SOLID FOUNDATION BASEBALL TRAINING STAFF & INSTRUCTORS Frequently Asked Questions
Mike Kingery, SFBS Owner	Mike Kingery played professional baseball for 17 years, including stints with the Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's, Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Pirates. During his career, he nearly won the National League batting title before the strike shortened the season in 1994 (he was hitting .349 at the time), he combined with Roberto Mejia to hit the first-ever back-to-back home runs at Coors Field, and he played alongside All-Star outfielders including Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Dante Bichette, and Larry Walker. Mike was a highly decorated athlete when he graduated from Atwater High School in 1979, winning All-State awards in football, baseball, and track and field. He was signed as a free agent out of high school by the Kansas City Royals, but attended St. Cloud State University for his education. He progressed through the Royals' minor league system and eventually earned a starting spot in centerfield in 1986, before being traded to Seattle, where he again played centerfield, only to give way to Ken Griffey Jr. Mike enjoyed the best years of his career in Colorado from 1994-1995. Upon retiring from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1996, Mike and his family moved back to his hometown. In 1997, Mike created Solid Foundation Baseball School, Inc. to answer strong demand from local baseball teams and players. Mike has trained his professional coaches to use hands-on instruction techniques he learned in the big leagues, helping players maximize their abilities and understand the basic fundamentals of the game. Mike believes that small student-to-teacher ratios are better for students, rather than cookie-cutter approaches without one-on-one instruction time.
Mike Miller, Head SFBS Infield Coordinator	Michael Miller is a 1979 graduate of Capital (WA) High School where he played baseball, basketball, and ran cross country. He was a 10 sport letterman, and led his baseball team to two straight appearances in the Washington State Class 3A Title Game, winning the state championship in 1979. Mike was named All-State MVP Runner Up Player of the Year. Mike signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Washington State University. He was All-Conference and Player of the Year in basketball in his junior and senior seasons. At Washington State, he started four years in baseball, earning All-Conference honors his junior and senior year. He was named to one All-American team. Mike became the sixth round pick for the Kansas City Royals in the 1983 draft. Mike has instructed, trained, and coached at various levels the past 28 years. He has held various positions at Solid Foundation Baseball School the last 12 years, supporting the mission statement wholeheartedly.
Brian Tagney, Head SFBS Pitching Coordinator	Brian Tagney has been with SFBS for 5 years. He has been involved in baseball for over 30 years as a player, coach and instructor. His playing experience includes every level from Little League on through the professional ranks. A right handed pitcher and corner infielder, he played college ball at Cal Poly, where he was a member of the Broncos NCAA Div. II National Championship team. After a torn rotator cuff cut short his career on the mound with the San Diego Padres organization, Tagney returned to college to coach at Cal Lutheran University and Southern California College, guiding both teams to the NAIA Regional Playoffs and a College World Series berth. His pitching staff had the nation’s top ERA while playing mostly NCAA Division I and II opponents during So. Cal. College’s playoff season. Tagney has been instructing and coaching baseball players at every level for over 20 years. His students have played for high school, college, Olympic and major league baseball champions during that time.
Jon Benson, SFBS Instructor	Jon Benson has been an instructor with SFBS for 6 years. He was born and raised in Atwater. As a student under Mike's hitting instruction, Jon had a very successful high school baseball career at ACGC High School. Jon also played baseball at Ridgewater College prior to attending Southwest Minnesota State University to continue his football career. Jon currently teaches 6th grade in the St. Cloud School District, where he is an assistant baseball coach and the head football coach at Apollo High School.
Rocky Boyce, SFBS Instructor	Rocky Boyce is a 1988 graduate of Coon Rapids High School. He was an All State catcher in 1988 and played in the All Star game. In 1990 he was an All State catcher at Anoka Ramsey Community College. He played 5 seasons of Amateur Baseball with Coon Rapids and Hamel. He signed with the Minneapolis Loons in 1994. He was voted to the All Star game with the Minneapolis Loons in 1994. He played with the Minneapolis Loons in 1995. He was honored to be able to catch ex-Twin, Juan Berenguer. He has taught baseball for 15 years and is enjoying his 3rd year teaching with Solid Foundation Baseball School.
