2024 NHSBCA Convention

Hosted by Scott Manahan: An intimate discussion with NHSBCA Hall of Fame Baseball Coaches

Coach Brad Bass holds a coaching record of 404-150 over 16 years as a high school head coach. Coaching stops include three years at False River Academy in New Roads, Louisiana, and he is currently entering his 14th year at Catholic High School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Career highlights include a National Championship in 2024, three State Championships in 2013, 2022, and 2024, with additional State Championship appearances in 2015 and 2017. His teams have claimed nine District Championships in 12 full seasons with the Bears. Three incredible organizations have honored Coach Bass as the National Coach of the Year (NHSBC, Max Preps, Prep Baseball Report). He has been named State Coach of the Year three times by the Louisiana High School Sports Writers Association and three times by the Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association. Additionally, he has earned four Metro Coach of the Year accolades and has been recognized as the District Coach of the Year nine times. Coach Bass's career is grounded on his commitment to building unbreakable relationships with his players and his ability to assist as a resource for his student-athletes to build convicted confidence in their relentless pursuit of excellence.

404-150 record

National Champion (2024)

State Champion (2013, 2022, 2024)

State Championship Appearances (2013, 2015, 2017, 2022, 2024)

District Champions (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)

National Coach of the Year (2024) (NHSBC, Max Preps, Prep Baseball Report)
Louisiana Sports Writers State Coach of the Year - (2013, 2022, 2024)

Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association State Coach of the Year - (2013, 2022, 2024)
Metro Coach of the Year - (2013, 2015, 2023, 2024)
District - Coach of Year (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)

The NHSBCA Vendors sponsor this event: Social includes light appetizers, beer, and wine. Please join us for a meet and greet with our NHSBCA Vendors.

Dr. Troy Urdahl has been the head baseball coach since 2002 at St. Anthony Village High School, where he also serves as the school's activities director. Urdahl’s teams won two Minnesota state championships during that time, and Urdahl was named state baseball coach of the year twice. He has served as a state all-star coach and has been inducted into the Litchfield Baseball Association and Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Urdahl wrote the baseball-themed coaching leadership book Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life, which reached #1 in Amazon's best-seller list.

In 2024, Urdahl was a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association baseball coach of the year. He also coached the Norweigan National Baseball team in the European championships. Urdahl completed his doctoral research studying the participation experiences of high school athletes, played in a national wiffle ball tournament, and previously held the Hamline University baseball pitching record for hitting the most batters!

2005, 2014 NCAA Division III National Champions
2005, 2014 NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year
2024 NCAA Division III Runner-Up
2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024 WIAC Coach of the Year
2004, 2005, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2024 NCAA Regional Coach of the Year
2005 WBCA Man of the Year
2004, 2008, 2010 WBCA College Coach of the Year
2024 ABCA Hall of Fame Inductee

John Vodenlich finished his 21st year at the helm of the UW-Whitewater baseball program with a NCAA Division III Runner-Up in 2024.

Throughout his 21 seasons, he has taken the Warhawks to heights unreached prior to his arrival on campus. In his two decades as the Warhawk's head coach, he boasts a 728-229-1 record and just this past year was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. His 728 wins are tied for first for most wins for a WIAC head coach.

While the UW-Whitewater program has had longstanding success, Vodenlich has set a new standard, turning the Warhawks into a NCAA Division III college baseball power. He is ranked fifth among active Division III coaches in winning percentage and 19th in wins, and 3rd all time in Division III history in winning percentage earning victory in over 73% of his games..

During Vodenlich’s 20 full seasons as head coach, the Warhawks have won 15 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, qualified for the NCAA Championships 16 times and appeared in the NCAA Division III College World Series seven times, including winning the 2014 and 2005 NCAA Division III National Championships as well as the runner-up in 2024.

UW-Whitewater has swept the WIAC regular season and tournament championships in three of the last four full seasons (2019, 2021, 2024).

