Coaches
Steve DiTrolio
Steve's Role:
Diamond Jacks Coordinator of the 16U-through-18U programs.
College Placement Advisor
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 16
Experience:
Assistant baseball coach and recruiting coordinator, Bloomfield (NJ) College, 2005-’07.
Physical Education teacher and head varsity coach, Wardlaw Hartridge (NJ), 2007-’09.
Edison American Legion assistant coach, 2008. State Champions in 2007. We were a regional finalistin '07, '08.
Associate scout for the Atlanta Braves, 2010-2012
Director of Garden State Underclass Games – 2013-Present
Education:
California University (Pa), 2008
Upsala College, 1995
Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS, 1993
Expertise:
Infield and hitting, all ages; College recruiting.
Steve has guided more than 60 Division 1 players through the recruiting process
Did you know?:
In addition to playing baseball at Scotch Plains High School, Steve ran winter track. He competed in the, 60, 200 and 400-meter runs and 800-meter relay. He earned All-Conference and was the team’s MVP.” Steve was graduated from the Union County Fire Academy. He has coached six infielders in the past seven years who’ve committed or played for teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Kevin's Role:
Diamond Nation Director of Baseball Operations
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 17U -Provides private/group lessons.
Experience:
Drafted in the 11th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2000.
Played for Danville in the Appalachian League and the Braves’ rookie team in the Gulf Coast League, 2001
Hitting Coordinator, Diamond Nation, 2008-Present
Assistant varsity coach, North Hunterdon High School (N.J.), 2011
Head coach, Immaculata High School (Somerville, N.J.), 2013-Present
Education:
Kean University, B.A. History, 2012
Immaculata High School, 2000
Expertise:
Hitting, first base and outfield
Did you know?:
Kevin was named First Team All-State by The Star-Ledger in 1999 and 2000. He hit 33 home runs in his high school career, which set a state record. His 16 home runs in 2000 also set a state record. Those records have since been broken. Hillsborough’s Tim Fedroff broke the state record with 34 home runs in a career that ended in 2006. Former Super 17 player Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) broke the state’s single season record when he hit 18 home runs in 2009 for Millville. Cust’s Immaculata teams never lost a Somerset County Tournament game during his four-year varsity career. Kevin loves basketball.
Kevin Cust
Travis Anderson
Travis's Role:
Diamond Jacks Catching and 14-15U Team Coordinator
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 14U -Provides private and group lessons for all ages.
Experience:
Drafted in the 25th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2001. “Tyrone Brooks is the scout who drafted me.”
Reached High-A ball with the Braves.
Played seven years in the Atlantic League for Camden Riversharks and Somerset Patriots.
Hitting coach and third base coach for Somerset Patriots, 2010-‘12.
Diamond Nation – Providing lessons and coaching teams, 2006-present.
Education:
University Nebraska, 2001
Shasta Jr. College, California, 1999-‘00 – AA Criminal Justice
Burney Jr./Sr. High School, 1998
Expertise:
Catching and hitting, all ages.
Did you know?:
Travis’ senior class at Burney High had just 42 students. “Actor Craig T. Nelson (Poltergeist) taught at my high school in 1969.” Travis was the leadoff hitter his freshman year at Shasta Junior College. He played high school football and was named Second Team All Northern Section of California as a defensive back. He holds two football records at his high school; he intercepted 14 passes in one season and kicked a 47-yard field goal, the longest in school history. “I almost went to college as a kicker.”
Rick's Role:
Diamond Jacks Director of Pitching,
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 15- Provides private/group lessons for all ages.
College Placement Advisor
Experience:
Coaching:
University of Utah, 1999-’01, volunteer assistant.
Villanova, 2001-‘06, top varsity assistant, pitching coach, recruiting coordinator
Lafayette, 2006-’10 pitching coach and recruiting coordinator
North Broward Prep, Florida, pitching coach, 2011-’12
Boca High School, Florida, head coach, 2013
Playing:
Utah University, 1997-‘98
Cypress Junior College, Utah, 1995-‘96
Education:
University of Utah, 1999, Political Science
Expertise:
All facets of pitching.
Did you know?:
Rick, 38, has been coaching since he was 22 years old. He was born on an Air Force base. “My parents were both in the Air Force.” His family moved from Cleveland to Las Vegas when Rick was in fifth grade. He has a brother who is eight years younger. Rick went 10-2 on the mound for Utah in 1997 and was the team’s captain as a senior in 1998.
Rick Clagett
Mike Bucklew
Mike's Role:
Director of Player Development 10U-13U
Experience:
Coach, instructor, Diamond Nation, Flemington, 2010-Present
Head Coach, Diamond Jacks 10U and 11U teams, 2012-‘13
Head coach, Hunterdon Central summer team 2010 – 2013
Varsity assistant coach, Hunterdon Central High School, 2009-’10
Head coach, Hunterdon Central Junior American Legion 2007-‘10
Fourth grade teacher, Roosevelt Elementary School, New Brunswick – 2010-Present
Education:
Felician College (NJ), 2009
Hunterdon Central High School, 2005.