Mike Burkhardt, SFBS Instructor	Mike Burkhardt is a 1981 graduate of Augsburg College. Mike played two seasons of baseball and hockey at the University of Minnesota before transferring to Augsburg in the 1979-80 season, where he continued his participation at the varsity level in both sports. As part of the Augsburg hockey team, he earned team MVP, All-Conference and NAIA All-American honors his senior season as a goaltender, as the Auggies captured the 1980-81 NAIA National Championship. He compiled a 34-8 won/lost record in his two seasons at Augsburg, in addition to being part of two MIAC championship teams. Burkhardt was also a catcher on the Augsburg baseball team, serving as team co-captain his senior year. He served as an assistant baseball coach at Augsburg in 1982, and has coached youth baseball for a number of years in his home community of Burnsville. Burkhardt also served as a head hockey coach for the Mpls. Marshall-University and Mpls. North high school teams in the mid-1980s, and is currently in his second year as the goaltender coach at Augsburg College. Burkhardt works as a program financial controller for UnitedHealth Group, and he and his wife Sheryl have three children – Hilary, Ellen, and Mark. He has been with SFBS for 4 years.
Erik Ellingboe , SFBS Instructor	Erik Ellingboe is a 2004 graduate of Willmar Senior High School where he played both hockey and baseball. He is a former Solid Foundation Baseball School student. Erik was a two year starter in baseball and was named to the All Conference and All Area teams. Erik continued playing baseball at St. John's University for four years. He coached Willmar's VFW 2 team for two seasons.
Scott Halupczok, SFBS Instructor	Scott Halupczok went to school at St Cloud Cathedral where he played both varsity football and baseball. In baseball he was a part of two State Championship teams in 2001 and 2003. He was a captain, All-Conference and All-State selection his senior year. For football, Scott was a three year starter on varsity. He was selected as a captain his senior year along with being selected All-Conference and All-Area. Scott was a student at Solid Foundation Baseball School for four years, and has now been an instructor for two years. After graduation from high school, Scott attended Concordia College in Moorhead. There he played both collegiate baseball and football. He played 1st base for the Cobbers and started on the varsity for three years. He was selected to the MIAC All-Tournament team his sophomore year and was a captain during his senior seaon. For football, Scott played varsity for two years. He anchored the offensive line his senior season and was on the MIAC Championship team in 2004. Scott currently plays amateur baseball with the Granite City Grays in St Cloud. Scott graduated with a degree in Elementary Education in 2007. He currently teaches 4th and 6th grade at STARBASE Minnesota, an outreach program on Fort Snelling Military Base, in St Paul.
Chad Hess, SFBS Instructor	Chad Hess has been an instructor with SFBS for 5 years. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1992 where he was a three sport athlete and All Conference in football and baseball. From there, Chad went on to start 4 years as a catcher at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN where he was a 4-time All-NSIC selection. He was named Team MVP as a freshman and was the Team Captain for his last 3 years. Chad currently plays amateur baseball for the Freeport Black Sox, the former Melrose Black Sox. He has managed the team since 1997. Chad has had the opportunity to play in 12 Class C State Tournaments in 15 years and has collected 4 All Tournament Team Honors (1997, 1998, 2001, 2004) with one championship, two runner-ups, one third place finish and one 4th place finish with 4 different teams. Chad coached one year as an assistant at St. Cloud Apollo and now volunteers his time to the Rocori High School baseball team. He currently lives in St. Joseph, MN with his wife Jessica. He currently works for Minnesota Business Finance Corporation in St. Cloud, MN.
Brian Kingery, SFBS Instructor	Brian Kingery has been an instructor with SFBS for 5 years. He is Mike's nephew and was born and raised in Atwater. As one of Mike's students at SFBS, Brian had an outstanding high school baseball career at ACGC High School, leading his team to the state tournament in 2000 and earning All-Conference honors multiple times. Brian was also the starting quarterback of the ACGC football team that won the 2001 Minnesota State Prep Bowl Championship. Brian was a 4-year letterwinner for the Hamline Pipers baseball team and was one of the top hitters as a junior and senior. In 2006, he had the opportunity to play all nine positions in one game. He graduated with a biology degree from Hamline in 2006. He is currently a science teacher at BOLD High School in Olivia, MN.
Jon Lieser, SFBS Instructor	Jon Lieser grew up on a farm outside of Paynesville into a baseball family. He played baseball as he grew up and started varsity as a freshman at Paynesville High School. Jon was All Conference in his junior and senior years of High School and All Area in his senior year. He was a two year starter at Ridgewater College with a berth to the Junior College World Series both years. He was also selected to the All Tournament team at the series in his freshman year. Jon was at Dakota State for two years where he was a starter on the baseball team. He made the Super Regional once and was an All-Conference selection during his senior year. Jon currently plays amateur baseball in Lake Henry. He has played in three state tournaments, twice with Lake Henry and once as a drafted catcher. Jon lives in Arden Hills and works for a home building company as well as being a licensed real estate agent with Edina Realty. Jon is a former student of Mike Kingery and this is his 3rd year instructing with SFBS.
