INSTRUCTORS

Lee “Buzz” Capra - Baseball

Lee "Buzz" CapraLee “Buzz” Capra is a former Major League pitcher with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. He specializes in teaching pitching and hitting to boys of all ages. During an impressive career Buzz racked up 44 wins to 18 losses and a career 2.86 ERA minor league record. Coach Capra best single record was 16-8 when he 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.

Coach Capra spent 20 years professional pitching coach in several minor league systems, most recently with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. After retiring as a pitching coach to professional players Coach Capra dedicated his life to working with youth athletes. Buzz says that he knew he wanted to be a professional baseball player at a young age. He never let anyone tell him that he couldn’t accomplish his goals. Coach Capra offers his lifetime of lessons in baseball and perseverance to the kids of our community.


Dominick DeNicola - Baseball

Dominick DeNicolaDominick is from Stamford, CT and attended Westhill High School. During his senior year, he  won the 2008 Connecticut State Championship. Dominick is a graduate of Springfield College in Massachusetts, where he received a BA in Sports and Recreation Management. As an undergraduate, he continued his baseball career and had a successful college experience being a dual position player as a pitcher and second baseman. He is also a member of the FCCABU board as an umpire who can officiate high school games. For the past 8 years, he has been coaching for Bobby Valentine's Fury program at all age levels. Dominick is new to the area working for the Kane County Cougars as an Assistant for Player Development . Please catch him at Northwestern Medicine Ballpark for a game.

Coach Dominick enjoys every aspect of the game and can adapt to any age level whether its towards baseball or softball. His I.Q. for the game is endless.  He can be an instructor for batting, fielding, catching, or pitching.

Coach Dominick feels very privileged to be working for such a great organization and faculty at Elite Sports Training Center. He brings a lot of enthusiasm to his lessons and teams, as he believes that positive reinforcement is the key in all of his teachings. He has a ton of passion and is inspired to pass on his love and knowledge for the game while guiding young athletes to a better future. 


 

Chris Wilmot - Baseball

Chris WilmotCoach Wilmot is a 2000 graduate of Conant High School in Hoffman Estates. He was a catcher, outfielder, and 1st baseman for the Cougars during his varsity years. Chris was a member of the 1999 MSL Champion team that set the school record for wins in a season and was awarded the Unsung Hero Award for the 99’ season.

While in college, Chris played semi-professional baseball with the Chicago Lugnuts. In 2005, he attended an open tryout with the Schaumburg Flyers. Coach Wilmot spent two seasons with the Flyers including their playoff run in 2006. In 2009 Chris was the bullpen catcher for the Kansas City T-Bones. While catching in the Northern League, Chris worked with various levels of pitchers from former major leaguers, AA/AAA level pitchers and players right out of college.

Coach Wilmot has coaching/managing experience at the 12-15U levels with the Illinois Indians and Express Baseball Club. Coach Wilmot is an experienced hitting and catching instructor for both baseball and softball players of all levels and is available for private and group instruction.

Chris holds an AAS degree in Fire Science Technology and a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from DePaul University. He is currently a full-time Firefighter/Paramedic and Sophomore Baseball Coach for Bartlett High School.


Vince DiMaria - Baseball

Vince DiMariaVince was a top prospect in Illinois and listed as baseball Americas top 20 list in the state.  In high School (Bartlett High School) He was an All-Area and unanimous All-Conference Selection and was a three year varsity starter. 

Coach Vince earned a 4 year baseball scholarship to the University of Illinois-Champaign. At Illinois, he earned conference player of the week 4 times, while earning recognition as a top Freshman in the BigTen conference tournament in 2001.

A versatile player, DiMaria started all 4 collegiate years playing both infield and outfield and hitting at the top of the order.  Coach Vince summer league played included turns with the Northwood's Lacrosse Loggers and Durham Braves.

Coach Vince also attended the Atlanta braves open tryouts and an invitational for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Coach Vince has experience with all age groups and helps develop kids of all ages.


