Coaches & Player Alumni

STEVE MERRIMAN

Steve has been involved with the USBS organization since its inception in 1998. Steve’s work ethic and vision has been critical to the operation and success of the USBS program. Steve has a passion for teaching and coaching the game of baseball. Steve’s relationships with international baseball organizations and proven talent for teaching have been enormously valuable in the growth of opportunities for USBS and its players.

Currently Steve is a pitching coach in the minor leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Steve also has an extensive coaching background in college with experience at the University of Michigan, University of Toledo, Oakland University and Head Coach at Macomb Community College. Steve has coached 12 players who went on to play professional baseball (2 first round draft picks).

RANDY NIEMANN

Having Randy Niemann "Coach Nemo" on our staff is truly an honor. Coach Nemo has 8 years experience pitching in the major leagues with the New York Mets, Houston Astros, Pittsburg Pirates, Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins from 1979-1987. He was a member of the 1986 World Champion Mets team. Currently, Randy is the pitching coach for The New York Mets with their Triple A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. Coach Nemo brings a wealth of baseball knowledge and teaching ability to our group of coaches. We are excited to have him coaching with our program

DEAN KRIENER

Coach Kriener brings 40 years of coaching experience to our teams. He was a Division I coach at Central Michigan University for 13 years. Coach Kreiner was a 4 time NCAA Mid East Regional Coach of the Year (1985,1986,1988, 1995). In addition, he was a 6 time NCAA Mid- American Conference Div. I Coach of the year. 37 of coach Kreiner’s pitchers went on to sign professional contracts. Coach Kreiner brings a wealth of baseball knowledge, from baseball fundamentals to recruiting. We are honored to have him on our staff.

GEORGE GREER

We are very lucky to have Coach Greer on our staff. Currently, he is the manager for the Brooklyn Cyclones (New York Mets A-Ball Affiliate). Prior to his current position, he was the head coach at Wake Forest University (Div 1 ACC conference). He produced 29 All Americans during his time there. He ranks fourth in wins for coaches in ACC history. As a player, was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1968, and spent four seasons in their minor league system. Coach Greer will be an exceptional asset because of his knowledge and experience with Division 1 caliber and professional baseball.

FRED DECKER

Coach Decker has been coaching with USBS teams for several years. In 2007, he was an inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Coach Decker is in good company – this year’s class of inductees also included Mike Martin (Florida State University), Keith Madison (University of Kentucky) and Ron Nischwitz (Wright State University). Coach Decker has 29 years of coaching experience at Western Michigan University. He has coached 87 players that have been drafted by major league baseball. Coach Decker is an excellent teacher of the game and we are thrilled that he is part of our staff.

LUIS NATERA

Luis Natera joins us from the New York Mets Organization. Luis has great passion for the game and is an excellent teacher. He has played professional baseball from 1984-1989 as an infielder. Luis has managed in Dominican League and has been a coach in Mets Organization since 1992. He is currently the hitting coach at Port St. Lucie with the New York Mets minor league affiliate.

JUNIE MELENDEZ

Junie has coached with the United States Baseball Stars since the summer tour of 2003 to Australia. Currently, Junie is a scout for Major League Baseball. In the first year of Mr. Melendez’ young coaching career he was an assistant in the Mid American Conference at the University of Toledo. We feel that Junie’s experience at the division I level enables him a valuable asset to the United States Baseball Stars Organization.

In addition to Mr. Melendez' talent as a baseball coach, he was also a premier pitcher for the University of Toledo as well. At a junior in 1999 Junie went 9-5 with a 3.10 ERA. He also set a school record for most shutouts in a season with four.

We are excited to have had Junie coach with us in the recent past. USBS looks forward keeping him involved in our program.

LARRY MILLIGAN

Coach Milligan has been a professional scout for the past 14 years. He scouted 9 years for the Oakland Athletics, 3 with the New York Yankees and he is currently scouting with the New York Mets. Coach Milligan coached with Marc Johnson at Cherry Creek High School and won 4 consecutive state titles from 1994-1998. He is currently the head coach for Fairview High School.

CLARK JONES

Clark Jones has been involved in baseball on a collegiate level and above for the past 22 years. Jones was an infielder/outfielder at Central Michigan University (CMU) from '86 - ‘90 and played on 3 Mid-American Conference Championship Teams. In addition to his baseball commitment, Jones attended CMU on a football scholarship out of South Haven High School (Michigan) where he became a 2003 Inductee into the South Haven Ram Hall of Fame.

Following his college athletic and academic endeavors, Coach Jones was an Assistant Coach for the 1991 Mid-American Conference Champions – the Ohio Bobcats. Years later, Jones was an Associate Scout for the Yankees. Coach Jones also spent 14 years at Elmhurst College, during which he was nominated the CCIW Coach of the Year in '97, and was the most wins in school history.

Currently, Coach Jones is serving as an Associate Scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks as well as the Assistant Coach at Rochester Community and Technical College. Further, Coach Jones is the owner and Instructor of Southeast Minnesota Baseball Academy in Rochester, Minnesota.

DEREK MCGAUGHY

Derek has traveled and coached with several USBS teams. He is Certified Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Specialist. We rely on his expertise in all matters having to do with weight training, nutrition and overall athletic conditioning. He has over 15 years of Athletic Training experience at the high school, college and professional levels.

BLAKE DAVIS

Blake Davis has been a great addition to our staff. Currently, he is an area scout for the Oakland Athletics and he covers the state of Texas. In 2006 he received the Dick Bogart award for Scout of the year in the Oakland Athletics scouting department. Prior to his time with the Oakland Athletics, he worked in baseball operations for MLB’s Arizona fall league from 2000-2002. Blake signed the 2005 American League Rookie of the year Huston Street. Blake has a passion for the game and has been a great resource for parents and players who join us in the Dominican.

ROB WACHHOLZ

Rob has coached with the United States Baseball Stars in Australia and the Dominican Republic. Rob has extensive coaching and teaching experience. As a player at Wartburg College, Rob was an all conference performer for 3 years. He was team captain and MVP his senior year.
Currently, he is the baseball coach at Wausau West High School in Wausau, Wisconsin. He has experience coaching all different levels of high school baseball (experience with freshman, Junior Varsity and Varsity level). In addition to coaching at the high school level, Rob has served as the hitting and infield coach for the Wisconsin Woodchucks Baseball Club (Wausau, Wisconsin). Coach Wachholz has coached players from well-respected programs such as Arizona State, Creighton, Michigan, Purdue, UCLA and UNLV during a 70 game schedule.

In addition to Rob’s extensive experience in education, Rob is also a registered representative of Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc.

JEFF MACE

Coach Mace is a great addition to our staff. He is a well respected hitting coach and has a vast array of experience. He played for the Texas Rangers organization from 1982-1986. He began his coaching career as a Player/Coach for the Boise Hawks toward the end of 1986 and continued in that role until 1990. Coach Mace was a hitting instructor for the Erie Sailors and Korea’s All Star team in 1990 – 1991. Currently, Jeff owns and operates a hitting facility in Boise Idaho.