Gregg Jefferies Baseball Camps Rainbow Sports Complex Modesto, California

Darren Nichols, Owner

Head Instructor

Darren was an all conference infielder at LA Harbor College and Chico State University where he was coached by Tony Bloomfield and Lyndsey Meggs.

A native of southern California, Darren also played for current University of Tennessee Head Coach Dave Serrano in the famed Mary Star Connie Mack program. Darren was also a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates under Mike Kendall and has consulted for national high school showcase companies Perfect Game and Baseball Factory.

Darren currently coaches at Foothill High School and is the President of the Athletic Placement Service (APS) where he is a sought out speaker in the arena of College Recruiting. Darren is also the co-author of Baseball conditioning book, Diamonds. As a youth coach Darren was instrumental in building the Danville Pony program into a system that graduated 95% of it’s participants to high school baseball, without having to make any cuts year after year. Darren’s brother Derek, also a former pro player for the Detroit Tigers, is also on the APS Staff in Southern California.
 

Andrew Hamel, MS, CSCS

Sports Performance Director

Andrew, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, received his Master’s of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology from California State University Eastbay.  Previously, Andrew graduated from Wilmington College with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sports Management with a concentration in Wellness.  While at Wilmington College, Andrew was a quarterback on the Quakers’ football team for four seasons.

Over the past several years, Andrew has become a highly sought-after strength coach for athletes of all ages, ability levels, and sports.  Andrew has helped athletes, both healthy and injured, achieve their performance goals.  In addition to developing a niche working within the baseball community, Andrew is the Head Football Strength and Conditioning Coach at Amador Valley High School. 

As a strength coach, Andrew, believes in the philosophy that a successful training program needs to be grounded in science, unique to the client, enjoyable, educational, effective, and most importantly it needs to help you reach your goals. For more information about Andrew and his philosophies please check out his personal strength training blog, http://www.andrewhamel.com.
 

Greg Smith

Greg Smith, after graduating from The University of the Pacific, has gone on to be a highly successful baseball, softball and basketball coach working with players from age 10 to college level.
 

A native of Santa Cruz, Greg coached for over 18 years in the Santa Cruz area, leading his teams to 10 championships. Greg was a coach for the Santa Cruz High Cardinals and Marello Prep High School. One of his SC colt teams (ages15-16) won the United States Northern region playoffs and was one step away from the Colt League World Series. That team featured Femi Ayanbadejo and Giuseppe Chiramonte. Greg coached Femi for 6 years and he went on to play at San Diego State, baseball and football and later had a successful NFL career highlighted by winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens. Greg coached Giuseppe for 4 years and he went on to Fresno State where he was an All-American catcher and a 5th round pick of the SF Giants. He still holds the HR record at Fresno State. Greg has coached over 40 Div 1 players in his coaching career.

Since moving to Pleasanton with his three daughters, Greg has turned his attention to girls softball and basketball. He has been involved with the Phantom Softball program, most recently coaching one of the fall travel teams and guiding the 8th grade CCOP team to the city championship.

Greg really enjoys working with young people and helping them get the most out of their abilities and to work on personal growth and inner confidence, as this will help them, not only in athletics but life as well.

Dave Hedrick

Dave played baseball for 4 years at Grace Davis High School before beginning his coaching career.  He has coached locally for Turlock Little League and several All-star teams that have produced college and professional players.  Dave has been apart of the CenCal/NorCal Valley for the last 3 years.  He has been instrumental in the development of many players in the program.

Ryan McGrath

Ryan, another former Davis High Spartan, played his collegiate ball at Modesto Junior College for 2 years and CSU Stanislaus for 2 years.  Ryan went on to play professionally with the affiliates for the San Francisco Giants.  He spent 3 years in the minors before moving on to the Yuma Scorpions where he finished out his playing career.  After playing, Ryan coached at Modesto High School for 1 year and coached travel baseball for 4 years.  This is his first year in the NorCal Valley program where his is the pitching coach for the 13U team.

Sam Nichols

Another local product, Sam played for Fred C. Beyer High School.  He moved on to play Modesto Junior College and CSU Stanislaus.  Sam coached at Johanson High School for 3 years, Modesto High School for 3 years, and Modesto Junior College for 3 years.  He is coaching for Central Catholic High School as of now.  In addition to coaching at the local high schools and college, Sam has coached travel baseball for 6 years.

Douglas Porras

Doug played at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill.  He moved on to play at West Valley College for 2 years before finishing at CSU Stanislaus.  He has coached at his alma mater, Live Oak High School, for 3 years where he was the hitting coach.  He has worked various baseball and softball camps in Morgan Hills along with speed and agility camps.  This is his first year with NorCal Valley.

Kory Wallace

Kory played his high school baseball at Casa Grande in Petaluma.  He went on to star at College of Marin in Kentfield where he earned all conference for 2 years as a pitcher.  He finished out his playing career at CSU Stanislaus for 2 years.  This is his first year with NorCal Valley.