Tony
Gwynn, 8 time National League Batting Champion, Outfielder,
San Diego Padres, Current Head Baseball Coach at San Diego
State University: Tony Gwynn is one of the greatest
Major League hitters of all time. His accomplishments
are lengthy and are highlighted by 8 National League Batting
titles, 5 Gold Glove awards, 19 consecutive .300 seasons
( second only to Ty Cobb.), a .338 career batting average
( highest since Ted Williams), and 3,141 career base hits
ranking him 17 th on the all-time list. Tony is
one of only a few players in recent history to stay with
one Major League team their entire career, which in Tony’s
case spanned over 20 major league seasons. Tony
became one of the best hitters in baseball through
his ability to focus and his determination to always improve
his game. One overriding trait you usually find
in great players is consistency. As people, not
just athletes. That defines Tony Gwynn.
Dave Page,
Current Arizona Diamondbacks Major League Strength &
Conditioning Coach: Dave has been the strength
and conditioning coach for the Major League Arizona Diamondbacks
for the past six years and helped prepare the players
on the 2001 World Championship Arizona Diamondbacks for
competition. Dave is a National League Representative
for the Professional Baseball Strength and Conditioning
Coaches Society and is currently on the Advisory Board
for VitaCube Nutritional Products. Dave frequently speaks
at baseball clinics across the country where he lends
his expertise in strength and conditioning for all levels
of athletes. Dave is a graduate of the University of Southern
Maine where he played 4 years of varsity college baseball.
Jim
Dietz, Former Head Baseball Coach, San Diego State University
. Jim Dietz is in his 30th season as head coach
at SDSU with 1154 career victories becoming the 17th collegiate
coach to reach the 1000-win milestone and only the 10th
among active Division 1 head coaches. Among the current
major league standouts tutored by Dietz at San Diego State
are eight-time National League batting champion and future
hall of fame outfielder Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres
and first baseman Mark Grace of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Coach Dietz’s has received numerous honors and
awards during his illustrious career to include the Western
Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 1986 and 1994.
Coach Dietz was named one of the five Citizens-of-the-Year
by the City Club of San Diego for his contributions to
the city and community, and also the recipient of the
“Super Star Award” in 1983 presented annually by Collegiate
Baseball newspaper for outstanding effort and achievement
in the field of amateur baseball.
Brian
Graham , Director of Player Development
for the Pittsburgh Pirates . Brian’s experience
in baseball includes the positions as Major League Offensive
and Defensive Coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles, Major
League first base coach for the Cleveland Indians, field
coordinator for the Florida Marlins, and manager of the
Cleveland Indians class AAA Buffalo Bisons. Brian
was a fourth round draft choice by the Oakland Athletics
in 1982 out of the University of Los Angeles where he
still holds the career record for most hits in a career,
most stolen bases in a career, and most runs scored in
a career. Brain was elected to the UCLA baseball
“Hall of Fame”. Brian is the Director / Coordinator of
Instruction for the East County Baseball Camps in San
Diego.
Geoff
Zahn: 13 year Major League veteran pitcher, former Head
Coach at the University of Michigan, Founder of the Masters
Pitching Institute. Geoff Zahn spent 13
Major League seasons pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers,
Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins and the California Angels.
Geoff Zahn’s professional honors include American
League Pitcher of the Month in April 1982, and selection
to “The Sporting News” All-Star team in 1982. He
was 18-8 and considered the top left-handed pitcher in
the American League in 1982 while leading the Angels to
a division title. In 1982 Zahn was also named winner
of the Danny Thompson Award, presented annually to a major
league player who demonstrates exemplary Christian spirit
in baseball. Zahn was the California Angels Pitcher of
the Year in 1983. Zahn earned Big Ten Coach
of the Year honors in 1997 leading the Wolverines to their
first Big Ten title since 1987.
Mike
Riley, Owner of Stengel School of Baseball and MLB Scout:
Mike is a graduate and former baseball player
at the University of Nevada Reno. Mike has developed
and fine tuned his ability for evaluating and projecting
Major League Baseball talent. As a hitting
and pitching instructor, Mike works to bring players to
a higher level of play by modifying their mechanics and
/ or reinforcing existing ones. Mike is the
owner of a well respected baseball school in the Sparks
/ Reno Nevada area.
