Instructors
DUCKS ACADEMY™ INSTRUCTORS & BASEBALL COACHES
Rich Janor
Director
- Founder of Ducks Baseball and Head Coach of the original Ducks team (2003)
- Head Varsity Baseball Coach at Montini Catholic High School in Lombard, IL
- High School Varsity Coach of the Year in 2011, 2013 (IHSBCA Area)
- IHSA 3A State Finalist (2013) and IHSA 3A Elite Eight (2011)
Bill Smith
Director – Ducks Gold™
- 30+ year veteran of amateur baseball
- Former player and coach at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, IL
- Disciple of the legendary Coach Gordie Gillespie
- Former High School Coach at St. Joseph High School in Westchester, IL
Brian Smith
Director – Ducks Academy™
- Former standout pitcher at Northern Illinois University
- Master’s Degree in Sports Management
- Former Coach of the Madison Mallards (Northwoods League)
- Former Pitching Coach for Windy City Thunderbolts
- Former Manager of the Rockford Rivets
- Current Manager of the Windy City Thunderbolts
- Current WAA Manager of Programing
Cal Djuraskovic
- Played Collegiately at Central Michigan University and Davenport University
- Pitching Coach at Prairie State College
- Professional Pitcher (Windy City ThunderBolts)
- 2023 Frontier League All Star Pitcher
Scott Kelsch
- Former baseball player at Naperville North High School, College of DuPage and Benedictine University
- Four years as a head coach for Ducks Baseball 9U-12U
- Multiple years as a paid travel baseball coach/instructor for ages 10U-16U in various organizations
- USA Baseball Coach Certified
- Past president of the Oswego East All Sports Boosters
- Two adult children, Riley and Alex, former Oswego East HS and college athletes played for the Spikes and Ducks. Riley is an assistant softball coach at University of Wisconsin- Platteville
John Knauss
- Coached 30+ teams locally in travel Baseball, Basketball & Football over the past 15+ years, including the 4 years as a Head Coach in the Ducks Organization.
- Former varsity baseball player at Prospect High School and Harper College in Palatine. Multiple family members that played baseball at the college or pro level
- Active volunteer in the local community and is a current member and past Scholarship Chair for Oswego East All Sports Boosters
- Sons Cameron and Spencer, who were both active in WAA Sports and played Varsity Baseball at Oswego East HS
David Cronin
- Played Collegiately at University of Illinois Chicago
- 2017 All Horizon League 2nd Team
- MVP of 2017 Horizon League Tournament
- Selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (Round 20/Pick 597)
- 2018 Frontier League All Star Infielder (Evansville Otters)
Frank Meisl
- Played Collegiately at Benedictine University
- Former Assistant Coach at Evergreen Park High School
- Learning Behavior Specialist (District 68)
- Current High School Ducks Head Coach
Alex Kelsch
- 10-year travel ball player including five with the Ducks
- Played for 16U National Team USA-LABC in Santigo Domingo, DC
- 4-year starter at Oswego East High School
- Played collegiately at Loras College; Freshman starter
- Coached a 10U travel team