Crete Crush 11U Manager and Assistant Coaches Biography's
Manager Tom Rogers, currently lives in Chicago Heights, Illinois and works as a police sergeant and supervises the Chicago Heights Police Department Detective Division. Coach Tom is married to his wife Jennifer and they have three children together, Alexis 10, Ty 8 and Camden 3. In his juvenile years, Coach Tom started out playing baseball, football and ice hockey. He then went on to play all three of these sports in high school and continued on to play college baseball. After finishing up with school, he went on to manage and play for his own men’s 12” softball team that played at a competitive level. Coach Tom has been involved in coaching girl’s softball now for the past five years. In the past five years, Coach Tom has had great success with his teams and players. Making sure the girls get the proper teaching for development. He has been able to assist with the girls in finishing in several first place championship wins, including his 10U team being awarded Illinois NSA State champs at the 10U level in 2009 along with Illinois ASA Runners-up. Coach Tom is an ASA A.C.E. certified coach, and also holds a USA Certified Level 2 hockey coaching card and has been coaching youth travel hocket for several years to. In the past Coach Tom has coached boy’s baseball and thats where his roots have come from. He has assisted with high school students at Proviso West High School, his Alma mater, in teaching proper fundamentals for infielders and hitters. Coach Tom will do the day to day operations in managing the Crete Crush 11U team with teaching the players their proper fundamentals to help them be successful on and off the field. Coach Tom lives by the motto everday and that is "Practice like a Champion and you will Play Like a Champion!"
Assistant Coach Joseph Baranski, currently lives in Chicago Heights, Illinois. Joe is married to his wife Sheila who together have three children. Susie, (11), Katie (10), and Joey (2). Coach Joe has been employed as a School Teacher for the last 17 years. Coach Joe has been coaching youth sports for over 17 years at the youth and high school levels. In the past, Coach Joe umpired for girl’s softball and he did that for 20 years. Coach Joe began coaching girl’s softball 5 years ago. Coach Joe comes to the Crete Crush with a wealth of sports knowledge and a passion for the game. Coach Joe will be the 11U pitching coach and will assist on all other coaching needs.
14u Coaches
Michael J. Reilly (Smiley)Manteno, IL312-287-3724
Head Coach Crete Crush 14U
Experience: 15yrs Softball/Baseball/Football
8 yrs Travel 2006-2008 with Crete Crush,1996-2000 with Cyclones
8 yrs Jr. High, 8 yrs High School, 3 years Crete-Monee High School and 5 years Manteno High School. I have been a freshman head coach, sophomore head coach and currently assistant varsity coach at Manteno High School.
Instruction: I have spent over 400 hours with John Malley, when he was with the White Sox Academy. I have also attended clinics at University of St. Francis given by Dick Smith for the last 14 years.
Mike Austgen Lowell, IN Assistant Coach
In 2009 I will begin my eleventh year coaching. I am entering my 3rd season with the Crete Crush. I have 10 years of coaching experience; I am currently the JV softball coach at Lowell High School for the last 2 seasons. Previous 8 yrs have been coaching or assisting on travel softball teams throughout Illinois and Northern Indiana area
Currently for the Crush I call the pitches and assist with infield and batting. I am not a pitching coach. I will give you pointers but it is the pitchers responsibility to hit her spots and practice on their own. For pitchers your playing time is based on the ability to hit your spots, throw a change up and one other pitch of your choice.
A note to prospective Crete Crush Players; as you can see I have coached for several years I have been around many teams and many coaches. Most teams and coaches have an agenda to provide an environment for their daughters to succeed with little regard for other players. Manager Mike Reilly has assembled a coaching staff for the sole purpose of teaching the game of fastpitch softball to all players. There are no favorites and no one plays injured. Each player is promised only the opportunity to succeed and become better. You possibly pay thousands of dollars for batting and pitching lessons how could you let just any coach influence your daughter? I can tell you from 10 years experience there is no better or fairer place to learn the game.
Dan Kistner Assistant Coach I have been an Assistant Coach with the Crete Crush since 2006. I started coaching softball in Park Forest at the T-ball level in 2001 and moved up the age groups as my daughters did, including a 10U All-Star team that took 3 championships. I currently still sit on the PFGSA Board. I have also coached/assisted on St. Lawrence O’Toole volleyball and basketball teams and I am Vertis trained through the Archdioceses of Chicago. I am married and live with my wife and 5 daughters in Matteson, IL.
Dave Barrett Assistant Coach Prior to making the move to The Crete Crush in 2007, I spent 3 seasons with the New Lenox Power, as an assistant coach and then as the Manager. The Power qualified for NSA Northern Nationals all three seasons. Prior to joining the coaching staff of New Lenox Power, I coached in the recreational leagues in Chicago and New Lenox for 6 years, at various age levels. I have been married for 15 years to my wife Terri, and live in New Lenox. I have four children, all of whom are involved in either softball or baseball.
Bob Dilger Assistant Coach This is my 3rd year coaching with the Crete Crush. Prior to this l assisted in coaching with the Tinley Park Rockers. I have 3 children that are very active in many sports.