Terry Munoz, SFBS Instructor	Terry Munoz graduated from Tokay High School in Lodi, California in 1980. At Tokay, Terry was a varsity letterman in football and baseball where he earned All-Conference honors as a pitcher and infielder. Terry went on to play baseball at San Joaquin Delta College and enjoyed a 6 year baseball career in the Japanese American California League where he was a starting pitcher and part time infielder from 1988 to 1994. Before moving to Minnesota, Terry served as the head Varsity Baseball Coach for Brookside High School in Stockton, California for 3 seasons where he led his team to two league championships. Terry is married and the father of 3 children. At present, Terry serves as the Executive Director of Side By Side Ministries, a Christian Youth Ministry organization located in Golden Valley, MN. Terry is also involved in Youth Baseball in Buffalo, Minnesota where he enjoys coaching traveling baseball. He has been with SFBS for 2 years.
Mike Negen, SFBS Instructor	Mike Negen has been an instructor with SFBS for 5 years. He is a former student of Solid Foundation Baseball and a graduate of Southwest Minnesota State University. Mike enjoyed a successful freshman season at SMSU as a pitcher and was invited to play with the St. Cloud River Bats of the Northwoods League (2001). He earned varsity letters from 2001-2004 at SMSU. He also played amateur ball for the Marshall A’s. Mike is the Marketing Director for Rice Home Medical in Willmar and also does some real estate with Fenstra Real Estate. Mike and his wife Laura make their home in Willmar. He has been with SFBS for 4 years.
John Olson, SFBS Instructor	John Olson is in his 27th year of coaching baseball. He has coached players of all ages and levels of competition, through High School. He has coached in Wisconsin, and for the last twenty years has been in the Elk River School District, including the last eight as head coach at Rogers High School. John lettered four years in baseball, basketball, and track and field in High School, and attended The University of Wisconsin/Superior where he played football and baseball. He currently is a Health and Physical Education teacher at Salk Middle School in Elk River, MN. John has been married to his wife Aleta for 31 years. They have a son Kyle- 27 and a daughter Hilary- 22.
Adam Schieck , SFBS Instructor	Adam Schieck went to school at Kerkhoven/ Murdock/Sunburg (KMS) High School where he played varsity baseball, earning All Conference and All Area honors. He also played varsity football, where he was named Conference MVP and All Area, as well as varsity basketball. Adam was a student of Solid Foundation Baseball while in high school and college, and has been an SFBS instructor for 3 years. After graduating, he played collegiate baseball at Ridgewater College, which placed fifth at the NJCAA tournament. He graduated with a degree in Applied Economic from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Business and is now working with Anfinson & Thomson in Willmar.
Dan Terres, SFBS Instructor	Dan Terres is in his fifth year as an instructor with SFBS. Dan was a 4-year starter at St. Cloud State University and an All-Conference selection his junior and senior years; along with being the captain of the team his senior year. Currently Dan is the President of Rogers Area Youth Baseball and has coached youth baseball for 15 years. He is the assistant high school baseball coach for Rogers. He and his wife Cindy reside in Rogers with their four children, Aaron, William, Michael, and Catherine.
Perry Thinesen, SFBS Instructor	Perry Thinesen is the Athletic Director for Dassel-Cokato schools. He was a four-year letter winner in baseball and two-year letter winner in basketball in his own career at Dassel-Cokato. He was a multiple all-conference performer in both sports. He led his high school baseball team to a third place finish in the 1983 state tournament, and was tied for the lead in the state with most wins by a pitcher that year with 10. He holds most of the school’s pitching records including wins in a season and career, innings pitched, and strikeouts in a season and career. Perry went on to play both basketball and baseball at Golden Valley Lutheran Junior College. He then went on to play at Texas Lutheran University, where he graduated in 1988 with a degree in History. During his time there he played in a NAIA Division I playoff regional, just falling short of the NAIA World Series. In an amateur baseball career that has spanned 15 years with the Maple Lake Lakers, Dassel-Cokato Saints, and Howard Lake Orphans, he has a 93-38 lifetime record as a pitcher. In that time he played in eleven state tournaments, including three times as a drafted pitcher by other teams. Perry has coached youth baseball for nearly 20 years, and junior high to assistant varsity levels as well. Presently, Perry resides in Cokato with his wife and five children.
Nathan Turck, SFBS Instructor	Nathan Turck has been an instructor with SFBS for 8 years. He is a former student of Solid Foundation Baseball and is currently attending Northwestern Chiropractic College in Bloomington. Nathan was twice named an NJCAA Academic All-American while playing at Waldorf College. He also earned All-Conference Honorable Mention honors and NAIA Academic All-American honors both years he played baseball at Valley City State University. Nathan has played six years of amateur baseball, one year with the Litchfield Blues and five years with the Kimball Express. Prior to that, Nathan enjoyed a successful high school career at Litchfield, where he lettered 12 times in baseball, wrestling, and football. He played in the Lions All-Star Game as a senior and was twice voted All-Conference in baseball, as well as earning All-State Academic honors. Nathan lives in Minneapolis with his wife Jessica.

