I grew up in Mahopac, New York, until I was 12 years old, then moved to Sarasota, Florida, in the summer of 1990. Living in Florida allowed me to play baseball year-round. That fall, while playing Little League, a coach and friend invited me to church. I attended with them and really enjoyed it, and on Easter Sunday, my whole family joined me, and we all got saved.
I attended Riverview High School and graduated from Calvary Chapel Christian School. After that, I enrolled at Pensacola Christian College. I was hired by the Sarasota Sheriff’s Office in 2000 and graduated from the academy in 2001. For the past 24 years, I have proudly served the citizens of Sarasota County.
I have been married to my wife, Shari, for 19 years, and we have three children: Jake (17), James (15), and Haley (11).
I’ve been coaching baseball for the last 13 years, focusing on both Little League and travel teams. With Little League, we won 22-23 consecutive district and sectional championships and reached the state finals for 13-14U and 15-16U. In 2024, we won another district championship with the 13-14U team.
In the fall of 2022, me and two other coaches started a 16U travel team called Braden River Renegades. We achieved significant success, winning 3 out of the 6 tournaments we entered and reaching the championship game in 5 out of 6. In the summer of 2023, I began coaching the Central Florida Select travel baseball team, focusing on high-level baseball and preparing players for collegiate or higher-level play.
For the past two years, I've coached the same 16-18U team, achieving remarkable results. Our 18U summer team in 2023 saw every player commit to collegiate-level baseball, with one player even getting drafted. Our 16U program has won 6 championships since fall 2023 and frequently reached the championship game in various tournaments.
As a coach, I strive to be a mentor to my players, helping them succeed both on the field and in life. My coaching philosophy emphasizes a team-first concept, putting the team above individual players. Building a strong team culture is crucial for success, fostering trust, accountability, and motivation, which ultimately lead to improved performance and results
