Coach Phil is a pitching coach with 25+ years of experience with pitching and instruction. Phil grew up in Northwest Indiana where he began playing baseball at 6 years old and eventually earning a scholarship to Division II Purdue Northwest University.

In 2017, Phil earned his Bachelor of Science-Biology from Purdue University, where he then began his coaching career with the Pride. He worked with Dave Griffin and Shane Prance to develop a velocity and strength program for the Pride. After his stint at PNW, he had the opportunity to coach in Palm Springs where he coached top prospects through NCAA/NAIA/Junior College Athletics. His time there was developing collegiate athletes to move them on with their already recognizable statistics and to provide them the opportunity to move onto conferences throughout the country. Madvek’s summer opportunity brought him to Ohio, where he was a strength and conditioning coach and assistant pitching coach as a graduate assistant at Tiffin University. 

With the Dragons, he was under Joe Wilkins and Brandon Cantrill, where he worked together with them to develop a strength/velocity program to get them to winning the conference tournament his

first season. His experience kept the team in the running with statistics all around conference and injury free throughout the season.

Madvek’s latest experience brough him to D-Bat Mokena as a pitching instructor/coach. He moved to New York in 2020 where he is currently a Science Teacher in the Syracuse City School

District and a pitching instructor throughout Onondaga County (SkanStrength).

2008-2012: 

• Hobart High School (Team Captain 2/4 years
• 1 st team all-conference senior year for
• pitching and 2nd team all-conference Junior year)

2012-2014: 

• Oakton Community College (2nd year Captain)
• Chicagoland Collegiate League (Top 5 in ERA and WHIP)

2014-2016: 

• Purdue Northwest University (Captain 2 years, ended with 3.51 ERA and over 150 strikeouts in career)
• Southland Vikings (Starting pitcher, 2.5 ERA over summer, last collegiate pitching experience)

2016-2018: 

• Strength and Conditioning Coach/Pitching Coach at Purdue Northwest University
• Palm Springs Collegiate League General Manager for West Coast Bombers (6 kids went division 1 and 5 kids went division II, III, NAIA; 2 pitchers led league in strikeouts/ERA and 3 hitters led league in slugging, average, and rbi’s)

2018-2019: 

• Graduate Assistant @ Tiffin University-Division II (Strength and Conditioning Coach and Assistant Pitching Coach, won GMAC conference championship and had players lead league in ERA, Batting Average, rbi’s, and velocity).

2020: 

• Pitching coach at D-Mat Mokena, Illinois

Present Day: 

• Science teacher at Syracuse City School District and pitching coach through Onondaga County Area

Professional Experience:

• Purdue University-Bachelor of Science-Biology
• Tiffin University-Master of Arts-Higher Education Administration
• SUNY Oswego-Master of Science-Teaching of Biology

• Pitching
• Hitting

Dan grew up in the Hudson Valley where he began playing baseball at 5 years old and eventually earned a scholarship as a catcher at DII Molloy College. 

In 2012, Dan decided to switch gears and transition into coaching as a career path where he transferred to Ithaca College as an Exercise Science major. After graduating #1 in his class Dan spent a year as an intern at Cornell University as a Strength & Conditioning Coach. He worked with athletes in baseball, football, basketball, track and field, and equestrian. 

In 2014, Dan earned a Graduate Assistant position at Baylor University, a top 10 Division 1 program in a variety of sports. He worked under the tutelage of an award winning coaching staff including Coach Kaz Kazadi, the country's collegiate "Strength Coach of the Year" in 2013. At Baylor, Dan trained football, tennis, acrobatics & tumbling, and cross-country athletes in the sports performance program. 

After graduating Baylor in December of 2015 with a Master's Degree, Dan was offered several positions at Colleges and Universities to become a collegiate Sports Performance Coach. However, Dan decided that he wanted to open his very own facility and chose a different path.

In 2017, he and his family opened up "SkanStrength" in 500sqft. below a local bar in town. Since then, Dan and his family have grown SkanStrength into a 7500sqft. facility offering a variety of fitness, wellness, and sports services. 