~ Testimonials ~

"Just plan on Matt as a regular. He has improved so much with your program. He is so much more confident. It is all because of Solid Foundation and your hard work. Thanks for everything
you've done."

"I wanted you to know St. Anthony won the class 2A state crown. Both Dan and Mark
were named all-tournament. For the year, Dan batted .473 and Mark batted .364. Dan was named to the Pioneer Press All-State team and
his brother Mark was named as the only sophomore position player honorable
mention all-state.
What a great year!
Thanks for your help.
It paid off big time."

"Mike, I know that you don't need me to
tell you this, but
Nathan Turck is a great guy! I have sent an
extra $20 and I'd appreciate it if you would pass it along to Nate. He did a great
job with our team's pitchers yesterday.
He went above and beyond - staying an
extra 15-20 minutes
and just really connecting with the kids and teaching them some good
stuff. A couple of
us "coaches" learned some things too! Thanks!"

"Also wanted to let
you know that after
just one lesson with Nathan, Blake has improved greatly. He
hit two in-the-park
home runs and has
struck out all but two batters that he has
faced pitching. I
knew he could do it
and that Blake was
good at baseball,
he just needed to
know the basics that Nathan taught him. Thank you and
thanks to Nathan."

"Thanks for fitting
Reed in last night.
Jon Benson worked
well with Reed's
hitting. It would be
great if we could get some more time in
with Jon if there are some other openings."

"Eveything went great again this year at the Eden Valley camp.
Ryan was great with both hitting and pitching. Both the boys and I had fun.
We would like the
same time and day
next year if possible."

