USA Baseball Unveils Coaching Staff for 2025 Women’s National Team Development Program
USA Baseball has recently announced the coaching staff for the highly anticipated 2025 Women’s National Team Development Program (WNTDP). Slated to take place from October 15-19 at the National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina, this initiative aims to play a crucial role in identifying and preparing athletes for future Women’s National Team programs in 2026 and 2027.
Overview of the WNTDP
The WNTDP is set to feature a 40-woman roster, showcasing the best emerging talent in women’s baseball. Over five days, participants will engage in various activities, including intrasquad games, positional workouts, skill development sessions, and off-field educational seminars. This year’s program will be particularly notable as it includes a collaboration with Baseball Canada, which will send its Women’s National Team to participate, marking this WNTDP as a joint event that emphasizes the growing international cooperation in women’s baseball.
Stellar Coaching Staff
The coaching staff for the WNTDP is nothing short of impressive, featuring industry veterans with extensive backgrounds in coaching and player development.
- Rick Eckstein, renowned for his role as hitting coordinator, has previously led the U-18 National Team to their 11th World Cup title earlier this year in Okinawa, Japan.
- Kirk Champion, serving as the pitching coordinator, brings his experience from various Professional National Team staffs, contributing valuable insights and strategies for developing high-performance athletes.
- Jeff Reboulet, an accomplished infield coordinator, offers his expertise forged over a 12-year career in Major League Baseball, ensuring that players receive top-notch training and evaluation.
These coaches will oversee all aspects of skill development during the program and will assist in evaluating players for future national team initiatives.
Dividing Teams: Stars and Stripes
The WNTDP roster will be segmented into two distinct teams—the Stars and Stripes—each equipped with its own four-person coaching staff.
-
Stars Team: Managed by Hall of Famer Billy Wagner, the Stars will benefit from the guidance of several renowned coaches. Among them is Jason Sekany, a five-time U-12 National Team gold medalist coach who will serve as the pitching coach. Assisting them are Kristin Caldwell, a three-time medalist, and Jenny Dalton-Hill, who coached the 2012 national team, both bringing invaluable experience to the table.
-
Stripes Team: Led by Mike Kinkade, a Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medalist, this team will be supported by Ila Borders, a trailblazing pitcher who played in men’s professional leagues, and Alex Oglesby, a four-time Women’s National Team member and 2004 gold medalist. Additionally, Tanner Vesely, a five-time national team gold medalist coach, will serve as an assistant coach.
Preparing for the Future
Makenzie Kelly, the Women’s National Team Program Director, expressed enthusiasm about the assembled coaching staff. She stated, “This is a star-studded crew that includes coaches from many different levels of the game with a proven track record of upholding USA Baseball’s gold-medal standard.” The goal is to provide a first-class experience for the players while also evaluating potential candidates for the upcoming competitions, particularly the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in 2026.
The WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup
The United States will host one group of the WBSC Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage in 2026 at the International Women’s Baseball Centre in Rockford, Illinois, scheduled for July 22-26 next year.
As of now, four teams have already qualified: Great Britain, which made history by winning the European Championship, and three additional teams from the Americas—Venezuela, Mexico, and Cuba—qualified through the Women’s Baseball Pan American Championship.
Upcoming Competitions and Qualification Processes
Ten teams will vie for four spots in the Women’s Baseball World Cup Group Stage during the upcoming VI Women’s Baseball Asia Cup, to be held from October 26 to November 3 in Hangzhou, China. Additionally, the Oceania region will have one qualification slot, while the WBSC will award two Wild Cards to complete the lineup of 12 participating teams.
Through these initiatives and competitions, USA Baseball and its partners are making significant strides in advancing women’s baseball on a global scale, fostering talent, and preparing athletes for the international stage.