Our Team

Our Team

Ben Brewster

Co-Founder & President

Coan McAlpine

Co-Founder & CEO

Nancy Newell | CSCS

Director of Performance

James Werner | D.C.

Director of Rehab

Leif Strom

Assistant Director of Performance

Kyle Crockett

Operations Manager 

Turner Givens

Performance Specialist

Gabe Noyalis | CSCS

Performance Coach

Matt Marsili

Performance Coach

Austin Roark

Performance Coach

Ryan Kirk

Performance Coach

Tyler Zombro

Performance Specialist

Jason Foster

Performance Coach

Chase Cunningham

Performance Coach

Lucas Still

Performance Coach

Paul Hall

Performance Coach

Craig Stem

Performance Coach

Drew Hall

Performance Coach

Aaron Bechtel 

Performance Coach

Nash Bryan

Performance Coach

Ryan Flippo

Performance Coach

Victor Sanchez

Performance Coach

Tyler Germanowski

Performance Coach

John Lantigua

Performance Coach

Cody Whitten

Performance Coach

Sam Grace

Performance Coach

Nathan Florence

Performance Coach

Ethan Dyer | CSCS

Performance Coach

Trey Goodrich

Performance Coach

Landon Schirer

Performance Coach

Sean Johnson

Performance Coach

Justin Nicolino

Performance Coach

Patrick Robles

Performance Coach

Isaac Wiley

Performance Coach

Matthew Jordan | CSCS

Performance Coach

Welinton Mariano

Performance Coach

Declan Morrissey | CSCS

Performance Coach

Austin Lawson

Performance Coach

Brock Begesha

Performance Coach

Matthew Young

Performance Coach

Tyler Averitt

Performance Coach

Vincent Riggio

Performance Coach

Jonathan Kaiser

Performance Coach

Zachary Cable

Performance Coach

John Cheatwood

Performance Coach

Zach Warren

Performance Coach

Ben Nuss | CSCS

Performance Coach

Thomas Bednarski

Performance Coach

Carsie Walker

Performance Coach

Angus Adams

Performance Coach

Julian Chabot

Performance Coach

Ciaran Devenney

Catching Performance Coach

Keenan Hodgkin

Performance Analyst

Evan Borberg

Performance Analyst

Courtney Semkewyc, PhD

Biomechanist

Declan Cronin

Operations Specialist

Ben Brown

Content Marketing Manager

Adam Naliwajko

Senior Content Specialist

Jamal Marshall

Senior Content Specialist

Ryan Jares

Content Specialist

Robert Dixon

Content Specialist

Gavin Montgomery

Content Specialist

Sarah Flynn

Content Specialist

Parker Murphy

Onboarding Specialist

Julien Giroux-Harvey​

Onboarding Specialist

Kenny Campbell

Onboarding Specialist

Neal McDermott

Onboarding Specialist

Mikayla Goodall

Executive Assistant

Interested in coaching, or just not sure where to start? We want to hear from you.

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BEN BREWSTER
Co-Founder & President

Brewster went from a 6’3” 155lb high school lefty throwing low 70s, to a walk on at the University of Maryland. His underdog story ultimately led to being drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox, weighing 215lbs and throwing into the upper 90s from a sidearm slot. His pro career was marked by multiple injuries, ultimately leading to 2 elbow and 3 major hip surgeries. His first book, Building the 95 MPH Body, has sold thousands of copies and is a full breakdown of the science and approach to increasing pitching velocity that Tread has used with thousands athletes and dozens of MLB drafts picks. You can read more about him and the origins of Tread here.

COAN MCALPINE
Co-Founder & CEO

Coan, a former self-made All-American and low-90’s lefty, was recruited to pitch at Clemson University, then later transferred to pitch at Central Michigan University (DI) before his career was sidelined by injuries. A co-founder of TreadAthletics, the high school Valedictorian made the ballsy decision to abandon his academic track to Med School as an Honors Pre-Med Student to start TreadAthletics with Brewster in 2015. In many ways the heartbeat & driving force behind Tread, he has worked with many of the high-profile athletes featured on our website, developed many of the protocols featured in our training routines and now serves as the lead problem-solver for a rapidly scaling company.

NANCY NEWELL | CSCS
Director of Performance​

Nancy Newell joins the Tread Team with over seven years of coaching experience in the baseball and softball development space, training athletes from high school through the professional ranks. In college, she earned a BA in exercise science from SUNY Cortland while enrolled in Cornell’s Air Force ROTC program. Since then, Nancy has complemented her successful coaching career with an equally prolific resume as a writer and public speaker, producing over 100 combined written publications, podcasts, and speaking engagements. She also manages a personal blog and maintains a growing baseball research group that dives into the cutting edge of health and performance.
Did we mention she’s a competitive powerlifter and ranks among the top 10 female lifters in the country?

JAMES WERNER D.C.

Director of Rehab

Growing up, James Werner was a high-level hockey player, wearing a letter on multiple teams that went to Nationals. Unfortunately, he suffered a string of injuries that culminated in one that knocked him out of the National Championship game. Struggling to understand why he was never the same after his injuries, James set off on a professional journey to give other injured athletes the opportunity to flip the script. Now a chiropractor and clinician who helps athletes reach peak performance following injuries in their own careers, James has worked with athletes at every level, from high school and college to NHL players, Olympians, and MLB pitchers. As the Director of Rehabilitation at Tread Athletics, James’ expert skillset (D.C., M.Sc. Sports Med., CSCS) plays an integral role in hands-on therapy at Tread HQ, continuing education for our performance department, and the buildout of protocols and resources for remote athletes.

LEIF STROM
Assistant Director of Performance

At the age of 14, Leif Strom had a bone lengthening surgery and reconstruction of the throwing Ulna due to growth plate damage. Later cut from his high school’s varsity baseball team, Leif never lost sight of his goals and decided to leave no stone unturned in his own development journey. He began to self-program, utilizing trailing modalities such as velocity-based training and weighted balls, and gained 16mph from the time he was cut to his sophomore season in JUCO. Training his way to 97mph, Leif went on to be selected in the 2017 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals after a UCL primary repair. He spent four seasons with the Nationals and one season in the Yankees organization, before retiring after the 2022 season. He joins the Tread team with a unique background of playing and coaching, having not only trained himself over the course of his career, but also having spent the previous five off-seasons training other athletes.

