportsacademy.com
or call (847) 622-8700.
Current Lesson Rates and Policies are available on our Lessons
Page. Additional information regarding Group Lesson plans &
Team Training sessions can also be found on the lessons page. Lesson reservations must be prepaid.
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Becky Bruns, Instructor, Softball Pitching & Hitting (1)
Coach Bruns joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff in 2005. Becky is the current head softball coach at Judson College (Elgin, IL). Previous to Judson College, Bruns spent three years as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University under head coach Beth Williams. As part of the staff, Bruns helped guide the Titans to a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III World Series in 2003, an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002 and three straight regular-season CCIW championships. The Titans also won the CCIW Tournament Championship in 2002 and 2003. In 2003, the coaching staff earned CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year.
Bruns was a four-year player for Illinois Wesleyan from 1998-2001. Her teams made NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001. As a senior she was a team captain and also received the Gwen Meyer Award for Outstanding Leadership, Sportsmanship and Hard Work. She was on the Dean's List and earned the Order of the Titans Award for Community Service and Leadership.
In 2001, Bruns graduated from Illinois Wesleyan with a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Mathematics. Following graduation Burns joined the IWU coaching staff while also completing her Master's Degree at Illinois State University. In 2003, she earned her Master's of Science in Kinesiology and Recreation.
Coach Bruns is available for private as well as group pitching instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Bill Campbell, Instructor, Speaker, Baseball Pitching (2)
Coach Campbell joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff in 2005. Bill pitched in 700 Major League games over 15 seasons (1973-1987). In 1977 Bill was an American League All-Star with the Boston Red Sox, and went to the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1985. Campbell highlighted his fine Major League career winning the Rolaids Relief Award in its first two years, back to back in 1976 and 1977 while pitching in the American League.
Between 1976 and 1977 Bill won 30 games in relief against only 14 losses. During this same two-year span, he posted 51 saves, leading the American League in 1977 with 31 saves. Campbell was 83 and 68 with 126 saves and a 3.54 ERA during his 15-year career.
Campbell’s pitching career included stints with Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Montreal Expos. Bill Campbell’s playing career ended in 1987 and since that time he has coached professionally with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1999, Bill was the Major League Pitching Coach for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Coach Campbell specializes in advanced pitching instruction for all ages and is available for private and group lessons. |
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Buzz Capra, Instructor, Speaker, Baseball Pitching (6)
Buzz Capra is a former Major League pitcher with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. Following a sparkling minor league career, which included 44 wins to 18 losses and a career 2.86 ERA, Capra pitched his way into national prominence in 1974, while with the Atlanta Braves.
Capra posted a 16-8 record and was named to the National League’s All-Star team by Yogi Berra. Buzz led the Major Leagues with a 2.28 ERA and finished within the top ten for Cy Young voting in 1974 as well as receiving votes for NL MVP the same year.
Previous to his professional career, Capra pitched at Illinois State University- a team that won the College Division National Championship in 1969. In 2004, Capra’s jersey number (9) was retired during a ceremony at Redbird Field.
Coach Capra spent over twenty (20) years as a professional pitching coach in several minor league systems, most recently with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets.
Coach Buzz is available year round for private and group pitching instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Jaci Corn , Instructor, Softball Hitting & Fielding, (1)
Coach Corn is the newest member of the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff. She is a former high school and collegiate standout who graduated from Elgin High School in 2002 and is currently completing her degree work in Sports Management at Judson College where she is the assistant softball coach
During her playing years at Elgin, the left-handed first baseman/outfielder was named to the Upstate Eight Conference (UEC) all-conference team, as well as being a Daily Herald and Courier-News all-area player for three straight years. Jaci was also an all-conference player at Elgin Community College and a Region IV all-region team selection. While at Judson College she was named Eagles' Defensive Player of the Year two times.
Jaci is available for slap hitting/hitting instruction, fielding and throwing. |
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Rick DeHart, Instructor, Baseball Pitching (*)
Coach DeHart joins Fox Valley Sports Academy as its third instructor on staff with big league playing experience (Capra, Campbell). DeHart, a left-handed pitcher, played parts of four Major League seasons with the Montreal Expos and Kansas City Royals from 1997-2003.
DeHart’s professional career began in 1992 and since that time he has thrown over 1,000 professional innings for several different organizations including: Montreal, Los Angeles and Kansas City. Coach Dehart also has professional international playing experience playing abroad in Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Japan.