SkanStrength has since added its sports division, "SkanSports", where Dan serves as the Director while also keeping his skin in the game coaching and training youth and teens. 

Dan has over 20 years of combined playing and coaching experience. He has coached countless young people in baseball, fitness, and strength and conditioning. He has worked with individuals across every spectrum such as people with disabilities including down syndrome, autism, mental health disorders and a variety of intellectual disabilities. He has also worked with the areas top high school athletes, collegiate athletes and a few professionals at SkanStrength. 

Dan has a B.S. in Exercise Science, a Master's in Sport Pedagogy (Physical Education), and extensive experience coaching and training young people.

• Hitting
• Catching

Coach William grew up in San Diego, California spending his days obsessed with the game of baseball throughout his youth, adolescents, and into adulthood. Once William had a daughter of his own who wanted to play softball, his love for baseball quickly transformed into a passion for softball.

In 2021, Coach William felt as though that the girls on his Little League team needed more than just the 6-8 weeks of the season to develop their skills and abilities within this sport. They needed to keep practicing, at least semi-often throughout the year so they didn't wait 10-11 more months before picking up a ball or swinging a bat again.

As a solution to this problem, William started running skills clinics all summer long open to any softball players within Lakeshore Little League to attend. Each week at least a dozen girls would show up ready to learn, have fun and develop. 

The clear need for softball opportunities led William to running regular clinics all year long throughout the summer, fall, winter, and early spring leading up to the season. Over the last 3 years girls from all over the local area show up every week to have fun, learn skills, and develop into significantly better ball players. 

As word started to spread about Coach William's clinics, he became sought after by varsity players in the area and spent the winter of 2023 working with local varsity athletes to prepare them for their spring season. 

Now, Coach William is the President of Code-Red Softball, a non-profit travel organization, and the current 12U coach.

His coaching expertise, strong knowledge of the fundamentals, passion for helping softball players fall in love with the game and deep hunger for continual learning is what fosters his success in the community as the "go-to" guy for softball foundations.

• Cayuga Community College Assistant Softball Coach
• Code Red President & Organizational Head Coach

Coach William primarily runs lessons and clinics focusing on;

• Hitting
• Infield
• Outfield

Coach Brody brings a rich baseball background deeply rooted in the local community, where his journey in the sport began. A versatile player throughout his career, Brody developed expertise across multiple positions, from middle infield to center field, demonstrating adaptability and comprehensive knowledge of the game. During career at Marcellus High School, he emerged as a dynamic leadoff hitter and centerfielder on the varsity squad, following successful seasons at various positions including catcher and infield roles.

With an academic foundation in both psychology and physics, Brody brings a unique, science-based approach to baseball instruction. This interdisciplinary background allows him to break down complex movements into learnable components while understanding the mental aspects of player development – a combination that proves particularly effective when working with young athletes.

Continuing his baseball career at the collegiate level, Brody competed for three seasons with his university's club baseball team. His passion for the game extends beyond playing – since his senior year, he has established himself as a committed coach and instructor in the Marcellus baseball program. For the past four years, he has successfully led the Marcellus JV summer league team, developing young talent and fostering player growth through both team coaching and individualized instruction.

Brody's coaching philosophy emphasizes personalized development, honed through years of providing one-on-one and small group lessons to players across various skill levels. His hands-on approach, combined with his understanding of both the physical mechanics and psychological aspects of the game, has made him particularly effective at connecting with young athletes and helping them reach their full potential.

Looking ahead, Brody is expanding his role within the Marcellus baseball program, joining the JV coaching staff while also taking the helm of the varsity summer league team. His progression from player to coach within the same community demonstrates his commitment to giving back to the program that shaped his baseball career, while his ongoing participation in competitive baseball keeps him connected to the game's evolving dynamics.

• Infield
• Outfield
• Hitting

Coach Pete Fiorini brings a legacy of elite-level experience and passionate coaching to SkanStrength. His journey through the highest levels of lacrosse, both as a player and coach, represents decades of dedication to developing exceptional athletes.

