Archives: Profiles

Scott played baseball at Oak Park River Forest High School and graduated in 1985. He was the first OPRF High School baseball player to be a four-year starter. He was captain of the number-one ranked team in the United States, named to numerous all-conference and all-state teams, and was drafted in the ninth round in June 1985. He signed with the Chicago White Sox and played in their minor league system, in addition to the Milwaukee Brewers' and San Francisco Giants' systems. Scott began teaching after his playing career ended and started STRIKES! Baseball Academy with his former coach, Steve Hayward, in 1993. Scott has been recognized by hsbaseball.com as one of the top pitching coaches in the Midwest and the premier instructor in Illinois. Scott's passion for teaching is evident in every lesson. The father of four young girls, he has added softball coach to his credentials. With the recent addition of Scott's son, John Wayne Nelson, Scott will eventually return to the baseball field after 12 years of coaching softball.

Steve has coached at the Little League, high school and college levels for more than 25 years. His manners and skills are legendary. Steve has coached. His Pony League teams went to the World Series four times. In 1987, Steve received the Amateur Baseball Coach of the Year Award presented by the United States Baseball Federation. He is a former scout for the Philadelphia Phillies and currently the Stan-Mill Mitt batting glove representative in the Midwest. Many of his students currently play college baseball around the country. Steve is well known for his love of baseball and his rapid-fire wit and creative teaching techniques. He is also the co-author of the book Great Practices, Great Games.

Pat was raised in Montana, where there is no high school baseball, Pat holds Montana’s American Legion strikeout record for a single game during the state finals at 23. As a senior, Pat was offered contracts with the Giants and Royals but decided to go to college and play at Louisiana State University. Pat played three years of minor league ball. He has played in the semi-pro and Chicago-area men’s leagues since 1985 and continues to play. Pat has been teaching baseball since 1987 as is one of the premier hitting coaches in Illinois.

Bruce played baseball at OPRF HS. He has coached T-ball Palaino teams and boys' baseball. Bruce coached the Lemont Rockers girls fast pitch team in 1997-2000 and currently coaches the Windmills girls softball team. Bruce is considered a premier softball instructor in Chicago who develops young players's confidence with his positive coaching philosophy and "can do" attitude. He has been a STRIKES! instructor since 1995, where he specializes in girls softball instruction.

A master instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience (as of 2017), Jim has gained a reputation in both the baseball and softball community as one of the top hitting and fielding instructors in the Chicago Metropolitan Area and beyond. Over the years, Jim’s students have earned scholarships to baseball and softball programs in such conferences as the BIG 10, SEC, Mid American, IVY League, Patriot League, among others. Jim has had two son’s selected in the MLB Draft (Charlie-Brewers 2015, Joe-Cubs 2017). In addition, both earned baseball scholarships to the University of Michigan. Jim’s clients include a wide range of skill levels from young, unproven boys and girls, up to highly accomplished high school and college players in both softball and baseball. // While Jim spends a large percentage of his time developing hitters, he also specializes in developing both softball and baseball catchers and middle infielders. Having earned his B.S in psychology at the University of Illinois, and a masters in counseling from National Louis University, Jim brings uncommon experience and expertise to the mental/emotional challenges that baseball and softball offer. He also has a unique ability to relate and apply the lessons of the game to the larger game of life. // Jim was a three time All State, switch hitting, infielder for Oak Park River Forest High School. He attended the University of Illinois at Champaign/Urbana to play baseball, but his career was cut short by injuries.

Scott played in the Bronco World Series for Oak Park. He played in the Junior Pan American games in Argentina for Team USA. Scott was All-State in the summer of 1997, and started in the IHSA All-Star game of 1998. He started three years, 1999-2002, at Illinois State at both Short Stop and 2nd Base. Scott played in the All-Missouri Valley Conference Academic Team as a Junior and Senior. Scott is ASEP Certified to coach at the High School Level. He instructs players of all levels at STRIKES!, where he has worked since 2003. Scott coordinates and instructs our Sunday evening clinics here, which are geared to grades 8 through 12, focusing on hitting, fielding, throwing, and pitching.

John has been coaching girls since 1986, when he began coaching his daughter and other 8-year old girls in a t-ball league. While pitching batting practices as he progressed through the age brackets with them, John learned to pitch himself. To help his player excel, he sought out the most knowledgeable pitching instructors, nationally and internationally. He studied with New Zealand pitchers, female Olympians, pitching gurus from California and numerous college athletes, coaches and kinesiologists. In 1989, he and a group of fathers started the Oak Park Windmills of Oak Park, Illinois—a fast-pitch travel organization. He continues to provide training and mentoring to the team and other rival organizations. In 1996, 10 of John’s students went on to play at the College Division I level. That team took second place at the 18U Class A ASA National Championship. Each year, he produces some of the finest players in the country. His extensive background and experience have helped students achieve at the highest levels of the sport in travel ball (at the different levels), high school, and NCAA Collegiate Divisions. In addition, because of the broad base of skills taught by Coach Hanrahan students continue to earn scholarships every year.