Coaches
We take a great deal of pride in developing our Staff as much as we develop our players. Our Coaches routinely attend ABCA clinics and conventions, State High School conventions, local training sessions provided by High School staff, and more. No local program commits as many resources to Staff training as we do.
All Falls Aces and Aces Baseball Coaches and Instructors are background checked, ensuring that you can trust the adults that are around your children. We also have Staff on-hand who are AED, CPR and First Aid certified, with supplies at both our indoor training facility and outdoor Complex.
All Head Coaches are Driveline-certified, completing coursework that covers:
- How to coach kids and introducing the skills that scale
- Hitting philosophy, mechanics, and outputs
- Principles of throwing warm-up and warm-up drills
- Throwing philosophy, mechanics, and outputs
- Basics of strength
- Practice design principles and structure
- How to schedule a season
- Pre/Post game routines
Instructors
Larry Hanson – Pitching Instructor
Larry Hanson has coached youth baseball since 1998. He has coached 10 Little League All Star teams. He is the Vice President of Menomonee Falls Little League and the Director of Player Development for Falls ACE’s. His approach to developing skills is a step-by-step method where the player can focus on one thing at a time. He believes in “meeting players where they are” and going at a developmental pace that is comfortable, yet challenging for the player.
Joel Lykins – Hitting Instructor
Played baseball at Arlington Heights High School, Fort Worth. Graduated from UT- Arlington, B.S. in Microbiology/Chemistry. In 7th year coaching youth baseball and in 5th year coaching for Falls Aces. Driveline Certified. CPR/AED Certified. Utilizes video analysis to improve hitting mechanics. Lifelong fan of baseball and has attended games at 41 MLB parks!
Pacy “PJ” Kolkema – Outfield/Hitting Instrutor
Pacey (PJ) played his high school ball at West Bend West and was Captain on Varsity his senior year, in which he hit .400 that Summer. He played his freshman year at Lakeland University in Plymouth, WI. He transferred to UW-Oshkosh the next year to focus on his Psychology degree and began his ACE’s coaching career.
In his third year with the Aces Program, Pacey manages our 14U team and will serve as our outfield and hitting coach.
Coach PJ is excited to offer private or group hitting and outfield instruction this fall and winter!
Rich Zanon – Hitting Instructor
Rich Zanon has been a coach with the MFLL for 4 years, 2 of which have been with the Aces Program. Rich is currently the 9U Aces Manager and has received training through ABCA, which pairs well with his background in education, training and development.
Noah Herried – Hitting/Infield/Outfield Instructor
Noah was a 3-year starter during his college career. He spent 2-years at Ridgewater College and one full season at Ripon College before COVID ended his career. He was a career .288 hitter who collected 83 hits during his career.
Noah started his college coaching career in 2021 at Luther College where he worked with hitters, infielders, and outfielders. The Norse finished 32-16 overall and won the American Rivers Conference Tournament title to advance to the NCAA Divisions III Regional. Noah is in his second season as a Graduate Assistant at Wisconsin Lutheran College where he works with hitters and infielders.
Falls Aces and Aces Baseball has access to some of the best baseball minds in the game to supplement our coaches’ experience. From current MLB personnel and former MLB players, to gurus in technology, statistics, strength training, and baseball mechanics, Falls Aces Baseball offers Menomonee Falls athletes the latest development strategies and tactics available.