COACHES
Guiding the game with passion and expertise.
Meet Your Kage Coaches
Baseball Coach
Baseball Coach
Baseball Coach
Baseball Coach
Robyn Draper
Softball Coach
Chris Boyle
Baseball Coach
Cole White
Baseball Coach
Marcus Knecht
Baseball Coach
Baseball Coach
Zach Owen
Baseball Coach
JJ Rutherford
Bringing a sophisticated, data-driven approach to The Kage, JJ Rutherford is a seasoned baseball consultant and coach with an extensive resume spanning the Major Leagues and international professional circuits. Originally from California, JJ has leveraged his expertise to support premier MLB organizations, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays. His influence on the global game is profound; he founded the largest Japanese-U.S. professional baseball showcase in Fresno, California, an initiative that has successfully bridged the gap for over 50 players, with many signing D1 and professional contracts.
JJ’s coaching philosophy is underpinned by high-level analytics and a deep understanding of the mechanics of the modern game. He has served as a scouting data analyst for CBS Sports Interactive, where he provided predictive scouting reports utilized by MLB front offices, and acted as a hitting and data coach for the San Luis Blues of the California Collegiate League. His international footprint includes serving as an instructor in Japan’s professional winter leagues and developing training pathways in Canada and El Salvador.
Beyond the field, JJ possesses an elite academic and professional foundation, holding certifications in Baseball Analytics from MIT. A dedicated member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), as well as the MLBPA and MiLB Alumni Associations, he provides a bridge between traditional scouting and modern sports science. Whether conducting off-season training for college and professional athletes or consulting for Triple-A organizations like the Fresno Grizzlies, JJ provides an unparalleled level of professional insight to every athlete he mentors.
Dan Hodgins
With over 26 years of experience on the diamond, Dan serves as a full-time coach at The Kage, bringing a unique perspective shaped by his professional background as a career educator. His tenure as a head coach is defined by an extraordinary run of championship success, highlighted by leading his teams to three consecutive Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) Championships from 2014 to 2016 and an OBA Finalist finish in 2018. His leadership also secured six straight York Simcoe Baseball Association (YSBA) titles between 2014 and 2019, as well as the prestigious Canadian National Exhibition Pegg Cup Championship in 2015.
Dan’s technical proficiency is backed by an extensive portfolio of professional certifications. He is a Baseball Canada Provincial Coach certified across the 13U, 15U, and 16U+ levels, with specialized credentials as an instructor for hitting, pitching, catching, infielding, outfielding, and baserunning. To stay at the cutting edge of the sport, he consistently engages with elite development programs, including the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Academy National Coaching Clinic, the Baseball Ontario Best Ever Clinic, and various Barrie Minor Baseball Association player development initiatives.
The impact of Dan’s mentorship is reflected in both his personal accolades and the development of his athletes. He is a two-time recipient of the Barrie Minor Baseball Rep Coach of the Year award and has led his squads to Rep Team of the Year honors in both 2015 and 2018. Beyond the trophies, his commitment to a holistic coaching environment—reinforced by his certifications in Safe Sport and Respect in Sport—ensures that every player under his guidance, including past Rep Players and Pitchers of the Year, develops within a high-standard, professional atmosphere.
Dave Maxamenko
As a full-time coach at The Kage and the General Manager of the Kage Kobras, Dave serves as the primary architect of the facility's high-performance training culture. He is the visionary behind the renowned Max Velocity Pitching program, a data-driven initiative that achieved staggering results during the 2023-24 off-season, with 85 participating players seeing an average increase of 8 mph in mound velocity. This commitment to tangible player development is the hallmark of Dave’s career, which is decorated with numerous prestigious coaching accolades. He was twice named the BMBA Coach of the Year in 2016 and 2018, received the YSBA Coach of the Year honours in 2016, and led his squad to a triple-crown of recognition in 2014 as the BMBA, YSBA, and Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) Team of the Year.
Dave’s extensive leadership resume includes a decade-long tenure as Head Coach for Barrie Minor Baseball, where he led the 13U team to the Canadian National Championships. His expertise has been sought out at the provincial level as the Head Coach for both the Ontario All-Star Team and the YSBA Ontario Summer Games Team. Under his guidance, his teams have secured six YSBA Championships, an OBA Provincial Championship at the 12U AA level in 2014, and an OBA Provincial Finalist finish in 16U AAA in 2019.
