About West Florida Baseball Academy

Phil Hiatt played with three major league baseball teams during his career the Kansas City Royals (1993-1995), Detroit Tigers (1996), and LA Dodgers (2001). Phil Hiatt broke into the big leagues as a third base man and later, in his career, played first and out field.

He has 16 years of professional experience. He hit over 300 home runs in the minor leagues. He hit 42 home runs in 1996 and was awarded the Pacific Coast League MVP while playing for the LA Dodgers. He hit 44 home runs in 2001 and was awarded the International League MVP while playing for the Detroit Tigers. He played internationally for the Hanshin Tigers.

 Tim Spooneybarger was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 29th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft and spent three seasons in the minors, where he compiled an outstanding record of 11 wins, 2 losses and 16 saves with a 1.79 ERA. He made his major league debut with the Braves on September 5, 2001. Spooneybarger spent most of the 2002 season in the majors recording a 2.63 ERA in 51 games for the Braves. On November 18, 2002, Spooneybarger was traded to the Florida Marlins along with minor league pitcher Ryan Baker for Mike Hampton.

He started 2003 in the majors appearing in 33 games before going on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis. Before beginning a rehabilitation assignment, he was forced to have Tommy John surgery and miss the entire 2004 season. On July 20, 2005, while rehabilitating, he left the game due to pain and later learned he would have to undergo Tommy John surgery for a second time. The Marlins released him after the 2005 season and Spooneybarger would be out of professional baseball for the next two years.

In May 2008, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles and played for the team’s Low-A affiliate the Aberdeen IronBirds. 

Derell McCall was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 10th round of the 2000 draft after playing at Tate High School. He recorded over 900 strikeouts during his professional career of 15 seasons winning over 100 games. McCall played with 4 major league organizations including the Oakland A's, Boston Red Sox, Florida Marlins, and the Philadelphia Phillies. resulting in several all-star appearances. He finished with over 2,200 innings pitched in his professional career. He also played on Team USA in 2000. After retiring from professional baseball, McCall transitioned into coaching. This has allowed his passion for the game to explore a new role, sharing his knowledge and experience with aspiring players. 

Craig Cooper attended Georgia Southern University, where he earned numerous accolades throughout his collegiate career. During the 1985 season at GSU, Cooper was named the TAAC Tournament MVP.  In 1986 he was named First-Team All-America, Georgia Dugout Club Player of the Year, Trans America Athletic Conference Player of the Year, and ALL-TAAC Eastern Division and All-Tournament honors as a first baseman. Cooper also set a school record of 94 RBI's and become a Nation Division I leader while hitting a team-high .446. Cooper still ranks in the top 10 in several GSU season and career offensive categories earning him a spot in the GSU Athletic Hall of Fame. Craig Cooper was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 1986 draft's fifth round. His professional career extended through 1992 season. He had a record of 51 home runs and 348 RBI's. He played three years with Milwaukee before a brief stint with Cleveland. After retiring from his baseball career, Cooper chose to continue his love for the game through coaching young athletes in his hometown. 

 Bruce Bodree is a native of Pensacola, FL. He graduated from Escambia High School where he played baseball being coached by Fred Waters and Wilbur McGill. He continued playing baseball while attending Pensacola Junior College and Jeff Davis Community college. He fell in love with baseball at an early age learning how to play every position. He started coaching baseball in 2004 when he introduced the game to his oldest son. He was an assistant coach at Pensacola, Pine Forest, and Gulf Breeze High Schools. He joined West Florida Baseball Academy in 2016 as a head coach. He has taken multiple teams to Cooperstown, NY becoming Champions in 2023 for Week 3, out of 86 teams. He coaches with passion and believes in accountability and respect. 

 Ron Greene's journey began at Pensacola High School, where he honed his skills and developed a deep passion for the game. With determination and a strong work ethic, he continued his baseball career through junior college, acquiring invaluable experiences that would shape his coaching philosophy.  After his college days, Ron found his true calling - teaching baseball to little leaguers. For the past 26 years, Ron has dedicated his life to nurturing young talents and instilling a love for the game in each child he coaches. His infectious enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to his players have made him an invaluable mentor to countless aspiring baseball stars.  Ron believes that the key to success lies in building a strong foundation. Young players need to develop a solid understanding of the game's fundamentals before advancing to more complex skills. Ron emphasizes the importance of mastering essential techniques such as throwing, catching, and hitting, as these skills form the bedrock upon which future success is built.  In Ron's coaching philosophy, creating a positive environment is paramount. He understands the significance of fostering a supportive and encouraging atmosphere where players feel comfortable taking risks and learning from their mistakes. Ron believes that cultivating self-confidence and a love for the game is just as important as honing technical skills.  Ron "Jiminy Crickets" Greene's remarkable journey as a baseball coach serves as an inspiration to all baseball parents. His unwavering passion, dedication, and commitment to nurturing young talents have created a lasting impact on the lives of countless little leaguers. By incorporating the principles Ron has shared, we can support our children in their baseball endeavors while fostering a love for the game that will last a lifetime. 

Ryan Greene spent most of his life on the baseball field. After completing his high school career, he continued playing in college. Ryan spent one year at Coastal Alabama in Brewton, Alabama. He then transferred to Huntington College where he completed his collegiate career in three seasons there. Ryan's love for the game then transferred into coaching, following in his father's footsteps. He began coaching in 2017. Ryan has coached all ages from 8 years old to 18. He has an outstanding approach to helping athletes overcome the mental side of the game. He has had multiple players thank him for the way he taught them to handle the game mentally. Ryan has had numerous players move on to play at the next level. 

 Coach Currie is a 2008 graduate of Catholic High School. He was the leadoff hitter and right fielder on the 2008 nationally ranked final four team. After graduating he went on to have a successful playing career at Enterprise Community College and Huntingdon College, where his team won a conference championship in 2012, and a South Regional birth in 2013. 

  After college, he returned to Catholic and was an assistant coach for our 2014 state runner-up team and our most successful JV team to date. He also led the Catholic Youth Sports League during that time. 

  In 2015, he returned to Huntingdon as a graduate assistant and helped lead them to another conference championship. 

  Following that, he was hired to be the head coach at Morgan Academy in Selma, AL. He immediately turned around their struggling program and led them to a final four in his first season. He followed that up by being named the state Coach of the Year for his classification for the 2017-18 season. In his time at Morgan Academy, he coached several players who were named to the all-area, all-state and all-American teams and many of his former players are currently playing at the next level.

   In 2018-19 he was named Head Coach at Pensacola Catholic, from 2018-2022, he has produced a first team All-American, a third round MLB pick, 10 All-State selections and 18 Academic All-State selections.