KYLE CROCKETT
Operations Manager

Kyle Crockett joins the Tread team after five big league seasons with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. The 2010 Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year went on to play at the University of Virginia, where he earned All-American honors in 2013 and was drafted by Cleveland in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB Draft. Kyle quickly shot up the ranks and was the first player in his draft class to debut, making his first MLB appearance in May of 2014. Bringing with him a passion for baseball and a wealth of experience at the game’s highest level, Crock is able to lend unique insight to Tread’s athletes and help provide direction to trainees and coaches alike.

TURNER GIVENS
Performance Specialist

Turner Givens comes to Tread after spending time as an Assistant Coach at both the University of Dallas and the University of Texas at Tyler. During his playing career at UT Tyler, Turner was a part of the Patriots’ 2018 NCAA Division III National Championship team while earning a BS in biology. Turner’s passion for data-driven player development and ability to find creative solutions to movement-related problems make him an extremely valuable addition to the Tread Team. As a Performance Coordinator, Turner also possesses the rare combination of both an extensive knowledge of pitch analytics and the ability to help athletes understand the intricacies of pitch design in order to apply the theory practically.

GABE NOYALIS | CSCS
Performance Coach

Gabe shocked everyone in 2016 when he was signed as a free agent out of a Toronto Blue Jays tryout, sitting 95-98 mph. The last time he pitched competitively was over 3 years prior when he topped out at 90 as a DIII pitcher. In those three years he took up weight lifting, gaining over 40 lbs and putting up a 500+ lb squat and deadlift. In a turn of events, he threw 89-91 at a school alumni game, prompting him to give baseball another shot. As one of Tread’s first remote coaches, Gabe has worked directly with many of the players you see on our featured athletes page and has extensive experience coaching collegiate and professional pitchers to higher velocities. You can read more about Gabe here.

MATT MARSILI
Performance Coach

Matt joins Tread as a Performance Coach amidst his own professional career. After graduating in 2019 from James Madison University with a degree in finance, Matt began training with Tread in 2020. During his time as a Tread Athlete, he developed from an 88-90 righty to sitting 94-96 indoors with a plus off-speed offering. His rapid development led to Matt signing a contract with the Kansas City Royals in June of 2021. Matt’s ability to relate to his athletes’ experiences allows him to coach on a more personal level, and he has a great deal of experience breaking down pitch metrics to help athletes fine-tune their arsenals. If you couldn’t tell by looking at him, he knows his way around the weight room, but also has a unique intuition for prescribing a wide and creative variety of movement-based solutions.

AUSTIN ROARK
Performance Coach

Austin Roark has been interested in player development since high school, where he was a low-90s arm that dealt with performance anxiety and experienced velocity swings for two years. He ended up going to McPherson College in Kansas and continued to struggle there. In 2018, Austin decided to take a gap year and began to train remotely with Tread. While working with Tread, Austin worked his way all the way back to 92 mph. After transferring to Coker University in South Carolina, an injury sidelined him and he ultimately decided to hang up the spikes and pursue his passion for player development and coaching in earnest. After interning with Tread in the summer of 2021, Austin was hired full-time as a Performance Coach. An Exercise Science major with a love for helping others reach their goals, Austin still trains and throws daily, continuing to learn through his own training experiences.

RYAN KIRK
Performance Coach

After playing two years at Campbell University and earning a degree in Sports Management with a Coaching emphasis from North Greenville University, Ryan Kirk originally joined the Tread staff as an Intern in 2021. During that time, the former Tread athlete gained an intimate knowledge for the inner-workings of the company’s coaching staff and solutions team. As a Performance Coach, Ryan is able to build upon his previous coaching experience and relate to his athletes on a genuine level. He states that his passion for player development stems from having to battle back from multiple injuries and work tirelessly to maximize his potential.

TYLER ZOMBRO
Performance Specialist

Tyler graduated first in his class at George Mason, where he majored in Life Sciences (Pre-PT Major) and minored in Kinesiology and Sport Management. A current pitcher with the Texas Rangers, Tyler was previously with the Tampa Bay Rays, where he won the organization’s Minor League Reliever of the Year Award in 2019, posting a 0.95 WHIP, .222 OBA, and 2.29 ERA in 41 appearances at the AA and AAA level. Prior to joining the Tread staff, Tyler was the lead trainer at R&D Baseball in Washington, D.C., where he consulted with multiple top-tier college teams and coordinated the training of athletes from 28 MLB organizations. Last but not least, Tyler offers a unique knowledge of pitch design and analytics, further enhancing Tread’s ability to develop elite athletes. You can read the ESPN feature on his recovery in 2021 after being struck in the head by a line drive.

JASON FOSTER
Performance Coach

After four years at Wright State University, where he helped lead the team to three NCAA Regional appearances and earned a degree in exercise science, Jason Foster transferred to the University of Iowa for his graduate year in 2019. Following his senior season at Iowa, he returned to Wright State as their Director of Pitching Development and served in that role until 2021. Jason’s experience building out custom routines and throwing programs, formulating pitchers’ lifts, spearheading pitch design efforts, and providing mechanical support are central to what makes Jason a great Tread coach.

CHASE CUNNINGHAM
Performance Coach

Chase Cunningham experienced ups and downs in his college career, going from a 94mph JUCO prospect to a junior battling arm and back injuries that dropped his velocity to 86-87 at Belmont University. At that point, Chase thought he might never have the chance to play professional baseball. In order to avoid what seemed like a pre-mature end to his baseball career, he dedicated that whole summer to maximizing his development and solving the root causes of his problems on his own. Fast forward 5 years and Chase was finishing his fifth year of professional baseball, sitting 92-93, and winning Frontier League Pitcher of the Year in 2019. As someone who had to largely take training into his own hands during his early playing career, Chase experienced many of the pitfalls of having to figure it out alone. As a result, he strives to be, for the next generation of players, the coach and mentor he never had.

