Board of Directors

The USA Baseball Board of Directors consists of the following 15 directors: three representatives elected by the youth groups designated National Sports Organizations; one representative elected by the other members of the National Sports Organizations; three at-large members who are considered independent of the National Sports Organizations and USA Baseball; three 10 Year Athletes who meet the USOPC criteria; three 10 Year+ Athletes who meet the USOPC criteria; and two members selected by Major League Baseball.

  • Mike Gaski

    PRESIDENT
    At Large

    Mike Gaski was elected to his first term as President of USA Baseball on Jan. 7, 2001, was re-elected to the position on Jan. 10, 2005, again in January 2009, December 2013, December 2014, December 2017, December 2019, and, most recently, in December 2021.

    He was the head baseball coach at UNC-Greensboro since its inception in 1991, and in 22 seasons accumulated over 650 wins. A beautiful $4.3 million baseball stadium was completed in 1999, and a new $2.4 million locker room and training center opened in 2010.

    During his tenure, Gaski coached more than 40 players who were either drafted or signed to professional baseball, including: Rob Gilliam (2007-09), Ricky Orton (2007-08), Matt Gaski (2007-08), Ryan Falcon (2003-07), Guy Welsh (2006-07), Jermaine Mitchell (2006), Chris Mason (2003-05), Taft Cable (1999-01), Brian Moehler (1991-93), and Jay Metzger (2001-04).

    He has had on his squads four All-Americans, five Freshman All-Americans, three Freshman All-America honorable mentions, two Academic All-Americans and a remarkable 54 All-Conference selections.

    Gaski guided the program to NCAA tournament appearances and league championships in two different Division I conferences -- the Big South and the Southern. Gaski has also led the Spartans into the top 30 of several national polls over his 22 seasons. In 2006, he guided the Spartans to the program's first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team when UNCG knocked off North Carolina, the eventual national runner-up. He has been honored as the Conference Coach of the Year on four occasions; his most recent award was in 2011.

    In 2010, Gaski was presented with his 600th win as a head coach, and that year he was also inducted into UNCG's Hall of Fame with his 1994 team. That Spartan team, composed mostly of the players who had started the UNCG program only three years earlier, posted 39 wins and captured its first Big South Conference title. The '94 squad made UNCG's first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament in any Division I sport. In 1997, the Spartans recorded a school-record 45 wins on the way to the Big South Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a No. 28 final national ranking.

    In 1998, UNCG's first season in the Southern Conference, the Spartans posted a then-record 22 league wins en route to the conference title. After posting a 40-18 overall record, the team narrowly missed its third NCAA trip in five years. In 21 seasons of Division I play, Gaski's teams had an impressive 648-507-1 record.

    Gaski began coaching at the collegiate level in 1979 as an assistant at Cleveland State and spent one season with the Vikings. After his tenure with Cleveland State, Gaski headed to Ohio State in 1980. There, he coached the pitchers and catchers. Gaski helped the Buckeyes to back-to-back record-setting seasons and their first NCAA appearance in more than 15 years. From Ohio State, Gaski went to Florida Southern to assume the position of assistant head coach with the Moccasins. During his four-year stint (1983-87), the team made four consecutive NCAA appearances, finished second in the nation in 1984 and claimed the Division II National Championship in 1985.

    Gaski left collegiate coaching in 1988 to assume the position of executive director of the Spanish Olympic Program in preparation for the Games of the 25th Olympiad in Barcelona, Spain. As the principal administrator for Olympic baseball preparation, Gaski's responsibilities included the development of a national baseball program and the preparation of the Olympic venues. Upon his return to the United States and UNCG, Gaski was immediately enlisted by USA Baseball to serve as a consultant on international affairs and Olympic preparation.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Jason Dobis

    TREASURER
    At Large

    Jason Dobis has been a member of USA Baseball's executive committee (and, now in its current form, the Board of Directors) since 2001, first as a "Recent Athlete" and now in his current position as treasurer. Dobis was a pitcher for the silver-medal-winning 1994 USA Baseball 18U National Team and later spent three years in Minor League Baseball. Dobis is the immediate past representative (before Ernie Young) for the sport of baseball to the United States Olympic Committee's Athlete Advisory Committee (AAC).