Cody Wallace - Baseball

Cody WallaceCoach Wallace has devoted his academic and professional career to athletic training and development.  As a 3 sport high school athlete Coach Wallace excelled at baseball, football and soccer. Cody embraced his love of sports and training by pursuing his undergraduate degree in Athletic Training at Northern Illinois University.  

Coach Wallace was a catcher at Elgin Community College before graduating and continuing his studies at Northern Illinois University.  Coach Wallace brings his on field experience and athletic training knowledge to every student interaction.  Coach Wallace is available to coach catching and hitting lessons.

In addition to his coaching schedule Coach Wallace is the General Manager of Elite Sports Training Center and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility staff and operations.


Joe Colucci - Baseball

Joe ColucciCoach Joe Colucci focuses not only on improving skills physically, but also mentally. Coach Joe wants all players to achieve the highest level of confidence through the game and life. Coach Joe is available for private, semi-private, and team clinics.

Coach Joe played at North Park University and was CCIW conference leader in home runs, slugging, fielding, walks, and RBIs. Prior to college, Coach Joe played 4 years at the high school varsity level at Taft in Chicago and received All-City, All-Conference, and All-Area honors.


Ben Allison - Baseball

Ben AllisonCoach Allison began his baseball career as a 4 year baseball player/team captain at Batavia High School, graduating in 2011. Ben moved on to Belhaven University on an athletic scholarship where worked his way up to Senior captain and led the pitching rotation as a starter.

By the summer of 2014 Coach Allison was a starter for the Thunder Bay Boarder Cats of the Northwoods League before signing his first professional contract with Normal CornBelters of the Frontier league in January of 2016.

In mid-season 2016 Ben was moved up to the Florence Freedom before ending his professional career with East Side Diamond Hoppers. Coach Allison has coached collegiate baseball for Kishwaukee College and is favorite coach among Elite Sports athletes!


David Palmer - Baseball

David PalmerCoach Palmer is a Fox Valley native having attended South Elgin High School where he was a 3 year varsity player as a pitcher and third baseman. During his junior year he earned an All-Conference/All-State distinction.

As a collegiate player at Elgin Community College and Davenport University Coach Palmer was a distinguished pitcher posting impressive ERA and WHIP all 4 years.

David is the St. Charles North Freshman and Sophomore baseball pitching coach, as well as a coach for the St. Charles North Stars travel baseball team.


Tyler Wade - Baseball

Tyler WadePlayed baseball for two years at Kellogg Community College. Earned an Associates of Science Degree. Assisted the baseball team at Judson University. Graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Architecture. Currently working on his Masters of Architecture

Worked as Head Coach at Climax - Scotts Summer Baseball Team. Head/Assistant Coach for Holland High School Junior Varsity Baseball Team.

Diverse in baseball philosophies and coaching techniques. Effective communicator in regards to instruction and player motivation. Tremendous knowledge base from both a player and instructor perspective.


Sue Sobieski - Softball

Sue Sobieski President of Wasco Girls Fastpitch 8U through HS. Started and Developed Wasco Girls Fastpitch All Star Warriors Program. Coached Wasco Warriors to 18 first place championships from 10U to 14U. Instructor for numerous Sports Clinics including hitting, base running, fielding, conditioning, boot camps, the psychology of softball, pitching/catching. Areas of focus- female motivation and empowerment.

Certified Personal Trainer. Certified First Responder. College of DuPage, University of Illinois. Other interests: Dive Instructor for wounded vets/children with disabilities through Diveheart. Multi sport athlete in events such as Tough Mudder and Gladiators. Weight training, body building, running, tower climbing, business owner and mother of four.


Katie Lankford - Softball

Katie LankfordGraduated from Trinity High School. Held over 15 school records. Full Scholarship to Central Florida/Robert Morris College. Named All Conference, All Tourney, and All Regional. Named pitcher of the year CCAC. Original Lemont Rocker. Competed over seas in Paris, France for World Cup. Played Semi Pro Softball for Terrasvogels. Played with Woman’s Major Team Palos Elite Force. Named ASA All American Team Member taking Elite Force to top 4. Played in Canadian Cup.