The true measure of Dave’s impact is found in the success of the athletes under his mentorship. His relentless passion for the game has translated into a consistent stream of individual awards for his rostered players, including multiple Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year honours at both the BMBA and YSBA levels spanning from 2016 through 2023. Whether acting as the Director of Player Development or working one-on-one in the lab, Dave remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what local athletes can achieve on the national stage.
Murray Roach
A career educator and a titan of the diamond, Murray joins The Kage as a part-time instructor bringing a lifetime of elite experience to the facility. Originally from Saskatchewan, Murray’s journey in high-performance baseball began as a standout pitcher, earning a full-ride scholarship to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Following a career-altering arm injury, he returned to Saskatoon and demonstrated remarkable versatility as a playing manager in one of the province's premier Senior A circuits, ultimately mastering every position on the field except pitcher and catcher.
Murray’s resume is defined by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep commitment to the sport's community. He has participated in 19 Saskatchewan Provincial Championships as both a player and coach, securing numerous titles, and has represented his home province eight times at the inter-provincial and national levels, medaling in all but one appearance. His profound impact on the game was officially recognized with his induction into the Saskatchewan Baseball Hall of Fame. Beyond the chalk lines, Murray spent eight years as a recommending scout for the MLB’s Cincinnati Reds, identifying the next generation of professional talent.
His coaching influence extends far beyond traditional baseball, showcasing a unique ability to develop athletes across various disciplines. Murray successfully led two consecutive Ontario provincial champion teams in Girls U10 fastball and has been a cornerstone of Special Olympics Barrie for the past 16 years. In that time, he has been instrumental in training multiple provincial, national, and world champions. As a lifelong coach well-versed in the mechanics of both pitchers and position players, Murray operates under a consistent, player-centric philosophy: when an athlete is having fun and seeing annual improvement, their passion for the sport will naturally drive them toward their full potential.
JD McGivern
A fixture of the Ontario baseball scene for decades, JD brings a wealth of competitive experience and a "fundamentals-first" philosophy to the coaching staff at The Kage. His journey began at age four in Newmarket, eventually leading him to a standout tenure in Tottenham where he secured back-to-back OBA titles in 1996 and 1997. JD’s high-level playing career continued into the elite Intercounty Baseball League, where he served as a vital member of the Barrie Baycats during the franchise's inaugural seasons in 2001 and 2002. Following his time with the Baycats, he remained a dominant force in the North Dufferin Baseball League for 15 years, ultimately captaining the Orillia Majors to the first OBA "A" championship in their franchise history.
Though JD began his career as a versatile middle infielder and pitcher, his exceptional hands and elite footwork eventually led him to specialize as a premier shortstop. His technical foundation was forged under the mentorship of Team Canada’s Rick Johnson at the prestigious Ernie Whitt Baseball Academy. During his time there, JD mastered the intricacies of hitting, specialized infield and outfield strategies, and advanced pitching techniques. This elite education informs his current coaching approach, which prioritizes the absolute mastery of the game's core basics as the essential gateway to long-term athletic success.
JD is a firm believer that a fulfilling career on the diamond is built from the ground up. By focusing on the same fundamental skills that propelled him through the provincial and semi-professional ranks, he helps the next generation of players develop the consistency and technical discipline required to excel at the highest levels of the sport.
Cole White
Cole White is a highly accomplished pitching instructor and strength specialist who brings an unparalleled competitive resume to the coaching staff at The Kage. A Division 1 NCAA alumnus with a collegiate career spanning Nashville, Tennessee, as well as premier NJCAA programs in New Mexico and Colorado, Cole utilizes his extensive high-pressure experience to guide athletes toward elite-level performance. His trophy case is one of the most decorated in the region, featuring three AAA Provincial Championships, three COBA Championships, and a National Championship with Vaughan. Notably, he made history as a key member of the first Canadian teams to ever capture a Perfect Game National Championship in Florida and a Mickey Mantle World Series title in Texas, where he was also honoured as the tournament MVP.
