Our Coaches

I am a graduate from Syracuse University where I pitched for the Orangemen. This was followed by a brief tour with East Coast minor leagues. My professional career was cut short by a shoulder injury; however, I have found great satisfaction in helping players achieve their personal best and by instilling passion for the game.

I have been actively involved in youth baseball for more than 25 years. I spent time serving as a senior baseball and softball instructor with Glenbrook Sports Academy. I have coached at various levels, including the Highwood Braves and New Trier Feeder travel programs as well as various park districts. In the past, I served as the President of the North Shore Baseball League's 9U division and as the Travel Sports Manager for Highland Park. In 2017 when I joined the program as president, I also coached 14U for the Stars, and continues to offer his experience by giving lessons today.

I was 3 year varsity player at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, and was invited to the MSL All Star Game. I graduated in 2004 and got an athletic scholarship to Illinois State University and was there until 2006 before transferring to Carthage College. There I played 4 seasons, went to the College World Series in '07 & '09 finishing 5th and 3rd respectively. I was named team Captain and to the All North Regional Team in 2009.

2024 will be my 15th year coaching baseball. I started off coaching the freshman team at Conant, then moved on to the Lake Forest Scouts in the LSFBL and have been with the Stars since 2017.

“As a former professional baseball player and coach, I was able to play and work with many athletes. I was always aware that mastering basic fundamentals was very important in player development, and that is just one area in which Nate Adams has always excelled in coaching and instruction of the game of baseball. I am now retired, but if I was still coaching I would not hesitate hiring Nate as one of my coaches. He is a man of outstanding character, very enthusiastic, and a student of the game of baseball. Nate has done a great job of teaching the fundamentals, both basic and advanced, to many athletes.”

-Jim Panther (Former pitcher for the Oakland A's, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves; Former head Baseball Coach at Libertyville High School; Illinois High School Association Coaching Hall of Fame)

Meet Coach Russ, the walking symphony of baseball wisdom and artificial wonders! With a voice that could wake up a hibernating bear, Coach Russ is not just your average coach.

Legend has it that after his natural playing days, he traded his original limbs for a set of customized, high-tech robotic parts just to improve his home run swing.

When he's not shouting motivational quotes that can be heard from outer space, Coach Russ is busy swapping stories about the good old days when baseball gloves looked more like waffles and his artificial hip wasn't a topic of discussion.

With more metal in him than a junkyard, Coach Russ is a testament to the saying, "If life gives you lemons, turn them into titanium-enhanced body parts and hit dingers!" Watch out, opposing teams – this old coach might be creaky, but his home runs are still out of this world!

Ok we might have had some fun with Russ' bio because we love him... but it's probably not far from the truth!

I began coaching in the summers dating back to 2015 with Vernon Hills High School and continued in 2018 with Coach Ace. Took over my own team for the first time in the summer of 2019 and began coaching with the Stars in 2020. I am going into my 3rd season of coaching at the Collegiate level with the first two being at Harper College in Palatine and will now be coaching at Elmhurst University this spring.

I am working every day towards my lifelong goal of becoming a Head Coach at the collegiate level. It is a year long job that requires intense commitment and passion which has never wavered since I became a baseball player.

I have coached in Berwyn, Oak Park, and River Forest. During my time as a coach in River Forest, my team and I won the district championship on two different occasions. In addition to district champions, we also won several tournaments including one in West Chicago.

I enjoyed playing Little League and travel baseball starting at age 6 and continued till I was 18. During my playing years I enjoyed playing third base and outfield. Throughout the years as a player, I participated in various tournaments and it was always exciting to bring home a win.

I am married to my wife Melissa and we have a black Lab/mix named Beau. We enjoy trying new restaurants, spending time with our families, taking vacations with Beau, going to the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Dogs games, and love going to street fests to see our favorite band Sixteen Candles. I like watching different sports but love baseball and football.

I was a high school state champion, followed by a collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin Parkside.

I also own my own business and love to travel. I'm married and have a new daughter born in August 2023!

Coaching baseball runs in my family as my Dad is the Head Coach at McHenry High School and was Coach of the Year in 2022. The best part about being a baseball coach is watching these boys develop into better people and ball players.

I began coaching at the McHenry Junior Warriors Program where coached a 14u and 15u team. Since then I have been with Stars and have coached 12u and 13u teams, and I will be coaching 14u in 2023. I started coaching when I was 17 years old.

I went to Grant Community High School and also played at CLC. I am also a Stars alum, and where I played for Coach Ace for my 17u and 18u travel years. I assisted for Ace during the 2021 summer, coached 16u for the 2022 summer, and 15u for the 2023 summer. I have also helped run the winter youth camps with coach Ace the last 3 years.

I am from Lake Villa, IL where I attended Grant Community High School and finished ranked 11 in my class. I have a dog named Buehrle after the White Sox pitcher, and I'm a big music fan, and love reading.

I've had a life-long love for baseball, and I am an avid sports card collector, and a nerd for all sorts of baseball stats.

I have 8 years of travel baseball experience all with Lake County and Stars baseball, and I currently play in a men's league. I was a youth assistant coach for 4 years while playing in the Stars high school program, and started coaching in our Stars Baseball high school program in 2022.