Get to know the Top Tier Las Vegas Player Development Staff and Coaches!
Director, Player Development Coordinator
Patrick K. Flowers
Patrick Flowers brings 15 years of coaching and player-development experience to the Vegas Valley and leads Top Tier Las Vegas with a nationally recognized background in athlete development, scouting, and recruiting. Originally from Chicago, Flowers has spent the last decade working at the high school level shaping collegiate prospects and building development-driven baseball environments.
He has served on the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS) and holds a national accreditation with the National Federation of State High School Associations, along with multiple professional certifications, including Driveline’s Foundations of Hitting, Pitching, and Pitch Design. Flowers oversees all programming within Top Tier Las Vegas, ensuring every athlete receives a holistic, data-driven development experience that aligns with Top Tier’s national standards.
Assistant Director
Jack Bridson
Jack Bridson serves as the Assistant Director for Top Tier Las Vegas, helping oversee daily operations while supporting the Player Development department across multiple key areas. His role spans strength and conditioning initiatives, data collection and analysis, and on-field coaching assignments — all designed to enhance the developmental experience for every athlete in the program.
A detail-driven and adaptable leader, Bridson plays a vital part in aligning Top Tier Las Vegas’ day-to-day processes with its long-term developmental vision. His versatility and commitment to operational excellence help ensure that athletes and coaches alike have the resources, structure, and support needed to thrive.
Pitching Coordinator
Nathan Erbach
Nathan Erbach brings a multifaceted baseball background to Top Tier Las Vegas, blending collegiate athletics administration, professional scouting experience, and years of on-field player development work. Currently working in the UNLV Athletic Department, Erbach previously served as a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays and has coached at the youth levels, specializing in pitching development.
As the Pitching Coordinator for Top Tier Las Vegas, Erbach oversees the design and implementation of our data-driven throwing program, integrating pitch design, biomechanics, and individualized development plans across the organization. He also plays a vital role on the recruiting side—communicating with college programs, packaging video and analytics, and helping our high school athletes navigate the recruiting landscape. His expertise, attention to detail, and player-first approach make him an essential part of our player development infrastructure.
Fielding Coordinator
Brandon Kotake
Brandon Kotake serves as Top Tier Las Vegas’ Fielding Coordinator, bringing more than two decades of coaching experience and a deep academic background in performance and athletic development. He holds a B.S. in Kinesiology/Physical Education with a Minor in Athletic Coaching and Adapted PE from UNLV, as well as an M.S. in Exercise Science and Athletic Administration from Concordia University–Irvine. Over 21 years in coaching and 15 years training athletes from youth through professional levels, Brandon has specialized in speed, strength, and skill development—anchoring our defensive standards and player development model with elite expertise and proven impact.
Coaching Coordinator
Stephen Whitney
Stephen Whitney serves as the Coaching Coordinator for Top Tier Las Vegas, overseeing the training, development, and continued education of our coaching staff. He plays an essential role in shaping the standards, instructional methods, and on-field consistency across the program, ensuring our coaches uphold the Top Tier brand of detail, preparation, and player-first development.
In addition to his leadership responsibilities, Whitney is an on-field coach at the high school level within the organization. He brings years of coaching experience to the role, most recently serving as the pitching coach at Pahrump Valley High School. His ability to mentor coaches while developing athletes makes him a key pillar of our player development system.
Pitching Coach
David Reckers
Coach David Reckers joins Top Tier Las Vegas as a member of our Pitching Department on the Player Development side, bringing collegiate and professional experience to our staff. Reckers pitched at Solano Community College, California State University–Bakersfield, and Colorado Mesa University before competing professionally in the Atlantic League, giving him a diverse background across multiple competitive environments.
Reckers’ expertise extends beyond his playing résumé. He brings a strong understanding of data-driven pitching development, mechanical refinement, pitch design, and individualized training models. His experience and detail-oriented approach make him a key asset in the continued development of Top Tier Las Vegas pitchers at all levels.
Pitching Coach
Gavyn Bowen
Gavyn Bowen is a pitching coach at Top Tier Las Vegas and a Midwest native (Wisconsin) with plenty of familiarity of the Top Tier brand, history, and standards. Currently a left-handed pitcher at UNLV, Bowen brings a strong understanding of the data-driven side of modern pitching development, including pitch design, biomechanics, and mechanical efficiency.
Bowen works closely with our pitching staff across all age groups, helping athletes understand their metrics, sharpen their arsenals, and build sustainable movement patterns on the mound. His combination of Division I experience, technical knowledge, and familiarity with Top Tier expectations makes him a tremendous asset to our player development model.
Coach
Nate Waskey
Nate Waskey brings a deep connection to the Top Tier brand and a rapidly growing expertise in human performance to Top Tier Las Vegas. A San Francisco native, Waskey both played and coached within Top Tier’s Northern California branch before relocating to Las Vegas, where he now works across strength, conditioning, athlete movement, and on-field development. He is currently a third-year Kinesiology major at UNLV with a concentration in Sports Performance, following two years at the College of San Mateo where he made the Dean’s List for academic achievement.
Waskey is actively pursuing dual certifications through the National Academy of Sports Medicine — Performance Enhancement Specialist (PES) and Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES). He has been mentored by highly respected performance professionals, including Colin Peuse (Director of Sports Performance at Sacred Heart Cathedral Prep) and Mike O’Neal (Certified NFL Trainer and CEO of Real Neal Sports). Nate’s coaching philosophy centers on helping athletes improve movement efficiency, strength, and on-field performance through evidence-based training while reducing injury risk. He is a valuable contributor to both the human performance department and the daily on-field coaching operations at Top Tier Las Vegas.
Coach
Shane Taylor
Shane Taylor is a Las Vegas native and Faith Lutheran graduate who went on to play Division I baseball at Utah Tech and UNC-Charlotte, where he was a four-year starter in the infield. His experience competing at the highest collegiate level, paired with his local roots, gives him a unique perspective on player development in the Vegas Valley.
At Top Tier Las Vegas, Taylor serves in both the fielding and hitting departments while also taking on on-field coaching roles within our high school program. He brings a strong blend of technical skill, competitive experience, and player-focused instruction to the Staff, helping our athletes sharpen their defensive tools, refine their offensive approach, and prepare for the demands of the next level.
Coach
David Lally
David Lally is a four-year graduate of Earlham College, where he served as a team captain during his senior season. He played a key role in Earlham’s conference championship run as a freshman, setting the tone early in a collegiate career built on leadership, consistency, and commitment to detail.
A Centennial High School product, Lally brings 12 years of competitive baseball experience in the Las Vegas area and a deep understanding of the landscape our players navigate. His blend of local knowledge, college playing experience, and steady presence makes him a strong addition to the Top Tier Las Vegas coaching staff.
Coach
Vincenzo Whitney
Vincenzo Whitney is an emerging coaching talent at Top Tier Las Vegas, beginning his career in a developmental support role across multiple youth levels. With a background rooted in catching, Whitney brings a strong understanding of receiving, blocking, and game management fundamentals to his work on the field.
Vincenzo contributes to day-to-day player development through hands-on instruction, energy, and attention to detail—helping young athletes build foundational skills the right way. As he continues to grow within the Top Tier system, Whitney embodies the program’s values of professionalism, development, and a team-first mindset.
Coach
Grant Braverman
Grant Braverman brings several years of coaching experience at the youth levels and adds a strong analytical lens to the player-development process at Top Tier Las Vegas. His ability to evaluate data, interpret on-field trends, and translate information into actionable development plans makes him a valuable resource for players and coaches alike.