Meet the Vipers Staff
The Lincoln-Way Vipers training staff is made up of former collegiate players with real playing experience and proven coaching backgrounds. Our coaches bring a practical, development-focused approach to helping athletes build their skills, confidence, and understanding of the game.
Baseball Staff
Mike Buckley
DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL & SOFTBALL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PLAYING CAREER
• Played four years at Dominican University, catcher and first baseman
• NACC single-game home run record: 3
• 32 career caught stealing, ranks 2nd all-time
• NACC All-Freshman Team
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Assistant coach, Lincoln-Way Central baseball
• Former head coach, Martino Junior High baseball
TRAINING FOCUS
Catching • Hitting • Infield [Book a Lesson Here]
Austin Konagel
DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PLAYING CAREER
• Four-year infielder at Loras College
• Four-time A-R-C All-Conference honoree
• Career .357 hitter
• Hit .423 in 2016, ranking 3rd all-time in Loras single-season history
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Head coach, Lemont High School JV
• Head coach, Old Quarry Middle School
• Former assistant, Lincoln-Way East JV
• Former head coach, Martino Junior High
TRAINING FOCUS
Infield • Hitting • Catching [Book a Lesson Here]
Bob Gillund
PITCHING INSTRUCTOR
PLAYING CAREER
• Professional pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization
• Collegiate pitcher at St. Francis and Olivet Nazarene
• Holds Olivet Nazarene's single-season ERA record: 1.14 in 1985
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Assistant coach, Lincoln-Way East High School
• Former assistant coach, Triton College
• Former assistant, Andrew High School - 1992 State Championship Team
• 30+ years coaching high school and college baseball
TRAINING FOCUS
Pitching • Mechanics • Command • Arm Care [Book a Lesson Here]
Josh Mutter
BASEBALL TRAINER
PLAYING CAREER
• Four-year outfielder at Northern Illinois University
• Team captain as a junior - started 43 games
• Posted .991 fielding percentage junior season
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Assistant coach, Lincoln-Way Central
TRAINING FOCUS
Outfield • Pitching • Hitting
Tyler Sabodor - 9U
Moraine Valley Community College
Rocco Chiarito - 14U
Dominican University
Ryan Molitor - 15U
Joliet Junior College
Austin Cusack - 15U
Joliet Junior College
Brandon Cusack - 16U
St. Ambrose University
Michael Vesely - 16U
Joliet Junior College
Parker Friend - 17U/18U
College of Dupage
Softball Staff
Elena Sakellaropoulos
DIRECTOR OF SOFTBALL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PLAYING CAREER
• Four-year collegiate softball player
• Two-time All-Conference selection
• Hit .313, 15 RBI, and 15 runs scored as a freshman
• Hit .357, 41 hits, and 24 runs scored as a junior
• Current competitive slow-pitch softball player
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Varsity assistant coach, Bremen High School
• Former assistant coach, Robert Morris University
TRAINING FOCUS
Hitting • Infield • Outfield [Book a Lesson Here]
Kacyee Hart, PT, DPT
PITCHING INSTRUCTOR
PLAYING CAREER
• Division I softball player at Western Illinois University
• Four-year starting pitcher for the Leathernecks
• Local Lincoln-Way East graduate
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• 10+ years as a softball instructor
• Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from #1 ranked program at Washington University in St. Louis
• Sports rehab background across youth, collegiate, and professional baseball and softball
TRAINING FOCUS
Pitching • Sports Performance • Injury Prevention [Book a Lesson Here]
Theresa Thormeyer
PITCHING & HITTING INSTRUCTOR
Mike Buckley
DIRECTOR OF BASEBALL & SOFTBALL TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
PLAYING CAREER
• Played four years at Dominican University, catcher and first baseman
• NACC single-game home run record: 3
• 32 career caught stealing, ranks 2nd all-time
• NACC All-Freshman Team
COACHING EXPERIENCE
• Assistant coach, Lincoln-Way Central baseball
• Former head coach, Martino Junior High baseball
TRAINING FOCUS
Catching • Hitting • Infield [Book a Lesson Here]
Performance Staff
Marla Gibson-Soukup
FITNESS/NUTRITION/STRENGTH & CONDITIONING TRAINER
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
• 30+ years of fitness and athlete training
• Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
• Strength & Conditioning Coach, Lincoln-Way East High School
• Background in nutrition, conditioning, and injury prevention
TRAINING FOCUS
Strength • Speed & Agility • Nutrition • Conditioning