Jeremy Jones
Founder/Instructor
buildingchampions@comcast.net
Jeremy Jones grew up in the South Kansas City area. As a young athlete he played Kansas City, Missouri 3&2 baseball as well as competitive “travel” summer baseball. Jeremy attended Rockhurst High School his freshman and sophomore years. He then transferred to Raymore-Peculiar High School where he graduated from in 1995. Concluding his senior year, Jeremy was drafted by the Colorado Rockies. He did not accept the offer, but rather opted for the college experience. Jeremy started his freshman year at Mesa Community College (MCC) in Mesa, Arizona. Jeremy was also drafted at the end if his 1996 season at MCC by the Cleveland Indians. He declined that offer as well knowing that he still needed time to develop as a student-athlete in the college atmosphere. Jeremy served as the starting catcher for the MCC baseball team for two seasons. He entered into his junior year as a full time student & catcher at Arizona State University. The ASU baseball team went on to place 2nd in the National Championship game in 1998 and Jeremy was named “Defensive Player of the Year” for the Sun Devils. Immediately following the conclusion of his junior year season Jeremy was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. This time he chose to sign the contract with the Rangers. In June of 1998 Jeremy began what would be a five year career in professional baseball as a catcher.
In 2002, Jeremy decided to retire from baseball and chase a dream of serving youth players by teaching them how to play the game at the highest level and to maximize their ability. Jeremy feels his calling all along was to coach and teach the game of baseball. He was very fortunate to be coached and instructed by the best in baseball including Butch Wynager (hitting coach of the Milwaukee Brewers), Rudy Jaramillo (hitting coach of the Texas Rangers), Orel Hershiser (Hall of fame pitcher and professional coach), Joe Madden (Manager of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays), Bob Dernier (Gold Glove for the Chicago Cubs), Zeke Zimmerman (coach of the Anaheim Angels), Harvey Dorfman and Tom Hanson (professional team sports psychologists and authors), Al Nipper (pitching coach of the Boston Red Sox), Pat Murphy (Arizona State University Head Baseball Coach) Jim Sundberg (catching instructor of the Texas Rangers), and many more coaches and players along the way. Players that he has trained and/or played with include: Travis Hafner, Alex Rodriguez, Hank Blalock, Rusty Greer, Mark Teixeira, Ivan Rodriguez, Aaron Harrang, Gerald Laird, Michael Young, Rafael Palmeiro, Willie Bloomquist, Mike Sweeney, Sal Fasano, Shea Hillenbrand, Albert Pujols, and many more current and former major league players. He credits all of the coaches and players that he has come across for his current knowledge and passion for the game.
Jeremy’s talents and knowledge for the game also allows him to speak on many topics at the annual Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association held in Jefferson City, MO since 2002 regarding hitting, catching, calling a game to get hitters out, and controlling the running game.
Jones has been coaching amateur baseball since 2002 and instructing since 1998. In January of 2003 he opened Building Champions located in Belton, Missouri. Jeremy’s goals, vision, dreams, and work ethic have made Building Champions into a premier facility for learning and development for players of all ages. With the support and knowledge from great assistant coaches Building Champions is able to lay the foundation for so many athletes in the Kansas City area.
Shon Plack
Hitting/Fielding Instructor
Manager: BC Padres
Shon grew up in Raytown, Missouri and is a 1994 graduate of Raytown South High School. In his senior year at Raytown South, Shon lettered in four sports; Baseball, Football, Basketball and Soccer. He was an All-State Baseball and Soccer player and received All-District honors in football. After graduation, Shon played baseball for the then defending NCAA Division II National Champion Central Missouri State Mules. In 1995, CMSU finished 49-10 and third in the nation at the Div. II College World Series. He played his final two collegiate seasons at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas where he won a Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship and received All-HAAC honors playing second base. Throughout his collegiate career, Shon started at least one game in every position except pitcher. Shon played in three Ban Johnson All-Star games and won the Ban Johnson Championship in 1998. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Benedictine College in Sports Management in December 1998.
Shon graduated from Northwest Missouri State in 2001 with a Masters of Science in Education. At Northwest Missouri, Shon was a Graduate Assistant in the Sports Information Office. There he worked with many coaches and media at the collegiate level. After his time at Northwest, Shon was the Heart of America Athletic Conference Sports Information Director for four years between 2002 and 2005.
