Executive Director and Head Coach
Coach Wicks prepped at Cibola High School in Yuma, AZ and went on to play his college baseball at Arizona Western College (96), Imperial Valley College(97,98), and finally Cal Poly Pomona (99,00). Primarily a shortstop, he became a versatile utility player, playing all positions in his collegiate year. He was a California Community College All-Star, starting in right field in 1999. His baseball career ended with the Chapultapec Cerveceros in the Mexican Independent Leagues as a pitcher in 2006.
Coach Wicks holds credentials with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He was a Personal Trainer Director for a major fitness chain from 2001-2009, having redirected his passions completely to the baseball athlete. Coach Wicks also privately instructs pitchers at Proball in Santa Ana, CA. He currently enters his 5th year as pitching coach for 2010 CIF Division I Champion and national power Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA. Many of his players have earned scholarships during his tenure, including 7 Division I scholarships and a 10th round draft pick in 2009 and 25th round pick in 2010. He will be serving his 2nd year as an assistant for the New York Yankees Scout Team.
Coach Wicks has a bachelor of Science in Sport management with Emphasis in Fitness and Wellness and will complete his Master of Science in Sport Psychology in July 2011.
Coach Wicks will begin his 3rd campaign in 2011 as the umbrella of the Orange County Pioneers. He resides with his wife Nubia and 5 month old son Jedidiah Lucas in Costa Mesa, CA.
Luis ColónAssistant General Manager and Assistant Coach-2nd year
Coach Colón was born and bred in the Bronx, NY where he played High School ball at Salesian HS in New Rochelle. He was selected as an All City shortstop and played in Yankee Stadium for the C.H.S.A.A All Star Game his senior year. He went on to play 4 years at Caldwell College in NJ, 2 years as a team Captain.
After receiving his degree from Caldwell and being invited to some pro tryouts in the states, he was blessed with the opportunity to play overseas in Chiba City, Japan in the Pacific League. His passion and love for the great game of baseball drives him to continue to play currently in the Met League, while giving baseball lessons out of Lefty’s Sports Academy in Clifton.
Coach Colón is a NASM certified Personal Trainer who enjoys working with young athletes on speed and agility training, as well as, strength and conditioning. A number of his athletes are currently playing college ball, nearly half of them at the Division 1 level. He has coached in the Bergen County Bombers AAU program highlighted by Back to Back to Back NJ State Championships and a National Championship in 2006.
Coach Colón is in his Third year at Bergen Catholic High School. He spends part of his summers with Scott Luna, Northeast Rep for Ripken Baseball, as an instructor for camps. Coach Colón has enjoyed the privilege of working along side the “Iron man” Cal Jr. and Billy Ripken. Coach Colón enters his Third year with the Pioneer coaching staff. He resides in Fairlawn, New Jersey with his wife Maria, and his son Angel (6) and daughter Isabella (18 mos)
Zak Doan
Pitching Coach-2nd Year
Baseball Background:
Zak played professional baseball with the Florida Marlins organization. Before playing professionally Zak played two years of Junior College baseball at Harper JC in Chicago. There he compiled a 18-4 record and averaged over a strikeout per inning. He then moved on to play collegiate Division I baseball at Austin Peay State University where he pitched on the 1996 team that had an impressive 46-18 win/loss record. Zak is one of the leading pitching instructors in Orange County and has received accolades from several local media resources for his work with some of the top high school and college pitchers in the nation. Zak's students include some of the areas and nations best high school, college, and professional pitchers. Zak has extensive knowledge on all aspects of pitching including mechanics, velocity enhancement, increased command, and the development of new pitches. His teachings have helped his students achieve staggering results with both velocity and command. He has conducted private instruction for the past 8 years and typically conducts over 1500 lessons per year. Zak is C0-owner of Proball, INC. in Santa Ana,CA. Zak enters his Third year as the pitching coach for the Orange County Pioneers. He and his wife, Maricela, reside in Costa Mesa, CA.