Most recently, DeHart played for the Schaumburg Flyers (Northern League) in 2006; Coach DeHart is currently a player/coach in the independent American Association. Rick is available for private and group pitching instruction beginning in the fall of 2007. |
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Jerry Donahue, Instructor, Baseball Pitching & Hitting (7)
Coach Donahue is a former minor league pitcher with the Detroit Tigers organization (AAA). Jerry recorded an impressive 32-9 lifetime record coupled with a career 2.81 ERA during his professional career. Jerry’s career also included two minor league all-star appearances with the Tiger’s organization. Jerry was inducted into the St.Viator’s Sports Hall Of Fame in 2001 for his professional baseball achievements.
Jerry Donahue has been offering private and group pitching instruction in the Chicago area for over twenty (20) years. Many of his students have continued their careers at the collegiate and professional levels.
Coach Donahue is available for private and group pitching or hitting instruction and is a lead camp instructor during the winter and summer months at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Ben Erickson, Instructor, Baseball Pitching & Hitting (7)
Coach Erickson is a former scholarship collegiate pitcher and outfielder with several years of group and camp instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy. As a player, Erickson was Judson College’s first Chicagoland Collegiate All-Conference Player in 1999 and was also an NAIA All-Region selection the same year.
Coach Erickson has spent time as a high school and volunteer assistant coach at the college level. Ben is the Director of Baseball Operations at Fox Valley Sports Academy and develops and maintains many of the academy’s camp and training programs.
Coach Ben is available year round for private and group instruction and is a lead camp instructor at Fox Valley Sports Academy during the winter and summer months. |
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Mike Hawkins, Instructor, Softball/Baseball Hitting and Fielding (1)
Coach Hawkins played at Judson College from 1993-98. He started with the Lady Eagles softball program in 2000, moving to head coach in 2003. In his first year of heading the program, the Lady Eagles made their first regional playoff appearance in school history. During his time there, they set team records in wins, hits, runs scored, RBI, and extra base hits. Players also set numerous individual hitting records under his tutelage.
Coach Hawkins is currently employed full-time at Fox Valley Sports Academy and assists with various camps. He is currently available year round for group and private lessons. |
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Jim Kating, Instructor, Hitting & Catching (6)
Coach Kating is a former two-time minor league all-star from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. Playing primarily as a catcher, Jim was also played in the Oakland Athletics system.
Previous to his professional career, Coach Kating enjoyed a successful high school and junior college career, earning All-state honors at Fremd High School and All-American honors while at Triton College. Coach Kating still holds records at Triton College, including a staggering single season homerun total of twenty-five (25) HR’s in 1986.
Coach Jim is currently the Head Baseball Coach at South Elgin High School; he is also a football coach during the fall. Coach Kating is available for private and group lessons during the winter at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Justin Kees, Instructor, Baseball Pitching (4)
Coach Kees rejoins the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff for 2008. He is currently the Associate Head Coach at Elgin Community College, a program which has been to the NJCAA World Series each of the last four seasons. Last season he helped the Spartans to fifth place at the NJCAA World Series and led the pitching staff to a combined 3.51 ERA. Since his arrival at the college, the Spartans have averaged 44 wins a season and Coach Kees has produced three All-American pitchers in four seasons.
Prior to coaching, Coach Kees played professionally in the Arizona Diamondbacks' organization and posted a .625 winning percentage in back-to-back seasons with Lethbridge, a Rookie-Class team where he went 5-3, and High Desert, a Class-A team where he went 6-2. Coach Kees played locally with the Schaumburg Flyers. His career professional record, which spanned over four seasons, was 20-13.
In January 2002, Coach Kees was named pitching coach of the Rockford RiverHawks, an independent team in the Frontier League. Under Coach Kees, Rockford's pitching staff ranked second in the league with a 3.88 ERA. In the 2001 season, he was varsity pitching coach at Barrington High School, where he helped the staff post a 23-10 record.
Coach Kees is available for private and group lessons starting in November of 2007. |
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RC Lichtenstein, Instructor, Baseball Hitting, Pitching & Catching (7)
Coach Lichtenstein has over 12 years of professional coaching experience, primarily as a pitching coach with the Milwaukee Brewers minor league system. His teams made the playoffs in three of his first four seasons and in 1999 his staff led the Rookie level Pioneer League in ERA. In 2003, Coach RC became the manager of the Alexandria Aces professional baseball team (Louisiana).
During the last two seasons (2005, 2006), Coach RC was the pitching coach for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Midwest league affiliate. In 2007, RC will continue with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization as a pitching coach for their Florida State League team in Vero Beach, FL.
Coach Lichtenstein has worked over ten years as a pitching coach and three as a Manager and Director of Baseball Operations. Coach Lichtenstein has also taken two USA Select teams on tours of Holland, Belgium & Aruba as well as having spent the last decade specializing in private and camp instruction.
In 2001, RC Lichtenstein authored a book entitled, “Preparing to Win- The Complete Pitcher”. In 2003, RC produced a one (1) hour video follow-up to his book. Both instructional items are on sale at Fox Valley Sports Academy.
