Mark Strauch - Coach, General Manager, Founder & CEO
- Founder of San Diego Hawks Baseball, the largest travel ball organization in San Diego; also founded The Nest Baseball Academy and San Diego Baseball Alliance.
- 15+ years of experience including Little League, All Stars, and high school baseball; led the 4SRLL 10U team to District 31 and Section 6 titles in 2016.
- Active adult league player and pitcher; helped run the SDABL for over a decade and continues to play competitively in the NABA World Series.
John Kennedy - Coach, Director of Operations
- Former varsity starter and community college player, with a lifelong focus on first base since age 13.
- Injured during a Cincinnati Reds tryout, but remained active in the game as a dedicated coach and mentor.
- Specializes in both fundamentals and advanced techniques, teaching the physical and mental aspects of baseball.
Tommy Simis - Coach, 14U Program Director |
- 3-year varsity player and 2-time CIF champion at Poway High, later earned a scholarship to CSU Northridge, where he was a 3-year team captain.
- Head Coach at Torrey Pines (2020–2023) and current Varsity Hitting Coach at San Marcos High, helping lead both programs to CIF championships in Spring 2024 (D1 and Open Division).
- Began coaching after recovering from spinal fusion surgery, with a strong focus on developing players for high school-level success.
Andy Parrino - Coach, Senior Advisor
- Former MLB player for the San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics; represented Team USA in the 2015 Pan Am Games.
- Drafted in the 26th round of the 2007 MLB Draft after playing college baseball at Le Moyne.
- Current youth and high school coach, known for player development and leading Steele Canyon High to major improvements post-retirement.
Jim Smith - Coach, Catching Director
- PA State Champion (2009) and 4-year D1 athlete at Saint Peter’s University; played 2 years of professional baseball with the Roswell Invaders, winning a 2015 Pecos League title and earning 2016 All-Star honors with a .350 career average.
- Coached travel baseball and high school teams from 2014–2022, winning 2 district titles, and leading a team to a #1 PA state ranking (2A) in 2019.
- Developed multiple D1 players, with 17 all-league selections and 3 player of the year honors across PA and GA.
CJ Broussard - Coach, Director of Strength & Injury Prevention
- 1st Team All-Conference Utility Player at Cal State LA, CCAA All-Tournament Team, and All-American Honorable Mention before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 22nd round of the 2017 MLB Draft.
- Played two-way roles at San Diego City College and Cal State LA, and competed in summer ball with the Palm Springs Power.
- Now focuses on player development and injury prevention through PowerFuel Athletics, and serves as a College Advisor with SportsForce helping athletes with recruitment and scholarships.
Brian Wilson - Coach, Senior Advisor
- 3-time CIF Champion at Mira Mesa High School; earned All-Eastern League and All-CIF honors, helping the team achieve a #1 state and #7 national ranking.
- All-Pacific Coast Conference hitter at San Diego Mesa College before joining SDSU as a walk-on player.
- Brings 8+ years of travel baseball coaching experience, along with 3 seasons as a high school assistant coach at Mira Mesa.
Jonathan Gutierrez - Coach
- Drafted in the 25th round by the Boston Red Sox after pitching at Arizona State University and Central Arizona College.
- Played 4 seasons of professional baseball as a left-handed pitcher before transitioning to coaching.
- Brings 15 years of coaching experience across Kansas, Massachusetts, and San Diego, including coaching at Friends University.
John San Jule - Coach
- 4-year Division 1 center fielder at Columbia University, winning the 2022 Ivy League Championship and competing in the Blacksburg Regional Final.
- Batted .506 and .551 during his high school career at Dunn School, with 22+ stolen bases each season and leadership roles in both baseball and basketball.
- Now serves as a coach and mentor, bringing the lessons of collegiate athletics into both baseball and his career in business development.
Bryce Barajas - Coach
- Right-handed pitcher with college experience at Park University at Gilbert and San Diego Christian College (2019–2022).
- Son of MLB veteran and World Series Champion Rod Barajas, and brings a strong ability to connect with young pitchers.
- Coaching experience includes San Diego Stars (2023) and current roles with San Diego Hawks 9U & 13U teams.
Doug Cherry - Coach
- Four-year starter at the University of Washington, earning Pac-10 All-Conference, UW MVP, and Gold Glove honors as a senior.