LUCAS STILL
Performance Coach

When Lucas Still tore his quad during his sophomore year of college, he used his injury and the ensuing rehab process as an opportunity to explore and dive into different training modalities. Through a year of self-experimentation, Lucas trained his peak velocity from 84 to 91 mph. After graduating from Westmont College, he began his work in the private development space, training athletes from the high school to MLB levels. In addition to coaching, Lucas gained experience as Optimum Athletes’ (CA) Director of Media & Marketing. His proficiency with various video effects and editing techniques equips him with a unique skillset to help his athletes visualize and understand various aspects of pitch design. As a Performance Coach at Tread, Lucas’ creativity and wealth of knowledge give him the ability to help his athletes clearly understand both their goals and the necessary steps required to reach them.

PAUL HALL
Performance Coach

After graduating from Virginia Tech in three years with a BA in Public Relations, Paul Hall finished his collegiate career at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he played his senior season in 2019. Paul went on to play two years at the professional level for the Lake Erie Crushers of the Frontier League. Aside from his playing career, Paul comes to Tread with coaching experience, having trained athlete from the youth to college levels. Paul’s passion for and pursuit of coaching stems from his personal search for answers during his playing career. A former Tread athlete, Paul found the consistent direction he needed to eventually train his way from 87-92 to sitting low-90s and topping out multiple times at 95mph. Having experienced first-hand Tread’s ability to adapt to an athlete’s ever-changing needs, Paul believes that, through a holistic approach, every athlete can make real progress towards and attain their goals.

CRAIG STEM
Performance Coach

A native of Nashville, TN, Craig Stem joins the Tread team after a 12-year professional career. Originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Craig’s career spanned every level of affiliated Minor League baseball and included stints in independent baseball as well as international leagues in Latin America and Australia. Aside from such an expansive professional career, Craig also comes to Tread with seven years of experience in the private development space. Through extensive trial and error in his own development, Craig eventually trained himself to 98mph and is no stranger to the hard work that reaching one’s goals requires. For Craig, the opportunity to help athletes by eliminating the guesswork and guiding them along the best, most efficient path to reaching their potential is a passion that inspires him daily.

DREW HALL
Performance Coach

A graduate of the University of Memphis, where he studied Economics, Drew Hall’s career can be summed up succinctly: he figured it out too late. An athlete that put the pieces of his own development together over the course of his own playing career, Drew is dedicated to and passionate about helping other players reach their goals using many of the lessons he learned in his own pursuit of greatness. As someone who threw hard at 175lbs and 200lbs, he has an interesting perspective on body composition and how it applies to pitching. Always looking to push the envelope and unlock the next 1% of an athlete’s potential, Drew also has unique insight into training methods that he has found success with, both personally and with the high-level athletes he’s trained, that are outside of the realm of traditional baseball training.

AARON BECHTEL
Performance Coach

A mid-80s pitcher in high school, Aaron Bechtel began to educate himself and experiment with different throwing and strength training modalities early in his playing career. After setting a single-season record for strikeouts at Coffeyville Community College, Aaron transferred to Wichita State, where he pitched out of the bullpen and touched mid-90s. After earning his BA in Business Administration, he transferred to Emporia State University, throwing as both a starter and a closer. Upon the conclusion of his playing career, Aaron immediately began pursuing his passion of training others in the private sector. He joins Tread as a Performance Coach, eager to continue helping pitchers improve velocity, command, and pitch design on the road to reaching their potential.

NASH BRYAN
Performance Coach

After ulnar nerve transposition surgery, Nash Bryan transferred to Seton Hill University and reinvented himself as a pitcher. While earning a B.S. in Biology, he worked hard to develop into a low-90s sidearm pitcher. Along the way, Nash went to the D2 College World Series in 2021 and earned All-American honors in 2022. With his remaining year of eligibility, he transferred to the University of Pittsburgh and tied the school record for single-season saves (8) in his first Division 1 season. Nash understands the nuances of what it takes to elevate one’s game to the next level and leans heavily on his unique playing and training experiences when working with his athletes as a Performance Coach at Tread.

RYAN FLIPPO
Performance Coach

A native of Kingsburg, CA, Ryan Flippo played one year of college basketball at Colorado College before transferring to Biola University and returning to the sport of baseball and pitching. Unfortunately sidelined due to a labrum injury, Ryan became close with his pitching coach and discovered his own passion for coaching. After graduation, Ryan knew immediately that he wanted to pursue a career as a pitching instructor. He joins the Tread team as a Performance Coach with experience training pitchers of all ages, from youth to college to professional players.  

VICTOR SANCHEZ
Performance Coach

Even during his own collegiate playing career at the University of New Mexico, Victor Sanchez knew he wanted to become a coach and help other athletes. After undergoing UCL reconstruction surgery at the end of his senior year, Victor channeled his passion for development into his role as a coach. After starting his career at Paradise CC in Scottsdale, AZ, Victor moved on to become the Director of Pitching Development at Dallas Baptist University from 2019-2021. Most recently, he served as Sacramento State University’s pitching coach. In all, fourteen of Victor’s former pitchers have been selected in the MLB Draft. Most of all, like many of Tread’s coaches, Victor enjoys helping his athletes succeed and strive to accomplish their performance goals, whatever they might be.

TYLER GERMANOWSKI
Performance Coach

Tyler Germanowski joins the Tread team as a Performance Coach, eager to help future generations of athletes push the needle on their development and work towards reaching their goals. A graduate of Division 1 Liberty University, where he earned a master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership, Tyler pitched for two Flames teams that reached the NCAA Tournament. After his collegiate career, Tyler pitched professionally in the MLB Draft League, where he was named to the Top Prospect Game this past year. Aside from his playing résumé, Tyler brings with him experience in the private development space and a track record of getting athletes better through a comprehensive programming approach.

JOHN LANTIGUA
Performance Coach

A native of the Dominican Republic and raised in Brooklyn, NY, John Lantigua signed as an international free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Initially signed as an outfielder, John battled injuries during his career that eventually led him down the path to becoming a strength & conditioning coach for the Pirates. In charge of programming and training pitchers, John dove deep into learning and exploring different training modalities to help minor leaguers push the needle on their own development. He also began training as a pitcher himself, and went from 78 mph off the mound to 94 mph in just 16 months. John credits his success training both himself and others to a holistic understanding of the multifactorial makeup of the delivery and is motivated to help all athletes reach their goals via a comprehensive approach to solving the development puzzle.