Coached Trinity Junior Varsity Team. Head Coach for Netherlands Terrasvogels B Team. Coached Immaculate Heart of Mary High School Varsity. Named Head Softball Coach for Immaculate Heart of Mary High School. Head Coach for LT Blazers. Coach Carol Stream Panthers Basketball. Coach in Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, and Wheaton Park District.


Kevin Taylor - Baseball

Kevin was a four year baseball letterman at Nazareth Academy High School (LaGrange Park, IL) which included a Regional Championship.  

Coach Talyor was a four year baseball letterman at the University of Indianapolis where his team was ranked in the top 25 in the nation all four years of Kevin’s attendance. 

After college, Kevin played 2  years in the Chicago Skyscraper Semi-Pro League.  During his baseball career he batted over .300. and played shortstop. 

He has assisted in coaching in numerous baseball instructional programs at the little league and high school levels.  Kevin also has umpired baseball games for 7 years from the little league to the semi-pro levels. 

 

Kaylee Hayton - Softball

Kaylee started playing travel softball at 10 years old. Initially with the St. Charles Comets then moving to the Kane County Xplosion. She finished her last three years of travel with the Wasco Diamonds. 

Her experience allowed her to see many different styles of playing the game and different pitching techniques. Playing softball at the varsity level for four years at West Aurora high school and receiving all conference and all academic was a goal she reached with hard work and dedication.

After high school Coach Hayton continued her softball career at North Central College where she had the lowest ERA in the conference at a 1.8 until she was sidelined with a non-softball injury.

Haylee transferred to Aurora University continuing her softball career at with a 2.16 ERA going 7-2 and achieving NACC scholar athlete status.

The love of the game drives Coach Hayton to pass on her knowledge to athletes that have the drive and mental focus to better themselves. 

 

Mike Kloss - Baseball

Mike grew up in the Chicagoland area where he attended both Notre Dame High School (Niles, IL) and North Central College (Naperville, IL). While in high school Mike was a part of the 2005 ESCC conference championship team and was selected as a unanimous all conference pitcher. He was recently selected to the Notre Dame High School Wall of Fame. Through his four years of college Mike worked to earn many records and accomplishments. In 2010 North Central won the CCIW conference and went to the NCAA regionals for the first in many years. At the time of his departure from North Central College in 2010 he was listed in several school records including: 1st in games started (36); 1st in shutouts (3); 2nd in career strikeouts (202); 2nd in innings pitched (235); 5th in career wins (16); 9th in career complete games (9). His honors included: three time CCIW Pitcher of the Week; two time CCIW All-Conference Team; NCBWA National Pitcher of the week; D3baseball.com National Pitcher of the week; Team MVP and Pitcher of the Year; ABCA/Rawlings Central Region Team. When Mike is not on a field coaching you can find him still competing in the summers by pitching with the NABF Chicago Clout. His Chicago Clout team won the NABF National Championship in 2012.

After college Mike started his coaching career. From 2011-2013 Mike was a Graduate Assistant at North Park University. While at North Park University he helped to coach the team to two CCIW Conference Championships and NCAA playoff berth. While there Mike focused on recruiting efforts, weight room instruction and the day to day work of the pitching staff. Since then Mike has worked with several high caliber travel organizations and is now part of the Triboh staff. Mike began giving pitching instructions in 2009 to pitchers of all ages and has seen his players go on to all levels of college play.

Mike received his MBA from North Park University and his B.A. in Sports Management with a Minor in Coaching from North Central College.

Bobby Roan - Baseball

Bobby Roan has trained over 2,500 players in hitting, fielding, pitching (baseball only) and catching. The list includes over 70 All-Area, All Conference, 5 Illinois Super 60 Softball and 4 Illinois All-State selections. Many of Roan's students have received D-I, II, NAIA and NJCAA scholarships. Roan was a college baseball coach for 5 institutions where he was the head coach at 2 of the institutions. Coach Roan served as an assistant coach on the 1986 NCAA National Champion University of Arizona staff. The Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks also used Roan's expertise as an Associate Scout. In addition, Roan is a sought after speaker on baseball and softball topics and has worked numerous clinics on all areas of baseball and softball. Currently Bobby is on the staff of the USA Baseball NTIS serving the Great Lakes Region.