About
Building elite athletes for success—on the field and in life.


WE BELIEVE
Champions Aren’t Born. They’re Built.
Welcome to Virginia Beach Academy. We believe that greatness is cultivated through dedication, discipline, and expert coaching. Our mission is to prepare athletes for success at the high school, college and professional levels, while building strong character and leadership that will prepare them to succeed in life. With Division-1 and Professional-level experience, our coaching staff brings in-demand strategy and insight to every aspect of training, helping young athletes reach their full potential—on the field and in life.
ABOUT
Our Coaching Staff
Meet the team that sets our athletes apart. Our coaches bring Division-1 and Professional level-experience and a commitment to excellence, developing each player toward their highest potential with tailored training and mentorship.
Brandon Shank
CEO
After college, Brandon went on to build and lead five successful non-profit organizations. He holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Doctoral Degree from Liberty University.
Over the past three years, Brandon has coached five baseball teams, achieving an outstanding winning percentage of over .700. His teams have won multiple tournament championships and All-Star District titles across various age groups.
In 2024, Brandon was selected for the second consecutive year to coach the Virginia State baseball team at the National USSSA tournament, where his team finished in 5th place.
Brandon is passionate about developing young men, not only into skilled baseball players but also into exceptional teammates and individuals. His leadership philosophy is centered on recognizing and nurturing each player's unique talents, guiding them to define their goals, and inspiring them to pursue their dreams with dedication and excellence.
Kyle Butler
Executive Director and Hitting Performance Coach


Kyle received several personal accolades, including 2nd-Team All-Big South (2017), 1st-Team All-Tournament Team (2017), 1st-Team All-Big South (2019), and 1st-Team All-Virginia. He was also named Team Captain in 2019, received the Radford Athletics Strength and Conditioning Award, surpassed 200 career hits, and was nominated for the All-Decade Team in 2020.
After college, Kyle played professional baseball with the Santa Fe Fuego in the Pecos League, where he posted a .300 batting average, 9 doubles, and 13 stolen bases over 33 games. Following his playing career, he transitioned to coaching, focusing on hitting. Kyle has built a roster of over 75 players, many of whom compete in high-level travel ball, high school, and college programs. His coaching specialties include individualized swing assessments, creating elite movements, and maintaining an elite-level approach to hitting.
Corey Inman
Director of Operations and Pitching/Hitting Performance Coach

After high school, Corey continued his baseball journey as a two-way player, excelling as both a pitcher and outfielder at Ferrum College from 2009 to 2011. ...
His athletic career expanded off the field with 8 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, where he developed leadership, discipline, and a strong work ethic.
With over 14 years of high-level coaching and instructing experience, Corey has become a respected figure in the baseball community, dedicated to mentoring and developing players of all levels. His expertise, commitment to the game, and military background combine to make him a unique and valuable resource for aspiring athletes.
Conner Butler
Data and Analytics Analyst and Hitting Performance Coach


His on-field success earned him multiple honors, including 1st Team All-SED, All-Conference, All-Region, All-State, and All-Tidewater selections at shortstop (2018).
Following high school, Conner continued to excel at Roanoke College (2019-2023), where he played in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC). Over his four-year career, he posted a .330 career batting average. His senior year was a standout, as he hit .328 with 9 home runs, 18 doubles, 4 triples, and 51 RBIs, breaking school records for single-season doubles and RBIs. Conner’s achievements earned him numerous accolades, including 1st Team All-Conference, D3baseball Team of the Week honors, ODAC player of the week, VASID All-State 1st Team, ABCA 1st Team All-Region, and ODAC All-Tournament team selections.
During the summers, Conner gained additional experience playing in highly competitive collegiate summer leagues, including the Tri-City Chili Peppers in the Coastal Plains League and the Culpeper Cavaliers in the Valley Baseball League. His time in these leagues further developed his skills and helped him refine his approach to the game.
In 2023, Conner made the transition to Division I baseball at Radford University, competing in the Big South Conference. As a senior, he posted a solid .333 on-base percentage, with 7 home runs, 11 doubles, and 40 RBIs, continuing his successful baseball career. He received honorable mention for the Big South Conference awards and honors.
Conner’s experience as a player and coach provides him with a unique perspective to help athletes refine their skills and unlock new levels of performance. He brings a comprehensive approach to player development, utilizing advanced metrics to evaluate performance and guide athletes to success. Whether working on swing optimization, defensive metrics, or mental toughness, Conner works tirelessly to help players reach their goals.
Jordan Sergent
Pitching and Hitting Performance Coach