CODY WHITTEN

Performance Coach

Cody, originally from Forest, VA, showcased his versatility as a high school player before committing to Division I Winthrop University. Despite starting with an 88 mph fastball, he pushed himself to touch 90 mph in his freshman year and hit 91 mph playing in the Valley League that summer. Named the top pitching prospect in the Big South for the 2020 MLB Draft, Cody’s momentum was halted by a UCL injury during a standout game against Bryant University, where he struck out seven batters.

Despite setbacks, including a recovery period where he was pulling down 82 mph post-surgery ten months out, Cody rebounded with the help of Tread Athletics to reach 90-92 mph within 16 months post-op. His journey included overcoming additional injuries, such as adductor issues, which sidelined him for over two years. After completing his collegiate career at Dayton University and pursuing graduate studies, Cody chased his dream of professional baseball, finding success and throwing in the low to mid 90s in the Frontier League. While pursuing his professional career, Cody also began training other pitchers remotely. A former Tread Athlete, he now serves as a Tread Performance Coach, drawing on his personal challenges and successes to inspire and help others.

SAM GRACE

Performance Coach

Sam Grace topped out at 97mph his senior year of high school and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2018 MLB Draft. Turning down the opportunity to play professionally, Sam embarked on a college career that was filled with many ups and downs. Suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in 2020 and tearing his UCL in February of 2023, Sam was also cut from two programs and left to essentially coach himself. After he trained himself back into the mid-90s, he discovered a love for coaching and guiding others to achieve their goals. Before joining Tread as a Performance Coach, Sam worked for two years in the private development space, where he gained hard knowledge on the application of biomechanical data and developed a deep understanding of and passion for training high-level throwers.

NATHAN FLORENCE

Performance Coach

Nathan Florence earned a BA in Management and an MBA from the University of Hartford, where he pitched for the Hawks. Transferring to Rutgers University for his final year of eligibility, Nathan set the school’s single-season strikeout record (90) and earned Big Ten All-Conference honors. He finished his college career with 301 strikeouts in 264.2 innings and went on to play professionally in the Frontier League. As a starter for the Florence Y’alls, Nathan was the only first-year pro to be selected to the Frontier League All-Star Game. Having developed an acute knowledge of the throw throughout his own training and playing career, Nathan is able to lean heavily on this expertise as a coach. Bringing with him a combination of high-level playing experience and a dedication to helping his athletes achieve their goals, Nathan is a key addition to the Performance staff at Tread.

ETHAN DYER | CSCS

Performance Coach

A former Division 1 athlete, Ethan Dyer pitched at Holy Cross, studying psychology, before completing a MS in Applied Physiology & Human Performance. While earning his Masters, Ethan worked 60+ hour weeks in the field of player development, sharping his skillset through hands-on work with countless athletes during that time. After graduating, he spent four years at Cressey Sports Performance in Massachusetts, where he led out the pro offseason group. He comes to Tread with an extensive background in strength & conditioning, seeking to drive velocity through strength and power development while simultaneously addressing movement flaws on the mound and in the gym. In addition to his formal expertise, Ethan’s experience working through various injuries during his own playing career gives him a deep understanding of the rehabilitation and return-to-play processes.

TREY GOODRICH

Performance Coach

A graduate of Sacramento State University, Trey Goodrich’s career arc was anything but standard. A junior on JV in high school, Trey went on to work his way through junior college in Arizona on the road to becoming a Division I pitcher. His interest in player development erupted in 2020—experimenting with alternative styles of weight lifting, mobility training, and throwing programming while COVID shut down the baseball world. In a career that was marked by massive velocity gains (going from mid-80s to mid-90s) and scattered injuries, Trey left no stone unturned in his pursuit of peak performance. Trey joins Tread after beginning his coaching career in the private sector, with a brief stint as assistant strength coach for Sacramento State baseball, and continues to look for alternative solutions in order to get the most out of his athletes’ careers.

LANDON SCHIRER

Performance Coach

A pitcher for the Angelo State Rams, where he appeared in back-to-back Division II College World Series, Landon Schirer was up to 94 mph in college. During his career, however, he dealt with numerous injuries, including two partial labrum tears, thoracic outlet syndrome, and ulnar entrapment. His own experience overcoming injuries and returning to peak performance inspired Landon to pursue a Masters in Kinesiology with a Biomechanics focus after graduating from Angelo State with a BS in Exercise Science. Landon joins the Tread team with a wealth of formal knowledge and research experience. He makes a massive impact on his athletes, working to streamline their training processes while channeling biomechanical principles and performance theory into actionable development plans.

SEAN JOHNSON

Performance Coach

A 31st round pick out of high school by the Chicago Cubs in the 2013 MLB Draft, Sean Johnson chose to pursue his college career. At Iowa Western CC, Sean was a 2014 JUCO National Champion, and transferred to Ole Miss in 2015. After his time at Ole Miss, Sean signed with the Houston Astros in 2017 and began a professional career that spanned both Minor League and independent baseball. Discovering a passion for long drive, he began to train in earnest and won the 2022 Long Drive Rookie of the Year, finishing 5th at the World Championships. In 2023, Sean was ranked 5th in World Long Drive and was runner-up at the 2023 World Championships with the 4th-fastest average ball speed in the world. Alongside his passion for helping other athletes, Sean brings with him an incredibly unique playing and training history and an exceptional understanding of human performance and movement principles.

JUSTIN NICOLINO

Performance Coach

A former 2nd Round (80th overall) pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, Justin Nicolino made his MLB debut at the age of 23 with the Miami Marlins. Including three seasons at the Major League level, Justin played at every level of professional baseball in a career that spanned 13 seasons and five countries. Relentless in pursuit of his goals, Justin made a comeback from thoracic outlet syndrome in 2020 and went on to play three more years. Most recently, he switched his focus from pushing the needle on his own development to helping others to the same, serving as a pitching coach at both the professional and amateur levels. After a playing career that took him (literally) around the world, Justin, his wife Jordan, and his two daughters are happily settled in Charlotte. As a member of the Tread Performance staff, Justin is able to combine his wealth of experience with a deep passion for player development in order to positively impact the careers of every athlete he coaches.

