108 Performance Academy
🎯 Target Athletes & Schedule
Age Group: Middle school & high school baseball/softball players
Frequency: 4–5 days a week, 10 months out of the year (August–May)
Duration: 4–6 hours per day, tailored to academic or athletic phase
📍 Location
108 Tristar Training Facility
6616 Deane Hill Drive, Knoxville, TN
📚 Academic Pathway
- Accredited through Arizona State University Global Online and similar NCAA-compliant programs
- NCAA-approved curricula: college prep & general HS diploma with flexible tutoring
- Dedicated tutoring & academic monitoring integrated daily
⚾ Athletic Training & Comprehensive Assessments
Hitting Assessments
- Exit velocity & bat speed: Pocket Radar, Stalker Radar, Hittrax, Blast Motion
- Ball spin rate & axis: Hittrax, YakkerTech, Rapsodo
- Biomechanics: K-Vest, Full-Speed & Slow Motion Video, 108 Training APP
- Quarterly evaluation, education, and individual evolution planning
Throwing & Biomechanics
- Arm metrics: Pocket Radar, Stalker, YakkerTech, Rapsodo
- Shoulder screening: ROM, scapular tracking
- Biomechanical analysis: K-Vest, Slow Motion, 108 APP
- Quarterly evaluation, education, and individual evolution planning
Physical & Body Composition Screening
- Body comp, fascial, crossbody, and tensegrity testing
- Strength & mobility: Sensor Edge pressure plates, waterbags, med ball drills
Equipment/Tech Utilized:
- Hittrax, YakkerTech, Pocket Radar, Stalker Radar, Rapsodo, Sensor Edge
- Blast Motion, 108 Replay, K-Vest, Dynamometer, Bridge Athletic Platform
🏋️ Strength, Conditioning & Recovery
- Skill-specific strength: waterbags, med balls, resistance bands, plyos
- Speed, agility & flexibility drills
- Recovery protocols: mobility work, compression, active rest
- Facility access includes Sauna, Cold Tub, Hyperbaric Chamber, LiveO2, Positrak vibration recovery & strength systems
👥 Staff Credentials & Roles
| Name | Title | Certification | Role Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eugene John Bleecker II | CEO & Dir. of Player Development | 108 Coach cert., Associate Degree in Communications | Oversees all development tracks: athletic, academic, life skills |
| William S. M. Marshall | COO & Pitching Director | 108 Coach cert., BBA; near-complete MBA | Coaches pitching, arm efficiency, life/financial mentoring |
| Ryan Lee McMillan | Program Designer | 108 Coach cert., BA in Psychology and General Studies | Designs & guides academic, training, skill programs |
| Nathan Headley | Hitting Coordinator | 108 Coach cert., BBA, MS in Sports Management | Leads hitting/rotational strength programming and coach development |
| Jose Rijo-Berger | Academy Director & Business Dev. | 108 Coach cert., BA in Social Work | Manages academy operations; counselor & hitting/performance coach |
| Jacob Gwynne | Youth Program Director | 108 Coach cert., BA in History, Education minor | Leads youth curriculum and life skills development |
| Casey Kostrzewa | Social Media Manager | 108 Coach cert., BA in Health/Behavioral Sciences; MBA | Branding, throwing development videos, NIL content creation |
| Nicholas A. Osborne | Hitting Instructor | 108 Coach cert., BBA in Business Management | Guides daily hitting drills and rotational strength development |
| William Adam Snyder | Pitching Coach | 108 Coach cert., BA in Sports Management | Daily pitching training & arm efficiency coaching |
| Tyler Shorter | Dir. of Performance – CSCS | 108 Coach cert., BA in Psychology | Performance coordination, strength training, arm efficiency expert |
| Ashley Marie Finley | Teacher–Tutor | Cert. Elementary Educator, BA in Elementary Education | Specializes in ELA, writing, reading, oratorical development |
| Rebecca Rijo‑Berger | Director of Curriculum | Cert. Educator, BA in Elementary Education | Oversees education guidance, curriculum vetting, life-skills curriculum |
| Cooper Ryan Gee | Content Curator & Dir. of Media | BA in Entrepreneurship | Creates multimedia on player journeys, NIL education, brand-building |
| Kelli McDaniel | Admin & Facility Coordinator | AAS in Photographic Technology | Handles scheduling, onboarding, payments, facility operations |
| Jamie Southern‑Wiggins | Dir. of Softball Pitching | Former collegiate pitcher (4× National Champ), Teacher Cert. | Coaches female pitching, development, and guidance |
| Bodie Mark Parker | Softball Dev. & Social Media Coord. | 108 Coach cert., AS in Psychology | Softball trainer, NIL/brand coach, rotational force specialist |
🤝 Institutional & Professional Partnerships
Universities & Colleges: UCLA, Texas A&M, UT, Tennessee, Oregon State, MTSU, Pellissippi State CC, Walters State CC
Professional Baseball: Network with all 30 MLB franchises for scouting, development, and training
🎓 Scholarships – THE108WAY Foundation
- Funding determined annually by board based on financial need & availability
- Renewable yearly, supporting both athletic & academic goals
- Open to U.S. citizens or residents with ≥ 3.0 GPA and strong character
- Application includes essay, transcript, recommendation, financial info
- Board selects recipients based on performance, leadership, community impact, & financial need
💰 Tuition, Enrollment & Logistics
- Cost: $20,000–30,000/year (includes education & training – excludes housing/transportation)
- Varies based on course load and in-person vs. online instruction
- Scholarships available based on GPA, financial status, and application strength
- Applications Open: June 1, 2025
- Enrollment Begins: July 1, 2025
- Housing/Transport: Not currently offered; plans underway for future support
📈 Performance Outcomes & Athlete Impact
- MLB Impact: Dozens of minor-leaguers progressed to MLB debuts after training at 108
- Draft Placements: Over 100 prospects drafted into professional baseball
- College Scholarships: 200+ athletes awarded college-level scholarships
- Injury Prevention: 2,000+ players have fully overcome arm pain/injuries through 108 programming
📅 3 Day Sample Schedule
| Day 1 | |
| 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Online Academics and Tutoring |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Hitting & Pitching Skills Sessions |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Nutrition Break |
| 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Strength & Conditioning |
| Day 2 | |
| 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Online Academics and Tutoring |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Hitting & Pitching Skills Sessions |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Nutrition Break |
| 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Recovery, Mobility, Compression, Flexibility |
| Day 3 | |
| 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Online Academics and Tutoring |
| 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Hitting & Pitching Skills Sessions |
| 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM | Nutrition Break |
| 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Life Skills Mentorship & Mental Conditioning |