In 2024, with some of the nations' best hitting stats, UW-Whitewater cruised through the NCAA Whitewater Regional. They met conference-opponent UW-La Crosse in the NCAA Whitewater Super-Regional. The Warhawks defeated the Eagles in three games, advancing to the NCAA Division III World Series for the first time since 2016. In the World Series, UW-Whitewater set multiple records for hitting, including home runs in a single game and home runs in the World Series as they took national runner-up.

Enters his 6th year in the Twins organization and fifth as Low A Manager in Fort Myers...in 2022, was named the Florida State League Manager of the Year by Minor League Baseball after guiding the Mighty Mussels to a FSL West Division First Half Title...Joined the Twins organization as minor league hitting coach after 13 years in the collegiate ranks...spent three seasons (2017-19) as an assistant coach at Butler University, following a five-year stint (2012-16) as director of baseball operations at Tulane University...in two seasons as assistant coach at Wright State (2010-11), the Raiders won consecutive Horizon League titles and qualified for the 2011 NCAA Tournament...from 2007-09 as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, Otterbein University in Westerville, OH...2007 Otterbein team qualified for NCAA tournament after winning the Ohio Athletic Conference title…began his coaching career in 2005 as the Freshman Head Coach at Westerville North High School...was selected as a member of USA Baseball’s NTIS Task Force from 2015-2019...played collegiately at Otterbein University under George Powell and OHSBCA Hall of Famer Dave Ewing.

I am pleased to introduce one of Arizona's most accomplished high school baseball coaches, Matt Denny. He is the head coach at Casteel High School in Queen Creek, Arizona, and leads the defending back-to-back Arizona 5A State Champions.

Over his remarkable career, Coach Denny has amassed a 330-132 record, with accomplishments that include:

- 4 State Championships in 2014, 2016, 2023, and 2024.
- 11 seasons with 20 or more wins.
- 16 post-season appearances, including five trips to the Championship Game.
- NHSBCA 2023 Region 7 Coach of the Year and Arizona Republic’s 2023 Coach of the Year.
- A state record-setting 70-7 run over two years, including a 29-game winning streak in 2013.

Coach Denny has developed 49 Division I players and seen 12 of his athletes drafted into the MLB. His multiple AZBCA and District Coach of the Year awards reflect his unwavering dedication to excellence and player development.

On a personal note, Matt is a devoted family man. He and his wife, Christie, have three children—Baylor, Harper, and Decker. Baylor is currently a sophomore at Casteel High School and plays for him.

Head Coach at St. Michaels High School
34 seasons as head coach at St. Michaels.
Record- 492-223

Team Achievements during this time:

5 time North Bayside Championships
2-time Bayside Championship
10-time Regional Champions
3 time State Semi-Finalist
3 time State Finalist
5 time State Champions

Coaches achievements:

Member of Team Maryland Coaching Staff for 14 years (10 as head coach). Sunbelt and Heartland Classic
North Bayside Coach of the Year 6 Times
Twice named BCA National Regional Coach of the Year
Named ABCA National Regional Coach of the Year in 2001
State District Coach of the Year 7 times
State Coach of the Year 2011
State Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame
Member of Team Maryland- Big 26 staff 3 years

Run Summer baseball clinics for 38 years
Worked several College Coaching Clinics over the past 20 years
Ran coaching clinic in the area for 10 years- For youth coaches
Member of BCA and ABCA for over 20 years (National coaches organizations.)

oach Zach Hobbs holds a coaching record of 277-162 over 13 years as a high school head coach. His coaching stops include eight years at Calloway County High School in Murray, Kentucky, and he is currently entering his sixth year at McCracken County High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Career highlights include two Kentucky State Championship game appearances in 2021 and 2024, three Final Four appearances in 2021, 2022, and 2024, and five Regional Championships in 2012, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.
Coach Hobbs is entering his 27th year coaching high school baseball. He's committed to helping build better men and helping young men be the best student-athletes possible.

Thank you to Sqairz for sponsoring a lunch for the NHSBCA Membership. Between 12:15 and 12:45, a mini-clinic about the biomechanics of hitting will occur on the main stage.