PATRICK ROBLES

Performance Coach

Patrick Robles played collegiately at Cedar Valley College, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and the University of Texas Permian Basin. Graduating from UTPB with a degree in Petroleum Engineering, he went on to earn his Masters in Biomechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. After a brief independent professional baseball career, Pat began his coaching career as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for McCook Community College.

In 2014, he launched his player development career in the professional baseball sphere as a pitching analyst for the Oakland Athletics. In 2020, Pat joined the Philadelphia Phillies as a pitching strategist, overseeing Complex & Rehab pitching development for the club. Most recently, he served as Rehab Pitching Coach for the Houston Astros. Analytically-minded, with an extensive background in biomechanics and rehabilitation, Pat joins the Tread team as a Performance Coach. His wealth of experience and technical expertise make him a key member of the staff as we seek to continue revolutionizing the player development space.

ISAAC WILEY

Performance Coach

Isaac Wiley pitched collegiately at Maryville College in Knoxville, TN. As an underdeveloped high school athlete, his road to receiving a college offer involved years of study and training to develop himself into a serious candidate for opportunities at the next level. His own training journey sparked him to begin training other pitchers in the private sector alongside his playing career. With six years of coaching experience and passions for data, analytics, and advanced training theory, Isaac strives to stay up-to-date on the latest ideas and trends in the player development world. A graduate of Kent State University with a degree in Special Education, Isaac is a natural communicator and seeks to create long-lasting relationships with every athlete he trains.

MATTHEW JORDAN

Performance Coach

Matthew Jordan played baseball at Division 1 Manhattan College, where he studied Finance and Information Systems. Initially stepping away from the game after his playing career ended, Matt recognized that his true passions involved baseball, specifically player development. A self-taught strength and conditioning coach, Matt earned his CSCS certification and began training pitchers in the private sector. In 2019, he joined the San Francisco Giants as a strength and conditioning coach, working hands-on with players and seeking to streamline their development together with on-field positional and pitching coaches until 2023. Now, as a Performance Coach at Tread, Matt possesses a unique blend of playing and coaching experience that gives him the ability to relate closely to his athletes as they work collaboratively to achieve their goals.

WELINTON MARIANO

Performance Coach

Born and raised in Puerto Rico by Dominican parents, Welinton Mariano’s baseball journey took him to the United States when he was 15. Pursuing his education and baseball career, Welinton attended Miami Christian School before going on to play collegiately at Western Nebraska Community College and Division II Chowan University in Murfreesboro, North Carolina. After earning a degree in Sports Management from Chowan University, Welinton returned to Western Nebraska as a volunteer pitching coach.

After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Welinton moved back to North Carolina and began training with Tread Athletics, having decided to give his playing career one more go. He became an instant favorite at Tread HQ, beloved by both staff and fellow athletes alike. Working tirelessly to hone his craft, he gained velocity (topping out at 97mph) and earned the opportunity to play professionally in Puerto Rico. Now, having recently completed a Master’s degree in Sports Coaching from the University of Northern Colorado, Welinton returns to Tread as a Performance Coach. A man of many strengths and of great faith, Welinton pours every ounce of energy he has into his athletes, dedicated to the pursuit of helping others reach their full potential.

DECLAN MORRISSEY | CSCS

Performance Coach

Declan Morrissey graduated from Springfield College in Massachusetts with a degree in Exercise Science. Having dealt with numerous serious injuries in high school, he embarked on a path to discover more about human performance enhancement. After graduation, Declan earned his CSCS and LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) certifications and spent four years at Cressey Sports Performance in Florida. He has worked with many professional pitchers, even orchestrating the full rehabilitation plans of a number of MLB pitchers. His specific areas of interest in the performance field are the usage and implementation of force plates, speed training, promoting athleticism, and performance nutrition during injury.

AUSTIN LAWSON

Performance Coach

A former Tread Intern, Austin Lawson was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Alongside his own career, where he pitched at Cuyahoga CC, Webber International, and the University of Cincinnati Clermont, Austin always had an interest in training and development. In college, he began helping his teammates and, seeing their successes as a result, decided that he wanted to enter the world of coaching after graduation. Before interning at Tread, Austin spent time coaching in the private sector and at the collegiate level, returning to UC Clermont as their pitching coach. Now, as a Performance Coach at Tread, Austin has the opportunity to combine his prior experiences and technical knowledge as he works with athletes seeking to push the needle on their development.

BROCK BEGESHA

Performance Coach

Brock Begesha became fascinated with pitching development early on in his career, eventually training himself to 92.6mph and earning 2nd Team Preseason All-American honors (before his COVID-canceled senior season) in high school. Brock began his collegiate career at the University of Dayton before transferring to Joliet Junior College. While his own results fell short of expectations, Brock began performing mechanical analyses and writing throwing programs for his teammates. He discovered that he took more joy in helping others improve and decided to walk away from the game as a player after his sophomore year. He began training athletes remotely and finished his degree in Sport Management at Northern Illinois University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. With a true passion for learning and the desire to help every athlete he coaches reach their goals, Brock joins the Tread team as a Performance Coach, seeking to positively influence the careers of the next generation.

MATTHEW YOUNG

Performance Coach

Coming off a fractured spine, Matthew Young decided to take his career into his own hands and leave no stone unturned when it came to unlocking his potential as a high school senior. He elected to take a gap year and train remotely with Tread Athletics in 2018, gaining 5 mph and falling in love with analytics, performance, and player development. Matthew went on to play at Lamar Community College, before a recurring injury led him to hang up his cleats and dive head first into the world of coaching. Earning a degree in Kinesiology from Baylor University, Matthew spent three years in the private sector as both a strength & conditioning coach and pitching coach before joining the Tread team. Matt brings with him experience working with athletes from youth levels all the way through the professional ranks, and he relies on a holistic and individualized approach to training that fits perfectly within Tread’s mission.

