Mike Grady

Co-Owner, Pitching Coach

Mike Grady has 15 years of experience teaching, coaching, and training pitchers. He currently works with over 100 pitchers of all ages each year through private and group classes and elite training classes for high school juniors and seniors.

Grady served as the pitching coach for the Malone University Pioneers from 2005-2009, during which time Malone’s hurlers experienced plenty of success, helping the squad break the school record for wins three times during Grady’s five years on the coaching staff.  The 2009 pitching staff ended the season with a team ERA of 3.07, which ranked #1 in the country in NAIA. Grady’s pitchers also set team records for shutouts (11) and saves in a season (18). In 5 years as pitching coach, his teams ranked first in the American Mideast Conference in ERA 3 times.

In the summer of 2010 and 2011, Grady served as the pitching coach for the Stark County Terriers of the Great Lakes Collegiate Baseball League. During this time, he coached 5 pitchers that went on to play professional baseball.

Grady played high school baseball at North Canton Hoover where he was a two-time All-Federal League pitcher.  After graduating in 2000, Grady played college baseball at NCAA Division III power Ohio Wesleyan University where he was a four-year letterman and was part of two NCAC Championships in 2001 and 2003.

In 2005, Grady played professionally for the Washington Wild Things under John Massarelli, who also currently serves on the Pioneer coaching staff.  As a relief pitcher, Grady posted a 3-2 record with two saves and a 3.67 earned run average in 26 appearances.

He currently resides in North Canton with his wife, Lesley, and their son, Michael, and daughter, Audrey. 

Jon Pusateri

Pitching Coach

Jon Pusateri is from from Randolph, Ohio. He went to Waterloo High School. As a three year varsity player was named an all-county player every year. His senior year he went 6-3, with 77 strikeouts and was named Waterloo’s MVP in 2010 after leading them to a district title. In his career at Waterloo he struck out 185 batters.

After high school, Jon earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Akron. His freshman year he quickly worked his way into the starting rotation working to a 3-3 record with a 4.19 ERA. Sophomore year ended quickly due to a torn UCL. Jon underwent reconstructive surgery (Tommy John) performed by Dr. James Andrews. He returned to the mound his senior year and became the teams #1 starter with a record of 4-5 with a 2.58 ERA striking out 72 batters. After college, Jon signed a professional contract Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. In 35 games in relief, he finished the seasons with a 3.15 ERA and 58 strikeouts. Jon was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for the Gateway Grizzlies Organization.

Darren Ware

Baseball Instructor (Pitching and Hitting)

Coach Ware has 21 years of coaching experience, 14 of those years he has spent at the varsity level. Ware spent 6 seasons coaching in the North Canton Program. He also held coaching jobs at Jackson, Malvern and GlenOak. Ware helped dozens of players get to the next level and play college baseball. Ware also has been an instructor of pitching, hitting, and fielding for the last 21 years.

Ware is 1991 graduate of Holy Name High School where he pitched and played the infield. Ware received All Ohio Honors his senior year (1991), was selected Plain Dealer Pitcher of the Year as well as named to North Coast League First Team. Ware continued his playing career at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, FL under the legendary coach Bill Frazier. Ware then finished his college career at Walsh University playing for long time and current coach Tim Mead.  After a successful college playing career, Ware graduated from Walsh University in 1997 with a Bachelor Degree in Education.

As a coach, Ware has had several 20 win seasons and gives all the credit to his players who put in the work to become a better player, teammate, and person. His motto is simply “WORK WINS”.

Ware currently resides in North Canton with his wife, Molly, and their two children Brody and Tanner. In addition to becoming a new member of Velocity Sports, Ware also teaches Science at Malvern Middle School in the Brown Local School District.

Glen Richardson

Pitching Coach

Glen will provides individual pitching instruction and will also work with the VIP and Dynamic Throwing groups.

Glen joins the Velocity staff as a pitching instructor after returning home from his first season in professional baseball. Glen spent the summer of 2018 in Arizona Instructional League as a 1st year pro with the Texas Rangers, who selected Glen in the 29th round of the Major League Draft. Click here to see Glen hit 98.3 MPH at his pre-draft workout!

Prior to his pro career, Glen was a dominating force on the mound at Sinclar College He finished the 2017 season with a 5-0 record, carrying a 2.91 ERA. In 43 innings pitched, he struck out 65 batters and opponents hit .127 against him. Off the field, he has over a 3.6 GPA and has with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts.

