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Missouri Bulls Coaching Staff

Todd Pennington - Director of the Missouri Bulls, 18u Head Coach, and 10u Assistant Coach

Todd played for the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks from 1999 to 2001 where he became the staff ace.  In 2001 he was named a Louisville Slugger/TPX All-American and also a Baseball Weekly All-American.  He was named 1st Team All OVC and was named National Pitcher of the week.  His junior year Todd went 12-2 and led all NCAA Division 1 pitchers in ERA with a 1.33.  He was ranked nationally in wins with 12, in strikeouts with 121 and ranked 12th all time in NCAA history with 4.81 hits per nine innings.
 
Todd was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2001 where he spent most of his time in AA. He was named to the Rawlings All South Region pitcher of the year that same year.
 
Todd played in 7 professional seasons, winning four championship rings, and named to two all-star teams.  In 2003 he was named to the Baseball Weekly minor league all star team, lead Cleveland Indians minor league system in saves, named Rolaids relief man of the month, and  named to the prestigious Arizona Fall League.
 
In 2018, Todd was inducted into the Southeast Missouri State University Hall of Fame for his exceptional college baseball career.
 
Todd is in his 13th season will the Missouri Bulls Organization.  Coach Pennington lives in Jackson, MO with his wife Kristi. They have three children, Tuc (10u Bull), Ella, and Via. Coach Pennington enjoys playing golf, fishing, and spending time with his family.

Dave Lawson- Head of Player Development, 14u Head Coach, and 11u Head Coach

Dave Lawson graduated from Windsor High school in Imperial Missouri as a 3 sport athlete.  Dave continued his baseball career at Jefferson College 1998-2000 where he was an all conference infielder.  After graduating Jeffco, Dave transferred to Southeast Missouri State 2001-2003 where he played infield, catcher, as well as finishing his career as outfielder.  Dave was a part of the OVC championship SEMO Indians team in 2002.  
After college Dave spent 2 seasons as assistant coach at SEMO assisting with hitters as well as outfielders.  Dave spent 10 years in Florida serving as a coach for several select baseball clubs in Tampa area as well as assistant coach for one season at Hernando Christian academy.   
Dave has spent the last 3 summers as an assistant coach with the Cape Catfish of the Prospect Collegiate League which he has helped to a runner up and a Championship season In 2021.  

Dave resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife Ashley, who is the SEMO head gymnastics coach, along with sons Chase (14u Bulls), and Bryce (11u Bulls). Dave also works at Balls N Strikes as an instructor.  Coach Dave truly loves the outdoors and spends most his free time hunting, fishing, golf, and family time.

Zach McKenney- 17u Head Coach

Zach graduated from Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, Missouri in 2012.  In time spent there he complied over 110 hits at the varsity level while earning all district and all region honors. After graduating Coach McKenney attended Three Rivers College and played infield.  After graduating from Three Rivers Zach attended the University of Missouri-St. Louis to continue his baseball career. He graduated from UMSL with a Bachelors in History. 

Immediately after graduation Coach McKenney began his college coaching career at UMSL with Jim Brady as a hitting and infield coach. During his time there UMSL was in the top five in hitting categories in the GLVC. After two seasons at UMSL McKenney moved to Poplar Bluff, Missouri and started coaching at Three Rivers College. He is currently in his third year coaching at Three Rivers and teaching at Poplar Bluff Junior High School. This will be his 4th year coaching with the Missouri Bulls.  Coach McKenney resides in Poplar Bluff with his wife and family. 

Neil Johnson- 16u Head Coach

Neil Johnson played high school baseball for 4 years at Woodland High School in Marble Hill where he received honors as all conference, all district and all state. 

Neil went to play college baseball at Three Rivers on a scholarship as a outfielder and pitcher. Injuries would later not allowing him to finish his baseball career at the college level. Neil also coached at his alma mater, Woodland, for 2 years and had 2 successful seasons. He now coaches for Advance High School. He also works at Balls N Strikes as an instructor. This is Neil's 5th season coaching with the Missouri Bulls.  Neil resides in Advance, MO, with his wife Torie, and his son, Tyson, a 10u Bull.

Braden Cox- 15u Head Coach

Braden Cox was born and raised in Scott City, MO.  He was a multi-sport stand out at Scott City High School where he lettered in baseball, football, and basketball.  Braden was named the Scott-Mississippi County Conference Player of the Year for 2 consecutive years.  He was also named first team all-district, and first team all state.
 
