Wheeler 2018 Baseball Media Guide

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COACHING STAFF
COACHING STAFF
2018 WHEELER BASEBALL 2018 WHEELER BASEBALL
Mark Collins // VARSITY HEAD COACH
Coach Collins is in his second season as head baseball coach for Wheeler High School.
He is a graduate of Morristown West High School in Morristown, TN, where he played
baseball for Hall of Fame Coach Brumley Greene. Coach Collins played one year at
Walters State Community College and fi nished his career playing at Georgia College and
State University in Milledgeville, GA. There he had a career of .320 hitter and was voted
team captain his senior year. After college, Coach Collins worked for the Atlanta Police
Department where he received the Blue Star Medal (injured in the line of duty) from Mayor
Bill Campbell and two commendations for drug enforcement from Garfi eld Hammonds,
head of the DEA. Coach Collins spent 14 years as head baseball coach at South Cobb
High School as well as serving as head fastpitch softball coach for 6 years. He was named
Metro Coach of the Year by the Marietta Umpires Association in 2011 and Softball Coach
of the Year by the MDJ for 2016.
Coach Collins is married to Janice Collins (27 years) and they have two kids. His son
David, is the pitching coach at Martin Methodist College in Tennessee. His daughter Becky, is on softball and academic
scholarship at Emmanuel College in Georgia.
Dan Lazzorini // ASSISTANT COACH
Dan or “Coach Lazz” joins the Wildcat coaching staff as a jack of all trades. This is his fi rst year
with the Wildcats and will be assisting with the pitchers, catchers, and outfi elders for the 2018
season. Dan was an outfi elder on the 2006 Lassiter State Championship team. After HS, Dan
attended Siena College. Dan converted from an outfi elder to a pitcher his freshman year where
he set the record for most saves as a freshman and was the MAAC pitcher of the week after his
fi rst collegiate start where he was 2 hits and a walk away from a perfect game. Dan Transferred
to UAH (University of Alabama at Huntsville) where he posted a regular season 0.52 ERA, an OBA
of .188, a perfect 6 for 6 in saves, and not allowing one extra base hit. He was drafted in the fi rst
round of the Frontier League Draft to River City and worked his way up to AAA with the San Diego
Padres in one season. He now teaches his new throwing technique called “The Wave Method” to
help prevent players form getting injured.
Tyler Jones // JV HEAD COACH
Tyler Jones is a 2007 graduate of Social Circle High School in Social Circle, GA, where he was a 3
sport letterman in football, basketball, and baseball. He received his undergraduate degree from
the University of Georgia. Tyler played baseball for the club team at UGA, where he served as the
head coach for a season. He is in his fi fth year of teaching and fourth at Wheeler High School,
serving as JV head coach. He is also the quarterbacks coach on the varsity football staff, as well
as 9th grade offensive coordinator. He is married to his beautiful wife, Whitney, since June 2014.
He enjoys playing fl ag football, basketball, and golf, and attends Passion City Church.
Keith Fitzgerald // ASSISTANT COACH
Keith Fitzgerald is the Physical Education Specialist at Sedalia Park Elementary School. He has
been with the Cobb County School System for 15 years and is the head coach for Wheeler’s
softball program. A father of two, Keith has been coaching youth sports for 17 years. This
is his fourth season as part of the Wheeler Baseball program. Coach Fitzgerald received his
undergraduate from the University of Dayton, (OH) and his Master’s from the University of
Scranton, (PA). Coach Fitzgerald and his wife Liz, have been married for 24 years and have been
active volunteers in various extra-curricular programs at Wheeler High School.
Hector Villalobos // ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Villalobos is in his 2nd season as an assistant coach with Wheeler High School. He is a
graduate of Grady High School where he was All State in 4 Sports-baseball, track, football and
soccer. Coach Villalobos attended Chattanooga State on a football scholarship. He has been
coaching high school baseball for the past 15 years.
COACHES
COACHES (L-R): Coach Jones, Coach Villalobos, Head Coach Collins, Coach Lazzorini, Coach Koch, & Coach Fitzgerald
Evan Koch // ASSISTANT COACH
Coach Koch (pronounced COKE) is born and raised here in Cobb County, GA. He graduated from
Kell High School in 2010, and then attended Chattanooga State Community College to play
baseball, until shoulder surgery ended his playing career. After his playing career, he transferred
to and graduated from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, with a degree in business
management. Coach Koch played summer travel baseball for Nelson Baseball School and is
currently their 15U head coach. He is a die-hard sports fan of all things Atlanta and enjoys fi shing
and golfi ng in his free time.
MANAGERS (L-R):Sydney Kaltman, Zach Halfacre, Olivia Houghton
MANAGERS