Ryan Johansen
President, Hitting Coach
Ryan has coached college baseball with Aurora University when they were ranked 23rd in the nation, as well as Judson University when they were ranked 16th in the nation. He has spent time as a Head Baseball Recruiting Coach at NCSA (National Collegiate Scouting Association) where he worked with over 1500 athletes and their families in finding the right fit for college baseball.
In 2019 he joined the Chicago White Sox Player Development staff and worked as the Assistant Hitting Coordinator from 2019 - 2022.
In 2022 he joined Win Reality as the Manager of Player Development where he helped build the "workouts" portion of the app.
He is the founder of Johansen Baseball, and sits on player development teams of several organizations, the largest being Justin Stone's (Director of Hitting for the Chicago Cubs) organization, Elite Baseball Training.
In 2019 he joined the Chicago White Sox Player Development staff and worked as the Assistant Hitting Coordinator from 2019 - 2022.
In 2022 he joined Win Reality as the Manager of Player Development where he helped build the "workouts" portion of the app.
He is the founder of Johansen Baseball, and sits on player development teams of several organizations, the largest being Justin Stone's (Director of Hitting for the Chicago Cubs) organization, Elite Baseball Training.
Jake Skala
Hitting Coach
Jake Skala enters his 7th year coaching and currently serves as the Assistant Baseball Coach at Wheaton College (IL) where he works with both hitters and infielders. In his first season at Wheaton College, he helped lead the Thunder to one of their better offensive years in school history. The 2022 Thunder tied the school doubles record, broke both the triples and walks records, and joined the top 5 ranks in school history RBIs, Runs, Total Bases, Home Runs, and Slugging Percentage, despite playing in their fewest games in 10 years (excluding the shortened 2020 season).
He came to Wheaton after spending the Spring 2021 season in North Dakota as the Interim Graduate Assistant for Minot State University’s baseball team serving as the hitting coach and first base coach. Prior to Minot, Skala previously worked with Johansen Baseball in their facility from 2018-2020 and also served as a head coach for Illinois Travel Baseball. Before starting with Johansen Baseball in 2018, he coached high school baseball for Northpointe Christian for several years.
Skala graduated from Cornerstone University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Coaching. He played baseball at Cornerstone from Fall 2014-2016. Skala is from Geneva, IL and holds a certification in Signal 6º as well as several certifications from USA Baseball.
He came to Wheaton after spending the Spring 2021 season in North Dakota as the Interim Graduate Assistant for Minot State University’s baseball team serving as the hitting coach and first base coach. Prior to Minot, Skala previously worked with Johansen Baseball in their facility from 2018-2020 and also served as a head coach for Illinois Travel Baseball. Before starting with Johansen Baseball in 2018, he coached high school baseball for Northpointe Christian for several years.
Skala graduated from Cornerstone University in the spring of 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Coaching. He played baseball at Cornerstone from Fall 2014-2016. Skala is from Geneva, IL and holds a certification in Signal 6º as well as several certifications from USA Baseball.
John Ely
Pitching Coach
John pitched at the Miami of Ohio University, Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 3rd round of the 2007 draft and made his major league debut in 2010 with Los Angeles Dodgers.
He began his coaching career during the 2017 season with the Chicago White Sox farm system. He Joined Johansen Baseball as the pitching coordinator in 2022.
His well rounded approach to keeping pitchers safe, developing command, and increasing velocity, combined with his ability to connect with athletes makes him one of the most sought after pitching coaches around.
He began his coaching career during the 2017 season with the Chicago White Sox farm system. He Joined Johansen Baseball as the pitching coordinator in 2022.
His well rounded approach to keeping pitchers safe, developing command, and increasing velocity, combined with his ability to connect with athletes makes him one of the most sought after pitching coaches around.
Mark Nilles - ATC, CSCS, CES, PES, USAW
(Nilles Strength and Speed)
Mark Nilles is a full time ATC with Dryer Medical - Physical Therapy. He's been training athletes of all ages from grade school through adult for the last 26 YEARS. He's played 14 seasons of semi-pro baseball, former college baseball coach, and currently enjoys playing baseball in the MSBL.
He's been with Johansen Baseball since 2017 in a variety of roles, is OBU certified, and is the strength and conditioning coordinator at JB through his company Nilles Strength and Speed.
He's been with Johansen Baseball since 2017 in a variety of roles, is OBU certified, and is the strength and conditioning coordinator at JB through his company Nilles Strength and Speed.