TYLER AVERITT

Performance Coach

A native of Euless, Texas, Tyler Averitt graduated from Tarleton State University with a degree in Kinesiology. In 2020, a playing career that was defined by injuries and the tireless pursuit to overcome them ended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his career, Tyler underwent three hip surgeries to address labrum and femoroacetabular impingement issues, as well as two UCL reconstructions. These injuries, which he successfully overcame and returned to play from, led him to spend large amounts of time in PT clinics. What they also gave him, however, was the opportunity to dive deeply into biomechanics and human performance. Tyler joins the Tread team after spending three years as the head Pitching Coach and S&C Coach at Trinity High School in Trinity, TX. As someone that dealt with his fair share of adversity during his playing career, Tyler enjoys helping his athletes work through their own obstacles on the road to heightened performance and the achievement of their goals.

VINCENT RIGGIO

Performance Coach

Originally an infielder at Santa Rosa Junior College, Vincent Riggio began pitching when he transferred to Division II Rogers State University. Throwing himself into the world of pitching development and training in order to maximize his own playing ability, Vincent discovered a passion for the details of pitching mechanics and human performance overall. After graduating with a degree in Natural Science, he began competitive bodybuilding upon leaving Rogers State, striving to push his body to the limits. All the while, however, he remained interested in staying up-to-date on the latest trends in pitching development. After an extended internship at Tread in the winter of 2023, where he distinguished himself, he joined the team in a full-time capacity as a Performance Coach.

JONATHAN KAISER

Performance Coach

Jonathan Kaiser played four years at Division III Skidmore College, experimenting with different S&C and throwing programs during his time there. Passionate and intellectually curious, he was willing to try anything that might help him reach his potential as a pitcher. In his senior year at Skidmore, he began to program for himself, synthesizing all he’d learned over the past three years. Aside from making substantial velocity gains, this is where Jonathan’s passion for pitching development took off. Using his fifth year of COVID eligibility, he transferred to Division I George Mason University.

Jonathan believes that every athlete, given the proper guidance, can elevate themselves to the next level, and he is a walking example of that principle. After graduating from George Mason, he returned to Skidmore College as their pitching coach and began training athletes in the private sector as well. These experiences served to deepen his love for development and coaching. Now a Performance Coach at Tread, Jonathan enjoys working with his athletes to push the envelope on what they think is possible in their careers.

ZACH CABLE

Performance Coach

Originally a catcher, Zach Cable began to pitch his freshman year of college. Almost immediately up to 97 mph, he unfortunately underwent UCL reconstruction surgery at 19. After a successful rehab process, however, he returned to the mound and went on to earn a win at the 2019 JUCO World Series for Chattahoochee Valley CC. He spent that summer pitching in the Cape Cod Baseball League and transferred to Oklahoma State University. In 2021, he hit 100 mph for the first time and was signed by the Chicago White Sox. During his first pro season, he topped out at 101 mph.

In 2022, a second elbow surgery and continued complications ended his professional career prematurely. Searching for answers and curious about the role of training and biomechanics in performance and injury prevention, he began training with Tread as an athlete in 2023. As a Performance Coach, his wide-ranging experience gives him the ability to relate to his athletes and provide valuable perspective alongside his coaching.

JOHN CHEATWOOD

Performance Coach

John Cheatwood’s college career began at the JUCO level, attending Lincoln Trail College in 2019 before finishing his undergraduate studies at Marshall University. After graduating with a degree in Sports Management from Marshall, John transferred to Lipscomb University for his graduate year of eligibility, where he was a part of the 2022 ASUN Regular Season Championship team and earned a Master’s Certificate in Business Leadership. Despite throwing 90-92mph and finding success at the Division I level, John never felt that he was able to reach his full potential as an athlete, having dealt with nagging injuries for the majority of his playing career.

Inspired by his own experience of striving to overcome injuries and other obstacles, John immediately entered the coaching ranks upon the conclusion of his college career. He spent time at Wabash Valley College before becoming the pitching coach at Division I Canisius University. Now, as a Tread Performance Coach, John is able to continue impacting the next generation of pitchers and help his athletes as they strive to reach their full potential.

ZACH WARREN

Performance Coach

A three-year starting pitcher at the University of Tennessee, Zach Warren pitched for Team USA Collegiate National Team in the summer of 2016. Drafted in the 14th round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, he worked to streamline his own mechanics and made a velocity jump from 88-90mph to 94-96mph in less than a year. Up to 98mph with a career 3.50 ERA, Zach also earned invitations to the Arizona Fall League and two Major League Spring Trainings before retiring in AAA.

Zach joins the Tread Performance staff with a passion for training movement patterns to increase velocity, pitch design profiles, and command while preventing injuries. His ultimate purpose is to elevate every athlete he works with beyond their perceived potential. All the while, Zach is still actively training towards his lifelong throwing goal of hitting 100mph off the mound. A proud family man, Zach lives in Charlotte with his wife, two children, and beloved dog, cherishing the joys of family life while pursuing excellence in his career and the careers of every athlete he trains.

BEN NUSS | CSCS

Performance Coach

Originally from Oxford, Michigan, Ben Nuss’ high school baseball career was derailed by injuries. He attended Western Michigan University, studying Exercise Science, with the clear goal of becoming a coach and helping athletes like himself. Playing club baseball at Western Michigan—and serving as the club’s president for over two years—Ben went on to obtain an internship at a private facility. It was during that internship where he become completely obsessed with human performance, specifically athletic performance. He earned his CSCS after graduation and embarked on his career as a performance coach.

Most recently serving as the Director of Sports Performance at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wisconsin while continuing to train athletes in the private sector, Ben joins the Tread team as a Performance Coach. Leaning on his technical expertise and experience coaching athletes from the youth level to professional ranks, Ben’s goal is to help each pitcher he works with become the best version of themselves as individuals and athletes.

