Welcome to Strike Zone Academy
At Strike Zone Academy, our purpose is to provide an environment where players and teams can train throughout the year to improve their skills in Baseball & Softball. Our 3,400 sq ft facility allows us to provide individual or team training year round.
Our staff has great experience as both players and coaches and we want to see each player and team achieve their goals.
At Strike Zone Academy, our purpose is to provide an environment where players and teams can train throughout the year to improve their skills in Baseball & Softball. Our 3,400 sq ft facility allows us to provide individual or team training year round.
Our staff has great experience as both players and coaches and we want to see each player and team achieve their goals.
ROB BROWN - Owner/Baseball Hitting & Pitching Instructor
Rob was born and raised in Nashville, TN and has lived there his entire life. He graduated from McGavock High School in 1992 where he was all-district in 1991 and 1992, all-region in 1991, all-N.I.L. in 1991 and 1992 and was the 12-AAA all-district MVP in 1992. After graduating from McGavock High School he received a baseball scholarship to Aquinas Junior College where he was all-region in 1993 and 1994. He then received a baseball scholarship from Tennessee Technological University where he was on the Academic ALL-OVC honor roll in 1995 and 1996. He also received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education. In 2003, he received his Master’s Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University.
Rob taught and coached in the Metropolitan Nashville School System for 13 years. He was at McGavock High School for 11 years. He was the assistant baseball coach for 9 years and was the head baseball coach for 2 years before resigning and moving to Mt. Juliet Middle School where he coached football for 1 year and was the Head 6th grade baseball coach, before accepting the varsity assistant baseball job in 2012. He currently teaches at Mt. Juliet Middle School and offers private lessons for baseball. He was a volunteer coach at Rotary Park for 8 years and has coached 4 teams to league championships and has coached two all-star teams to the state championship in Little League and the Cal Ripken League. He is currently married to a wonderful woman named Teresa. They have been married for 18 years and they have three beautiful children, Tyler, Aaron and Keeton. It is with their great love and support that he is able to do his job. The family is also a member of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ.
Rob was born and raised in Nashville, TN and has lived there his entire life. He graduated from McGavock High School in 1992 where he was all-district in 1991 and 1992, all-region in 1991, all-N.I.L. in 1991 and 1992 and was the 12-AAA all-district MVP in 1992. After graduating from McGavock High School he received a baseball scholarship to Aquinas Junior College where he was all-region in 1993 and 1994. He then received a baseball scholarship from Tennessee Technological University where he was on the Academic ALL-OVC honor roll in 1995 and 1996. He also received his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education. In 2003, he received his Master’s Degree from Trevecca Nazarene University.
Rob taught and coached in the Metropolitan Nashville School System for 13 years. He was at McGavock High School for 11 years. He was the assistant baseball coach for 9 years and was the head baseball coach for 2 years before resigning and moving to Mt. Juliet Middle School where he coached football for 1 year and was the Head 6th grade baseball coach, before accepting the varsity assistant baseball job in 2012. He currently teaches at Mt. Juliet Middle School and offers private lessons for baseball. He was a volunteer coach at Rotary Park for 8 years and has coached 4 teams to league championships and has coached two all-star teams to the state championship in Little League and the Cal Ripken League. He is currently married to a wonderful woman named Teresa. They have been married for 18 years and they have three beautiful children, Tyler, Aaron and Keeton. It is with their great love and support that he is able to do his job. The family is also a member of the Mt. Juliet Church of Christ.
EMILY ECHOLS - Softball Instructor
Emily was born and raised in Texas. She played high school softball in College Station for A&M Consolidated High School where she received All-District honors 3-years, and was named to the All-State team. Emily pitched in high school and held the record for most innings pitched over her 4-years there. Emily received a 4-year scholarship to play at East Texas Baptist University. During her 4-year career there, she was named to the All-American team, the All-American Academic team and received MVP for her junior season. During her college career, Emily pitched, played short stop and 3rd base. After graduating with her degree in Education, she began teaching and coaching. Helping young girls develop a love for softball became a passion. Emily moved to Mount Juliet and has been teaching, coaching, and doing pitching lessons for the past 10 years. Currently, Emily is the assistant softball coach at Mt. Juliet High School. Emily currently lives in Mount Juliet with Jeremy, her husband of 14 years. They have one daughter, Madison.
Emily was born and raised in Texas. She played high school softball in College Station for A&M Consolidated High School where she received All-District honors 3-years, and was named to the All-State team. Emily pitched in high school and held the record for most innings pitched over her 4-years there. Emily received a 4-year scholarship to play at East Texas Baptist University. During her 4-year career there, she was named to the All-American team, the All-American Academic team and received MVP for her junior season. During her college career, Emily pitched, played short stop and 3rd base. After graduating with her degree in Education, she began teaching and coaching. Helping young girls develop a love for softball became a passion. Emily moved to Mount Juliet and has been teaching, coaching, and doing pitching lessons for the past 10 years. Currently, Emily is the assistant softball coach at Mt. Juliet High School. Emily currently lives in Mount Juliet with Jeremy, her husband of 14 years. They have one daughter, Madison.
Ethan Gross is from Mount Juliet, TN. He played for Mount Juliet High School from 2007-2010 where he was a four-year starter at shortstop. Guided MJHS to a 133-43 mark in his four-years. He received all state honors his senior year from Tennessee sports writers association. He then went on to receive a baseball scholarship from the University of Memphis. He was also a four-year starter here and set the record for most consecutive starts at 217 games and most games played at 225 games. His senior year he batted .267 with 7 doubles. He also played two summers in the Cape Cod league where he won the championship in 2012 with the Wareham Gatemen. The Chicago White Sox drafted him in the 26th round of the 2014 draft. He played two years in the White Sox organization spending time in Great Falls, Montana and Kannapolis, North Carolina.
- A native of Fort Lauderdale, FL and graduate at South Broward High School.
- Broward High School Baseball All-District, and Senior All-Star participant in baseball.
- 2 year player at Northwood University in West Palm Beach, FL as a pitcher/corner guy.
- 2-year starter at Asbury University as a
catcher/pitcher. Champions of Character Award as well as River-States Conference Scholar-Athlete Award member. - Involved with PerfectGame Recruits as an Assistant Tournament Director for the Ohio Valley Region in 2016.
- Started coaching summer baseball in 2015 with Pompano Beach Summer Baseball Club.
- Coached with Knights Baseball for a little over 2 years for both their H.S. and Youth divisions.
- Coach at LPG Sports Academy for over a year coaching youth ages (2-10).
- Lebanon H.S. Assistant Coach for 1 year.
Austin finished his high school career at Archbishop Murphy in Washington state. He received 1st team All State for baseball and All conference for football. Following High School He attended Wenatchee Valley Community in the Northwest Athletic Conference. (Wood Bat League) While Attending Wenatchee Valley he was rated a top 300 Juco player in the country by Perfect Game (2019), Recived a NWAC Eastern Region Gold Glove, 1st team All NWAC Outfielder, Broke the single season home run record with 13, and broke the career home run record with 20. After attending Wenatchee Austin committed to West Virginia University, sadly the year he attended was the Covid year and ended up transferring to Salem University where he played a top 10 Division 2 schedule in the country. In 39 games he mad 0 errors and 7 assists in the outfield, He also broke the single season home run record with 13. Austin finished his career at Youngstown State University. Austin Really wants to get into coaching to help kids reach their full potential. He wants to make sure kids don’t make the same mistakes he did whether that be on the field, off the field, mentally or physically. Austin believes that there is so much more influence and responsibility a coach has than people realize and more coaches need to value that.