- Played professionally with the Chicago Cubs before transitioning to coaching as an undergraduate assistant at UW.
- Brings 10 years of coaching experience, including college players, high school showcases, and current roles with 4SRLL and San Diego Hawks.
Taka Horton - Coach
- Three-time All-Palomar League infielder at Mt. Carmel High, leading the league in batting average (.415), OBP (.556), and slugging (.610) as a senior.
- Played at San Diego Mesa College and Corban University, earning his bachelor’s degree in 2023 while continuing his baseball development.
- Currently training for professional opportunities in Japan and has coaching experience with Del Mar Powerhouse 12U & 14U teams.
Stephen Klenske - Coach, Pitching Specialist
- 2x CIF champion at Sage Creek, named 2nd Team All-American and 1st Team All-State as a senior with a 0.39 ERA, 126 strikeouts in 90 innings; drafted in the 14th round by the Phillies.
- Played at Sacramento State, Palomar, and College of Southern Nevada, consistently throwing 90–94 mph, and earned a full scholarship to the University of Mary for 2024.
- Brings camp and team coaching experience, with a focus on pitching and the mental side of the game as part of the San Diego Hawks staff.
Eric Kahnert - Coach
- Former 3-sport athlete and Division II hockey All-American at USC, where he was a 4-year captain and led teams to multiple championships.
- Brings over a decade of coaching experience in youth baseball and hockey, including roles with 4S Ranch Little League and San Diego Ice Arena.
- A 10-time Emmy Award-winning news anchor at CBS8, where he regularly promotes local success stories, including those from the San Diego Hawks.
Kelton Carpenter - Coach
- Three-year varsity player at Mt. Carmel High School, known for his dedication and passion for the game.
- Chose to focus on academics over collegiate baseball, while maintaining a strong connection to the sport.
- Brings enthusiasm and a player-first mindset to the San Diego Hawks coaching staff, aiming to positively impact young athletes.
Gabriel Esteban - Coach
- Former Hawks player with 12 years of playing experience, now returning to the program to mentor young athletes.
- Emphasizes resilience, teamwork, and player development, drawing from his own experiences overcoming failure and injury.
- Prioritizes health, safety, and competitive growth, aiming to help players reach the next level while enjoying the game.
Henry Basila - Coach
- Standout defensive infielder at Mt. Carmel High School, known for his consistency and versatility across the field.
- Played at Mesa College before a shoulder injury ended his playing career while pursuing a degree in Biotechnology.
- As a coach, specializes in defense, baserunning, swing mechanics, and mentality training, with a strong focus on player development.
Kyle Burns - Coach
- Played American Legion and high school baseball, developing a strong foundational knowledge of the game.
- Returned to baseball through coaching, with 3 years of experience in Escondido American Little League and the Escondido Eagles travel team.
- Known for his organizational skills and passion, bringing energy and structure to his coaching role.
Kyle Becker - Coach
- 4-year varsity player at Del Norte High, earning 2021 All-CIF Second Team and 1st Team All-League honors, with standout junior stats (.423 AVG, 5 HR, 2.28 ERA).
- Played Division I baseball at the University of Nevada, Reno, contributing as both an outfielder and pitcher over two seasons.
- Currently training for summer ball with two years of college eligibility left, bringing strong playing experience and knowledge to his coaching.
Garrett Grant - Coach, Sports Chiropractor
- Division I track athlete at Cal Poly SLO, setting multiple high school records at Del Norte High and posting personal bests of 3:55 (1500m), 1:55 (800m), and :49 (400m).
- Sports Chiropractor specializing in arm care and pitching mechanics, with research experience on Tommy John surgery and a biomechanical approach to coaching.
- Former team chiropractor for the Washington Commanders, DC United, and Georgetown University, and a youth baseball coach whose teams regularly reached the Virginia State tournament.
Azure Centeno - Coach
- Starting third baseman for Del Norte High School varsity baseball team.
- Earned starting position in senior year amidst a competitive roster of 27 players, including 21 seniors, through grit and hard work—first to arrive at practice, last to leave the batting cages, and consistently hustling on the field.
- Turned down the opportunity to play baseball at the Division II level to pursue his passion for coaching.