THOMAS BEDNARSKI

Performance Coach

Thomas Bednarski played collegiate baseball at Division I Niagara University, earning a BA in Economics. Over the course of his college career, he battled chronic, undiagnosed injuries that caused massive velocity fluctuations and left him competing everywhere from the 80s to low 90s. Largely left to problem-solve for himself and rely on trial and error in his own career, Thomas’ passion for coaching stems from his desire to be the coach for others that he never had himself. Since 2021, Thomas has trained pitchers in the private sector and also served as a pitching coach in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Now, as a Performance Coach at Tread, he is dedicated to doing everything in his power to help his athletes maximize their potential.

CARSIE WALKER

Performance Coach

Carsie Walker’s collegiate career took him from Kalamazoo Valley Community College to Clarke University, where he graduated with a degree in Graphic Design. After college, Carsie played professionally for three years in various leagues, including the Frontier League, Atlantic League, and Mavericks Independent League (where he was named Pitcher of the Year). All throughout his own playing career, Carsie was interested in athletic as well as mental performance. Now, as a Performance Coach at Tread, Carsie emphasizes the importance of training the mental side of pitching in addition to the physical. He is dedicated to and focused on helping current athletes achieve even their wildest goals, understanding that development is never linear and every athlete has a unique path on the road to success.

ANGUS ADAMS

Performance Coach

Angus Adams played four years of baseball at Elmira College, graduating with a BS in Biochemistry and developing a passion for strength & conditioning and athletic performance. Desiring to combine his background in science and the evolving realm of data science/sport science in baseball, he went on to earn a Master’s in Human Performance from Ithaca College while serving as the pitching coach at his alma mater, Elmira College.

Conducting a Master’s thesis on “The Correlation Between Lower Extremity Power and Ball Velocity in Baseball Players,” Angus was fortunate enough to utilize biomechanical and force data to analyze trends associated with the throwing velocity of the athletes he coached. Through both his formal studies and coaching experience, Angus saw firsthand how these data can be leveraged as training tools. As a Performance Coach at Tread, he continues to optimize the training of each athlete he trains and works on a team dedicated to pushing the needle on athletic performance and pitching development.

JULIAN CHABOT

Performance Coach

Julian Chabot grew up in the small town of Cheney, Washington and realized early on that if he wanted to fulfill his goal of playing college baseball, he needed to become his own coach. He immersed himself in researching biomechanics, anatomy, strength & conditioning, and velocity development when he was a junior in high school. He began his college career at Everett Community College, battling through a partial UCL tear, before his 2020 season was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. That year, Julian trained relentlessly without access to a radar gun. Dialing in his nutrition, mechanics, and strength training, he returned to school almost unrecognizable. Thirty-five pounds heavier and far stronger, his velocity had jumped from 81-83 to 88-90, topping at 93mph.

The gains Julian made earned him a spot at Division I Wagner College as a transfer in 2022. While pitching for the Seahawks, he earned multiple NEC Pitcher of the Week honors and graduated with a degree in Sport Management. Over the course of his career, Julian fell in love with the art of pitching and training throwers. This passion can be felt in the relationships he forms with every athlete he trains here at Tread as he works with them on achieving their goals of high-level performance.

KEENAN HODGKIN

Performance Analyst

A native of Plymouth, Minnesota, Keenan Hodgkin attended and played baseball at Bethel University. A corner infielder and pitcher on the baseball field, Keenan majored in Business Analytics with a minor in Psychology. On top of his course load and baseball commitments, Keenan began working a full-time job as an analyst during his 5th year season. Keenan’s off-seasons, spent problem-solving his own training and performance goals, sparked a serious passion for player development. He finds the most meaning out of helping others, though, and is able to utilize his skills to help other players reach their dreams in his role as a Performance Analyst at Tread. Keenan’s playing background, alongside extensive coding expertise, make him a key part of Tread’s Data Division as they continue to boost performance and enhance the athlete experience.

EVAN BORBERG

Performance Analyst

A native of Lake Quivira, Kansas, Evan Borberg played four years of baseball at Grinnell College. While catching for the Pioneers, he earned a degree in Economics and Statistics with a minor in Data Science. Evan works primarily with modeling sports data and has developed a high-level understanding of pitch design and ball flight physics. As a Performance Analyst at Tread, Evan is passionate about analyzing complex information and delivering it in digestible ways to coaches and athletes alike.

COURTNEY SEMKEWYC, PhD

Biomechanist

A former college softball pitcher at the JUCO and Division III levels, Courtney Semkewyc received her BS from the University of Rochester in biomedical engineering with a concentration in cell and tissue engineering. Realizing she couldn’t stare into a microscope all day, Courtney looked for a different path within biomedical engineering when she attended Rutgers for graduate school. She completed her master’s thesis on traumatic brain injuries before discovering her passion for sports biomechanics, which led to a PhD dissertation on pitching mechanics in relation to injury and performance. Joining Tread as a biomechanist, Courtney has years of experience in the private sector, professional baseball, and with product development companies. Running Tread’s pitching lab, she integrates biomechanics and technology into player development to help players get the most out of their training.

DECLAN CRONIN
Operations Specialist

Declan is a current Miami Marlins pitcher and former Tread remote athlete, who over the course of two years transformed his repertoire at Holy Cross from 86-89 (91) to sitting 92-94 mph. He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2019 MLB draft and made his Major League debut for Chicago in 2023. In the midst of his own career, where he has now been up to 97 mph, his ability to relate to the current athlete experience proves invaluable. A double major in History & Philosophy, he brings a unique perspective and writing skill to the Tread Team. A former Athlete Support Coordinator, he works currently as an Operations Specialist at Tread, monitoring company communications, streamlining systems, assisting in the hiring process, and working to improve the development experience for Tread’s athletes and employees alike.

BEN BROWN

Content Marketing Manager

Charlotte native Ben Brown graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Relations. He started his professional career with the Washington Nationals (MLB) and Washington Capitals (NHL). Ben then moved from Washington, D.C. to New York City, where he worked for Major League Baseball in their social media department. Most recently before joining the Tread team, Ben worked for VaynerMedia in social media content and advertising. As Tread’s Content Marketing Manager, he works to provide concrete direction for our talented team of Content Specialists, leveraging large sets of data and providing valuable insights with the ultimate goal of optimizing our Content Department’s operations. When he isn’t working, Ben enjoys playing golf and making barbecue.

