Baseball & Pitching Coaches | Meet the Premier Pitching Team

BRETT GRAVES

President/CEO

Brett Graves is the President and CEO of Premier Pitching, bringing firsthand Major League Baseball experience and a deep passion for impacting the game at every level. After competing at the highest level of professional baseball, Brett transitioned his understanding of elite performance into building a development system designed to better serve pitchers throughout the entire baseball ecosystem.

Under Brett’s leadership, Premier Pitching has grown into a nationally recognized training organization focused on evidence-based development, innovation, and long-term athlete health. His vision is rooted in bridging professional-level standards with accessible, high-quality training—empowering athletes, coaches, and organizations to raise the standard of pitching development across youth, amateur, and professional baseball.

CODY FICK

Director of Pitching

Cody serves as the Director of Pitching for Premier Pitching. Following a 6-year coaching stint at the University of Evansville, Cody joined the Premier Pitching team in the summer of 2018. He has the privilege of aiding athletes of all ages to execute their individualized plans for development while also helping build various Premier Pitching programs and processes. Cody played collegiately at Jefferson College and the University of Evansville where he received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science.

NOLAN RAPPE

Sales / Performance coordinator

Nolan Rappe, DPT joins Premier Pitching as a Sales & Performance Coordinator, bringing an elite medical and performance background to the organization. Nolan earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) and has previously worked with athletes at SSM Health, where he gained extensive experience in injury management, return-to-play planning, and performance optimization.

Nolan bridges the gap between clinical expertise and on-field performance, helping athletes and families understand how Premier Pitching’s training systems support both long-term health and competitive development. His combined background in physical therapy, athlete care, and performance communication makes him a valuable resource for athletes navigating high-level training environments

AUSTIN RUESCH

Performance Coordinator

Austin started training at Premier Pitching in 2014 as an athlete. He pitched and played at both Abilene Christian University and John A. Logan College. He began at Premier Pitching as an intern and worked his way up to a Seasonal Coach for 3 years before being hired full-time in the Spring of 2024. He also coached for the Desmet High School JV team for 2 years and has been involved in Premier Pitching's consulting program for the last 2 years.

JACOB CLASPILLE

HS Training Coordinator

Jacob serves as the HS Training Coordinator for Premier Pitching. He brings four years of experience coaching at Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) as the pitching coach. Jacob has also worked as a Player Development Assistant with the San Diego Padres and an Associate Scout for the Texas Rangers. He holds a degree in Sports Communication from Webster University.

RYAN HELMS

Performance Coordinator

Ryan serves as a Performance Coordinator for Premier Pitching. With over 15 years of experience as a strength and conditioning specialist, Ryan has the privilege of training and teaching our players about performance training and how to be better athletes. Ryan pitched at both Oakland University and Indiana Wesleyan University. Ryan holds a master’s degree in Human Movement and Sports Conditioning, and a bachelor’s degree in Health Promotion and Wellness. He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

DALTON SCHUMER

Performance Trainer

Dalton was born and raised in St. Louis, and joined the Staff in 2021. He has a background in sports medicine rehabilitation, is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, and has also been certified in the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). Dalton’s passion is enabling all athletes to achieve their athletic potential with thorough assessment and individualized training strategies.

WOLFE WEEKS

Application Development Specialist / Lab Director

Wolfe Weeks joins Premier Pitching after a collegiate career pitching at the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL) and an impactful internship within our organization. During his time as an intern, Wolfe quickly became an integral part of our team while playing a key role in the launch and development of BOOST, Premier Pitching’s software platform.

Wolfe brings a unique blend of on-field pitching experience, analytics experience, and web development to our team. His understanding of modern player development, paired with hands-on experience inside our systems, allows him to bridge the gap between athlete, coach, and technology. As a full-time member of the Premier Pitching team, Wolfe will continue contributing to athlete development, internal innovation, and the ongoing evolution of BOOST.