Glen pitched at Massillon Jackson High School where he was the ace of a team that posted a 29-1 overall record and was ranked #1 in the state of Ohio. On the mound, Glen posted a 7-0 record with a .19 ERA. Glen did not give up a run for 36 consecutive innings to start the season. He earned 1st team All-Federal League honors and 2nd Team All-Ohio honors in 2016.

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Braun Miller

Baseball Instructor (Pitching)

Braun Miller is a pitching instructor at Velocity Sports where he coaches and trains pitchers. Braun graduated from Malone University in 2021 with a Masters in Business Administration. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Malone. 

Braun completed a successful career on the mound for the Pioneers. He was named the GLIAC Conference Freshman Pitcher of the Year after posting a 4-1 record in 60 innings pitched while striking out 41. He followed up his freshman campaign with a strong sophomore season where he posted a 4-3 record at a 3.27 ERA. Armed with a 92mph fastball and a 6’4” frame, the southpaw was named to the Perfect Game Top 30 prospect list for the 2018 MLB Draft. Unfortunately, an arm injury and the Coronavirus pandemic limited Braun’s mound action the next two years, but during that time, he became an important member of the pitching staff as a mentor.

Braun is from Sandusky, Ohio, and played at Sandusky Perkins High School. He currently coaches for the Ohio Elite baseball program and will be an instructor on staff this winter for Grady’s VIP Pitching Development Program. 

Evan Agona

Baseball Instructor (Hitting, Pitching, Catching, and Fielding)

 Evan Agona was the Head Baseball Coach at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) for 6 seasons and coached 15 years total at the collegiate level. Agona has led the Triceratops to an overall 206-77-1 (.725) record. 

During his tenure, 24 players have been honored as All-Conference Selections, 8 as All-Region Selections, and 7 All-American Selections. Furthermore, he has helped place over 60 players that have moved on to attend 4-year programs over the past four seasons, and two have moved on to play professionally including Brock Begue who was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 11th  round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.

Agona came to Tri-C after spending 5 years as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Mount Union. During his time at Mount Union, the program achieved unprecedented success; highlighted by a program first conference championship and NCAA Regional Tournament appearance in 2013. He began his coaching career at Thiel College (PA) where he served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator from 2004-2007. He served the 2007-08 season as the Head Coach at conference foe Mercyhurst North East (PA) and was the head coach at Slippery Rock Area High School (PA) in 2009.

Agona was a four-year letter winner, and part of two North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship teams at The College of Wooster where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business economics in 2004. He earned a master’s degree in sport management from Slippery Rock University (PA) in 2008.

In addition to his coaching role, Agona also serves as an adjunct professor on campus. Additionally, he owns his own business Agona Baseball Camps, LLC where he conducts showcases, camps, lessons, and tournaments. Agona currently resides in Canal Fulton, with his wife Mary Kate and their children Aubree and Easton.

Nico Marchetti

Baseball Instructor (Hitting)

Nico Marchetti is from Laurel, Maryland. He went to St. Vincent Pallotti High School and was a 4-year letter winner. He earned All-State his junior and senior year and earned a scholarship to California University of Pennsylvania. Nico was a 3-year starter for Cal, playing both second base and outfield. In Nico’s senior campaign, he led the PSAC conference in triples. In addition, he led his team in RBI’s, while hitting .304 with 23 extra-base hits.  Nico earned second-team All-Conference in his senior season, and the Vulcans finished with 37 wins, the most in program history.

Nico earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. Following graduation, he has done an Internship with Elite Baseball MD, and was a Volunteer Assistant at Cal U of PA.

He currently works with Jackson High School, as well as multiple Jackson Travel teams. Nico has given lessons to players of all ages through individual and group training.

Holly Bacon

Softball Instructor-Hitting, Pitching, and Catching

Holly Bacon was a 1st team All-Ohio infielder for Akron Springfield High School and helped her team win back-to-back State Championships in 1994 and 1995. She went on to play for Ohio State and was a four-year starter for the Buckeyes. In addition to her playing career, Holly coached for Westland High School from 2002-2003. She was inducted into the Springfield High School Hall of Fame in 2009.

Katie Cozy

Softball Instructor-Hitting, and Catching

Katie Cozy is currently an assistant coach for the Walsh Cavaliers softball team. Before Walsh, Katie completed a successful four-year career as an infielder at the University of Toledo. In her senior season, she led the team in batting average and was named All-MAC 2nd team. She played high school softball for Louisville High School. Due to NCAA regulations, Katie is available for 8th-grade or younger softball players.