Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar

Rich Hoffman is celebrated as one of the most accomplished high school baseball coaches in history, renowned for his unparalleled success and ability to develop future professional athletes. Across his storied career, Hoffman amassed 1,020 wins, 10 state championships, and two national titles, leaving an indelible mark on high school baseball.

Bio Heath Autrey is the head baseball coach at Corsicana High School in Texas, where his leadership has propelled the Tigers to consistent success. With over 400 career victories, Coach Autrey emphasizes building "overachievers," instilling discipline, and fostering a winning mentality both on and off the field. Known for his strategic approach and player development skil

Joe Sato is the head coach of the Bingham High School baseball team, where he has been instrumental in developing a winning culture for over several decades. He is not only an alum of Bingham but has been coaching there since 1975. Under his leadership, the team has secured three state championships and consistently ranked among the top teams in the state.

Chris Turco is the Head Baseball Coach at Pope High School, where he has led the Greyhounds to the state championship in each of his three years at the helm, winning the title in 2022 and finishing as runner-up in 2023 and 2024. Under his leadership, Pope has continued its legacy of excellence, competing for the state championship 7 of the last 8 full seasons and advancing to the F

Robbie joined Eastern Michigan University as head baseball coach in 2023, bringing a legacy of success from his tenure at the University of Charleston. With a career winning percentage of .722, Britt is known for transforming teams into competitive powerhouses, both athletically and academically. At Charleston, his teams clinched multiple conference championships, three NCAA appear

Bio: Todd Fitz-Gerald is the head baseball coach at Stoneman Douglas High School, where he has led the Eagles to multiple Florida state championships, including titles in 2016, 2021, and 2022. Under his leadership, the program has become a national powerhouse, known for producing top-tier talent, with several players advancing to college baseball and the MLB draft. Fitz-Gerald has

**Bio:** Mark "Pudge" Gjormand has been the head coach of the James Madison High School baseball team since 1995, he is starting his his 30th season in 2024 and marking his 38th year in high school coaching. Under his leadership, the Warhawks have become a dominant force, winning 14 Liberty Conference titles, 2 Concorde Conference titles, 4 regional championships, and 3 Virginia st

**Bio** **Brian Kitamura** has led the Whitman College Baseball program through one of its most successful eras in school history. Entering his 10th season as head coach and 15th year with the program, he has turned Whitman into a perennial contender. In 2024, Kitamura guided Whitman to its first Northwest Conference regular-season title since 1952, earning a 26-17 overall record

Podcast Intro: Today, we’re joined by Michael Barta, the head baseball coach at Johnston High School in Iowa. Michael Barta is the head baseball coach at Johnston High School in Iowa, where he has built one of the premier baseball programs in the state. Known for his commitment to developing not only skilled athletes but also well-rounded individuals, Coach Barta's leadership has

Smith's 2023 squad garnered four 1st Team All-State selections and Two 2nd Team All-State selections. The 2023 Patriot team produced One 1st Team All-American (John Marant), One 2nd Team All-American selection (Edwin Toribio) and one Honorable Mention All-American (Cam Schuelke). The 2023 Patriot National Championship Team saw all 10 graduating Patriots move on to NCAA Division 1 I