Been coaching/training Ballplayer’s from all ages and levels for the last 7 years focused on Hitting, Pitching, Fielding.
Tommy Green
Pitching Performance Coach


Afterward, Tommy transferred to the University of Illinois, where, as the closer for the Fighting Illini, he became one of the top relievers in the Big Ten Conference, ranking among the leaders in strikeout rate and opponent batting average.
After earning his Master's degree from the University of Illinois, Green continued his involvement with the game, serving as an Assistant Coach for Norfolk Academy in 2023. He also took on the role of Pitching Coach at Bryant and Stratton College in Virginia Beach. Green played a pivotal role in leading the pitching staff to a historic season, setting program records for wins, earned run average, and walk rate.
As a pitching instructor, Tommy has worked with players of all ages and skill levels. His ability to quickly identify areas for improvement in pitchers and effectively communicate adjustments has been key to his success. He brings a diverse set of drills and exercises that allow players to immediately apply the information to their delivery.
“I am skilled in identifying potential areas for improvement in pitchers and am able to quickly relay that information to them. I am also equipped with a variety of drills and exercises that help players directly apply that information to their delivery.”
Jeff Butler
Hitting Performance Coach


Jeff pursued his athletic career at Randolph-Macon College ...
(2015-2019) where he was a 4-Year Starter at Shortstop/Second Base. Some of his accolades include: 3x All-ODAC, 3x All-South Region, 3x All-VaSID, Preseason All-American for 2019 Season, 2 NCAA Tournament Appearances, 1 NCAA College World Series Appearance, 2016 ODAC Champions and Mid-East Regional Finalist, and a 2018 South Region Champion. Jeff also tied the College World Series Record for Hits in a game (5), had a SportsCenter Top 10 Play in Final Game of World Series, and was a Nationally Ranked Individual Top 10 Finish in Toughest to Strikeout in 2019. To conclude these accolades, Jeff is the R-MC baseball program leader in Hits, At-Bats, and Hit by Pitch and also holds numerous Top 10 records in other offensive/defensive categories. As a fun fact, Coach Butler played for 3 summer leagues during his collegiate career as well. He played with the Martinsville Mustangs in the Coastal Plains League, the Greenbrier Knights in the Tidewater Summer League, and was the Valley League Runner-Up with the Strasburg Express all in the same summer of 2017. Butler also had a short stint with the Waynesboro Generals in the summer of 2018.
Jeff worked as a full-time Assistant Baseball Coach at Virginia Wesleyan University for 3 and a half years where he had multiple players as All-Conference/All-Region Selections, and had the best turnaround season in NCAA History Post-COVID with the Marlins to finish his 5 year career as a college baseball coach.
As a coach, Jeff specializes in all aspects of offensive and defensive play for all position players. He is passionate about the proper movements needed to be an efficient athlete on both sides of the ball. Along with this, Coach Butler is truly passionate in working with players on the mental aspects of the game to help improve all aspects of their game. “It starts with a right mindset, nothing can be achieved without the confidence and standards set in place to be a great player. Helping train the mind to help train the body, handling adversity, and becoming a confident player and person is a great recipe for greatness.”After earning his Master's degree from the University of Illinois, Green continued his involvement with the game, serving as an Assistant Coach for Norfolk Academy in 2023. He also took on the role of Pitching Coach at Bryant and Stratton College in Virginia Beach. Green played a pivotal role in leading the pitching staff to a historic season, setting program records for wins, earned run average, and walk rate.
As a pitching instructor, Tommy has worked with players of all ages and skill levels. His ability to quickly identify areas for improvement in pitchers and effectively communicate adjustments has been key to his success. He brings a diverse set of drills and exercises that allow players to immediately apply the information to their delivery.
“I am skilled in identifying potential areas for improvement in pitchers and am able to quickly relay that information to them. I am also equipped with a variety of drills and exercises that help players directly apply that information to their delivery.”
Trent Lee
Hitting and Pitching Performance Coach

He continued his baseball career at ...
Chowan University from 2017 to 2021 as a two-way player, excelling as both a pitcher and shortstop. During his collegiate career, he became third all-time in putouts at shortstop in Chowan history.
With over eight years of coaching and instruction under his belt, including the past two years as Bayside’s head coach, Coach Trenton is deeply committed to developing players on and off the field. His firsthand knowledge of playing at the next level, combined with his dedication to mentorship and growth, makes him a key asset to the program and an inspiring leader for aspiring athletes.
Ryan Cason
Pitching Performance Coach


area, Southside Crew Cason.
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