"Thanks for the camp.
It is a great thing for kids to get involved in. Chad did a great job
with the guys and all four guys really liked
it. Good work in
hiring Chad. He is a
very good man."

"Even though we have only seen you twice,
it has been an
excellent experience
so far for Joel. He got home from school
today and wanted
to go hit a bucket
right away. Your two hours has motivated
him even more than before. Thanks!"

"Jake is doing well
and learning a lot! Thanks to you and JD's coaching! JD is really doing a fine job and has a real natural
ability to lead Jake to the next level."

"Thank you so much
for all you've taught
Ty!! We know you are the reason he's even being considered by college coaches. By the way he's batting .375, with an OBP% of .520. That's much improved over last season. Plus he's playing third sometimes, which is
new, but that's 'cause you helped him with
the throw."

"I personally am very impressed with what
you are doing. I understand it is a business, but your enthusiasm and
sincerity make it very worthwhile for the
young players that
seek your assistance. Good work."

"Thanks for making the last 12 weeks a wonderful experience
for my boys and their teammates. Dave was great! My youngest
son Nick feels totally energized and
confident that he
will have a great
season at the plate
and on the mound."

"Nathan really enjoyed working with you. He told me after the
night with you that
his new passion was
to play major league baseball, just so he
could tell the stories
that you tell."

"Thanks for helping
out our team. We
really appreciated
you taking the
time to help us
out. We won our
first playoff game
so we need to
win one more to
make it to regions."

"Thanks for providing quality instruction from quality instructors at a reasonable price! Nate is always a pleasure to work with and the kids love him."

"Scott really had lots
of fun and learned
lots. The small
teaching ratio was
great! We
appreciated the
personal contact,
the supportive
attitude. Wonderful experience!"

"I just thought I'd
drop you a note
and let you know
that the boys were
very glad they
attended your camp.
All three of them
have been very
positive about what
they learned and
are more confident
in their approach
to the game."

"With help from you
and dedication on
Max's part, Max is
back to being a
#3/#4 spot hitter.
His batting average
this year for Cretin
was over .600, his mechanics are much improved and consequently he is
back to driving
the ball. Most importantly, his confidence is back.
Now his only problem
is that he is getting intentionally walked!
I guess that's a good problem to have!"

"Just a quick note
of encouragement
for SF and in
particular, Nathan.
Both Tommy and
Tyler have shown
great progress this
year, in fact Tyler launched his first
ever homer two
weeks ago. I
scrambled over the
fence and retrieved
the special ball.
I have witnessed changes in form that have paid off!"

"Mike, I just wanted
to let you know
that I am greatly satisfied with the instruction Lucas has received. Nate was a "poster child" for the philosophy Solid Foundation Baseball School professes. He
was patient, funny
and simple in his approach to teaching Lucas solid baseball mechanics. You could not have provided us with a better
instructor. I see my
son with more
confidence at the
plate, better skills
while fielding, and
more fun on the
mound. I have also learned to be a better coach by watching
some of the techniques used by Nate. I will
let you know how the season goes back home
in Texas! From Lucas
and myself... thanks
for a great head start!"

"You really have that special touch with these kids in your camps. They respect you and know that whatever you're teaching them is the right thing. You are gentle and kind and can get your point across without being demeaning. That is not an easy thing to do!"

"I feel it is important to tell you that both of my boys spent an hour with Adam Schieck this past Tuesday at Miller Park. Certainly it was valuable but most impressive was the manner in which Adam treated my boys and their parents. He was so very genuinely polite and RESPECTFUL…a characteristic that is (unfortunately) more uncommon than common these days that I wanted to tell you how appreciative we both were. Keep up the great work with your instructors and their instruction!"

"I just wanted you to know that Nathan took personal time from his schedule and drove to
St. Paul last night to watch our son play in
the August Classic. Clearly, this is above
and beyond his normal duties. More
importantly, it left
our son, William, with
an incredible
impression. Thanks."