Shon was a physical education and health teacher in the North Kansas City School District for eight years before becoming full time at Building Champions. He has been coaching youth baseball since 2002. In 2003, he led the 14U Diamond Devils to a 35-25 record and a third-place finish in the AAA Kansas USSSA State Tournament. In 2004, Shon was an assistant coach on the 2004 15U AAA Kansas State Champion Kansas City A’s. Last season, he was the head coach for the 14U Kansas City Padres and an assistant on the 16U Kansas City A’s. The Padres finished with a 40-29 record and sixth in the Missouri USSSA State Tournament and the A’s finished 2nd at the MO-KAN Major State Tournament.
In 2007, Shon began coaching the Building Champions Summer Showcase teams, helping players reach their goals of college baseball. Shon also helps with the Building Champions Fall Program and teaches full time at Building Champions.
Tim Dougherty
Hitting Instructor
Tim grew up in the south Kansas City area where he played competitive baseball since he was 8 years old. His Little League career started in the Grandview Baseball League and ended in the South Suburban Junior Baseball Association. He Attended O’Hara High School where he started on the Varsity team all four years. Throughout his high school career he was awarded All-Conference, All-Metro, and All-State honors. Tim’s Senior Year he hit .634 with 7 homeruns. He graduated in 1995.
After High School Tim chose to attend Rockhurst University where he played under head coach Gary Burns previously from Vanderbilt University. In 3 seasons at Rockhurst Tim holds the record for most career homeruns with 45. He also hit over .400 all three years. During his collegiate career Tim was awarded All-American and All-Region honors. In his final year at Rockhurst Tim was the Captain of the Hawks that won the Division II Regional Championship Series. He was named the MVP of the Region. This win put Rockhurst University on the national map and in the Division II World Series were they placed 4th out of 8 teams. After the series Tim was named to the All-World Series Team.
Tim Spent his Collegiate summers playing in the legendary Ban Johnson League of Kansas City under coach Pat Nolan. In 1998 he was awarded the “Lester Milgrim Most Valuable Player Award”. This League has produced many Major League Ball Players such as David Cone, Steve Mingori, and Kevin Young. He was also named to the Ban Johnson “All 75 Year” team in 2002.
After college Tim Signed a free-agent contract with the Kansas City Royals. He spent two years in the Royals organization and acquired valuable knowledge and insight from the organizations coaching staff as well as fellow players. In 2000 he had the opportunity to participate in the Major League Mini Camp with the Royals where he trained with the Big League Club.
Tim has been a part of Building Champions since its inception in 2003. He works as a hitting/ outfield instructor. He is committed to helping players optimize their talents by providing them with the knowledge and expertise he has gained as a player and a coach. He believes that a good ball player should never be content with his skills. There is always something to improve on. He feels the same about coaching and therefore is continually educating himself on all aspects of the game.
Tim accredits much of his success to his father who taught him strong work ethics. His father taught him that if you are going to commit yourself to doing something you must give 110% dedication to it. Otherwise you are wasting your time and the time of those around you.
O’Hara High School:
» All State, All Metro, All Conference, 4 year Varsity Letterman
Rockhurst University:
» All American, All Region, NCAA Div II Regional Championship MVP, NCAA Div II World Series All Tournament Team, Career Homerun Leader
Kansas City Royals:
» Signed free agent contract in 1999
Brad Willis
Hitting/Fielding Instructor
Manager: Building Champions – Ban Johnson Team (Wood Bat College League)
Brad grew up in Lee’s Summit, Missori played competitive baseball there his entire life. A 1995 graduate of Lee’s Summit High School, he competed in both baseball and basketball and received 3 varsity letters in baseball. He was a 2 year starter at 2nd base in both his junior and senior years and received numerous awards including 1st team all conference and 1st team all area in both of those seasons. He was also named to the Missouri all state team his senior year.
