Lino Figueroa
Co-owner of Athletes HQ® - Dupage

Hitting and Catching Instructor

Lino was a 4 year college baseball player at Lakeland University, played summer collegiate ball in WCBL(Alberta, Canada) and ONSL (High Point, North Carolina). 

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​​​CJ Deshazer

Hitting and Infield Instructor

CJ is a former, multiple level college standout, who was a Switch-Hitting Shortstop and impact player for a Heartland CC team that went 41-4. CJ spent a year as a starter for an Oakton CC team that appeared in the College World Series. He then went on to play for nationally ranked Northwood University (D2).

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Hannah Rodriguez
Operations Manager/Head of Softball Player Development

Softball Hitting and Infield Instructor

Hannah Rodriguez brings an incredible resume from her college career as both a player and a coach. Hannah was the NAIA National Player of the Year, 3x 1st Team NAIA All-American, 2x Conference Player of the Year, and as a coach was the Coach of the Year in 2019 and holds a coaching record of 229-82

Additional Awards as a College Coach include CCAC Conference Tournament Champs 2016, 2019, Regular Season Conference Champs 2019, 2021, NAIA World Series Appearance 2021​​

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Derek Salata

Pitching Instructor

2023 MLB Draft Pick by the Oakland Athletics. Derek pitched at Illinois State D1 for 5 years. He began his career as a reliever and then later transitioned into a starter, eventually becoming the ace of the staff.

Awards: National Pitcher of the week and multiple MVC Pitcher of the week honors.

Derek also played summer collegiate ball in the Northwoods League and WCL. 

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AJ Rouse

Hitting and Outfield Instructor

AJ, a former standout college baseball player, began his career at Heartland CC before transferring to Oakton CC, where he earned NJCAA All-American honors in 2019 with a slash line of 365/.449/1.062 hitting 11 HRs helping lead Oakton to the NJCAA World Series. He later played at Southern University (HBCU) in Baton Rouge, LA. Current member of CPD Finest and Illinois State Trooper.

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Alese Antonello

Softball Pitching Instructor

Former NCAA D3 college softball at Wheaton College, 2x All-Conference Pitcher of the week in the Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and recognized as an All-Conference honoree. 

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Brett Taucher

Pitching Instructor

Brett was a Division 1 baseball player at Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville. Prior to attending Souther Ill. Brett pitched at Heartland (JUCO) as well as Quincy University (D2). During the summers Brett was also a standout in the Northwoods League posting a 1.20 ERA.​

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Jess Conenna

Softball/Fastpitch Pitching Instructor (Internal Rotation Methodology)

Former Division 1 Pitcher (Northern Illinois and Indiana Hoosiers). Jess has been training pitchers at the Elgin Athletes HQ location for the past 5 years