Who Are We?
Justin Cronk
Owner & President
- Owner & President of Diamond College Advisory Team, LLC (present)
- Executive Director of DCAT Sports & Events, LLC (2016-present)
- Head Baseball Coach & Recruiting Coordinator - Old World Baseball, LLC (present)
- Head Baseball Coach- USA DiamondCats National Team (present)
- Director of Headfirst College Advisory Team, LLC (2004-2010)
- Headfirst Baseball Director of Instruction, Curriculum, Lessons and Operations (2004-2010)
- Head Baseball Coach—Headfirst Gamers 18U Select Travel Team (2004-2010)
- Head Baseball Coach—Shenandoah University in Virginia from (2001-2003)
- Recruiting Coordinator and Assistant Baseball Coach at Amherst College (1998), Boston College (1999), and UNC-Asheville (2000)
- Masters of Science in Sports Management—University of Massachusetts (1998)
- Amherst College Two Sport Collegiate Athlete (Baseball and Football);
- B.A. in Law, Jurisprudence & Social Thought (1994-1997)
- Arbitration Consultant—Boston Red Sox (1998)
- Teacher, Introduction to Sports Law—University of Massachusetts (1998)
Bonnie Pettus
DCAT Softball Director
- Coached the Great Britain Women's National Softball team to a runner up finish in the 2009 European Softball Championships, earning them a berth to the 2010 World Championships, played in Caracas, Venezuela.
- Pitching Coach, Great Britain Women's National Softball Team - 2006 World Championships - Beijing, China
Head Softball Coach, Furman University, 1995-2003- Southern Conference Coach of the Year - 2002, 2000
- Head Softball Coach, University of Southern Colorado, 1993-1995
- Assistant Softball Coach, University of Connecticut, 1991-1993
- 1993 UConn team - Women's College World Series - 5th place National Ranking
- Master's degree in Education-Sport Management - University of Connecticut
- Two sport collegiate athlete (softball and basketball) at Yale University
- Yale Softball - All Ivy League Selection, Team MVP and Team Leadership Award
- Alumni Interviewer for Yale University
Stan Exeter
DCAT Player Development Program (PDP) Director
- 26 years as Head College Coach of Swarthmore, Ursinus and Arcadia
- Ursinus: 2013-2022; coached Alex Mumme to program first-First Team All-Region & All-American in same year
- Swarthmore: 2007-2013; 2010 Centennial Conference Coach of the Year
- Arcadia: 1998-2007; 2 Conference Championships
Owner of Ex-Plosion Baseball, LLC- Headfirst, LLC consultant and liaison for college coaches & parents
- Two-time All-Patriot League First Basemen at Lafayette College
Evan Bruno
DCAT Developing Athlete Leaders (DAL) Program Director
- PhD in Leadership and Organizational Behavior from the University of Virginia and MBA from Cornell University
- Former tenure track professor of management at James Madison University
- Designed and taught leadership development courses at UVA's Law School, Darden School of Business, American University, and George Mason University
- Coached at both DI (Cornell University) and prep school (St. Annes-Belfield, Charlottesville, VA) levels
- Played DIII baseball at Amherst College
- U.S. Navy Officer for four years
Jason Ronai
Associate Director
- Associate Director - Diamond College Advisory Team
- Assistant Principal & Head Basketball Coach - Chicago Bulls College Prep (2009 - Present)
- Creator and director of the Navy Baseball National Leadership Camps (2005-Present)
- Former officer in the United States Navy (2004-2008)
- Assistant Baseball Coach - United States Naval Academy (2004-2009)
- Led Navy hitters in breaking school records in hits, homeruns and run scored
- Assistant Coach - Indiana State University (2002-2003)
- Played professionally for the Alexandria Aces of the independent Central League (2002)
- Masters Degree in Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University (2007)
- UNC-Asheville Four Year Starter (1997-2001)
- Team MVP and Defensive Player of the Year as a junior
- Graduated as second all-time leader in hits and stolen bases
- B.A. in Psychology
Graham Callaghan
Baseball Advisor
- Diamond College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Fall 2003 - present: Avon Old Farms School, an all-boys boarding and day school in Avon, CT
- English Department Chairman, Head of Brown House Dormitory (28 residents, grades 9- Post-Graduate)
- Varsity Baseball Pitching Coach
- Colonial League Champions, 18-6
- Eight Colonial League titles since 1996
