Lou Fernandez Jr.

Pitching/fielding/hitting instructor

High School: Of his 4 years of High School baseball, played 2 years of varsity baseball for Mike Sheppard Jr at Seton Hall Prep. Earned 3rd team All- Essex County. Went 5-1 with a 1.51 ERA as a Senior. As a Junior, was part of the Seton Hall Prep Team that went 30-1 and ranked No.1 in NJ and No.4 in the USA in 2003. Led team to 25-4 record and No.6 in NJ as a senior.

College: On a 4 year career at Seton Hall University, amassed a 4.26 ERA, in 74 appearances (5th all time in SHU history). 2006 was his best season, leading the team with a 3.06 ERA and being named 1st Team All NJCBA as a relief pitcher. He was among the top 4 pitchers in ERA in his last 3 years of college from 2006-08.

Professional: Entered 1st season of pro baseball with Newark Bears in the Atlantic League in 2010 through an open tryout. Then played a full season into the playoffs with the NJ Jackals in the Cam-Am League. As a 23 year old rookie, appeared in 30 games with a 2-0 record pitching 46 innings.

Coaching Experience: Worked in the field of player development, team coaching, and skill specific training since 2008. Works all types of training from mechanical fundamentals to the collegiate level in baseball.

Christian Buttler

Coach / Softball Program Coordinator

Coach Buttler has decades of experience, with a proven record of success in baseball and softball. Coach Buttler founded the MLB R.B.I. program in the City of Passaic and was the program Director for 3 years. As program director, he brought his Senior RBI team to the finals playing in the Great American Ball Park home of the Cincinnati Reds in 2016. Coach Buttler is married to his wife Giselle for over 20 years and had two daughters, Mia & Lia which turned his love for baseball into a new passion for softball. He took over the Fairfield Warriors Softball team in 2019 and has won 5 championships in the Greater Essex Softball League. He founded the NJ Warriors Softball Club in 2022 and has won multiple USSSA tournaments and USA Softball tournaments. His biggest softball accomplishment came with his team winning the USSSA National Championship in Loudon, Virginia in the Summer of 2024. Coach Buttler believes in coaching to understand the game and the why. He has the dedication and passion to develop great softball players and young women in our community.

Lou Fernandez Sr.

Fielding instructor

Our veteran staff member, Lou brings a wealth of experience to the Academy. Mostly serving as head coach, he also assumes responsibilities in running practices, clinics, camps, and private lessons.  Lou bears a great work ethic and coaches with a great deal of energy.

Through the years, he has consistently shown the ability to impart his knowledge of the game to his players through his dynamic personality, communication skills, positive energy, and constant reminder to his players to understand that first and foremost, you are "student-athletes". His influence on player development is evident and he has worked tirelessly on playing the game with passion, hustle, and respect to all its participants while demonstrating class and sportsmanship in victory or defeat.

Lou currently coaches all age groups from 10u-18u. Coaching career includes time with the Union A's baseball club, West Morris Baseball Academy, and Pro Motions Baseball Academy.

A 1976 Graduate of Thomas Jefferson HS in Elizabeth, he earned a full Academic Scholarship to Seton Hall University and played for Mike Sheppard Sr. as a walk on in 1977. Shortly after his freshman year, in efforts to help his ailing father, he left school and baseball to run the family restaurant business. He got back into baseball and volunteered 7 years to North Elizabeth Youth Baseball League, where his sons Lou Jr. and George began a love affair with the most beautiful game on earth! Lou and his wife Linda, live in Union and are grandparents to future Hustlers: Louie III, Vincent, Enzo, and Chloe.

Matt Rago

Pitching Instructor

High School: Matt played his high school baseball at Governor Livingston as a pitcher. He was an all-conference selection in 2008.

College: Matt was a relief pitcher for the Montclair State Red Hawks from 2008-2011.

Coaching Experience: Matt is entering his 6th season as pitching coach at Governor Livingston High School. During his time at GL, he has helped guide a pitching staff to a 2015 Group 2 state championship. Prior to coaching at GL, Matt spent three seasons on the Montclair State University coaching staff. In his first two seasons, he served as the team’s bullpen coach under two-time national champion Norm Schoenig. He was named the Red Hawk’s pitching coach for the 2013-2014 season. During that time, he led the staff to one of their best statistical seasons in recent years. He helped three pitchers earn all-conference honors, including the Fireman of the Year.

Jose Ledesma

pitching/Hitting/Fielding instructor

College: A seasoned college pitcher who compiled 68 appearances over the course of 5 seasons at 3 different schools, starting at Rowan-Gloucester where he served as the clubs closer for his 2 year tenure there. After 2 years, Jose transferred to NAIA powerhouse St. Thomas in Miami where the team was ranked in the Top 10 nationally. He served as the clubs primary bullpen option, Jose compiled a breakout 2021 season that resulted in interest from D1 schools. Making his way back north, he landed at the University of Delaware. At the conclusion of his 5th and final collegiate season Jose was invited to play professionally in the MLB draft league compiled of the countries top college undrafted prospects. Establishing himself as a starter for Trenton Thunder, he gained valuable insight and skills which he is looking to transfer over to the next generation of high level pitchers.

Andrew Ollwerther

hitting instructor

High School:

College: 

Coaching Experience:

Mike Sheppard Jr.

Hitting Instructor

Coaching Career: Mike Sheppard Jr. is the current head varsity baseball coach for Seton Hall Prep and is one of top and most respected coaches in New Jersey. 2018 will be his 33rd year as a high school head coach. His current record stands at 744 – 196 – 4. 

His teams won 12 Iron Hills Conference-Iron Division Titles, 6 Super Essex Conference-American Division Titles, 15 Greater Newark Tournament Titles, 10 Non-Public “A” North State Titles and 7 Non-Public “A” State Titles. He has sent players to 36 different Division I baseball programs. He has coached 17 players that have gone on to play professional baseball including current Boston Red Sox pitcher and #1 draft choice of the Detroit Tigers Rick Porcello and Joe Martinez.

Mike has been inducted into 4 Halls of Fame including Seton Hall University (1991), Newark, NJ (1995), Seton Hall Prep (2005), and NJSIAA (2006). Among the honors he has earned,  he is Nationally recognized as the American Baseball Coaches Association Region 2 and National Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2007. His teams have finished the season Nationally Ranked in USA Today 10 times, finished ranked #1 in NJ by the Star Ledger 6 times. In 2007 the Prep Pirates were ranked #1 in the country by the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

Corey Martinez

Pitching/Hitting Instructor

Coaching Career:

College: 

Coaching Experience:

Tino Pardo

Hitting/Fielding Instructor

High School: Paramus Catholic HS

College: Played OF at Nyack College and earned the Gold Glove award (highest fielding percentage in the region).

Coaching Experience: Assisted Nyack college as a track and field coach. Also worked the strength and conditioning program at Nyack. He has trained and coached at Hustle since 2021 working with our youth players and assisting OF play in our HS program. He was also enrolled in 2018-2021 in the Air Force as security forces (military police).