May 2, 2017
USA Baseball’s Official Release
DURHAM, N.C. – The coaching staff and evaluators for the 2017 17U National Team Development Program (NTDP) were announced by USA Baseball on Tuesday. Georgia Tech alum and current volunteer assistant coach Mike Nickeas will serve as an assistant coach for the Stripes team.
Coaches and evaluators will assess 40 athletes during the NTDP week and are made up of former professional players, respected collegiate and high school coaches, and professional scouts.
The 2017 17U NTDP will take place July 22-28 in Chicago and will feature intrasquad scrimmages at Northwestern University and Wrigley Field.
Nickeas will be part of the Stripes coaching staff that includes the manager in Jack Leggett (former Clemson University head coach), pitching coach Blake Hawksworth (Cal. State Fullerton pitching coach) field coordinator Eric Kibler (2010 USA Baseball Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year), pitching evaluator Jeff Kunkel (Detroit Tigers scout) and evaluator Gregg Ritchie (George Washington University head coach).
“This is a tremendous opportunity for Mike (Nickeas) to share his coaching expertise with the young men competing for a roster spot on the USA Team,” stated Georgia Tech baseball head coach Danny Hall. “Mike speaks often about his experiences playing for USA Baseball.”
Nickeas is a three-time USA Baseball alum and currently serves as the volunteer assistant coach under Coach Hall at Tech. The former Tech standout player played for Team USA on the 1999 16U National Team, the 2001 18U National Team and the 2003 Collegiate National Team. Before starting his coaching career, he played professional baseball for 11 years, including four years in the Major Leagues. He spent three years as a catcher for the New York Mets and one year with the Toronto Blue Jays before retiring following the 2014 season.
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