NOVABASEBALLMAGAZINE

SOUTH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

8:30-9:00 a.m. - ‘Infield Play: Double Plays, Feeds & Turns' - Now in his fifth year as the head coach at South County High School in Lorton, Smith has guided the Stallions to the regional tournament in three of his four seasons and in 2013 led them to the Patriot District championship. Previously served as the head coach at Annandale High School for one season, as an assistant at Robinson Secondary School for three seasons, and was an assistant at South County for seven years. Smith has coached for the past five years with Stars Showcase Baseball. He will speak to coaches in attendance on infield play and the mechanics of middle infielder double plays, feeds and turns. 

LANGLEY HIGH SCHOOL

9:00-9:30 a.m. - 'Intrasquads & Controlled Scrimmages in Practice’ - Now in his ninth season as the head coach at Langley High School, Healy has averaged 12 victories per season with the Saxons. He has coached with the Potomac Generals and Chain Bridge Vikings travel programs, with the Great Falls Little League All-Star program, directs the Langley Baseball Summer Camps and has also coached and served as a camp instructor overseas in Europe. Healy, who played at Bishop O'Connell HS and the College of William & Mary, will speak to coaches in attendance on creating a structured, productive and fun environment in outdoor and indoor youth camps. 

GEORGE C. MARSHALL HIGH SCHOOL

9:30-10:00 a.m. - ‘Balancing Lineups While Winning in Travel Ball’ - Now in his fifth year as the head coach at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, Tarr is in his 11th year overall as a high school coach. He also serves as the director of the Cadets travel program and as a coach with Stars Showcase Baseball and with the Herndon Braves of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Tarr has led the Statesmen to three consecutive conference championships and to the 5A North Region and 5A state finals in 2015. He will speak to coaches in attendance on how to best balance playing time, thus keeping players and parents engaged and content, while also striving to win championships in travel ball. 

LAKE BRADDOCK HIGH SCHOOL

10:00-10:30 a.m. - ‘Pregame and In-Game Bullpens' - Now in his third year as the pitching coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Thomas previously served as the head coach at McLean High School from 2006-12 and led the Highlanders to 108 wins and a Liberty District championship in 2009. Has produced several Division I pitchers, including current Los Angeles Dodgers farmhand Josh Sborz, and last year had Wade Strain earn 6A Conference 7 Pitcher of the Year honors. Thomas starred at McLean and pitched for the University of Virginia prior to beginning his coaching career. He will speak to coaches in attendance on effective ways to run pregame and in-game bullpens.  

JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL

10:30-11:00 a.m. - 'Hitting Mechanics & Checkpoints’ - Now in his 18th year as an assistant coach at James Madison High School in Vienna, Counts is regarded as one of the top assistant coaches in the state and in 2006 was named the National High School Baseball Coaches Association's East Region Assistant Coach of the Year. A prep standout at George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church and an All-ACC catcher at the University of Virginia, Counts played one season professionally before retiring from the game. He has helped the Warhawks produce dozens of collegiate players. Counts will speak to coaches in attendance on the mechanics of hitting and checkpoints in a hitter's swing.

CHANTILLY HIGH SCHOOL

1:00-1:30 p.m. - 'Assessing Your Team & Coaching Staff' - Now in his 12th season as the head coach at Chantilly High School, Ford led his Chargers to the 2016 6A North Region and 6A state championships. His team finished the season on a 19-game winning streak, and appeared in the state final for the third consecutive year. Under his guidance, Chantilly has become one of the most consistent and successful programs in the Washington, D.C. area, with 164 victories over his first 11 seasons. Ford, who played at Jefferson HS and the University of Virginia, will speak to coaches in attendance on ways to assess the performance of players and members of the coaching staff. 

HERNDON HIGH SCHOOL

1:30-2:00 p.m. - 'Catching: Controlling the Running Game' - Now in his second season as the head coach at Herndon High School, Rueffert is regarded as one of the top catching coaches in Northern Virginia. Has coached at his alma mater for 12 years and coached for one season at St. Anne's-Belfield in Charlottesville. After earning All-Met and All-State honors at Herndon, Rueffert became a four-year starter at catcher and DH at the University of Virginia and played one season professionally in the Detroit Tigers system. He will speak to coaches in attendance on critical mechanics and elements of catchers throwing. 

STONE BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

2:00-2:30 p.m. - 'Base Running: Stealing Bases and Runs’ - Now in his second season as the head coach at Stone Bridge High School, Baird led the Bulldogs to 16 victories in his first year last spring. He previously coached as an assistant at Madison High School for eight seasons, helping the Warhawks to five conference championships and the 6A North Region and 6A state title in 2015. He has also coached with the Vienna Riverdogs of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Baird, who also won a state title as a player at Madison in 2002 and later played at Salisbury University, will speak to coaches in attendance on fundamentals and correct techniques of base running and base stealing. 

JAMES MADISON HIGH SCHOOL

2:30-3:00 p.m. - ‘Motivating Players & Creating a Championship Culture’ - Now in his 22nd season as the head coach at James Madison High School in Vienna, Gjormand has accumulated 375 wins, 12 league championships, three region titles and led the Warhawks to state titles in 2002 and 2015. Serves as the Director of MVP Baseball School in Fairfax County and in the same capacity with the MVP Terps travel program and MVP International, which sends teams overseas during the summer months. The former President of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association, Gjormand will speak to coaches in attendance on ways to motivate players and create a championship culture.  

RIVERSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

3:00-3:30 p.m. - ‘Building Relationships With Today’s Players' - Now in his second year as the head coach at Riverside High School in Leesburg, Plank has 256 careers wins in 16 seasons as a head coach. In his 15 seasons at Stone Bridge High School, the Bulldogs won seven league championships, advanced to 13 consectuive regional tournaments, and won the 5A state championship in 2015. Plank, who was twice named the Northern Region's Coach of the Year, serves as the Director of Baseball Operations for Diamond Elite in Loudoun County. He will speak to coaches in attendance about the importance of and ways to build relationships with today's student/athletes.

BATTLEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

3:30-4:00 p.m. - ‘Developing & Protecting Pitchers in the Tommy John Era’ - Now in his third year as the pitching coach at Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Camp has become one of the area's permier pitching instructors and in 2016 had three Bobcats hurlers move on to Division I programs, including Player of the Year Jake Agnos. After starring at Robinson Secondary School and George Mason University, he played professionally for 18 years, making 541 appearances over 11 Major League seasons. In 2012, Camp led the National League with 80 appearances while with the Chicago Cubs. He will speak to coaches in attendance on proper ways to develop and protect pitchers from arm injuries. 

CHARLES J. COLGAN HIGH SCHOOL

4:00-4:30 p.m. - ‘Teaching & Stressing Situational Hitting’ - Now in his first year as the head coach at newly-opened Charles J. Colgan High School in Manassas, Colangelo will be makig his debut as a high school coach this spring. His nine-year professional career included four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Oakland Athletics and a .298 career batting average in the minor leagues. Colangelo serves as the General Manager of Stars Showcase Baseball, the Director of the Virginia Stars travel program, and a co-owner of Complete Game in Prince William County. He will speak to coaches in attendance on proper ways to teach and execute situational hitting.