Expertise:
Fielding, infield and outfield, and hitting
Did you know?:
Mike broke the single season hits and doubles records and career doubles record at Hunterdon Central High School his senior year in 2005. Mike was assistant varsity coach at Hunterdon Central in 2009. That Red Devils team won the NJSIAA Group 4 championship and finished No. 1 in the state.
Evan's Role:
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 10U - Provides private/group lessons for all ages
Experience:
Evan has coached at Diamond Nation since 2009
Instructor at Diamond Nation Pitching and Velocity School
Coached Diamond Jacks and Patriot League at Diamond Nation
Drafted in the 44th round of the MLB Draft in 2009 by the New York Yankees
N.Y./Penn League All-Star 2011. Pitched for Staten Island Yankees 2011-’12
Five years Minor League experience
Education:
Immaculata High School, 2009
Second Team All-State, The Star-Ledger
Rawlings First Team All-Region and Third Team All-American
Expertise:
All areas of pitching.
Did you know?:
Evan plays bass guitar. His professional baseball career has taken him to stops in Tampa, Florida, Staten Island, N.Y., Crestwood, Illinois and Pasco, Washington.
Evan DeLuca
Bryan Makely
Bryan's Role:
Head Coach Diamond Jacks 17U- Provides private/group lessons.
Experience:
Diamond Jacks coach 2010-to-Present
Immaculata High School – varsity assistant coach, 2013-‘14
Caldwell College – pitching coach, lead assistant coach, 2011-‘12
Ramapo College – assistant pitching coach, 2009-‘10
Waldwick American Legion – pitching coach, 2009-’10, state finalist both years
N.J. Bandits AAU (12U through 15U), 2005 to ‘08
Education:
Centenary College, Sports Management, 2007
Don Bosco Prep, 2003
Expertise:
All areas of pitching
Did you know?:
Brian will be an assistant coach at his alma mater, Don Bosco Prep, beginning this coming spring. He has worked for the Nets, Mets and the Red Bulls. “I worked in operations with the Nets for four years and I worked for the Mets for one season.” Brian was an All-Bergen County selection as a pitcher in high school. His nine victories as a junior set a Don Bosco Prep school record for victories in a season.
Phil's Role:
Head coach Diamond Jacks Super 11U
Experience:
Head coach Diamond Jacks 11U Super
Head coach Diamond Jacks 11U Gold
Coach Diamond Jacks 12U Super
Coach Diamond Jacks 12U Gold
Head coach Zoned Sports Academy 13U
Education:
Bernards High School, Bernardsville, N.J.
Georgia State University, Atlanta, Ga.
Expertise:
Pitching and hitting.
Did you know?:
“I am very into cars and motorcycles and my biggest hobby is, actually, horses. I own a couple horses and travel all over the country for different events. I have been doing this since I was six years-old.”
Phil Cotroneo
Shane Solimani
Shane's Role:
Head Coach Diamond Jacks Super 13- Provides private/group lessons.
Experience:
Diamond Jacks coach 2012-to-Present
Played collegiately for Centenary College 2008-2012
Education:
Centenary College, Education, 2012
Phillipsburgh HS, 2008
Expertise:
All areas of Outfield/Hitting
Did you know?:
Shane was MVP for Phillipsburg HS in the 2008 Hunterdon-Warren Championship. Shane was an All-Conference Outfielder/Pitcher for Phillipsburgh HS.
Phil's Role:
Head Coach Diamond Jacks 14U- Provides private/group lessons.
Experience:
Diamond Jacks coach 2012-to-Present
Played professionally for AmarilloThunderheads
Lake Erie Crushers, Raton Osos, Santa Se Fuego, White Sands Pup Fish
Played collegiately for Keystone College 2008-2012
Education:
Keystone College, Sports and Recreation Management, 2012
Phillipsburgh HS, 2008
Expertise:
Brian was an All-Conferene Outfield/Pitcher for Phillipsburg HS, Brian played in the 2011 Division III college world series in 2011. He was named to the All-Tournament team for the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Regional.
Did you know?:
“I am very into cars and motorcycles and my biggest hobby is, actually, horses. I own a couple horses and travel all over the country for different events. I have been doing this since I was six years-old.”
Brian Del Rosso
Other Coaches:
Ryan Luke
Director of Baseball Operations Lafayette College
Former Diamond Jack
Walt Cleary
Head Coach 12U Super
Jiovanny Aquire
Head Coach 10U Super
Assistant Coach Dickinson High School
Ben Fonseca
Head Coach 11U Gold
Former Professional Scout & College Coach
Cole Kimball
Head Coach 16U Gold
Former Pitcher for the Washington Nationals
Tristian DeFazio
Head Coach 15U Gold
Assistant Coach Hunterdon Central High School
Matt Markiewicz
Head Coach 12U Gold
Immaculata HS Graduate