RIPTIDE BASEBALL ACADEMY
MEET OUR COACHES
Get to know our private-lesson coaches. Compare their specialties, then find the right lesson for your athlete.
OUR COACHES
Coaches for Private Lessons
Corey Gross
Owner, Instructor & Coach
- Former collegiate coach at NCCU and GRCC; catcher and outfielder at Aquinas College and SVSU.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Catching, Defense, Baserunning, Core strength, Speed.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Paul Garcia
Riptide Head Coach & Head Instructor
- Head coach and instructor with more than 20 years of coaching experience.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Catching, Defense, Baserunning, Core strength, Speed.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Ron Thompson
Baseball Coach
- Former NCCU outfielder and Southeastern Community College player.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Catching, Defense, Baserunning, Core strength, Speed.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Mark Luszczynski
Lead Pitching Instructor
- Former collegiate pitcher and Riptide instructor.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Defense, Core strength, Arm care.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11.
Jake Jourdain
Pitching & Hitting Instructor
- Former collegiate coach and pitcher.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Defense, Core strength, Arm care.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Luis Diaz
Hitting & Defense Instructor
- Hitting and defense instructor.
- Skills: Hitting, Defense, Core strength.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Dante DeFranco
Hitting & Defense Instructor
- Former Division I shortstop.
- Skills: Hitting, Defense.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Bradley Roberto
Hitting Instructor
- Collegiate and professional playing experience; former Franklin Pierce University player.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Defense, Baserunning, Core strength, Speed.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Teddy Sabato
Hitting, Pitching & Infield Instructor
- Former pitcher at UNC and Manhattan College.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Defense.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14.
Brandon Garcia
Hitting, Infield & Pitching Instructor
- Former collegiate shortstop.
- Skills: Hitting, Pitching, Catching, Defense, Baserunning, Core strength, Speed.
- Youth defense: ages 8–11. Intermediate defense: ages 10–14. Pitching and catching: ages 14 and under.
WHERE WE TRAIN
Plan Your Visit
The essentials before your lesson.
- 359 Blackwell St, Suite 140, Durham, NC 27701
- Indoor training with cage and turf options
- Private, one-on-one instruction by appointment
- 30-minute and 60-minute lesson options
- Coaches with collegiate and professional playing experience
- Age guidance varies by coach and lesson
- Free Parking at South Main Parking Garage
- Located next to Queen Burger & Paper Co
YOUR NEXT STEP
Ready to Book a Lesson?
Compare coaches by skill, then open a coach’s page to view lesson options, prices and available times.