Coach Cox's college baseball career continued at Three Rivers his freshman year, followed by his career at Southeast Missouri State University which began as a sophomore on the mound. In the summer of 2019, Braden played the inaugural winning season with the Cape Catfish and was considered one of the most dependable arms in the League coming out of the bullpen. He finished off that summer leading the Catfish in appearances with a 2.73 ERA and striking out 28 batters, while only walking 7. He was referred to as an unsung hero as a middle reliever, successfully getting the ball from the starter to the closer.
 
Braden resides in Cape Girardeau area.  He works for KFVS 12 and trains athletes at Balls N Strikes Cape Girardeau as well as coaching with Missouri Bulls Baseball.  

Jim Duby- 14u Head Coach

Coach Jim Duby has been coaching this outstanding group of young men for years now.  Coach Duby is an excellent example for his athletes and has built this team on character, work ethic, and a passion for the game of baseball.  We are grateful to have him as a member of our Bulls coaching staff. Jim resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife, Christina, and their 3 children, Tryston, Drue (14u Bull), and Kyleigh.

Jamie Jackson- 13u Head Coach

Coach Jaime Jackson has been coaching this outstanding group of young men for several years now.  He has lead the team along with his assistant coaches, Jess and Jon, to play with character and determination, and strive for continuous growth. They have developed tremendously as a group by continuing to work hard year after year and challenge themselves. Coach Jaime resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife, Sasha, and their 2 children, Ethan and Connor (13u Bull).

Greg Hellwege- 13u Head Coach

Greg was born and raised in Cape Girardeau. He was a 3-year letterman in baseball and basketball for Cape Central High School. In 1994, Greg played 2nd base for the 4A State Championship Tiger baseball team. That summer he was a utility player and pitcher for the Post 63 American Legion State Championship baseball team. Greg went on to play 2nd base and pitch for William Jewell College and was named Freshman of the Year. Greg returned to Cape to finish his degree at Southeast Missouri State University. While going to college, he was an assistant coach for Jr. Legion with Coach Bob Coons and Sr. Babe Ruth with Coach Steve Williams. Over the years he has coached many youth sports teams in Cape.

Greg resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife Leslie and 3 of their 4 children: Heidi, Liam (12u Bull) and Paxton. Their oldest son Joshua is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State and resides in Franklin, KY.

Craig Ringwald- 12u Head Coach

Craig played baseball at Baylor University his freshman season. Following an injury at Baylor, he transferred to Three Rivers Community College where he played for two seasons. Following his time at Three Rivers, he completed his collegiate career at Murray State University. During his time at Murray State, he was honored as All-Conference Honorable Mention his senior season and was twice named Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week. Craig helped lead Murray State to the 2003 OVC Tournament Championship and a berth into the NCAA Regional Tournament. Craig is still tied for 4th in games started in a single season for Murray State. 

Craig has had the honor of playing under two head coaches for USA Baseball, Bob Coons and Steve Smith. 

This is Craig's 4th season with the Missouri Bulls Organization. He lives in Cape Girardeau, MO with his wife Beth. They have four children: Addison, Sydney, Kennedy, and Max (12u Bull).

Halley Barke- 12u Softball Head Coach

Coach Barke was born and raised in Pittsfield, Illinois, always active in sports and spent her summers improving her skills.  She played volleyball, basketball and softball in high school and went on to play college basketball and softball for Webster University in St. Louis.  She was inducted into the Webster Hall of Fame in 2011 and the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Hall of Fame in 2011. 

In her free time, Halley enjoys attending her kids sporting events and going to SEMO athletic events.  She and her family also enjoy St. Louis Cardinals Baseball!

Coach Barke loves coaching and watching the girls learn the game of softball.  She is most looking forward to helping her group of girls improve their fundamental skills and grow their love for the game all while continuing to have fun. She resides in Cape with her husband Brady and their 3 children Mabrie (12u Bull), Jackson (10u Bull) and Kolbe. 

Jamey Heisserer- 11u Head Coach

Coach Jamey Heisserer played baseball in high school and has coached both of his boys for the past 7 years. "I would like to thank Todd and the parents for allowing me to coach this Bulls team. Looking forward to a great year!!"

Coach Heisserer began coaching for the Missouri Bulls in 2021, and we appreciate his energy and love of the game!  We are excited to have him involved in our organization, and his team has progressed tremendously over the past two seasons.

Rob Haupt- 11u Head Coach

Coach Rob Haupt is from Jackson, MO. Rob has a background in a variety of youth sports.  He has coached youth baseball for 14 years, and has also coached basketball, football, and track & field. In his high school years, he played football for Jackson. Rob is also a certified high school football and basketball official.

Coach Haupt strives to cultivate an environment where kids continue their love of the game and watching their confidence build when they succeed. He is looking forward to helping his team learn and grow together this season.  In his free time, Coach Rob enjoys martial arts (HapKiDo, TaeKwonDo, & Judo), disc golf, and going to the movies.

