Rob Smith — Head Coach & Director of Operations
Rob has over 25 years of baseball coaching experience. He is a former college all-star shortstop/infielder and went on to be a professional baseball player in the Cleveland Indians organization. He is owner/operator and head instructor at Smith Baseball Academy and director of operations of the Midwest Bruin Baseball program. He offers advanced baseball instruction, utilizing his expertise in hitting, fielding, throwing techniques and the mental & physical concepts of the game. Has advanced talents in team concepts and personnel management and development. He has a talent for evaluating student-athletes and creating a tailored development plan – to maximize each athlete’s potential. Coach Smith networks with college coaches in the area and surrounding states on a daily/weekly basis.
Mike Hughes — Head Asst Coach, Player Leadership & Development
Mike has over 20 years of baseball coaching experience. He has been instructing and mentoring youth for many years. As a former college pitcher at Johnson County CC and Washburn University, with experience as an infielder & outfielder as well, Mike offers expertise in all aspects of the game. With his passion for teaching and advanced knowledge in the area of pitching, hitting, and fielding, players will have an opportunity to learn basic and/or advanced fundamentals of baseball and softball, refining and maximizing their overall ability. He has advanced education in Leadership & Mentoring and specializes in the mental and emotional development of our student-athletes.
Scott Jessop — Head Pitching Coach — Coach
Coach Jessop pitched 4 years at Washburn University and received 1st-team All-Conference honors as well as All-American honorable mention. He has worked with pitchers in Topeka and surrounding areas for several years. He has an in-depth knowledge of pitching mechanics and puts arm health and care first on the list. His belief in pitching is more than just velocity. His training involves accuracy, athleticism, flexibility, strength, pitch type, mentality, confidence, and more. Coach Jessop will be leading our pitching staff as well as overseeing our Arm Strength and Development programs.
Aaron Becker — Coach
Coach Becker has over 30 years of baseball experience as a player and coach. Formerly, he was the head baseball coach at Hayden High School for over 10 years. He played college baseball at Pittsburg State University where he was a middle infielder. He has a great passion teaching baseball and gets the most out of his students. Aaron has coached several players that have gone on and played college baseball.
Ryne Dowling — Pitching Coach / Coach
Coach Dowling has over 16 years of baseball playing and coaching experience. He is from Lee’s Summit, MO and attended Washburn University for 5 years as a pitcher, Ryne has been involved in youth baseball for the majority of his adult life. Instructing, coaching, and umpiring has allowed him to become very well-rounded in the development of baseball’s youth. As a coach and instructor, Ryne’s main objectives are to increase arm strength, better develop pitching mechanics, and help facilitate the athlete’s love for the game; all while placing arm care and health as a major priority.
Dalton VanHoutan — Pitching Coach / Coach
Coach VanHoutan has over 20 years of playing and coaching experience. Dalton attended Oskaloosa High School where he was a four-year starter. VanHoutan received All-State and All-Area awards for four years as a Pitcher and Catcher, as well as being an inductee into the KSHSAA Hall of fame for breaking the Kansas no-hitter record as a pitcher. Coach VanHoutan later went on to pitch at McPherson College. He has a vast understanding of pitching mechanics, arm care and development. It is his goal to make every pitcher the best that they can be through effort, repetition, and science.
Nick Steiner — Coach
Coach Steiner is a 2017 graduate of Seaman High School where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was a pitcher, catcher and third basemen for 4 years for Seaman. He also played with the college prep organization, Midwest Bruins, for 3 years during the falls and summers. After high school, Nick went on to play college baseball at Washburn University from 2017 to 2021. His first two seasons he contributed as a Catcher and last two seasons he joined the pitching staff as a relief Pitcher. With that, he has experience in multiple facets of the game. Nick’s experience and passion for the game helps him get the best out of his players. His goal is to improve the athletes that he works with and to maximize their potential. And, most importantly, he strives to grow his students’ love for the game.
Interested in Joining our Staff? Click here for more info —> Join our Staff!
Supporting Coaches/Staff:
The Midwest Bruin Baseball program will also receive support coaching from the professional staff at Smith Baseball Academy as well as other Quality Coaches from around the area. All support coaches with have college or professional baseball experience and will also have a strong passion to teach/coach at a high level. All Midwest Bruin coaches will teach player baseball skills as well as player character development and life skills.
FORMER COACHES:
- Evan Faulkner
- Kenny Swart (co-founder)
- Adam Schroeder (co-founder)
- Chris Linnemann
- Ryan Colombo
- Colby Smith
- Billy Weber
- Jim Haugh
- Tim Swietek