Cole’s individual accolades further cement his status as a premier developmental mind in the sport. Recognized by Perfect Game America as a Top 1000 High School MLB Prospect and ranked as a Top 10 Canadian High School Prospect by the Canadian Baseball Network, his talent earned him Canada/Puerto Rico All-American honours and five selections to the prestigious T12 tournament. His dominance on the mound has been recognized repeatedly, earning him titles such as Ontario Blue Jays Pitcher of the Year, Baseball Ontario Player of the Year, and MVP honours at both the CNE and the Quebec Legionnaire tournament. His path to the professional ranks included participation in the elite East Coast Pro Camp for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, followed by a successful tenure in the Intercounty Baseball League, where he contributed to two championship-winning seasons.
At The Kage, Cole’s impact is felt across multiple departments. In addition to his specialized pitching instruction, he serves as the Head Coach of the U14 Kobras, where he focuses on transitioning young talent into the elite tiers of the game. He also leads the facility’s strength and conditioning efforts, ensuring that every athlete develops the physical foundation, explosive power, and durability required to compete at the collegiate and professional levels.
Marcus Knecht
A powerhouse addition to the coaching staff, Marcus Knecht brings the elite perspective of a high-level professional athlete and international champion to The Kage. His journey to the top of the sport was solidified in 2010 when he was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the MLB Draft. Marcus made an immediate impact in his professional debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York–Penn League, posting a .268 average with five home runs and 34 RBIs—an impressive performance that earned him the prestigious Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Year honours. By 2011, Baseball America recognized his elite physical tools, naming him the top power hitter in the entire Blue Jays organization.
Marcus’s professional trajectory saw him rise through the minor leagues with consistent production. During his tenure with the Lansing Lugnuts in 2011, he showcased his offensive ceiling by batting .273 with 16 home runs and 86 RBIs. He later became a staple of the Dunedin Blue Jays in the Florida State League, where he spent three seasons refining his craft and contributing 18 home runs and nearly 100 RBIs over that span. His ability to compete against world-class pitching at the High-A level provided him with a deep technical understanding of hitting mechanics and a professional-grade approach at the plate.
Beyond his professional career in the Blue Jays system, Marcus has been a cornerstone of the Canadian National Team on the world stage. His international resume is decorated with major accolades, beginning with an All-Star nod at the 2008 World Junior Baseball Championship. He played a pivotal role in two of Canada’s most historic baseball achievements: capturing a bronze medal at the 2011 Baseball World Cup and securing a gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games. This blend of Major League organizational training and high-stakes international competition makes Marcus an invaluable resource for athletes looking to understand what it takes to perform at the highest levels of the game.
Robyn Draper
With over 30 years in the game and two decades of coaching experience, Robyn Draper is a powerhouse addition to The Kage, bringing an elite international pedigree that spans North America and Europe. A former standout athlete, Robyn’s playing career is marked by extraordinary resilience and championship success. A seven-time Provincial Champion and Canadian National MVP, she served as the captain of the Canadian Junior National Team, representing the country at the 2006 Pan American Games in Puerto Rico and the 2007 Junior Women’s World Championships in the Netherlands.
Robyn’s collegiate journey in the United States was equally distinguished, beginning at the State College of Florida where she earned First-Team All-Conference and Region 8 All-State honors. She finished her NCAA DII career at Flagler College, playing a pivotal role in the program’s first-ever World Series appearance. Despite playing her entire senior year with a torn hip labrum, she led her team in the postseason with a staggering .500 batting average across eight playoff games, cementing her place in the school’s record books. Following her collegiate success and injury rehabilitation, she transitioned to the professional ranks in Haarlem, Netherlands, contributing to both Dutch and European Championships with Terrasvogels.
As a coach, Robyn is a highly sought-after technician with nearly a decade of leadership at the Toronto Fastpitch Club and experience as an Assistant Coach with the Mohawk Mountaineers collegiate program. Her expertise is comprehensive, covering catching, fielding, hitting, and specialized switch-hitting instruction. She has held instrumental roles with premier organizations such as the Brampton Blazers, Halton Hawks, and Mississauga Tigers, focusing on a player-centered philosophy that prioritizes individual strengths, ownership, and decision-making.
Beyond technical skill-building, Robyn acts as a vital bridge to the next level for aspiring athletes. Utilizing a vast professional network across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, she has successfully guided numerous players through the complex recruitment process, helping them build standout resumes and secure collegiate and international opportunities. Her commitment to creating a challenging yet enjoyable learning environment ensures that every athlete she mentors is prepared to excel both on the field and beyond.