Ross Bennett- 10u Head Coach

Ross played baseball at Baylor University from 1999-2003. Bennett was a two-time All Big XII DH and a two-time All Midwest Region Selection.  Bennett led the Bears in batting in 2002 and remains the only player in Big XII history to bat over .350 for 3 consecutive seasons. Bennett led the Bears to a Big XII championship, 4 NCAA Regional Appearances, and 2 Super Regional Appearances. 

Bennett won a Gold Medal playing for Team USA in the 1996 Jr Pan American Games. Bennett was then drafted by the Washington Nationals (Montreal Expos) in the 1998 MLB Draft after an All American career for Cape Central High School. He declined the professional contract to attend Baylor University. 

While at Baylor, Bennett was named the Big XII Student Athlete of the year and a 1st Team Academic All American. He majored in Biochemistry and became a dentist following his playing career. Bennett has provided private batting instruction to athletes from T-ball players to Major League Baseball players.

Bennett resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife Jocey and their 5 kids.

Travis Smith- 10u Head Coach

Coach Travis Smith was born and raised in Indiana.  Growing up and through high school, Travis participated in basketball, baseball, track, and cross country.  Coach Smith moved to Cape Girardeau in 1994 on a full athletic scholarship for the SEMO men's basketball team. He played for SEMO for 4 seasons and graduated in 1999 with his bachelor's degree. He went on to complete his Masters Degree at SEMO as well.  Coach Smith enjoys spending time with his boys, Zander and Lincoln (10u Bull) as well as playing basketball and lifting weights. 

The thing Coach Travis enjoys most about coaching is watching these young men grow up, not just as athletes, but as future men. He hopes to have a positive impact, showing them what hard work looks like, what striving for excellence means, and how this can impact every aspect of their lives.  He looks forward to helping his team continue to grow and learn more about the game of baseball while giving them opportunities to succeed as well as fail, because that's where true growth comes from.

Jeff Dunaway- 10u Head Coach

Coach Jeff Dunaway was born and raised in Cape Girardeau. He grew up with 3 brothers playing every sport they could. Jeff played football, baseball, and wrestled for Cape Central.

In his free time, Coach Jeff enjoys anything outdoors with his family. They love to fish and visit the family condo on the beach in FL. He enjoys St. Louis Cardinals baseball.

Coach Dunaway said, "I tell each of our players, I want them to love the game a little more at the end of the season than they did at the beginning. I’ve learned so many life lessons from sports growing up. If I can share that experience to help them develop, I’m doing my job."
 

Mark Glastetter, Jonathan Blattel, Josh Ford- 9u Coaches

Coach Mark Glastetter is from Charleston, MO. Coach Mark enjoyed playing baseball and basketball growing up. He chose to focus on baseball in high school and played with a great group of teammates who won a state championship and made several final 4 appearances. Coach Glastetter recognizes how hard their team has worked over the past year, and he's looking forward to the fun they are going to have this summer challenging the boys as a team to continue learning and growing. He is happy to be coaching a great group of boys with wonderful families. In his free time, Coach Glastetter enjoys spending time at the lake with his family, and hunting and fishing with his boys. His son, Ridge is a 9u Bull.

Coach Jonathan Blattel was born and raised in Cape Girardeau, MO. He played golf at Notre Dame Regional High School and later one season for Missouri Baptist. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending time with his family in the woods or on the lake. Coaching for the Bulls has renewed a competitive spirit and he is looking forward to an amazing 9u season. Jonathan resides in Cape Girardeau with his wife Jamie and their two children Keagan (9u Bull) and Kaleb. 

Clay Landgraf- 9u Head Coach

Coach Clay Landgraf, along with Coach Dannenmueller, Coach Hill, and Coach Smith, are excited about this group of 9u athletes. It's their first year playing together as a team, and they are focused on development and learning. Coach Landgraf enjoys hunting and fishing with his family in his free time. Clay resides in Gordonville with his wife, Courtney, and their 3 children, Mason, Piper, and Kellan (9u Bull).

Keith Shepard- 8u Head Coach

Coach Shepard was born and raised in Jacob, Illinois. He graduated from Trico High School in 1993. Growing up he enjoyed playing baseball and basketball. Keith is also the Jr. High basketball coach for Shawnee. In his free time he enjoys watching and coaching his boys in baseball and basketball, spending time with his family, and watching Cardinals baseball. He is very excited about this 8u team. "We have a great group of kids who have a lot of talent." Keith resides in Grand Tower, Illinois with his wife Samantha and their two boys- Kyle (13u Bull) and Tripp (8U Bull).