John Elliott
Owner/Coach
John graduated high school in 1982 from Fountain Valley High. He learned many life-long lessons in high school baseball. First and foremost is to keep trying. John was cut from the freshman and sophomore high school teams. He went home and complained to his mother that he was cut, and she said one sentence to him, “then go outside and practice”. He took this to heart and did just that. His senior year in high school he was a starter at third base. He then tried out for the team at Orange Coast College and did not make it. Since baseball was his thing, he then tried out for the team at Long Beach City College and made it. He played there for two years. He was All-League, 2nd team as a Freshman at LBCC. He set a school record in hitting in his first year. His sophomore year at LBCC he was 1st team All-League, and that year was drafted in the 4th round by the Houston Astros.
He played with the Astros Organization from 1984 thru 1988. He played five years as a shortstop and second baseman. He was an All-star in 1986 in the Sally League. He played all the way thru AA.
He then went on to further his education in Physical Education with a Bachelor of Science. A few years later he received his Master’s in Physical Education. He continues to educate himself year after year and in both coaching as well as training baseball players. In 1995 John founded Quakes Baseball Academy. He has been coaching the QBA travel teams for over 21 years. He considers himself blessed to be able to do what he loves, coach baseball. He continues each day to train all levels of baseball, from 8th graders to MLB pro players.
John was an associate scout for the Houston Astros from 1995 to 2009. From 2009 to 2014 he scouted for the Baltimore Orioles and in 2014 started scouting for the San Diego Padres. He left the Padres organization in 2016 to focus more on his academy players.
He has designed many training programs for baseball players to enhance their existing skills as well as to advance their knowledge of their game and their abilities. John has assisted in the design and production of two hitting videos with batspeed.com. These videos are utilized by baseball players throughout the nation.
He played with the Astros Organization from 1984 thru 1988. He played five years as a shortstop and second baseman. He was an All-star in 1986 in the Sally League. He played all the way thru AA.
He then went on to further his education in Physical Education with a Bachelor of Science. A few years later he received his Master’s in Physical Education. He continues to educate himself year after year and in both coaching as well as training baseball players. In 1995 John founded Quakes Baseball Academy. He has been coaching the QBA travel teams for over 21 years. He considers himself blessed to be able to do what he loves, coach baseball. He continues each day to train all levels of baseball, from 8th graders to MLB pro players.
John was an associate scout for the Houston Astros from 1995 to 2009. From 2009 to 2014 he scouted for the Baltimore Orioles and in 2014 started scouting for the San Diego Padres. He left the Padres organization in 2016 to focus more on his academy players.
He has designed many training programs for baseball players to enhance their existing skills as well as to advance their knowledge of their game and their abilities. John has assisted in the design and production of two hitting videos with batspeed.com. These videos are utilized by baseball players throughout the nation.
Aaron Wirsch
Assistant Coach & Trainer
Ryan Torrey
Assistant Coach & Trainer
Ryan attended Newport Harbor High School where he was a 3 year Varsity letterman. Ryan then attended and graduated from Concordia University in Irvine with a degree in Exercise Sports Science with emphasis on Rehab. While at Concordia he played baseball all 4 years and went to three regional championship games and one World Series.
Ryan has coached for the Quakes Baseball Academy and Top Prospects baseball camps for the last eight years. Ryan also played in Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League in 2008 and played in both Germany and Australia. He coached at Santa Margarita HS for a few years and is now coaching at Saddleback Valley Christian School.
Ryan has coached for the Quakes Baseball Academy and Top Prospects baseball camps for the last eight years. Ryan also played in Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League in 2008 and played in both Germany and Australia. He coached at Santa Margarita HS for a few years and is now coaching at Saddleback Valley Christian School.
Michael Nava Jr.
Assistant Coach & Trainer
Kevin Osaki
Assistant Coach & Trainer
Amanda Allen
Fitness Instructor
Amanda is a full time fitness coach with an extensive background in athletics. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and holds a Master’s in Exercise Science with an emphasis is Biomechanics. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arizona with a degree Human Physiology and a minor in Chemistry, while on a full academic scholarship. At the U of A, she competed on the Track and Field team in the Heptathlon, a 7-event, 2 day competition. She was ranked as high as 7th in Pac 12, and holds the 7th farthest javelin throw in School History (new javelin). In her senior year she was awarded the Most Inspirational Athlete Award. Amanda runs her own fitness and wellness business, Amanda Allen Fit, and continues to inspire people of all fitness backgrounds and lifestyles to push out of their comfort zones to achieve their health, fitness and athletic goals. In her spare time, she loves to chase her very active children around, watch movies with her husband and take naps.
Juris Zinbergs
Yoga Instructor Extraordinaire
Juris Zinbergs began practicing yoga in 1993 and is a well-known leader in the Yoga community in his area. In 1997, he was certified by Gary Kraftsow of the American Viniyoga Institute to teach asana, pranayama and chanting in the same yoga tradition of his own teacher, TKV Desikachar. Juris has also completed AVI's three year training course in the application of yoga as a therapeutic process for managing acute and chronic disease. As a faculty assistant for AVI, he helps with training and developing teachers in the Viniyoga tradition. He shares the living teachings of Krishnamacharya, emphasizing that the result of appropriately placed, accurate and integrated yoga techniques can be clearly seen in an individuals’ transformation.
Juris Zinbergs is a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) with Yoga Alliance, which acknowledges the completion of a yoga teacher training with an approved and active Registered Yoga School (RYS).
He has served as Faculty for the Viniyoga Therapist Training Program, (2010-2016), Faculty for Viniyoga Foundations Program, (2011-present), Faculty for Foundations for Yoga Therapy Training, (2011-2012), and Faculty Assistant for AVI Teacher Training and Yoga Therapy Training,(2008-present).
Dick Hilyard
Camp Operations Director
Dick was heavily involved in baseball umpiring for more than 35 years. He resided with his wife in Saratoga CA. He delightfully managed the day-to-day operations of the showcase camps in all locations until he left this earth. His love for the game and experience in sports helped to ensure the camps ran smoothly each and every day. He is missed at the camps and his spirit will always be there in our memories.
Brittin Hilyard Elliott
Quakes Operations Director and all things Admin