Headfirst Gamers Coaches:
Coaches’ Bios 14U Team(s) through 18U Teams(s)
MARIO IGLESIAS
Mario starred on the same Little League team as Michael, pitching and hitting his teams to championships from an early age. He played four years at the Varsity level for Hayward High before graduating in 1992. He earned such honors as All-HAAL, HAAL Player of the Year, All-East Bay, East Bay Pitcher of the Year, All-Northern California, All-State, and All-American. He led his team to the NCS Championship and was selected to play in the Olympic Festival Tournament. He attended Stanford University, twice choosing to pass up pro offers from the Baltimore Orioles and the Anaheim Angels. While a member of the Cardinal, Mario earned wins in the 1995 and 1996 NCAA Regionals and pitched in the 1995 College World Series. His 10-1 record in 1996 remains in the Stanford record books.
Mario played summer baseball in Alaska, winning NBC World Series titles in 1993 and 1994. After graduating with a degree in Psychology in 1996, he signed with the Chicago White Sox. Mario set a Carolina League record by going 13-1, the first time a relief pitcher led the league in wins. He was selected as a Carolina League All Star. He was traded from the Birmingham Barons (AA) to the Bowie Baysox (AA) of the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1999. Despite leading the team in ERA and appearances in 2000, he was released but picked up and promoted by the Chicago Cubs, where he ended the season in Iowa (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. In addition to teaching baseball, Mario worked as a professional sports agent. Mario also teaches at Castro Valley High School.
MICHAEL IGLESIAS
Michael began playing in Castro Valley Little League where he led his team to the first District 45 pennant in the league’s history. He played three years of Varsity baseball at Hayward High. Before graduating in 1991 he earned such honors as All-HAAL, HAAL pitcher of the Year, All-East Bay, All-Northern California, All-State, and All-American. He signed a letter of intent and was accepted at the University of California at Berkeley, but chose to sign professionally when he was drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Michael was featured in Baseball America as the hardest thrower in the Dodgers’ Draft. After showing a blazing fastball and being scouted as very raw, Michael had two serious injuries. He won two championship rings for teams in Bakersfield (A) and San Antonio (AA). After going to Major League Spring Training with the Dodgers in 1998, he went on to have a dominant season at Albuquerque (AAA). In 1999 he became a free agent and signed with the Atlanta Braves. Early in the season he chose to play professionally in Taiwan, where he pitched his team to the CPBL World Championship. He signed with the Milwaukee Brewers for the 2000 season, but his season ended early due to shoulder surgery. Michael went through a rehabilitation program with the Oakland A’s trainers and is now throwing without pain. Throughout his career Michael has been coached by and studied pitching with Don Drysdale, Claude Osteen, Sandy Koufax, Luis Tiant, Dave Wallace, Orel Hershiser, and Tommy Lasorda. After going through numerous injuries and a career-ending surgery, Michael is committed to preventing injuries of his students with correct mechanics.
CALEB COOPER
Caleb started out playing in Castro Valley Little League, where he broke the homerun record and batting average record in his first year. Caleb won the batting title in Castro Valley Babe Ruth as a 14 year old and won the MVP as a 15 year old. He went on to play at Castro Valley High and was a three year Varsity player. Caleb was an All-League selection two years in a row. After high school, Caleb went on to play at Cal State Hayward and was named All-Conference in his first two years. In his junior year, he became an All-American, breaking school records with 38 career homeruns and smashed 19 in a single season. He also holds the RBI record with 75 in 40 games. Caleb was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 19th round. Injuries prevented Caleb from terrorizing pitchers as he did in college. Caleb has been a coach, manager, and hitting instructor for Headfirst for three years.
BRIEN MOUTON
Brian was a rare three sport all-star at Hayward high school from 1986-1988. Brian was named All-League from his sophomore year through his senior year in baseball, basketball and football. Brian was also named All-East Bay in Football and Baseball in his senior year. He won many awards in all three sports growing up and decided to pursue baseball after high school. In 1988, Brian was drafted by the Texas Rangers out of high school at 17 years old. He signed and played three years with the Rangers organization before being traded to Milwaukee. Brian played for one more year and then came home to the Bay to play amateur football. In 1992, Brian was invited to a one day NFL- Oakland Raider- tryout camp. After finishing his playing career, Brian coached his son Brian Jr. in all three sports at Bishop O’Dowd high school, where he became an all-star like his dad. Brian specializes in hitting instruction and has privately coached many players in the Bay Area over the last ten years. Brian now brings all of his experience to Headfirst Baseball as a manager and a hitting instructor.
KYLE COOPER
Kyle Cooper joined Headfirst Baseball as an assistant coach for the Gamers in 2008 for his brother Caleb on the Gamers18U Team. Kyle managed the 14U team in the Fall of 2008 and was an infield instructor in the HF Fall program. Kyle was also an instructor at the Headfirst College Showcase in 2008.Kyle recently completed his collegiate eligibility at Oklahoma Baptist of the NAIA. Kyle played for Montree College in North Carolina in 2007 after playing for Chabot College in 2005 and 06. Kyle played for Castro Valley High School, graduating in 2004
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