Coach RC is available for group and private instruction during the winter months at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Ron Madej, Instructor, Baseball Pitching, (*)
Coach Madej was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2005. He had a great rookie year with the Vancouver Canadians where he posted a 2.81 ERA with 28 SOs. The left-handed pitcher then spent the 2006 and 2007 season with the Kane County Cougars. He was selected pitcher of the month on three separate occasions with the Cougars.
Prior to his professional career, Ron played high school baseball at Bryan High School in Omaha, NE. He was used as a pitcher, right-fielder and first baseman. Then in college, at Bellevue University, Ron played the outfield as well as perfected his pitching abilities. In the 2005 collegiate season, Ron went 6-1 with a 3.77 ERA in 15 games (10 starts) and was rated by Baseball America as the NAIA’s top prospect
Coach Madej is available for private lessons beginning in 2008. |
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TJ Nall, Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Pitching (6)
Coach Nall is a current professional pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization, playing most recently in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) with the Las Vegas 51's and Southern League while with the Los Angeles Dodgers system. TJ was a member of the 2002 South Atlantic League All-Star team, posting a 0.63 ERA in the first half. Coach Nall also played in the Arizona Fall League in 2003, spent 2004 in Jacksonville (FL) and was also selected as an All-Star for the Southern League in 2004 and 2006.
The 2006 season was a career year for Coach Nall. He led the Southern League in strikeouts (155) as well as won 8 consecutive decisions for the Jacksonville Suns. He finished the year 10-7 and had a 2.82 ERA. Coach Nall was the Southern League pitcher of the week three times in 2006; he was also the Dodger organization pitcher of the month in June, going 6-0 with a 1.10 ERA. Coach Nall tallied his first professional homerun in '06.
T.J. was an area standout while at Schaumburg High School playing for the Saxons the same year they captured the Illinois State Baseball Title (1997). Nall was named to the Chicago Tribune All-State Team in 1999 as a third basemen, and was drafted shortly thereafter in the 8th round by Los Angeles- as a pitcher.
Coach Nall is available in the winter months for both private and group instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy. |
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Tim Nolan, Instructor, Hitting, Ballistic Training (3)
Coach Nolan joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff as an instructor from the national speaking and coaching circuit in 2003. As the inventor of six (6) U.S. Patents, Tim's ProCut Bat Weight is used worldwide from youth baseball and softball circles, through professional baseball leagues and prominent college programs.
Coach Nolan's playing career began at Rolling Meadows High School and included stops at Cumberland University and a stint in professional baseball with the Connecticut State Independent League. Tim also appeared in the 1989 movie, "Rookie of the Year" acting as the right fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Coach Nolan now travels throughout the United States as well as other parts of the world teaching and training the baseball and softball community how to train players to become faster, stronger and quicker with more power through Sport Specific Ballistic Training. Tim has been invited to speak at hundreds of baseball and softball training seminars throughout the country and appeared at the annual American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) convention in San Antonio, Texas in January 2004, teaching Ballistic Hitting. |
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Josh Pethoud, Instructor, Hitting, Pitching & Catching (1)
Coach Pethoud [PEA-thod] is the current head coach at Kishwaukee College (Malta, IL). Pethoud was a college player (catcher) at both Kishwaukee College and at Grand Valley State University (Allendale, MI). Pethoud specializes in hitting, catching and pitching instruction.
Coach Pethoud is available for private and group lessons during the winter of 2007 and 2008.. |
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Anne Vogt, Instructor Softball Hitting, Pitching & Fielding (5)
Coach Vogt [VOTE] is a former high school and collegiate standout from the Fox Valley area. While at Larkin High School (Elgin, IL) Anne was three-time All Area selection as well as the Courier News’ Player of the Year in 1992. Coach Vogt was also an NJCAA All-American at Elgin Community College and also received NAIA All-Region honors at Judson College (Elgin, IL).
Following her playing career, Anne became the assistant softball coach at Elgin Community College from 1997-1998 and became Head Coach at ECC from 1998-2000. In 2002, Coach Vogt returned to the Elgin Community College softball program where she is currently Head Coach. The 2006 campaign for the Lady-Spartans saw Vogt’s squad break the Elgin Community College record for wins in a season; Vogt was chosen as the Skyway Conference Coach of the year in 2006.
Anne is also the Director of Softball Operations at Fox Valley Sports Academy. She is responsible for designing and maintaining many of the academy’s softball programs and is a lead instructor for all of the academy’s softball winter and summer camps; she is available for group and private instruction on a year round basis at Fox Valley Sports Academy.
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(#) Indicates Number of years instructing at Fox Valley Sports Academy (*) First Year
Updated 10/5/07
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