Staff

Tyler Thompson

Director of Youth and High School Organization

High School: ‘07 Carl Sandburg
Playing experience: ’09 Joliet Junior College & ’11 Robert Morris University

  • Director of Baseball Operations at Cangelosi Baseball since 2013
  • NJCAA National Champion as a player (2008) and a coach (2012)

Bob Lisanti

Director of Player Development

High School: ’91 Fenwick
Playing experience: ’95 University of Notre Dame

  • Director of Player Development at Cangelosi Baseball since 2016
  • In 1996, signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs. Played up to AAA

John Cangelosi

Advisory Board Member

High School: ’81 Miami Springs
Playing experience: ’82 Miami Dade/4th round Chicago White Sox

  • Won the World Series in 1997 with the Florida Marlins
  • Played 13 seasons in the big leagues with 7 different teams

John Flanagan

Advisory Board Member

High School: ’85 St. Rita
Playing experience: ’90 University of Notre Dame

  • Coaches collegiately at University of Notre Dame
  • Member of Arizona State University baseball staff from 2007-09

Keith Massey

Advisory Board Member

High School: ’83 Oak Forest
Playing experience: ’87 University of Illinois

  • Served as President from ’12-’16 and Treasurer from ’10-’11 of Sparks organization
  • Son’s Andrew Massey (Concordia University) and Michael Massey (University of Illinois) both came thru the program

Dave Payton

Advisory Board Member

High School: ’82 St. Laurence
Playing experience: ’86 University of Illinois/St. Louis Cardinals

  • Has played a huge role in the growth of the Sparks organization since ’03
  • Son’s Mark Payton (Texas/NY Yankees) and Troy Payton (Maryville University) both came thru the program

Brett Velon, CSCS

Director of BSF Sports Performance

High School: ‘07 Carl Sandburg
Playing experience: ’09 Joliet Junior College & ’11 Robert Morris University

  • Interned under Eric Cressey in Winter of 2016
  • 2011 CCAC Player of the Year

Billy Copp

Pitching Coach

High School: ’82 Aurora Central Catholic
Playing experience: ’86 Iowa State/7th round Pittsburgh Pirates

  • 20+ years of coaching experience including big leaguers: TJ McFarland, Mike Foltynewicz, Tony Zych, Casey Crosby
  • Current pitching coach at Brother Rice

Garrick Pranchke

Hitting Coach

High School: ’89 Andrew
Playing experience: ’95 Grand Valley State

  • Coached at Grand Valley State University from ’96-98
  • Current hitting coach at Providence Catholic, ’14-’16 State Champs

Brett Maus

Pitching Coach

High School: ’09 Andrew
Playing experience: ’14 St. Joes

  • 2014 1st team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference
  • Played professionally for Windy City Thunderbolts

John McCarthy

Hitting & Outfield Coach

High School: ’02 St. Rita
Playing experience: ’16 University of Louisiana/Lafayette

  • Current head coach at Brother Rice
  • Coached with Sparks organization for 6 years

JT Scara

Hitting & Infield Coach

High School: ’05 Lincoln-Way Central
Playing experience: ’09 Robert Morris University

  • Coached at McKendree University (D2) from ’13-’14
  • Coached professionally with Windy City Thunderbolts & Gary Railcats, currently coaching with Schaumburg Flyers