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Elliot Hopkins

    SECRETARY
    NFHS

    Elliot Hopkins, the Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services at the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) was named a member of the USA Baseball Board of Directors in September of 2019.

    In his role with the NFHS, Hopkins serves as the staff liaison to the NFHS Student Services Committee as well as the NFHS Baseball and Wrestling Rules Editor. He is responsible for supervising the NFHS Resource Center, which includes the National High School Activities Month effort, numerous national surveys and the NFHS Sanctioning Program. In addition, Hopkins is the director of the NFHS Student Leadership Summit and speaks nationally to students exclusively about hazing prevention and sportsmanship.

    Formerly, Hopkins was the Assistant Executive Director at the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA) where he managed and organized specific PIAA championships. Hopkins had established a career as a corporate sales representative for several Fortune 500 companies prior to his time with the PIAA and NFHS, including Broyhill Furniture Industries, Xerox Corporation, Bell Atlantic Systems, Inc. (formerly Bell of Pennsylvania) and the Standard Register Company.

    Throughout his career, Hopkins has served on many boards, including as a current board member of the Hazing Prevention Organization and a member of the USA Baseball Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, as well as the former Chairman of the NFHS Sportsmanship Ethics and Integrity Committee, Co-Chair of the NFHS Citizenship Committee and member of the NFHS Sanctioning Committee.

    Hopkins graduated from Wake Forest University after serving as a captain and four-year starter on the Demon Deacons' football team, before earning his master's degree in leadership development from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College in St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.

    Term expires 12/31/2024

  • Veronica Alvarez

    10 Year Athlete

    Five-time Team USA alum and three-time national team coach Veronica Alvarez was elected to USA Baseball's Board of Directors in 2019.

    Just the second female manager in USA Baseball history, Alvarez became the first woman to be named the Rod Dedeaux Coach of the Year for her work at the helm of the 2019 Women's National Team. Under her direction, Team USA finished with a perfect 7-0 record and the program's first gold medal since 2015. The U.S. outscored its opponents 124-20, held a cumulative .500 batting average and hit a record 11 home runs. The team was also named USA Baseball's Team of the Year after its dominating performance last summer.

    In addition to making her managerial debut with the Women's National Team in 2019, Alvarez also served as an assistant coach on the 2018 staff and played for Team USA five times in her career as a catcher. Her time with the red, white and blue started in 2008 and every team she participated on medaled in international competition, including the 2015 Women's National Team that won a gold medal at the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games. She also won bronze medals with Team USA at the 2008 and 2010 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women's Baseball World Cups before winning a silver medal at the 2012 World Baseball Softball Confederation Women's Baseball World Cup.

    Since finishing her playing career in 2016, Alvarez has continued to help grow the next generation of female baseball players as a coach at the Trailblazer Series from 2017-2019 and the Girls Baseball Breakthrough Series Showcase & Development Camp in 2018 and 2019, joining the collaboration between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball to foster the next generation of female baseball players in the United States.

    Additionally, she served as a coach with the Oakland Athletics at Major League Baseball Spring Training in 2019, has previously coached at the USA Baseball Women's National Team Identification Series and was a member of the 2019 12U National Open coaching staff.

    Term expires 12/31/2023

  • Willie Bloomquist

    10 Year Athlete/USOPC AAC Alternate Rep

    Former Major League Baseball player Willie Bloomquist joined USA Baseball's Board of Directors in 2016. Bloomquist is a two-time alum of Team USA, having played for the Collegiate National Team in 1998 and for the 2013 World Baseball Classic. He was selected in the third round of the 1999 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Seattle Mariners and made his debut with the team in 2002. Over the course of his fourteen seasons in the Major Leagues, Bloomquist played for the Mariners, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks, recording a career average of .269. He joins Veronica Alvarez and John Gall as one of three recent athletes on the Board of Directors.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Jenny Dalton-Hill

    10 Year+ Athlete

    Jenny Dalton-Hill has been as an assistant coach with over ten years of USA Baseball involvement under her belt. Her first experience with Team USA came as a player on the 2010 Women’s National Team, where she helped guide the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2010 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Women’s Baseball World Cup. After her playing career, Dalton-Hill served as a coach for the Women’s NTDP in 2011 and 2014 as well as for the Women’s National Team in 2012, helping to lead Team USA to an IBAF Women’s Baseball World Cup silver medal. Currently a college softball analyst for ESPN, a position she has held since 2013, Dalton-Hill was an All-American softball player at the University of Arizona. She helped lead the Wildcats to national championships in 1993, 1994, and 1996 and named the 1996 National Player of the Year after winning the Pac-10 Conference Triple Crown in her senior season. Dalton-Hill also previously served on the USA Baseball Board of Directors from 2012-2020 and was a member of the Colorado Silver Bullets in 1997 where she played under MLB Hall of Famer Phil Niekro.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • John Gall

    10 Year+ Athlete

    John Gall is a former Major League outfielder and first baseman who joined USA Baseball's Board of Directors in January 2013. Gall won a bronze medal with Team USA in the 2008 Olympics and played on USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team in 1998 and 1999 while playing collegiately at Stanford University. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2000 MLB First-Year Player Draft and appeared in 33 games with the Cardinals and Florida Marlins from 2005-07. Gall is one of three recent athletes on the Board of Directors.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • George Grande

    At Large

    George Grande, who spent over 40 years in the broadcasting business, served as the television play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Reds since from 1993-2009. He and partner Chris Welsh worked together for 17 years, making them longest-running TV duo in Reds history. A native of New Haven, Conn., Grande joined the USA Baseball Board of Directors in 2006 and has covered Major League Baseball since 1965. Since 1980 he has hosted the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies in Cooperstown, N.Y. Grande also anchored the first-ever ESPN "SportsCenter" telecast on Sept. 7, 1979, and spent 10 seasons with the all-sports network anchoring that award-winning show and covering the World Series, NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Finals, Super Bowl, NCAA men's basketball tournament, College World Series and major college football games. From 1989-90 he broadcasted Yankees games on WPIX, and from 1991-92 he broadcasted Cardinals baseball games before he joined the Reds TV team in 1993.

    In 1967, Grande began his broadcasting career as the sports director and news director of the University of Southern California radio station, KUSC-FM, followed by radio stints at KNX in Los Angeles; WERI in Westerly, R.I.; and WNHC in New Haven. He completed his radio broadcast career by handling the Boston Red Sox's pre- and postgame shows on WMEX. Grande also anchored local TV sports telecasts at WTNH in New Haven and at WCBS in New York. He started broadcasting baseball games in 1971 for the West Haven (Conn.) Yankees in the Eastern League.

    Grande graduated in 1969 from USC where he played baseball for four seasons and was a member of the 1968 College World Series championship team. While at USC, he played with 14 future Major Leaguers, including Hall of Famer Tom Seaver and slugger Dave Kingman.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Steve Keener

    Little League

    Steve Keener is the current President and CEO of Little League Baseball. Keener has been a part of the executive staff at Little League Baseball since 1980, and was elected president of the organization in 1994 before adding the role of CEO in 1996.

    Under Keener’s leadership, Little League has grown from 2 million participants in approximately 80 countries to 3 million participants in over 100 countries today. The Westminster College graduate also launched the organization’s “A World of Opportunity” campaign that has seen the Little League World Series grow from eight to 16 teams in addition to globally expanding Little League’s use of technology and outreach.

    With athlete health and safety as a guiding principle for the organization, Keener has overseen the launch of background checks for volunteers as well as pitch count limits for young athletes. Additionally, Keener has successfully negotiated television contracts with ABC Sports and ESPN that have allowed Little League games to be seen on the global stage.

    Keener still resides in his hometown of Williamsport, Pa., with his wife, Cheryl.

    Term expires 12/31/2023

  • Abraham Key

    PONY

    A one-time player in the Washington, Pennsylvania Pony and Colt Leagues, Abraham Key  assumed the Presidency of PONY Baseball and Softball in January, 1995. He joined the staff on a full-time basis after graduating from West Virginia University's School of Journalism and School of Business in 1981. He had worked five years as a part-time employee while in high school and college. Key is married to Susan Mondik Key, a partner in the Washington law firm of Peacock, Keller. They have a daughter Casey, who graduated from John Carroll University, and a son Lincoln, who graduated from Colorado University - Boulder. 

    As president, Key is responsible for the daily operation of PONY Baseball and Softball, including, but not limited to, managing the staff and the new international headquarters facility, development and management of agreements with manufacturers and sponsors, directed services to leagues and the Field Director organization and the development of international membership. Key was elected to the PONY Baseball and Softball Wall of Fame in November 1986.

    In addition to his responsibilities at PONY, Key has served on the USA Baseball Board of Directors since 1995 and was a member of the Executive Committee as Vice President - Treasurer (2000-2008). He served as the United States delegate for USA Baseball at the 2013 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) Congress in Tokyo, Japan, 2017 World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) Congress in Botswana, Africa and 2019 WBSC Congress in Sakai, Japan. 

    Key has been active in the Confederation of European Baseball (CEB), Confederation of Pan American Baseball (COPABE) and International Baseball Federation (IBAF) and World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) in recent years. Key received a Meritorious Service Medal from President Riccardo Fraccari, Italy, in 2013 for his service to international youth baseball and softball. Key received the 2019 Xavier Mateu Award from WBSC-Europe. 

    He is also a 34-year member of the American Baseball Coaches Association and has served on their Executive Committee (1999-2004) and the Board of Directors (2002-2004). He was awarded the ABCA Meritorious Service Award in 2006 for his contributions to amateur baseball. He has served on the USA Softball National Council since 2002.

    He was a board member and the treasurer of the National Council of Youth Sports (1992-2002), an organization of full-time professional staff workers in amateur, non-profit organizations concerned with development, enhancement and support of youth sports activities. He served on the Board of Directors for the Major Youth Baseball Alliance (2008-2012).

    Locally, Key served on the Washington County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors (1999-2005), and was Secretary (2001-2005).

    He is a Chapter Advisor for the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity at Washington and Jefferson College. He served on the House Corporation for Phi Kappa Psi at West Virginia University. He was honored with an outstanding Alumni Award in 2002 at the 150th Grand Arch Council in Pittsburgh. He received the 2015 Washington and Jefferson College Alumni of the Year Award.

    Key is an advisory Board member of the Washington Greene County Sports Hall of Fame and received the Youth Service Award in 2014. Key received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Washington County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 2013. Key has served as President of the Brownson House Alumni Association, which supports a youth sports service organization in Washington.

    Key is a member of the Church of the Covenant Presbyterian Church and has served as a Deacon and an Elder. He also serves as a member of their Mission Committee.

    Key has been a member of the Washington Lions Club for more than 25 years and is the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow Award for dedicated humanitarian services. 

    Key has coached baseball in Washington Youth Baseball; basketball at the Brownson House, the LeMoyne Center, JFK School and Washington Junior High School and softball at TWIST and Washington High School.  He is also a member of the Washington Elks Lodge 776.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Chris Marinak

    Major League Baseball

    Chris Marinak has served on the USA Baseball Board of Directors since 2016 and is currently the Chief Operations and Strategy Officer at Major League Baseball. He joined Major League Baseball in 2008 and is responsible for a variety of league-wide initiatives including Major League Baseball's commitment to grow baseball and softball at the amateur level.

    Marinak received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in computer engineering from the University of Virginia. He was a letterman as a pitcher for the University of Virginia baseball team and was the team captain his senior year.

    After graduating from the University of Virginia, he coached baseball at Mills Godwin High School in Richmond, Virginia, and James Madison High School in Vienna, Virginia. During that time, he coached three nationally ranked teams and seven Major League Baseball Rule 4 Draft picks.

    Term expires 12/31/2028

  • Jacob May

    10 Year+ Athlete/USOPC AAC Alternate Rep

    May made his USA Baseball debut in 2015 with the Professional National Team. He started all eight games for Team USA in the 2015 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, helping the U.S. earn a silver medal with six hits and seven runs scored. He was also tied for second on the team in walks with five and hit one of Team USA’s three home runs in the tournament. After playing collegiately at Coastal Carolina University, May was selected in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox and played in 550 minor league games throughout his professional career, collecting 557 hits and a .265 career batting average. He also recorded 290 runs, 102 doubles, 23 triples, 178 RBIs, and 164 stolen bases while playing in the White Sox system. The outfielder made his Major League debut on April 4, 2017, and appeared in 15 games for the White Sox that season.

    Following the final season of his professional baseball career in 2018, May began working at Live Oak Bank where he served as an Associate Relationship Manager and a Business Analyst before becoming a Wealth Management Administrator at Budros, Ruhlin & Roe, Inc. in December of 2019. He currently works as an AVP, Junior Special Assets for United Midwest Savings Bank after joining the company in February of 2021.

    Term expires 12/31/2025

  • Tony Reagins

    Major League Baseball

    Tony Reagins was named to the USA Baseball Board of Directors in 2021 and currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Chief Baseball Development Officer.

    In his current role, Reagins oversees the growth of youth and amateur levels of baseball and softball, both domestically and internationally, as well as the streamlining of amateur scouting around the world and operations of the Arizona Fall League. In addition to growing the game, Reagins’ work focuses on the continued increase of participation levels of baseball and softball through programs such as the “Play Ball” initiative and USA Baseball’s Fun At Bat program. Reagins has also been instrumental in diversity-focused programs such as the Hank Aaron Invitational, DREAM Series, Breakthrough Series, and the Elite Development Invitational among others.

    Prior to becoming MLB’s Chief Baseball Development Officer, Reagins began his career in baseball as an intern with the Los Angeles Angels before working his way up to become the team’s Director of Player Development. In 2007, Reagins became the fifth African-American General Manager in baseball history when he took over the reins of the Angels. At the helm of the organization from 2007-11, Reagins’ teams put together a record of 363-285 (.560), averaging nearly 91 wins per season. The Angels collected consecutive American League West championships in 2008-09 and recorded the first 100-win season in franchise history in 2008 under Reagins’ leadership, earning him the Rube Foster American League Executive of the Year award.

    Following his career with the Angels, Reagins moved to the league office in March 2015 to serve as Senior Vice President of the first-ever Youth Programs department in the Commissioner’s Office before being promoted to his current position in 2020.

    He is a native of Indio, California, and graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1991.

    Term expires 12/31/2028

  • Derek Topik

    NABF
    Derek Topik, who serves as Executive Director of the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF), joined the board in 2021 as its National Member Organization (NMO) representative. The NABF, a nonprofit founded in 1914, is the oldest continually operated national baseball organization in the country which hosts regional tournaments and eight national tournaments each year. Topik has extensive experience in the amateur baseball landscape, and has been involved with the Jackson 96ers Baseball Club since 1985 as a player, coach, manager, and executive director. After a prestigious high school playing career, Topik played collegiately at Nicholls State University and William Carey College before beginning a career in coaching. In addition to his role with the NABF, Topik serves as the head baseball coach at Northwest Rankin Middle School in Flowood, Mississippi, while also contributing as an assistant coach for the Northwest Rankin High School junior varsity and varsity teams.
     
    Term expires 12/31/2024
  • Ernie Young

    10 Year+ Athlete

    Olympic gold medalist Ernie Young held an accomplished playing and coaching career with Team USA spanning 23 years. A member of the gold medal-winning Sydney 2000 Olympic Games team, he also played on the Professional National Team again in 2003. Young spent eight years playing in the major leagues for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics between 1994 and 2004. He remained involved with Team USA after the Sydney Olympic Games by joining the Board of Directors in 2003 before returing in 2021, and eventually serving as a hitting coach for five national teams and managing the 2010 and 2011 Professional National Teams. With Young on the staff, Team USA amassed an overall record of 55-17-2 and won a world championship in 2009.

    Term expires 12/31/2025