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 2011-2012. 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.

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.

 
 
 

Earl Andersen , Instructor, Softball Pitching
Coach Anderson Brings over thrirty years of fast-pitch softball experience to his students at Fox Valley Sports Academy. He has spent the last twenty years giving private and camp pitching instruction to students from the entire Chicagoland area. Earl works with studends of all levels and specializes in advanced fast-pitch instruction.

Many of Andersen's students have gone on to successful collegiate careers; his pitching expertise has been an influence to area travel organizations and players of all ages.

Earl is available year round for private as well as group pitching instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Buzz Capra, Instructor, Speaker, Baseball Pitching
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.

Coach Capra spent over 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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Joe Colucci, Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Fielding
Coach Colucci is a former Division III athlete for North Park University's baseball program. At North Park, Colucci led his team in most offensive and defensive categories including home runs, slugging percentage, RBI, and fielding percentage, leading to All-Conference honors.

Prior to Joe's collegiate career, he attended Taft High School, earning All City and All Area honors. Joe joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff in 2009 and is available year round for private instruction.

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Jaci Corn , Instructor, Softball Hitting & Fielding,
Coach Corn is one of 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 Master of Education in Sports Management at Northern Illinois University.

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. In 2002, Jaci was the Elgin High Female Nominee for the Wendy's Heisman Award and was a recipient of an Elgin Sports Hall of Fame Foundation Scholarship Award.

Jaci was also an All-Conference player at Elgin Community College and a Region IV All-Region team selection. While at Judson University, she was named Eagles' Defensive Player of the Year the two years she played there.

Jaci is available for slap hitting/hitting instruction, fielding and throwing.

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Jerry Donahue, Instructor, Baseball Pitching & Hitting
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 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
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. Currently, Coach Erickson is the assistant varsity baseball coach at South Elgin High School and also serves as an associate scout with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

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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Steve Gagliano , Instructor, Baseball Pitching & Hitting
Coach Gagliano rejoins the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff for the fall of 2011. Coach Gagliano played 9 years of professional baseball in the Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago Cubs minor league system. During his professional tenure, Steve was part of 2 minor leauge championships.

Coach Gagliano has spent his recent years as the skipper for the Palatine American Legion baseball team. In 2008, his team won the Illinois Department American Legion title, and went on to finish 16th nationally. He has also led his teams to four county championships spannign 6 seasons. Coach Gagliano is available for pitching and hitting lessons year round.

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Mike Hawkins, Instructor, Softball/Baseball Hitting
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. He is currently available year round for group and private lessons.

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Randy Kaczmarski, Instructor, Hitting & Fielding
Coach Kaczmarski is a former minor league infielder, having played for both the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cub farm systems. In addition to his professional playing career, Randy has also worked as a professional scout in recent years with several organizations.

Coach "Kaz" has been instructing for nearly twenty year as a private hitting instructor as well as lead camp instructor for many of Fox Valley Sports Academy’s winter programs. Coach Randy is also a camp evaluator and lead instructor for the academy's Annual High School Baseball Advanced Camp every January.

Randy is available year round for both private and group hitting and fielding instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Jim Kating, Instructor, Hitting & Catching
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 25 HRs in 1986.

Coach Jim is currently the Head Varsity Baseball Coach at South Elgin High School; and 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
Coach Kees is formerly the Associate Head Coach at Elgin Community College. During his tenureat the college, the Spartans have averaged 44 wins a season and Coach Kees has produced three All-American pitchers.

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 on a year round basis.

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Steve Knapp, Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Fielding
Coach Knapp joins us in the Fall of 2011 as a former area high school and collegiate standout. Steve played two years at Elgin Community College under Bill Angelo, and transferred to Division I Western Illinois University. During his 2006 senior season, Knapp hit .327, drove in 42, and stole 30 bases while only being caught 3 times. Coach Knapp currently serves as the Sophomore level coach at Hampshire High School.

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Pat Meginniss, Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Catching
Pat Meginniss started his career as a two year varsity award winner for Elgin High School. Then became a Elmhurst College Bluejay, where he was a four year varsity award winner and three year starter with career batting average of .320 and career on-base percentage of .380; his career fielding percentage (catcher) was .975.