- Team Connecticut Baseball summer camp instructor - July 2007, July 2008
- BA, Amherst College (1999)- starting pitcher 1996-1999
- Three post season appearances in NCAA regional tournament - 1996, 1997, 1999
Elyse Graziano
Consultant to DCAT Softball
- Diamond College Advisory Team - Consultant to DCAT Softball
- Senior Associate, Headfirst Professional Sports Camps (2015-present)
- Master's Degree in Public Health - George Washington U- Milken Institute of School of Public Health
- B.S. in Human Science - Georgetown University
- Georgetown Softball- Team Captain, All-Big East First Team, Big East All-Academic Team (2010-2014)
- NFCA Scholar-Athlete (2012 & 2014)
Stephan Rapaglia
Baseball Advisor
- Diamond College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Head Coach, Great Britain Senior National Team (2004-present)
- Silver medal at 2007 European Championships
- Player/Head Coach, Tuebingen Hawks, German Bundesliga (2001); Best W/L record in club history at Bundesliga level
- Former Division I Pitching Coach, Iona College (1997-2000)
- Manager, Johnstown Johnnies, Frontier League (1998)
- Managed and Operated B's Baseball Academy, Stamford CT (1996-1997)
- Player, Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, Northeast League (1995-1997); 1996 league championship
- Teacher/Head Baseball Coach, Rye Country Day School (1994-1996)
- Player, Neptunus Baseball Club, Dutch Hoofdklasse (1993); National championship
- Player, Gulf Coast Astros/Auburn Astros (1992)
- Player, Amherst College (1989-1992);Two-time ECAC champions (1990,1991); Co-captain '92
- Signed as non-drafted free agent by Houston Astros in 1992
- Real Estate Attorney (2001-present)
Chris Torino
Baseball Advisor
- Diamond College Advisory Team - Baseball Advisor
- Head Baseball Coach - The Taft School in Watertown, CT (2008-present; assistant from '02-'07)
- Dean of Faculty-- The Taft School in Watertown, CT
- Twelve years experience as teacher, administrator, and coach in independent secondary schools: ME, CA, and CT
- Head Baseball Coach-- Sage Hill School (CA, 2000-02) and Gould Academy (1996-98)
- MA English, University of Louisville (2000)
- BA English, Amherst College (1995); Baseball Captain 1995
Matt Whiteside
National Pitching Consultant
- Diamond College Advisory Team - National Pitching Consultant
- Former Pitcher for 7 MLB organizations: Texas, Philadelphia, San Diego, Atlanta, Colorado, Toronto, and Pittsburgh
- 1992 Graduate of Arkansas St. with degree in P.E. and American South Conference Player of the Year
- 25th round pick of Texas Rangers in 1992, AA All-Star in 1992, AAA All-Star and single season record holder for saves (38) in 2005, member of NL East Division Champion Atlanta Braves in 2001
- Co-Owner, Pitching Instructor and Gamers Coordinator at All-Star Performance in St. Louis
The Diamond College Advisory Team is comprised of professionals with dozens of years of combined experience in areas of athletics and academics.
Owner & President
Justin CronkOwner & President
DIRECTORS
Bonnie PettusDCAT Softball Director
"DCAT softball helped shape my journey to play collegiate softball. Bonnie provided me with ongoing insight into the college recruiting process, leading me in the right direction each step of the way to help me achieve my goal of playing softball at a top academic institution."
- Elyse Graziano, 2014 Georgetown University Captain, First Team All-Big East, All-Academic Team
Stan ExeterDCAT Player Development Program (PDP) Director
"It's been a decade since my final game with Coach Exeter. I have continued to follow his philosophies and guidance as I navigate my career. He remains an honest, empowering mentor in my life after my playing days."
- Jake Kohler, Director of Wharton Business School Enrollment Program
Evan BrunoDCAT Developing Athlete Leaders (DAL) Program Director
"I've known Evan Bruno since his days as a standout baseball player at Amherst College, and then during his time as a coach, and as an officer in the United States Navy. When it comes to fostering leadership skills, especially with student-athletes, Evan is uniquely positioned to understand multiple sides of the equation - teacher, pupil, and ultimately, leader. I couldn't think of a better resource when it comes to cultivating leadership skills in student-athletes."
- Kevin Graber, Chicago Cubs coach & coordinator
SOME OF OUR DCAT ADVISORS & CONSULTANTS
