Paul Kosinski

Strike Zone General Manager
Director of Pitching Instruction

Email: pkosinski@thestrikezone.org

A product of St. Patrick HS and Northern Illinois University, Coach Paul Kosinski enters his eleventh year as an instructor at the "Zone". A disciple of the legendary pitching instructor Tom House, the former pitcher/centerfielder has established himself as one of the premier pitching instructors in the Chicago area. Dating back to 1992, Coach "K" has a lengthy history as both a high school and youth traveling baseball coach. He has the distinction of having served on the coaching staffs of three IHSA Coaching Hall of Fame Inductees - Kirby Smith at Barrington HS, Dan "Duck" Hogan at Notre Dame HS and Mike Napoleon at New Trier HS. He also serves as Head Coach for the New Trier Thunder and as Director of the New Trier fall ball program. During his six year coaching stint at Notre Dame HS, Coach "K" also ran the Renegades 13YO traveling team. While Coach "K" primarily works with junior high and high school pitchers and catchers, he is also available to work with pitchers and catchers age 10 and up.  He currently has over fifteen former players palying at the collegiate level.  Please e-mail Paul if you are interested in taking lessons with him.

Amanda (Carlson) Porter

Director of Softball
Email: aporter@thestrikezone.org

Coach Amanda Porter returns for yet another season of instruction at the Strike Zone. Amanda both played and coached at Trinity College before joining Strike Zone in 2001. Amanda has earned a reputation as one of the best private softball hitting instructors in the area. Amanda combines an upbeat, friendly personality with an outstanding ability to communicate with athletes of almost any age and skill level. In addition, she has an extensive knowledge of hitting and employs a wide variety of up-to-date techniques to get the most out of her students. All these qualities make Coach Carlson a highly popular and sought after private instructor. She was the head girls softball coach at Evanston High School for the last 5 years before leaving to work on her graduate degree. Amanda is also the rightful master of The Strike Zone’s unofficial mascot, her dog, "Addidas".  Amanda is available for fastpitch softball hitting and pitching lessons for girls of all ages year round.  You can book lessons with Amanda online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you may e-mail her to inquire about lessons.

Joe Knudsen
Advanced Hitting/Pitching

Email: jknudsen@thestrikezone.org

In his eleventh season with The Strike Zone, Joe is always one of our most preferred instructors. He is rapidly becoming one of the top hitting and pitching instructors in the area.  Joe is positive and knowledgeable in all phases of the game.  Joe excelled as a situational hitter as well as a pitcher at Wisconsin-Parkside. He worked under the tutelage of former major-leaguer and renowned coach Chris Bando and imparts the right way to play to students of all ages. His work as a coach with Niles West High School and his outstanding performance with various travel programs on the North Shore have earned him National recognition for coaching excellence.  Joe is currently the assistant head baseball coach for Evanston High School and is available for students of all ages September through June.  Please e-mail Joe directly if you are interested in taking lessons with him.

Nathan Stillwell

Pitching / Youth Hitting

Email: nathan@thestrikezone.org

Another disciple of the legendary Tom House, Nathan earned all- area honors out of Naperville North High School before earning a spot in the Northern Illinois University rotation as a freshman. In four years as a starter he compiled a .667 winning percentage including an unbeaten season in 2003. Nathan believes that mechanical, physical and mental aspects of pitching must be in balance to produce consistent results. He is available for pitchers of all ages and is also a fine hitting instructor.  He is available for lessons all year round.  You can book lessons with Nathan online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.

Brian Edwards

Baseball and Softball Hitting / General Skills

Beginning his second year of coaching hitting at The Strike Zone, Brian gathers his coaching experience from both his softball and baseball past.  Brian is a Glenbrook North High School alumni where he was a member of the 1974 state championship baseball team and the 1975 state championship football team.  He attended Carroll College where he was a four year starter on the basball team.  He also played four years of football earning a total of 7 varsity letters.  Over the past 30 years, Brian has coached youth football, travel baseball, and for the past 7 years, girls fastpitch softball.  He is currently the head coach of the Illinois Chill 18U team.  Brian is available for both boys and girls of all ages from September to June.  You can book lessons with Brian online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.

Matt LaFontaine

Hitting / General Skills

Matt LaFontaine is a talented up and coming coach who has coached successfully at the HS level as well as his established work in the NT Pony program. Matt is passionate about his work with young players and we are proud to have him on staff for the winter 2009. Matt works well with pitchers and hitters ages 7-14 and is available from October through May.  You can book lessons with Matt online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.

Josh Boock

Advanced Hitting / Catching / General Skills

Josh Boock is one of the brightest young coaches in the Chicagoland area. His work with Renegades baseball has earned him National recognition as a strategist and developer of young talent. Equally talented with hitters and pitchers, Josh is patient and relates well with virtuyally any age student. Discipline and positive attitude are his trademarks. Josh was himself a standout player in high school and college.  He returns to The Strike Zone for his 3rd season to work with hitters and catchers of all ages.  Josh is available from September through March.  You can book lessons with Josh online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.

Bill Madlock

Advanced Hitting

Bill Madlock, a four-time NL batting champion and former All-Star MVP is back for another season at the Srtrike Zone. Keeping things simple and positive, Coach Madlock uses fundamentals and playing experience to help guide his students through high energy workouts beginning in November and continuing through May of 2008. Coach Madlock is appropriate for all ages and specializes in ages 12 & up.

Tony Gragnani 

Advanced Hitting / General Skills

Tony Gragnani returns for his second year at the Strike Zone.  Tony is an outstanding baseball coach, who is known for his attention to detail and relating to athletes from all different backgrounds.  After little league, Tony began his baseball career with the Niles Renegades, playing on an elite travel team. He was an all-conference player for Niles West and a 4-year starter for Carthage College.  During and after college, Tony coached for the New Trier Thunder and is in his second year as an Assistant Evanston Township High School baseball coach.  Tony is available for students of all ages.  He is available from September through May.  You can book lessons with Tony online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.

Dusty Napoleon

Advanced Hitting / Catching

As a former Chicago Sun-Times Athlete of the Year in 2004, Dusty went on to star at the University of Iowa where he started at catcher for the Hawkeyes. A 2007 draft pick of the Oakland A�s, Dusty returns to The Strike Zone with his considerable playing knowledge along with his instructional expertise for the 2009-10 season. Dusty's skills are appropriate for all ages, but he is best suited for the advanced hitter age 11 and up.  Dusty is available from September through January.  You can book lessons with Dusty online at https://www.fasterlessons.com/scheduler/thestrikezone.view or you can e-mail info@thestrikezone.org to inquire about lessons with him.