USA Baseball Reveals Coaching Staff for 2026 16U/17U NTDP

USA Baseball today announced the coaching staff for the 2026 16U/17U National Team Development Program (NTDP). The development program, which also serves as a USA Baseball national team identification event, is set to take place from July 27-30 at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. 

The 20-man staff is a mix of former big league players and experienced coaches from the high school, college, and professional ranks. Headlining the staff are field coordinators Brian Schneider and Jack Wilson, and pitching coordinators Jake Arrieta and Luke Gregerson. Together, these four coaches bring nearly five decades of major league playing experience, professional coaching experience, and five previous stints of representing Team USA. Additionally, Schneider will manage the 18U National Team this upcoming summer while Gregerson will assume the role of pitching coach for the team.

Joining the staff are former major leaguers Steve Cishek and Michael Bourn, who will each make their USA Baseball coaching debuts. Cishek played 13 seasons in the majors, while Bourn spent 11 seasons in the big leagues and earned two All-Star selections. Additional professional experience is brought by coaches Travis Buck, Matt Ginter, Wayne Gomes, and Mike McKenry, who each have at least six MLB seasons under their belts.

Bringing experience from the collegiate ranks are Tom Griffin (Carson-Newman University), Bobby Hill (West Valley College), Sean McKinney (Colorado Mesa), Derek Simmons (Virginia), Rob Valli (Rowan College South Jersey), Keith Zuniga (Hawai’i). The staff also includes renowned high school coaches Guy Civitello (Apex Friendship), Mark Gibbs (St. John’s College High School), Joe Giummule (Jupiter High School), and Dave Webb (Corona del Sol).

“We are thrilled to announce the 2026 16U/17U National Team Development Program coaching staff,” said USA Baseball 16U/17U NTDP Director Jeff Feltman. “The opportunity to have some of the most decorated coaches from across the nation join us in Cary not only excites us, but proves the significance and impact the 16U/17U National Team Development Program has within the amateur baseball landscape. The week will provide countless opportunities for both players and coaches to learn, and we are fortunate to have these leaders’ commitment to our mission as we strive to develop and identify the top 16-and-17-year-old baseball players in the country.”

Collectively, the staff brings 98 seasons of major league playing experience, multiple All-Star nominations, two World Series titles, and one Cy Young Award. The assemblage also combines to contribute nearly 100 seasons of collegiate coaching experience and more than 70 seasons at the high school level. In addition to the aforementioned field and pitching coordinators, Bourn, Griffin, Hill, and McKenry will serve as managers for their respective teams, while Cishek, Gibbs, Gomes, and Zuniga will take on pitching coach duties. Buck, Civitello, Gibbs, Giummule, McKinney, Simmons, Valli, and Webb are set to be assistant coaches.

The sixth edition of the 16U/17U NTDP will feature an 88-player roster split into four teams and will consist of both on- and off-field player development, as players will participate in workouts and skill development sessions, compete in a series of round-robin scrimmages, and have the opportunity to attend educational seminars. Throughout the development program, players will gain exposure to USA Baseball national team coaches and Task Force, professional scouts, and college recruiters. Additionally, players will be assessed and evaluated by USA Baseball coaches for future national team participation.

The 2026 16U/17U NTDP will take place from July 27-30 at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina. The roster, which will be released at a later date, will comprise players from various USA Baseball identification events, including this year’s 15U and 16U National Team Championships in Arizona and North Carolina and last year’s 15U and 16U National Team Identification Series (NTIS) Champions Cup.

The full 2026 16U/17U NTDP coaching staff is as follows, with biographies for each coach linked to their name.

FIELD COORDINATORS

17U Field Coordinator: Brian Schneider

16U Field Coordinator: Jack Wilson

PITCHING COORDINATORS

17U Pitching Coordinator: Luke Gregerson

16U Pitching Coordinator: Jake Arrieta

MANAGERS

Grey: Mike McKenry

Light Blue: Bobby Hill

Navy: Tom Griffin

Red: Michael Bourn

PITCHING COACHES

Grey: Keith Zuniga

Light Blue: Wayne Gomes

Navy: Steve Cishek

Red: Matt Ginter

ASSISTANT COACHES

Grey: Derek Simmons

Grey: Rob Valli

Light Blue: Travis Buck

Light Blue: Sean McKinney

Navy: Mark Gibbs

Navy: Joe Giummule

Red: Guy Civitello

Red: Dave Webb

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