The Coaches

Zach is Head of Instruction at FOC, overseeing all training programs. He played four years at Newport H.S., served as team captain, earned All-State honors, and won the AAA State Championship his senior year. He went on to play four years at Washington State as a catcher and was a two-time team captain for the Cougs. Zach lives in Snoqualmie with his wife Alea and their children, Cami, Parker, and Clay.

Casey manages business operations at FOC. He played four years at Cedarcrest H.S., earning KingCo 3A All-Conference honors as an outfielder. He has coached youth through 16U, directed multiple camps and clinics, and provides lessons by request with a focus on hitting, outfield, and baserunning.

Dani heads up FOC's softball program. She graduated from Woodinville H.S. after an undefeated state championship season in 2005, then played D1 softball at Boston College and professionally in Switzerland. She coached at Woodinville from 2011–2021, winning the 4A State Title in 2017 and earning both Washington State Coach of the Year and National Fastpitch High School Coach of the Year honors. Dani lives in Carnation with her husband Chad and their four children.

Max graduated from Mt. Si H.S. and played center field on the 2011 Wildcats State Championship team — delivering the walk-off single in the championship game. He went on to play at Bellevue College and Kansas State, and was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015. Max has represented the New Zealand national team and played professionally in New Zealand and Australia. His passion for the game is evident in every session.

Nick has been an instructor at FOC since 2020. He played at Cochise College, De Anza College, and earned a full scholarship to play NAIA baseball at Texas College. He has coached in the Seattle area since 2013 across multiple organizations including the FOC Bears, and served as JV pitching coach at Eastlake H.S. in 2018. Nick has trained players who have gone on to play at Notre Dame, TCU, UW, Oregon State, Washington State, Brown, and more.

Jacob specializes in pitching instruction for committed pitchers ages 13–21. A native of Issaquah, he anchored the starting rotation of Issaquah High School's 2007 state championship team. He played at Edmonds CC and earned a D1 spot at Liberty University, compiling a 2.97 career ERA and leading the team in saves in 2012. He then competed in the California Winter League before signing with the Rockford Aviators of the Frontier League. Jacob has coached at Eastside Catholic HS, Issaquah HS, and Lakeside Recovery.

"Coach Ritt" has coached nine seasons from youth to high school ball. He played at Newport H.S., earning All-State honors and a state championship his senior year, then played four years at the University of Washington — leading the Huskies in home runs his junior year and posting a .308 career batting average. Marc was drafted by the Florida Marlins. He teaches the game with a focus on fundamentals, playing loose and fast, and competing every pitch.

Josh is a graduate of Roanoke College with a degree in Exercise Science. At Roanoke he was a true utility player — pitching, playing outfield, and infield — earning a reputation for reliability and leadership. Outside of FOC, Josh works as a personal trainer at the Pro Club in Bellevue, specializing in strength, mobility, and athletic development. His dual background in baseball and performance training makes him uniquely equipped to develop well-rounded athletes.

A Bellevue native, Englund was selected in the 2nd round of the 2006 MLB Draft by the Washington Nationals — one of the top picks to come out of the Pacific Northwest at the time. He was regarded as one of the top high school hitters in the country and a premier prospect out of Washington. Following his professional career in the Nationals organization, he transitioned to coaching and has built a reputation for developing hitters through detailed swing work, approach training, and individualized player plans.

A standout at Newport High School (OR), Travis earned two-time 1st Team All-League honors and was named 1st Team All-State as a pitcher. In college he competed at Western Oregon University, earning NAIA All-American honors as a designated hitter and reaching the 2001 NAIA College World Series. Scouted by the Texas Rangers, injuries impacted his professional path. Travis has coached Little League for years and continues to volunteer with local organizations developing young athletes.

Lukas specializes in developing catchers through both individual and group lessons. Originally from Bellingham, he went on to catch at Olympic College and Pacific Lutheran University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Marketing and recently completed his MBA. Lukas has worked with catchers of all ages, helping players improve their mechanics, confidence, and leadership behind the plate.

Sam focuses on pitching instruction through individual lessons and team training. He graduated from Skyline High School, where he played four years and earned all-conference honors, then went on to pitch four years at Pacific University, graduating with a degree in Business Administration. Over the past six seasons, Sam has coached multiple levels from 13U–18U with FOC Bears Baseball.

Kevin was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the sixth round of the 1979 MLB Draft and played 10 seasons of professional baseball, reaching the Triple-A level. A graduate of Chief Sealth High School, he has spent the decades since developing players throughout the Seattle area.