RYAN DONAHUE
LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Hitting & Defense
Ryan spent the majority of his life on a baseball diamond and learned from some of the games all-time great players and coaches. Since the end of his playing career, Ryan has been an ABCA member and instructing players of all experience levels. His desire to help youth players better develop their swing earlier in the playing career is now his passion. By providing thousands of hitting lessons over the years he has a way of connecting with each player in a way that make every lesson enjoyable.
Ryan went into private instruction with the desire to find out what stopped him from making it to the next level of the game. Through studying the great hitters of today Ryan has come to understand the proper mechanics and kinetics of the swing as well as the work and preparation that is required to continue each player’s growth.
By understanding the proper kinetics Ryan is able to teach players of all ages and experience levels to hit more consistently and with more power. Ryan combines both the mental side of hitting with teaching proper mechanics that work for each player’s personal ability and swing.
Nick Wagner
Pitching, Catching, Hitting Instructor
Coach Wagner arrives after spending the past 5 years coaching at Claremont McKenna College, a high academic Division III program in Southern California. During his time as the pitching/catching coach, the Stags pitching staff set marks in numerous statistical categories that hadn’t been achieved in decades, including strikeouts, strikeouts per 9, and strikeout-to-walk ratio. The team enjoyed its winningest stretch of baseball in program history, setting records for conference wins and single-season wins along the way. Coach Wagner also developed one of the strongest groups of catchers in the region, with one of his catchers earning a selection to the 2024 All-Defensive Team for the West Region.
Coach “Wags” has enjoyed working with players of all ages from youth to professional baseball. He utilizes concepts from the highest levels of baseball and excels at appropriately scaling those concepts to the level of the player, maximizing their development while keeping things simple.
Nick played 4 years of college baseball at Division II power Cal Poly Pomona and Holy Names University, before wrapping up a 3 year career in Independent Professional Baseball and beginning his coaching career.
Gavin Nicassio
Hitting, Catching, Outfield
Gavin brings over 13 years of playing experience to Leadoff Baseball Academy, specializing in catching and outfield development. A current junior at Middle Tennessee State University, Gavin is pursuing a degree in Physical Education with aspirations to teach and coach at the high school level.
Gavin’s background as both a catcher and outfielder gives him a unique perspective on defensive fundamentals, field awareness, and game management. His passion for teaching young athletes and his understanding of athletic development allow him to connect with players and help them build confidence on and off the field.
At Leadoff Baseball Academy, Gavin focuses on:
Catcher mechanics and receiving drills
Footwork and throwing accuracy
Outfield positioning and route efficiency
Physical conditioning and skill progression
Whether you’re a beginner looking to learn the game or a more experienced player aiming to fine-tune your skills, Gavin brings energy, knowledge, and a coach-first mindset to every training session.
Anthony Parry
Senior Instructor
Hitting, Pitching & Defense
Anthony Parry is a seasoned instructor at Leadoff Baseball Academy, bringing over seven years of private coaching experience to the program, five of those proudly spent developing players right here at Leadoff. A former collegiate player with a competitive career rooted in Las Vegas, Anthony combines firsthand playing experience with a proven ability to train athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Anthony specializes in:
Hitting mechanics & approach development
Pitching fundamentals & arm care
Defensive drills & positional technique
With a calm, focused teaching style, Anthony is known for helping athletes improve consistency, boost confidence, and refine their game IQ. Whether you’re building your swing, learning how to command the mound, or sharpening your glove work, Anthony brings the expertise and commitment to help every player reach the next level.
At Leadoff Baseball Academy, Anthony is a core part of our instruction team and a trusted coach for long-term player development.
Héctor Latouche
Hitting, Defense Instructor
Héctor Latouche was born on April 4,1973, in Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. He began his career in professional baseball as an infield instructor with the Magallanes BBC team. Later, he worked in various baseball academies as a field coordinator in Venezuela and Miami. His role was to ensure the comprehensive development of athletes to reach an optimal level both mentally and physically. Hector has a goal to one day work with MLB teams as an infield coordinator. Besides having a high level of defensive knowledge, he also has received several hitting certifications from MLB Veteran and coach, Josman Robles.
We are excited to have Hector join us at LBA to reach the Spanish-speaking baseball community in Middle Tennessee.
Héctor Latouche nació el 4 de abril de 1973, en Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. Comenzó su carrera en el béisbol profesional como instructor de cuadro con el equipo BBC de Magallanes. Posteriormente trabajó en diversas academias de béisbol como coordinador de campo en Venezuela y Miami. Su función era velar por el desarrollo integral de los deportistas hasta alcanzar un nivel óptimo tanto a nivel mental como físico. Héctor tiene el objetivo de algún día trabajar con equipos de la MLB como coordinador de cuadro. Además de tener un alto nivel de conocimiento defensivo, también ha recibido varias certificaciones de bateo del veterano y entrenador de la MLB, Josman Robles.
Estamos emocionados de que Héctor se una a nosotros en LBA para llegar a la comunidad de béisbol de habla hispana en Middle Tennessee.