Jeff Mielcarek was hired as the varsity baseball coach at Central Catholic in January of 1987 at the age of 22 after playing and coaching under Hall of Fame Coach Don Kober. His teams at Central Catholic have compiled a record of 551 – 414 during those 38 years. The Fighting Irish teams won the Toledo City Championship in 2008, 2010, and 2013 and City League Runner-Up in 1993, 95, 96, 97, and 2009. They also won the regular season title in 1991, 96, and 2004. They won the District Titles in 1989, 1990, and 2021.

The 2010 City Championship was a special moment as his son Travis pitched a complete game victory and added two hits on the offensive side, earning him the game Walter Wood MVP Award.

In 2012, withe Fighting Irish baseball team moved to their new state-of-the-art baseball stadium in South Toledo with the help of a passionate group of coaches and supporters and funding from close friend Cleves Delp (’82). Since then, Mercy Health Field has hosted many high school and college games d has been named Regional and State Field of the Year.

His teams have traveled to Melbourne, Florida, 19 times since their first trip in 1996. There, they play Florida teams throughout the week. Everyone involved in the program looks forward to these trips.

Many former “Fighting Irish” baseball players have come back to coach with Coach Mielcarek in the past. These include current coaches Mike Kuebler (‘87), Jamie Floyd (‘93), Brett Kuebler (’08) & Cameron Best (’15), as well as others through the years including Jim Johnston (’87), Jim Jurski (’87), Jason Trame (’91), Scooter Stopera (’91), TJ Hunt (’90), Justin Toska (‘99), Sean Sullivan (’13), Kam Weber (’14), Tyler Wagner (’12), Kyle Mauter (’11) & Owen Kitz (’21).

Coach Mielcarek has now coached 15 players at Central Catholic, including three in this year's program, who have had sons who wear the Fighting Irish uniform and also play for him.

Coach Mielcarek was a “Team Ohio” coach for 19 years (9 years as an assistant and the head coach for the past 10 years). “Team Ohio” is an all-star team of juniors and seniors throughout the state. They travel to Oklahoma for a week each summer to compete in “The Heartland Classic” against seven other states. Kelly Hunt (‘99), Nick Szczur (‘00), Brad Hays (‘05), Cory Lehman (‘08), Kyle Burkhardt (’10), Jeremy Spalding (’10), Travis Mielcarek (’10), Nik Tschantz (’11), Jake Rudnicki (’13) all have participated for “Team Ohio”.

Coach Mielcarek was selected to coach in the Mizuno All-Ohio Classic in 1995. In addition, he has been the President of the Metro Toledo Baseball Coaches Association, the President of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association and is currently the Business Manager. In 2011 he was inducted into the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and received the OHSAA Sportsmanship Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the Central Catholic Hall of Fame. In 2022, he was inducted into the Toledo City League Hall of Fame and the NW Ohio Polish Hall of Fame.

Jeff graduated from St. Francis de Sales High School (’81) and then went to Xavier University before graduating from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In July 1987, he became the Director of CYO Athletics for the Diocese of Toledo. He held the CYO position until September 2015, when he became the General Manager at Twos Athletic Club, where he is still employed today.

Scott Richardson is entering his 25th year at Tolleson High School. Before joining Tolleson, he coached at Hobbs High School in Hobbs, NM, as well as at New Mexico Jr College and the University of the Southwest under the guidance of legendary coaches Ray Birmingham and Jim Marshall. Richardson’s career win-loss record stands at an impressive 498 wins and 290 losses, including 15 - 20 win seasons and 8 region championships. His dedication to coaching has left a lasting impact on student-athletes’ lives. Scott’s baseball journey began at Buckeye High School, and he continued to play at various college levels. He played at College of the Desert in Palm Springs, CA, and went on to play at Phoenix College and the University of the Southwest under Coach Birmingham, where he was an All-Region Catcher.
Off the field, Scott has been happily married to his wife, Dana, for 32 years. Together, they have two children: Raeann Southern (spiritline coach) and Brock Richardson (Baseball coach), who contribute to the coaching staff at Tolleson High School. Their spouses, Richard Southern (Tennis coach) and Kati Richardson (Pom coach) are also part of the Tolleson coaching team.
Scott’s passion for baseball extends beyond coaching. He has scouted for the Mets and Astros, and his involvement with USA Baseball includes serving as a task force member at the West championships and working at the USA Baseball training facility in Cary, NC. Additionally, Coach Richardson has been an active member of the Arizona Baseball Coaches Association and has directed Team Arizona in both the Sunbelt Classic and the High School Baseball National Championship Series.
His commitment to the game and the development of young athletes continues to make a difference in the baseball community.

