Cangelosi Baseball Staff

John Cangelosi

Hitting Coach & founder of Cangelosi Baseball

  • Drafted 4th round by the Chicago White Sox
  • Won the World Series in 1997 with the Florida Marlins
  • Played 13 seasons in the big leagues
  • In 1986, he broke the American League rookie stolen base record

Tyler Thompson

Hitting & Infield Coach & Director of Baseball Operations

  • Played at Joliet Junior College and Robert Morris University
  • 2011 CCAC All-Conference player
  • NJCAA National Champion as a player (2008) and a coach (2012)

Tim Byrdak

Pitching

  • Played at Rice University
  • Drafted in 1994 by the Kansas City Royals
  • Played 12 years Major League Baseball with 5 different teams

Rick Balcaitis

Hitting & Infield Coach and Director of Youth Travel Baseball & Programming

  • Played at Illinois Wesleyan University
  • Masters degree in Athletic Training

Garrick Pranchke

Hitting Coach

  • Played and coached at Grand Valley State University
  • 20+ years of coaching elite travel ball & private hitting instruction
  • In 2013, led the 18u Illinois Sparks to the Connie Mack World Series
  • Hitting coach of Providence Catholic 2014-16 State Champs

Tom Knapczyk

Hitting & Infield Coach

  • Played at Lewis University
  • 20+ Years coaching travel ball at various levels
  • Masters degree in education

Bob Gillund

Pitching Coach

  • Played professionally in Atlanta Braves organization
  • Coaches at Triton College
  • 17 years as High School Varsity pitching coach

Lucas Fritsch

Pitching Coach

  • Played at St. Xavier University
  • Coaches at Marist High School

JT Scara

Hitting & Infield Coach & Director of Player Placement

  • Played at Robert Morris University
  • Coaches professionally for the Kenosha Kingfish
  • Previously coached fro Robert Morris University, McKendree University, Gary Railcats, and Schaumburg Boomers

Brett Velon, CSCS

Strength & Conditioning Coach

  • Played at Joliet Junior College Robert Morris University
  • 2011 CCAC Player of the Year
  • Current Strength Coach at Roosevelt University

Ryan McWilliams

Director of BSF Pitching Performance

  • Played at Coppin State and University of Charleston
  • Corrective Exercise Specialist (NASM-CES)

Ryan O'Reilly

Pitching Coach

  • Played at University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Currently plays for the Joliet Slammers

Tyler Martin

Pitching Coach

  • Played at Cardinal Stritch University
  • Associate head coach & pitching coach at Roosevelt University

Brett Maus

Pitching Coach

  • Played at St. Joe’s College
  • 2014 1st team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
  • Played professionally for Windy City Thunderbolts

Kevin Johnson

Hitting/Infield Coach

  • Played at IMG Academy & Concordia University Chicago
  • Assistant coach at Roosevelt University

Samantha Findlay

Softball Hitting/Infield Coach

  • Played at University of Michigan, winning the Women’s College World Series in 2005 & Most Outstanding Player Award
  • Played professionally for the Chicago Bandits &
    USSSA Pride
  • In 2022, she was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor