Buddy Meyer created the first "Chain Baseball" team in 1985 through his company, Chain Reps LLC. Our current ownership played for Chain Baseball in 1993 and began coaching a Chain team in 2007 — the Chain name became the foundation for everything our organization has built since.
From San Diego, CA to Winston-Salem, NC, from Forest Park, GA to Tampa, FL, the growth of our organization has been remarkable. With that growth came growing pains — the original Chain Baseball infrastructure was never designed to scale to this magnitude.
Since Buddy's passing in 2014, we've recorded back-to-back 15U and 16U PG National Championships, ranked our freshman group #2 and our sophomore group #3 in the country, and sent 32 players to D1 programs in a single year — all firsts in the organization's history.
In the best interest of our players, coaches, and organization, we made the decision to retire the Chain name and move forward under a new brand capable of serving amateur players across the nation: Five Star National. Nothing has changed but the name.
Joe Conti has been the owner of 5 Star Baseball Academy since 2017, overseeing the development of more than 1,500 travel baseball players and helping guide 150+ athletes to college commitments. He is Rapsodo Certified in both hitting and pitching and Driveline Certified in hitting and pitching. Joe also serves as a 5 Star National Recruiting Director and National Coach, helping identify, develop, and create opportunities for players at the next level.
Patrick Schuster is a former professional pitcher, drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of high school in Holiday, FL, turning down a commitment to the University of Florida to sign. He went on to pitch in the major leagues for both the Oakland Athletics and the Philadelphia Phillies. Patrick brings that pro-level experience and perspective to every player he works with at 5 Star National.
BJ Leach brings decades of baseball experience, leadership, and service to the Five Star staff. A former college pitcher at Florida Southern who went on to play professionally, BJ began his professional baseball career in the Boston Red Sox organization before transitioning into public service with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. After retiring from law enforcement, BJ returned to the game he has been passionate about throughout his life, joining Five Star as a Facility Manager and Pitching Instructor. Drawing from his experience competing at the collegiate and professional levels, BJ is committed to giving back to the community by helping young athletes develop their skills, confidence, discipline, and understanding of the game.
Paul Coumoulos starred at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, earning four-time All-County first team honors and a Perfect Game Florida Region Honorable Mention All-American selection before committing to play college baseball at the College of Central Florida. Now Operations Manager at 5 Star National, Paul draws on his own playing background to help hitters at every level sharpen their swing and approach at the plate.
Michael "Trainer Mike" Butler, CSCS, is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA with a degree in Exercise Science/Kinesiology from Florida State University. His background spans sports performance and athletic development, professional softball strength and conditioning, collegiate strength and conditioning, and time as a minor league baseball strength coach.
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A United States Marine Corps veteran with four years of service, Teran brings the same discipline, accountability, and commitment to excellence into developing athletes. Since transitioning out of the military, he has dedicated himself to strength and conditioning and performance development, with a focus on helping athletes become stronger, faster, more explosive, and more confident in their abilities. Currently pursuing his CSCS certification with plans to earn a Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning, Teran is committed to continually advancing his knowledge and applying proven training principles to every athlete he works with. His mission goes beyond improving performance—it's about developing disciplined, resilient athletes who are prepared to compete at a high level and carry those qualities with them on and off the field.
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Liana brings a strong background in athletics and youth development to the Five Star team. A former high school softball player, Liana currently attends the University of South Florida, where she is pursuing a degree in Biomedical Anthropology. She also spent five years working within the Toronto Blue Jays organization, gaining valuable experience in a professional baseball environment. At Five Star, Liana manages social media and serves as an assistant trainer for athletes 14U and younger. Her athletic background, energy, and ability to connect with young players help create a positive environment where athletes can build confidence, develop their skills, and grow their love for the game.