Hall of Fame Banquet and Award Winner Banquet: Cash Bar Cocktail Hour/Pictures Available
Pictures are available at no cost to the guests. The pictures will be provided via a website for no charge. This traditionally is a 2-4 week process for touch-up and upload. At this time a code will be sent to you for download.

5:50-6:00 PM- We will begin to seat tables
We have assigned banquet table seating. We try to sit guests with award winners, family, friends, or fellow coaches as much as possible.

NHSBCA Hall of Fame Inductees-Speeches
NHSBCA Coaches of the Year and Jostens National Coach of the Year
NHSBCA Field of the Year, Sponsored By Turface
NHSBCA Assistant Coach of the Year, Sponsored By Jostens

NHSBCA Hall of Fame Inductees-Speeches
NHSBCA Coaches of the Year and Jostens National Coach of the Year
NHSBCA Field of the Year, Sponsored By Turface
NHSBCA Assistant Coach of the Year, Sponsored By Jostens
NHSBCA Fundraiser of the Year, Sponsored By OnlineDonations

Current Perham High School (MN) Head Baseball Coach James Mulcahy has led the Yellowjackets for the past seven years and consistently ranked in the top 10 of the state. He graduated from Audubon, MN, 1988 and attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. Although his playing career at Concordia faded during his Sophomore Year, it triggered his passion for coaching. He was taken under Minnesota Baseball Hall of Fame Coach Bucky Burgau, who brought him on the Concordia staff as a JV coach for two years. Upon graduation from Concordia in 1992, he moved to the Los Angeles area, and within a few years, he was named Head Coach at Verdugo Hills High School. He would spend the next 14 years coaching and teaching in the area. In 2003, he accepted the head coaching job at Granada Hills High School and guided the Highlanders to the D2 Los Angeles City Championship in 2004. While in Los Angeles, another Hall of Fame Coach, Darryl Stroh, mentored him. In 2009, he moved back to central Minnesota and joined the Perham High School staff as a varsity assistant coach until the head job opened up and the competitive desire to get back into the head coaching ranks again and put his stamp on the program. Since taking over the program, the Yellowjackets have gone 135-25 overall, 69-3 in conference play, and have won 6 consecutive conference Heart O Lakes Conference Titles, three Section 8AA titles, and three state appearances, including a 2nd place finish in 2023 and picked up his 200th high school coaching career victory this past spring. Coach Mulcahy attributes much of their success to their early season focus while indoors. For many years, this can be as many as 4+ weeks, which forces the team to develop skills, compete, and get game-ready in small spaces. The Yellowjackets have not had a single outdoor practice in the last three years before their first game.

Coach Ben Evick has a record of 242-104 over 18 years as head baseball coach at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes, Delaware. Career highlights include two state championships in 2018 and 2022, 1 additional state title game appearance (2015), six conference championships, being named state coach of the year in 2022, and 3 conference coach of the year awards. In 2022, he was named the Region 2 Coach of the Year by NHSBCA after his team rattled off 20 straight wins en route to the state title. After his pitching career in college at UNC-Greensboro ended, Ben began teaching at Cape Henlopen High School, where he has worked as a special education teacher since 2000. Ben resides in Delaware with his wife, Carrie, and two children, Brogan and Brynn.

Brad has been a science (physics) educator in Baltimore County Public Schools for 19 years and the head Baseball coach at Hereford High School since 2022.

After a four-year baseball career at NCAA Division 1 and Patriot League member Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, Brad began teaching and coaching at Loch Raven High School in Towson, Maryland. He coached boys’ soccer, indoor track, and baseball for two years at Loch Raven before moving back to his alma mater, Hereford High School in Parkton, Maryland.