PLAYING CAREER

• Syracuse University Men's Lacrosse (2019-2023)
• Team Captain (2023)
• Dynamic Midfield/Attack player
• Baldwinsville Varsity Lacrosse (2014-2018)
• Two-time Section 3 All-American First Team
• Two-time New York State First Team
• Two-time All-CNY First Team
• Three-time League First Team
• Under Armour All-American
• North-South Senior Game Selection (2018)

COACHING EXPERTISE

Currently serving as Assistant Coach at SUNY Cortland, Pete has developed athletes across all age levels, from youth to collegiate players. His extensive coaching experience includes:

• SUNY Cortland Assistant Coach (2023-Present)
• Orange Crush Lacrosse Coach (2016-Present)
• Head Coach of 2033 Program

SMASH Box League Coach

Heat Lacrosse Camp Instructor

Private Skills Development Coach (2019-Present)

TRAINING PHILOSOPHY

Pete specializes in developing complete players through:

• Advanced stick skills development
• Position-specific training
• Game strategy and lacrosse IQ
• Athletic performance enhancement
• Leadership development
• Mental preparation

Pete specializes in developing complete players through:

• Advanced stick skills development
• Position-specific training
• Game strategy and lacrosse IQ
• Athletic performance enhancement
• Leadership development
• Mental preparation

Dr. Candice Hofmann was a three sport athlete at Marcellus High School in New York. She won a State Title in Soccer as well as 3 – Regional Championships in Volleyball and a League Championship in the Pentathlon for Track and Field. She was named First team all-state for volleyball and has been inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame along with her fellow state soccer teammates.

After high school Candice went to Syracuse University where she was a 4 year letter winner on the Division 1 Women’s Soccer Team. Candice was a goalkeeper but also played a few games at midfield. Candice received her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in 2008 in Civil Engineering and worked for 4 years designing airports in the area. However, her true passion has always been sports so she went back to school to pursue a career in an area she deeply loved. Candice attended the State University of New York at Cortland and received her Master of Science in Kinesiology with a 4.0 GPA. This degree led her to an opportunity to have a summer internship with the Gatorade Sport Science Institute (GSSI) at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.

The summer internship turned into a full time job where Candice was responsible for testing and evaluating the student – athletes on campus as well as the professional Gatorade athletes. The athletes were run through 2 testing sessions that would evaluate their carbohydrate vs. fat burning throughout exercise, as well as body composition, hydration levels, nutritional intakes, muscle strength and power as well as anaerobic (short term) exercise capacity. These test results were then shared with the athletes and their coaches to help develop the appropriate methods to improve their athletic performance.

While the opportunities at GSSI improved Candice’s knowledge and laboratory skills she had a deeper need to ask her own questions about athletes and the ways we can better help develop them as they are transitioning from childhood to adulthood. At IMG and as a coach of high school students Candice continued to see a rise in season ending injuries among the athletes she was working with, and she wanted to know if there were answers to helping prevent some of these injuries and therefore decided to go back to school to gain her doctorate degree.

After some different interviews Candice found the perfect fit with the University of Salford out of Manchester, England to complete her degree. Candice wanted to know the impact being a single sport versus multiple sport youth athlete might have on the lab performance of a countermovement jump, leg strength and balance. Along this path Candice found that the impact of where a child is within their growth spurt may have a greater impact on potential injuries than what sport or sports they are playing. In the end the athletes who had gone through their growth spurt performed significantly better than those who were before or during their spurt. It was also found that those past their growth spurt that were only participating in one sport did perform the lab test better than the multiple sport athletes. In 2022, Candice completed her degree and earned her PhD in Sport Science from the University of Salford. However, Candice found out that the joy of research is that you typically end up with more questions than answers at the end. The need for more answers is what has driven her to start her own business so that she can continue her work with youth athletes and hopefully help create the safest and best ways for kids to develop through, as she likes to call it, their “baby giraffe” phase. 