Coach Meginniss has been assiting with catchers/hitting instruction for Fox Valley Sports academy since 2004. Coach Pat is available for instruction at the academy year round.

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Ken Nagler, Instructor, Baseball Hitting, Pitching & Fielding
Coach Nagler is a former collegiate pitcher from Winona State University in Minnesota. Prior to his college playing experience, Ken was a four-year player at Elk Grove High School. Coach Nagler's playing experience also included a stint pitching for the Winona Chiefs a summer travel, an organization that has been in existence for over 50-years.

Ken has worked closely with several successful local travel organizations as well as with area training camps. Currently he is the manager of the 17U Elgin Express club. Ken has also spent time as the pitching coach for the Judson University Eagles.

Coach Nagler specializes in private and group instruction and joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff full time in 2005. Ken is available for private and group instruction year round at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Jon Novak , Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Pitching
Coach Novak is a former area high school standout and collegiate pitcher from Judson College. Before joing the Judson Golden Eagles program, Jon was a three year varsity letterman at Hampshire High School, earning all conference and all area awards in 2004, 2005, and 2006. During his Varsity pitching career, Jon posted a 10-2 record with a 3.68 ERA, and hurled 4 shutouts, including 3 consecutive shutouts during an impressive 27 consecutive scoreless inning streak. Coach Novak also became one of the area's first four year American Legion players for Elgin Post 57(2004-2007). Jon joined the Hampshire High School Baseball coaching staff in 2011 on a part-time basis, primarily working with the pitching staff and catchers.

Coach Novak served as the Director of Baseball Operations from 2009-2011. Jon is available year round for private instruction.

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Stacy Nowak , Instructor, Softball Pitching
Coach Stacy Nowak joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy instructional staff in 2010, after completing her collegiate career at Concordia University Chicago. Prior to pitching for Concordia, Stacy was a two year starter at Elgin Community College under Anne Vogt. In 2006, Stacy posted a 16-4 record in 23 starts with a 2.62 earned run average and a WHIP of 0.89. Coach Nowak is available for private as well as group pitching instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Jim Richardson, Instructor, Baseball Hitting & Catching
Coach Richardson is a former NJCAA and NCAA scholarship athlete. After earning four Varsity letters playing baseball at West Chicago High School, Coach Richardson went on to play at Elgin Community College and finished his career at The University of South Carolina-Upstate. While at ECC and USC-U Coach Richardson was at or near the top off every offensive category.

Coach Richardson has five years of professional instruction experience and is currently an Assistant Coach at St. Charles North High School. He specializes in hitting and catching instruction.

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Becky Stenning, Instructor, Softball Pitching
Coach Stenning joined the Fox Valley Sports Academy staff in 2005. Becky is the current head softball coach at Judson University (Elgin, Illinois). 2011 marked a program record season, with the Judson Lady Eagles, guiding the program to its first ever CCAC title, scoring 32 wins, and Coach Stenning recieving three different coach of the year honors (CCAC, NCCAA, and NFCA). Previous to Judson University, Stenning spent three years as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University under head coach Beth Williams. As part of the staff, Stenning 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.

Stenning 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.

Coach Stenning is available for private as well as group pitching instruction at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Elissa Varney, Instructor Softball Hitting & Fielding
Coach Varney joins our staff in 2010 as a former area standout at Elgin High School who continued her playing career at Elgin Community College (Elgin, Illinois) and Division III MacMurray College (Jacksonville, Illinois). During her tenure at MacMurray, Elissa was named the team captain of the Highlanders in the 2004 campaign, while hitting with a .317 average. Beginning in the Spring of 2011, Coach Varney has been named assistant coach for the Elgin Community College Lady Spartans Softball program. Elissa is available for private lessons during the winter months at Fox Valley Sports Academy.

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Anne Vogt, Instructor Softball Hitting, Pitching & Fielding
Coach Vogt [VOTE] is a former high school and collegiate standout from the Fox Valley area. While at Larkin High School (Elgin, Illinois) 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. The 2009 season saw the Lady-Spartans become Skyway Conference champions and Coach Vogt was again named Skyway Conference Coach of the year. Anne was named the Varsity Softball Coach at Larkin High School for the 2012 season.

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 1/14/12

 

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