He has been a three-season coach at Hereford for 17 years, guiding boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, indoor track, outdoor track, and baseball teams to a combined 9 State Championships, 22 Conference Championships, and 34 MPSSAA Regional Championships in that time.

Brad has been awarded 6 Baltimore Sun All-Metro Coach of the Year awards for various sports and 1 United Soccer Girls Coach of the Year award in 2021 for the State of Maryland. Brad plays an active role in the local and national organizations in the sports that he coaches. He has served as the District 6 Director and MPSSAA Regional Representative for Indoor Track and Soccer over the past 12 years.

Brad resides in the Hereford school district with his wife and three daughters and has a Masters Degree in Coaching Education from Ohio University.

In his third season as the BC High Varsity Baseball Coach, Steve Healy led the Eagles to the 2024 Division 1 Massachusetts State Championship. The Eagles played a highly competitive schedule and finished with an overall record of 20-5 in 2024. Overall, BC High has a 51-20 record over the past three seasons. Prior to becoming the head coach at BC High, Coach Healy served as the Varsity Assistant Coach for one season at BC High and was the head JV coach at BC High for 13 seasons. In 2018, Coach Healy received the ABCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award and in 2020 Coach Healy received the NHSBCA Assistant Coach of the Year Award.
Coach Healy is an alumnus of BC High and currently teaches math and business at BC High. Coach Healy has been married for 33 years to his wife Tara and is the proud father of three daughters, Michaela, Caroline, and Jenna. Coach Healy currently serves as the president of the Massachusetts Baseball Coaches Association and is the Associate Head Coach of Team Massachusetts. Coach Healy is here today to speak about 1st & 3rd Offensive Strategies.

Scott will start his fourth season at Div. 3 Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, this season. He was privileged to teach and coach at the high school level for thirty-four years, twenty-five of them at Bishop Watterson High School.

He has been honored to speak twice on the main stage at the ABCA and numerous times for the NHSBCA and the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association. Scott was elected into the NHSBCA Hall of Fame in 2015.

Todd Dulin was the North Andover High School Scarlet Knights baseball team captain in 1991. He then joined the staff in 2003 as the freshman coach, and in 2007, he was named the head coach. His record as head coach is 263-112. His teams have qualified for the state playoffs in 16 out of 17 seasons. They have won 12 league titles and the 2009 and 2011 D2 North Sectional Championships. In 2019, North Andover High School became the first D2 team to win the Division 1a "Super 8" State Championship. Coach Dulin was named the Boston Globe Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2019. He teaches history and is the assistant ski coach at NAHS. He has also coached football and basketball. Todd has been married to his high school sweetheart, Karla, for 25 years.

A mini-clinic will be between 12:15-12:45 for Arm-Care.

Chris Sheehan is a native of Warwick, RI. A 2009 Bishop Hendricken High School graduate, he was a standout pitcher for the Hawks. Upon graduation, Sheehan continued his career at the University of Rhode Island before a shoulder injury ended his playing days. A kinesiology major at URI and a certified strength and conditioning specialist, he strives to educate players on preparing their bodies for optimal performance and durability. He is also certified by Driveline for Foundations of Pitching and Pitch Design. His approaches to player development have helped the Hendricken Hawks to five state titles during his tenure, including an undefeated season this Spring. He has coached a multitude of players who have gone on to both the college and professional levels, including San Diego Padres Pitcher Michael King, Cleveland Guardians prospect Alex Clemmey, Los Angeles Angels prospect Tucker Flint, and Miami Marlins prospect Caleb Wurster. In addition to coaching the pitchers, he coaches third base, helps with practice organization, manages the program's social media, and runs the Green and Gold Baseball Camps. Chris Sheehan's expertise extends beyond coaching. He holds a master's Degree in Education Administration and is an Assistant Principal at Bishop Hendricken. His previous roles include Assistant Athletic Director, Dean of Students, and Health Educator. But Chris Sheehan is more than just a coach and educator. He is a devoted family man, married to Karissa Sheehan, and the proud father of CJ (3) and Savannah (1).