Our coaching staff brings together a dynamic blend of experience and energy—from legendary coaches who have shaped Oakland baseball for decades to high school players passing on their skills to the next generation. Whether it’s a seasoned veteran refining in-game strategy or a young athlete helping younger players sharpen their mechanics, every coach is committed to building confident, resilient ballplayers who love the game.
Our legendary coaches are mentors to all—pillars of Oakland baseball who have guided generations of players with wisdom, patience, and passion.
Bishop O’Dowd High School Physical Education Department Chair. Baseball programs Head Coach: Skyline high school 1987 to 1991. Mount Eden high school 1993. San Lorenzo high school 1994 to 2000. Bishop Odowd high school 2006 to 2018. Coaching Oakland Wildcats 12 U and 13 U High school won–loss record 388–211-4. 47 professional players in that time.
Hitting • Travel Teams
Oakland, CA
Coach Thomas, is an El Cerrito High School Graduate with all Nor Cal honors , all Bay Area honors and was inducted into El Cerrito’s athletes Hall of Fame in 2014. Coach Thomas was the program director and co-founder of GameChangers baseball. GameChangers was one of the East Bay’s top programs and managed to put multiple players into college and the pros. Coach Thomas currently coaches the Oakland youth baseball team that travels to Cuba every year.
Hitting
Richmond, CA
Michel played for the Cuban National teams Industriales and Metropolitanos for seven years as an outfielder. He came to the United States in 2006. His new Elite Hitting Program is designed to give you that competitive edge with small group sessions, personalized coaching, and cutting-edge video analysis. This is your chance to train with a former pro from Cuba and sharpen your skills before the next season.
Hitting • Fielding • Pitching
San Rafael, CA
BA/MA in Phys. Ed., UCSB/St.Mary’s. 2x California JC Coach of the Year. 3x State Team Champions at CCSF. 2x State California high school 400 relay champions at Oakland High.
Conditioning
Oakland, CA
Each of our four team head coaches brings a unique blend of competitive drive and leadership, creating an environment where players can grow, compete, and thrive.
Bryan Bassette, aka Coach Bass, is a dedicated baseball coach with over 15 years of experience, including a standout career as the Head Baseball Coach at Oakland Technical High School from 2014-2019. In addition to his high school coaching, Coach Bass has spent over 15 years working with travel teams, Oakland Oaks, Game Changers, and Wildcats, helping young athletes develop their skills and love for the game. Coach Bass will be the lead coach for the Oakland Ballers program to ensure we have a strong and consistent coaching ethos regardless of age group.
Current Bishop O’Dowd Soph/Frosh baseball coach. Resides in Emeryville. Went to Bishop O’Dowd High School. Played for NorCal U and was mentored by Legends Bert Strane, Mike “Tiny” Felder and Archie Gilbert. Went on to play college ball for 4 years. Runs Swingstudio510 (coaching and hitting page).
Hitting
Emeryville, CA
Kyle Hay played 4 years of collegiate baseball finishing at Cal State East Bay. Shortly after, he was the assistant coach for his alma mater, Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep’s JV Baseball team, for one year. After 14 years at the Oakland Police Dept he retired as a Sgt of Police in 2021. Including private baseball lessons, he also owns and operates an 18+ Baseball Club called the San Francisco Diablos which was passed down to him in 2023. In 2025 he was hired by Bishop O Dowd HS to be the head coach of the JV Baseball Team. After a successful season, he was asked to be a Noll/Soll Seniors head coach and subsequently the Assistant Coach of the Noll/Soll Seniors LL All Stars for the summer 2025.
Our assistant coaches are highly trained baseball players with years of experience playing and coaching at various levels.
Cliff Coleman is a Bay Area baseball coach best known for leading College Park (Pleasant Hill) to the 2008 NCS 3A East Bay title as a No. 15 seed, earning All‑East Bay Coach of the Year honors. He later helped De La Salle win multiple NCS Division I crowns, joined Pittsburg High’s staff in 2018, and today serves as an assistant at Los Medanos College.
Caven Croom, a Saint Mary’s College High School (Albany, CA) alum and standout outfielder, excelled with a .333 senior-year batting average and top rankings in slugging and stolen bases. Now at Sonoma State University and a summer player for the Alameda Anchors, he brings speed, skill, and passion to the game. Caven also serves as an assistant coach with Oakland Baseball, mentoring the next generation.
Ryland Henke has been in Oakland his whole life. He went to OUSD schools and played for Coach Bass from travel ball through high school at Oakland Tech. For the last three years he has been the elementary PE teacher at Glenview and coaching at Oakland Tech with JV and Varsity. The awesome experiences he had playing baseball in Oakland that helped him develop not only as a player but as a person, is what he tries to provide now for this generation of Oakland kids.
Dylan Porter is a right-handed pitcher originally from the East Bay. He attended Piedmont High School before going on to play Division I baseball at Washington State University and the University of New Orleans. After college, he had the opportunity to pitch for the Savannah Bananas and their rivals, the Party Animals, in Bananaball. Most recently, he played for the Oakland Ballers in the Pioneer League.
Our high school player-coaches are dedicated athletes who train younger pitchers, catchers, and fielders with energy, relatability, and skill.
Junior at Bishop O’Dowd High School. Starting pitcher. Complete 7-inning no-hitter. Pitcher for NOLL SOLL Seniors all-star team. Starting pitcher for Headfirst Bercovich. Freshman year at O’Dowd was ranked 14th in the Nation for pitching for the class of 2026.
Pitching
Oakland, CA
Junior Catcher at Bishop O’Dowd High School. 50% Caught Stealing Percentage as the Starting Catcher for the NOLL SOLL Seniors All Star Team. Headfirst Bercovich starting catcher.
Catching
Oakland, CA
Senior at Bishop O’Dowd High School. Starting middle infielder. Played on Noll Soll All Stars. Committed to play college ball in Chicago.
Fielding
Oakland, CA
