Also with the program since its inception, Mike Spears returns for his 12th season as varsity assistant coach for Hamilton. Spears is responsible for coaching the infielders and coordinating the defense.

The La Crosse, Wis., native has been coaching baseball 21 years, getting his start as a varsity assistant and ninth grade baseball coach at Central High School in La Crosse from 1990-92.

Since moving to Arizona, Spears, 46, coached seventh and ninth grade baseball at Willis Junior High School in Chandler from 1992-1997. Spears moved on for a one year stint as ninth grade baseball coach at Chandler High School for the spring 1998 season before joining Mike Woods to help construct the Hamilton program.

Spears received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 1990 and earned his masters in Secondary Education from NAU in 1994.

Spears is married to the former Diana Lambert and has three step-daughters, Brittany (23), Brooke (21), and Briana (16).