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Sam graduated from Fenwick High School with honors and as captain of the baseball team. From there, he attended Indiana University as a recruited walk on for the varsity baseball team. Sam was part of the Big Ten Tournament Championship team that advanced to the College World Series Regional Tournament. He had a very successful career at Indiana, where he was named to the Big Ten All Academic Team for three straight years. Furthermore, Sam was named team captain and MVP his senior year.
After Sam’s baseball eligibility concluded, Coach Bob Morgan, at the time, one of only thirty coaches in Division I baseball to reach 1000 victories, hired him to be his assistant coach. At Indiana, Sam worked with both the infielders and outfielders, as well as serving as the assistant hitting coach. He left Indiana University to become the lead hitting instructor at C.F. Swingtown, which at the time, was one of the best baseball academies in the country. C.F. Swingtown was owned and operated by former Chicago Cub, Minnesota Twin, and New York Yankee, Ron Coomer along with former University of Notre Dame outfielder, John Flanagan. There, Sam was lucky enough to work with future Major League Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, former New York Yankee hitting coach, Rick Down, former Arizona State University head baseball coach, and current Brewers Bench Coach, Pat Murphy, as well as many other players and coaches that helped develop his coaching philosophies and techniques.
In 2003, Sam was asked to coach a college summer team comprised of Division I, Division II, and Junior College players from all over the country. John Cangelosi, member of the World Series Champion Florida Marlins, served as his assistant coach, on a team that won both leagues they competed in. In the summer of ’07, Sam coached The DuPage Diamondbacks, a team that included some of the best sophomore high school players throughout Illinois. They were ranked number one in the nation in their age group for a short stint. They won three tournaments and qualified in the top 5 at The CABA World Series in Georgia. One of his players was asked to play for Team USA.
Sam and his wife Lyndsey opened Diamond Instincts Baseball Academy in 2007. Sam has given lessons to boys and girls of all ages. He has worked with 5 year olds to help build the confidence and skill set necessary to love the game. He has worked with Major League Baseball Players in the winter to help them get ready for the season. And he has worked with every age in between, but always concentrates on the process and not the result. Sam also created teams (Diamond Dawgz Baseball), to help players develop as players and people, with a chance to play at the next level. Over 50 players who played with The Diamond Dawgz played, or are playing, college at places like Harvard, UIC, University of Arizona, St. Jose’s (PA), Bradley, Miami (OH), Middlebury, Emory, and many more.
In January 2020, Sam presented at The American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, TN. The Convention had over 7000 coaches, of all levels, from all over the country. He was then asked to be the Assistant Coach at Northwestern University. He worked closely with hitters, outfielders and infielders. He coached 1st base and was in charge of the defensive scouting report and positioning.
Sam requires that all of his players play hard, and have fun, teaching them that with dreams, dedication, and desire all things are possible.
Sam lives in Glenview, with his wife, Lyndsey. They were married in September ’07. Sam & Lyndsey have two sons, Vincent James (October 2012), and Charles Tate (March 2014).
After Sam’s baseball eligibility concluded, Coach Bob Morgan, at the time, one of only thirty coaches in Division I baseball to reach 1000 victories, hired him to be his assistant coach. At Indiana, Sam worked with both the infielders and outfielders, as well as serving as the assistant hitting coach. He left Indiana University to become the lead hitting instructor at C.F. Swingtown, which at the time, was one of the best baseball academies in the country. C.F. Swingtown was owned and operated by former Chicago Cub, Minnesota Twin, and New York Yankee, Ron Coomer along with former University of Notre Dame outfielder, John Flanagan. There, Sam was lucky enough to work with future Major League Hall of Famer Roger Clemens, former New York Yankee hitting coach, Rick Down, former Arizona State University head baseball coach, and current Brewers Bench Coach, Pat Murphy, as well as many other players and coaches that helped develop his coaching philosophies and techniques.
In 2003, Sam was asked to coach a college summer team comprised of Division I, Division II, and Junior College players from all over the country. John Cangelosi, member of the World Series Champion Florida Marlins, served as his assistant coach, on a team that won both leagues they competed in. In the summer of ’07, Sam coached The DuPage Diamondbacks, a team that included some of the best sophomore high school players throughout Illinois. They were ranked number one in the nation in their age group for a short stint. They won three tournaments and qualified in the top 5 at The CABA World Series in Georgia. One of his players was asked to play for Team USA.
Sam and his wife Lyndsey opened Diamond Instincts Baseball Academy in 2007. Sam has given lessons to boys and girls of all ages. He has worked with 5 year olds to help build the confidence and skill set necessary to love the game. He has worked with Major League Baseball Players in the winter to help them get ready for the season. And he has worked with every age in between, but always concentrates on the process and not the result. Sam also created teams (Diamond Dawgz Baseball), to help players develop as players and people, with a chance to play at the next level. Over 50 players who played with The Diamond Dawgz played, or are playing, college at places like Harvard, UIC, University of Arizona, St. Jose’s (PA), Bradley, Miami (OH), Middlebury, Emory, and many more.
In January 2020, Sam presented at The American Baseball Coaches Association in Nashville, TN. The Convention had over 7000 coaches, of all levels, from all over the country. He was then asked to be the Assistant Coach at Northwestern University. He worked closely with hitters, outfielders and infielders. He coached 1st base and was in charge of the defensive scouting report and positioning.
Sam requires that all of his players play hard, and have fun, teaching them that with dreams, dedication, and desire all things are possible.
Sam lives in Glenview, with his wife, Lyndsey. They were married in September ’07. Sam & Lyndsey have two sons, Vincent James (October 2012), and Charles Tate (March 2014).