Interested in coaching or being an Instructor? Riptide Baseball Academy is always looking for qualified coaches to add to the already impressive staff.

Corey Gross

Director Of Baseball

College Coach & Player
Pitching, Catching, Infield, Hitting, and Strength
BIO
​Coaching Career
Coached 4 Years at NCCU - Hitting/Catching/Outfield Coach
Coached 3 Years at Grand Rapids CC - Pitching/Catching/Hitting/Recruiter/Outfield Coach
Coached 10+ Seasons for Travel Baseball - Ages 11-18
Elite Baseball Facility (2008-2009)
Riptide Baseball (2013-2019)

Playing Career and Academics
Played at Aquinas College for 3 years (Catcher/OF)
 - All-Conference WHAC Catcher 2008 and 2009
 - Master's Degree in Coaching Education from Ohio University

Zach Lee

College Player
Infield and Hitting
BIO
​Zach played at NCCU 2013-2014. Zach was named All-MEAC Academic and Second Team NCCSIA All-State Honors for 2014. In his senior season, Zach hit .305 leading the MEAC with 49 scored runs. Zach started at SS for both 2013 and 2014 fielding a .950 his senior season. 

Zach also played two years at Wake Tech Community College as a MIF. 

Paul Garcia

Pitching, Catching, Infield, Hitting, and Strength
BIO
​Coach Paul Garcia has now been coaching with the Riptide for 4 seasons. Paul has coached 15+ year of little league, travel ball, and middle school baseball. Coach Paul specializes in infield, pitching and hitting for youth baseball players. ​

Kyle shields

Former NCCU/Brunswick CC Pitcher
​Pitching
BIO
​Southern Nash High School
Brunswick Community College
North Carolina Central University
2009 all conference big east
High School records for single season strikeouts and innings pitched
High School records for career strikeouts and innings pitched
Helped lead Brunswick Community College to the 2013 Junior College World Series
Top 5 in nation for k/9 in 2013
One summer in Coastal Plains League with a 0.00 ERA
2015 True Grit Award Winner at NCCU

Ron Thompson

Former NCCU OF
​Pitching, Outfield, Infield, Hitting, and Strength
BIO
​Ron played 2 years and red-shirted one year at NCCU. Ron was plagued with a shoulder injury throughout his career. Battling through the injuries, as a Senior at NCCU, Ron stole 18 bases, hit 7 Home Runs, with 27 RBI's and 30 Runs. Ron was also a 2014 All-MEAC Academic Team. 

Ron also played at Southeastern CC for two years helping lead them to their first ever conference championship and first ever world series appearance. 

MATT mONASTERO

College Player & HS Coach
Pitching, Catching, Infield, Hitting, and Strength
BIO
Coach Matt currently coaches and teaches at Jordan High School. Coach Matt played college baseball at Dowling College from 2006-2009 as an OF. Matt does lessons for hitters, catchers, pitchers, and outfielders.

mALCOUM gREEN

HS Coach
Pitching, Catching, Infield, Hitting, and Strength
BIO
​Coach Malcoum Green is going into his 3rd season at the Hillside HS Head Baseball Coach. He also has been coaching with Riptide for 3 years specializing in catchers and hitters. Caoch Malcoum played catcher in high school. 

Luis Diaz

College Player
Infield, Hitting, and Strength Training
BIO
Luis Diaz played at NCCU in 2012 and 2013. Luis was named 1st Team MEAC in 2013 hitting .320 his Senior Year and in 2012 hitting .351 his Junior Year. Luis was a vocal leader for the team bringing toughness and attitude to the field every time he played. 

Luis also played at Monroe Community College in New York for 2 years leading the team in BAT AVG, SLUG, & OBP

maxwell mcdowell

Professional Pitcher - Independent League 
Pitching, Hitting
BIO
Max was a dual varsity high school athlete back in his home state of Vermont.  In high school he competed in multiple DI state championships in both hockey and baseball.   He then went on to play DII college baseball as a starting and relief pitcher for Saint Michael’s College, which competes in the NE-10 division.  In his senior season he was Saint Michael’s weekend starter and had notable starts against conference rivals, nationally ranked SNHU (#11) as well as Johns Hopkins.  In his 43 innings pitched 35 of them were scoreless. During the summer months Max played in the FCBL (Future Collegiate Baseball League) for the Pittsfield Suns (of Pittsfield Massachusetts). Max’s true passion for pitching comes from developing pitches, pitch sequence, mechanics and feel, along with many other things.
​

Peter Rajkovich

College Player
Infield, Outfield, Hitting, Pitching
BIO
Peter Rajkovich was born and raised in Stockton, California, He was a graduate of Linden High School.  Peter Played at Centenary College in Shreveport La where he earned Freshman All-American honors as a centerfielder.  Later transferring to San Joaquin Delta Community College in his hometown of Stockton, he finished college career with Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City TN.  There he played shortstop, second base and centerfield under Coach Tom Griffin.  

Jimmy Smiley

College Player
Pitching, Hitting, Infield
Bio
​Born in raised in La Crescenta, CA Jimmy was a two year letter winner in baseball and basketball out of high school (Crescenta Valley, CA). At Whitman, Jimmy was a team caption in 2018 with a record of 5-1 with an ERA of 3.78 (3-0 in conference). Transferring to Columbia University in 2019 Jimmy made 13 appearances as a reliever with 3-0 record, two saves and 3.60 ERA in 20.0 innings of work. He also had 3 apperances in 2020, a covid shortened season. 

Jackson Hicks

MLB - Minor League Player
Pitching, Hitting, Infield
Bio
Jackson grew up in Chapel Hill playing SS/RHP in HS. Attended University of North Carolina to get his degree and played on the club baseball team. By his senior year, he was up to 92-95 mph through his own work. After graduating, he played in an Independent League in Michigan where he was then picked up by the Minnesota Twins and began playing in their minor league system.

Bryce Hensley

MLB - Minor League Player
​Pitching, Hitting, Infield
Bio
​Born in Asheville, NC Bryce attended Catawba Valley CC before transferring to University of North Carolina at Greensboro. At UNCG he amassed 82 strikeouts with a 6-2 record in his senior season. He was drafted in 2018 MLB draft by Kansas City Royals as a left handed pitcher and now plays independent professional for the High Point Rockers. 

Josh Patton

Former Professional - Independent League
Hitting, Infield, Pitching, Catching
Bio
​Josh played collegiately at Western Kentucky University where he was an all-around hitter/infielder. After graduation, he played independent professional baseball for several years before ending his career with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association League in 2008.  Josh is currently the coach of our 11-Blue team. 
Former Instructors - *Possibly available in professional off-season

Ryan Dorow

AAA/MLB Player - Texas Rangers
BIO
Ryan just finished his 3rd season in minor league ball with the Frisco Rough Riders (AA) and a season and a half playing with Single-A ball. 

Ryan was drafted in the 30th round in 2017 by the Rangers after playing Div.3 baseball at Adrian College in Michigan. Ryan hit .401 his senior year as a 3rd team All-American.

RYAN THOMSPON

AAA Durham Bulls/Montgomery Biscuits 2019 - Minor League Pitcher
BIO
Attended Campbell University in 2013 and 2014.
Two time All-American. 2013 National leader in ERA (0.88) and Big South Pitcher of the Year.
2014 Golden Spikes semi finalist, and Big South Tournament MVP. Drafted in the 23rd round of the 2014 draft to the Houston Astros.
Player with Durham Bulls/Montgomery Biscuits in 2019