Upon graduation, Brad went on to play college baseball at Rockhurst University on a full baseball and academic scholarship. At Rockhurst, he played under head coach, Gary Burns, who prior to coming to the school in 1993 to resurrect the program, was an assistant coach at Clemson University, Vanderbilt University and Southern Indiana. Under coach Burns, Brad became a 4 year starter, spending all 4 years at shortstop. He was a part of teams that won numerous games, including regional, and sectional championships in all 4 years. All to be highlighted by a central region championship in 1999 and a 4th place finish at the Division II College World Series. He went on to win numerous awards during his time at Rockhurst (Rockhurst Freshman Of The Year, Freshman All American, Freshman Regional Player Of The Year, All Regional, All Sectional, Rockhurst Defensive Player of the Year) and would graduate in 4 years with a degree in marketing in 1999.
Brad spent his collegiate summers playing in the Ban Johnson league under legendary manager, Pat Nolan, for the BJ Raiders. During his 4 summers with Coach Nolan, the Raiders won back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998 and Brad was named the starting shortstop in the Ban Johnson all star game in all 4 years in the league. He was also awarded the Frank White Gold Glove award (defensive player of the year) in 1997, 1998, and 1999.
He has been a part of the Building Champions family for the past 3 years. Within Building Champions, he teaches individual lessons, runs infield camps and clinics, serves as an instructor in the BC Fall Program, and numerous other baseball-related programs within Building Champions.
Brad’s coaching experience includes 5 years as an assistant coach with the BJ Raiders of the Ban Johnson league where he helped them to win 3 league titles and 1 runner up finish. 3 years coaching a youth team in the Lee’s Summit area (ages 10-13). And for the past 3 years, as the manager of the Building Champions Ban Johnson team . The Ban Johnson league is a college-aged league here in Kansas City. And in 2010, he guided them to their first league championship in only their third year in the league by sweeping their way to a perfect 7-0 record throughout the 3 rounds of the playoffs and championship. Brad helps to guide the BC kids, who have just graduated high school, and are entering their freshman year in college, and give them taste of the college game before they get there.
Jonathan Krysa
Pitching Instructor
Jonathan graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 1996 and played 2 years of Varsity baseball. He attended Rockhurst University where he received a BSBA in Finance/Econ and a minor in Philosophy in 2000 and then received an MBA in 2004 with an emphasis in Management and Marketing.
Jonathan’s coaching experience includes Rockhurst University Pitching Coach from 2002-2004. He was also the graduate assistant obtaining an MBA while coaching. He has been a personal trainer for over 10 years with various facilities. In 2008, Jonathan assisted Brad Willis with the BC-14 year old team.
Jonathan’s professional experience includes being drafted in 2000 in the 26th round by the Houston Astros. He played with Houston in the minors for two seasons until an injury ended his professional career. He was released the Spring and then proceeded to play independent ball in Texas with the Edinburg Roadrunners in 2002. In 2003, he began a 5-year career with the Kansas City T-Bones.
Awards and achievements:
1999: Ban Johnson Pitcher of the Year
All-75 Year Team for Ban Johnson
1999: Rockhurst University – World Series (finished 4th nationally)
2000: Pre-season All-American
2000: NCAA Division II 1st Team All American
2000: NCAA Division II 1st Team Academic All American
2000: Rawlings National Pitcher of the Year
Professional highlights: 2006: Pitcher of the Year, Kansas City T-Bones
2006: Northern League Pitcher of the Year
2006: Northern League All-Star Game Starting Pitcher
Pitched to Buck O’Neil in All Star Game
Will Gorden
Instructor
Will Gorden grew up in Oklahoma City where he played high school baseball at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School. As a senior he finished as Honorable Mention All-State pitcher and State Runner-up.
Will played collegiate baseball Rockhurst University from 2001-2006, earning both a degree in History and Master of Education. He spent his summers playing in the Red River League, making appearances in the NBC World Series.
Will has been coaching baseball since 2002, returning while in college to be the Head JV summer coach of his high school from 2002-2005. After his playing career he spent one semester as a Graduate Assistant at Rockhurst University, completing his masters. He was the varsity pitching instructor at Bishop Miege High School in 2007, taking the team to an appearance in the Kansas state tournament. From 2008-2009 he has been the head junior varsity coach at Rockhurst High School. In the summer of 2009 he was the Head Coach of the Kansas City Athletics a 16U summer tournament team. He will be the Varsity pitching coach at Rockhurst for the 2010 season.
Shon