Candice has an extreme passion and love of all things sports and desperately wants to see all the youth athletes around her succeed in whatever way they want. She loves coaching soccer, volleyball and track and field where she is determined to help her athletes to grow in sport and in life and to push the limits of what they think is possible. Candice believes sports are meant to build kids up and give them confidence so that they can become successful humans on whatever path life takes them. 

Educational Background:

• B.S. Civil Engineering, Syracuse University
• M.S. Kinesiology, SUNY Cortland
• PhD Sports Science, University of Salford

A Yale soccer legend turned community leader, Laurel Karnes brings her passion for the game and commitment to youth development to SkanStrength. Her exceptional collegiate career and dedication to growing girls' soccer in Skaneateles makes her an invaluable addition to our coaching family.

PLAYING CAREER

Yale University Women's Soccer

• Two-time First Team All-Ivy Selection
• Two-time Team MVP
• Led Yale to Historic Ivy League Championship
• Third All-Time in Program Points
• Started Every Game
• Current President, Yale Women's Soccer Alumni Association

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

As a recent addition to the Skaneateles community, Laurel is already making an impact:

• Board Member, Skaneateles Youth Soccer
• U8 Program Coordinator
• Girls' Soccer Program Developer
• Youth Sports Advocate

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

With 35 years of soccer experience, Laurel's approach focuses on:

• Developing confident female athletes
• Building fundamental skills
• Creating positive team environments
• Fostering love for the game
• Emphasizing both competition and fun

PERSONAL

A mother of four who understands the transformative power of youth sports, Laurel brings a unique perspective to coaching young athletes. After relocating from Boston in 2023, she identified the need for expanded youth soccer opportunities in Skaneateles and partnered with SkanStrength to make it happen.

"Soccer isn't just about developing athletes – it's about building confident, strong young women who will carry these skills throughout their lives."

Martha is heading in to her 6th season as Head Golf Professional at Skaneateles Country Club and has been a class A PGA member since 1998.  Her passion is Player Development—she is chairwoman of the CNYPGA Player Development Committee and is a member of the National Adult Player Development Committee for the PGA of America.  She has played golf for over 45 years and loves to teach the game to all players

Dr. Jeffrey Batis brings a unique blend of athletic experience, scientific knowledge, and coaching passion to his work with young athletes. As a former skill position player at Pine Bush High School in New York's Hudson Valley, Dr. Batis understands firsthand the dedication and hard work required to excel in football.

Despite being recruited by several Division I and Division II schools in the Northeast, Dr. Batis chose to pursue a career path that would allow him to make a lasting impact on young athletes' lives. He focused his studies on Kinesiology and Sport Training, eventually becoming a Doctor of Chiropractic with a strong emphasis on movement and exercise science.

At the heart of Dr. Batis's approach is a commitment to youth-centered coaching. He believes that fostering a love for football begins with creating a fun, engaging environment where young players can learn and grow. His coaching philosophy emphasizes:

Fundamental skill development: Dr. Batis teaches the building blocks of football, ensuring that young athletes have a solid foundation to build upon as they progress in the sport.

Enjoyment and passion: By making practices and games enjoyable, Dr. Batis helps kindle a lifelong passion for football in his young players.

Personal growth: Beyond just football skills, Dr. Batis focuses on developing character, teamwork, and leadership qualities in his athletes.

Injury prevention and overall wellness: Drawing from his background in chiropractic care and exercise science, Dr. Batis incorporates proper movement techniques and body awareness into his coaching, helping young athletes stay healthy and perform at their best.

Gradual skill progression: Understanding that each child develops at their own pace, Dr. Batis tailors his coaching to meet individual needs and ensures that players build confidence as they improve.

Dr. Batis's unique background allows him to blend the excitement of competitive football with a scientific approach to physical development and injury prevention. His goal is not just to create skilled football players, but to inspire a new generation of athletes who love the game and understand the importance of overall physical and mental well-being.

Whether working with beginners just learning the sport or more experienced young players looking to refine their skills, Dr. Jeffrey Batis is committed to creating a positive, nurturing environment where every child can discover their potential both on and off the field.