Coaching Staff Welcome to Allen Coyotes Baseball

The goal of the Allen Coyotes Baseball Club’s coaching staff is to prepare the players to succeed now and in the future. While the team plays to win and tries to develop a winning mentality, the coaches want to ensure that up-to-date and top-quality instruction is provided to maximize their long-term baseball potential. The result of this goal can be summarized in a phrase the players hear over and over again...

Play Coyotes Baseball!

Playing Coyotes Baseball starts with well-organized, efficiently-run practices that stress fundamental player development. Practices consist mainly of working on individual fundamentals, team defensive concepts and rehearsing game situations. Extensive use of small groups and stations allow for advanced techniques to be easily understood and permits sufficient repetitions, in a relatively short period of time, to enhance “muscle-memory”. The skills learned in practices are then tested in games and tournaments against some of the best competition that the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has to offer, when the players really get to Play Coyotes Baseball.

With that background, the Coyotes coaches are…

Coach Vrska

Michael (Mike) Vrska is the founder and head coach of the Allen Coyotes Baseball Club. Coach Vrska played three years of varsity baseball, as a catcher, at Chesterton High School in Chesterton, IN under Jack Campbell; Coach Campbell is one of the state’s winningest coaches, with over 500 victories. Mike then played baseball at Valparaiso University, before a series of knee injuries ended his playing career. Since the conclusion of his playing days, he has coached numerous levels of youth baseball, from High School to T-Ball. Mike also co-founded and coached the Lake Michigan Breakers Baseball Club, which finished 3^rd in the 1998 AAYBA 15U World Series in St. Louis, MO, won several regional tournaments and has produced numerous college and several professional players. The 2008 Allen Coyotes season will be Mr. Vrska’s 16^th year of coaching. He specializes in instructing pitchers, catchers and team defense.

Mike is married to Robin and they have three children: Michael (11), Julia (8) and Tyler (3). They have lived in Allen, TX for over 5 years, after moving from the Chicago area. He is employed at Adams Golf as a Senior Design Engineer.

Coach Creech

John Creech is a second year assistant coach for the Coyotes, specializing in pitching instruction; he also coaches 1^st base. He starred in both basketball and baseball at Kingwood High School in the Houston area and was a three year varsity starting pitcher. At Kingwood, John set school records for strikeouts and lowest ERA during his senior season. He also pitched a shutout in Kingwood’s first ever 5A playoff game in 1989. After being heavily recruited by a number of Division I schools, John accepted a scholarship from the University of Houston. After a promising start, arm injuries cut his career short during his junior season. Coach Creech has coached youth baseball in various leagues the last several years, including in Kingwood/Forest Cove, Allen and Plano.

John and his wife Jennifer live in Allen with their four sons, Brennan (4), twins Brett and Brady (12) and Brooks (14). They are active members of the First Baptist Church of Allen. Mr. Creech is employed by JP Morgan Chase as a Corporate Real Estate Manager.

Coach Locklear

Danny Locklear is the main hitting instructor for the Coyotes and serves as the 3^rd base coach; 2008 will be Danny's second full season on the Coyotes staff. Coach Locklear played three years of varsity baseball as a shortstop and third baseman at Fort Walton Beach High school in Fort Walton Beach, FL. He was also a standout football player and garnered All-Northwest Florida honors during his senior year in both football and baseball. After high school, Danny continued his playing career at Enterprise State Junior College in Alabama for two years. He then transferred to and finished his education at the University of Florida, earning a degree in Electrical Engineering. Over the past six years, Mr. Locklear has coached youth baseball, football and basketball in Allen.

Danny and his wife Susan have four children: Lauren (16), Jenna (14), Tate (11) and Dane (8). They have lived in the Fairview/Allen area for the past 9 years. Danny works in the wireless telecommunications industry as a Director of Marketing.

Coach Welsh

Pat Welsh serves as an assistant/bemch coach, focusing on outfield play, and is the team score keeper during Coyotes games. Pat grew up in Michigan and played football, baseball and basketball all four years at Peck High School. In baseball, Pat led the team in hitting and was named 1^st team all-county. Mr. Welsh has previously coached in the Spring Valley Athletic Association and the Plano Baseball Association; 2008 will be Pat's third year with the Coyotes.

Pat and his wife Kendal have three children: Leah (14) and Patrick (12), who are still at home, and a married daughter, Tracy (28). Pat and his family live in Allen. Coach Welsh has been employed with the Dallas Police Department for 25 years and currently holds the rank of Sergeant.

Coach Forkner

Tim Forkner is an associate coach for the Allen Coyotes, working with hitters and infielders during practices when possible. Tim was the 1992 NJCAA national batting champion while playing for the Seward County (Kansas) C.C. Saints, hitting .512. He followed that up in 1993 by being named the NJCAA Region VI MVP while "only" hitting .489. He was drafted in the 14^th round of the 1993 MLB draft by the Houston Astros and was a Midwest League All-Star in 1994 and a Texas League All-Star in 1996.

Coach Forkner was an excellent hitter throughout his amateur and professional career and his expertise greatly benefits the Coyotes players.

Tim, wife Fiona and 2-year-old son Drew live in Plano. Tim is employed at Adams Golf in Sales Operations.