ADAM NALIWAJKO
Content Specialist

Adam Naliwajko played four years at Division III Webster University, including an appearance in the 2015 College World Series. After earning a degree in Sports Management with an emphasis in Sports Entrepreneurship and a minor in Photography from Webster, he coached as a Volunteer Assistant at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and scouted for Perfect Game. From 2019 to 2021, Adam worked for the Chicago White Sox, serving as a Player Development Affiliate Intern for both High-A Winston-Salem and Triple-A Charlotte. He comes to Tread as a Content Specialist, leveraging college and pro ball experience alongside his creative talents to produce quality content for Tread’s social media platforms.

JAMAL MARSHALL
Content Specialist

Jamal Marshall joins the Tread Team as a Content Specialist. For years, Jamal has worked with companies to create improved social media content and attract new customers. Industrious and self-taught, Jamal earned a Ph.D. in Videography, Masters in Video Editing, and BA in Photography from YouTube University. He embodies Tread’s mission and our commitment to helping ‘Dream Chasers’ write their stories. Aside from joining the rest of Tread’s Content Team and facilitating the elevation of Tread’s social media presence, he also produces a podcast with his fiancé called Preparation SZN.

RYAN JARES

Content Specialist

Ryan Jares played five years of college baseball at Scottsdale CC and Augustana University, where he graduated with a BA in Marketing (minoring in Entrepreneurship). He also earned a Master’s in Business Administration before working at the University of Nebraska at Kearney and pursuing a brief career in independent professional baseball. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and traveling—it’s one of his life goals to visit every country.

ROBERT DIXON

Content Specialist

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Robert Dixon attended Indiana University—Purdue University Indianapolis. After graduation, Rob moved to Los Angeles and worked in the music industry for four years, filming, editing, and managing artists. Most recently, prior to joining the Tread team as a Content Specialist, Rob worked at NFL Films in their production department. With a strong record of successful project management and a wide-ranging technical skillset, Rob is a key member of Tread’s industry-best Content Team.

GAVIN MONTGOMERY

Content Specialist

Gavin Montgomery is a documentary filmmaker who has directed documentaries on topics ranging from ultra-marathon runners to meteorologists. He also has an extensive background in concert photography and videography, having worked with artists such as Paul Cauthen, Chicano Batman, Sun Room, and Trevor Hall. A graduate of the Savannah College of the Art and Design, where he earned a degree in Visual Effects, Gavin’s true passions are in photography and film.

A true workaholic, Gavin still enjoys free time spent riding his bike and exploring new terrain, walking around town and taking photos, hanging out with family and friends, and playing video games like Cyberpunk and Enter the Gungeon.

SARAH FLYNN

Content Specialist

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Sarah Flynn attended Texas A&M University and majored in Telecommunication Media Studies. While studying at Texas A&M, she served as a videographer for the Aggies baseball team, which sparked her passion for working in baseball. When she isn’t working on creative projects for the Tread Content Team, Sarah loves traveling and outdoor activities like wakeboarding, pickleball, and playing soccer.

PARKER MURPHY
onboarding specialist

A member of the sales team at Tread, Parker Murphy has experienced many of the ups and downs that come with pursuing baseball at a high level. Heavily recruited out of high school, Parker tore his UCL at 17 years old and committed to Jacksonville University, where he played four seasons for the Dolphins. After continuing to deal with injuries during his time there, Parker began training with Tread and eventually reached 92-95mph from the left side. Parker joins the team with a degree in Exercise Science and a unique familiarity with the Tread Athlete experience, having both trained remotely and spent most off-seasons at Tread HQ. He understands successes and failures alike, and truly enjoys fostering relationships with players amidst their own journeys.

JULIEN GIROUX-HARVEY
Onboarding specialist

A native of Montreal, Canada, Julien Giroux-Harvey played four years of baseball at Saint Michael’s College. After graduating with a BA in Economics and Political Science, Julien transferred to the University of Hartford, where he earned a Master’s degree in Business Analytics and continued his playing career. Originally recruited as a catcher and utility player, Julien didn’t transition to the mound until his senior year. In the fall of 2021, he began training remotely with Tread. Working with Performance Coach Ryan Kirk, he went from 82-84mph to topping out at 93 and earning a spot at a Division 1 school. Julien’s unique background makes him a valuable addition to Tread Athletics, where he assists the company in evaluating and influencing current systems while delivering concrete solutions to catalyze company growth.

KENNY CAMPBELL
Onboarding specialist

A team captain for the Leopards, Kenny graduated from Lafayette College in 2020 with a degree in Economics and Psychology. His own playing career was derailed twice due to a pair of season-ending injuries, but Kenny fought hard to get back on the field. After making the decision to train remotely with Tread, he returned better than ever from Tommy John surgery and transferred to the University of Connecticut, where he graduated with honors and earned a Master’s Degree in Sport Management. Now in a position to help athletes discern the best courses of action in their own careers, Kenny relies on a wealth of personal experience and is dedicated to putting athletes in the best positions to succeed.

NEAL MCDERMOTT
Onboarding Specialist

Neal McDermott joins the Tread team as a Sales Specialist, eager to help other athletes find the proper resources to take their careers to the next level. A 5-year player at Seton Hill University, Neal was a member of a the Griffins team that reached the College World Series. Neal pitched for four years and touched 95mph before a case of the yips facilitated his transition to the outfield in his final year (where he earned All-Conference honors and had the top play on SportsCenter). With a BA in Business Administration, a Masters in Project Management, and time as a sports performance coach, Neal brings a unique blend of playing, coaching, and educational experience to his role at Tread.

MIKAYLA GOODALL

Executive Assistant

Born in Illinois before moving to North Carolina in middle school, Mikayla Goodall graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in Business Administration: Marketing Sales and Selling. She played competitive volleyball growing up and loves any chance to bring out her competitive spirit again. Now a true North Carolinian, Mikayla enjoys going to the lake or spending time in the Blue Ridge mountains. She also spends lots of her free time with friends and family, and she is always down for a spontaneous trip. At Tread, Mikayla is a massive asset to the entire team, working (often behind the scenes) to keep Tread and its executives functioning at a high level.

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