MEET THE COACHING STAFF
The Northwest Blaze are led by a professional coaching staff that consists of some of the best instructors in the state. Our coaching staff includes former playing professionals along with college and high school coaches and players who know exactly what it takes to be champions on and off the playing field.
Terrel Hansen
Program Director/18U Head Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2010
Professional Career: 13 Playing Seasons / 1 Season Hitting Coach – Seattle Mariners / New York Mets / Montreal Expos / Detroit Tigers
College Career: Washington State University
High School Career: Bremerton High School
Played under Head Coaches/Managers – Bobo Brayton, Clint Hurdle, Jerry Manual, Ron Washington, Jim Tracy, Lou Pinella, Mike Quade, Felipe Alou, Bill Plummer, Hal Mcrae, Larry Parrish, Terry Kenedy, Jeff Torborg, Jerry Royster, Marc Hill and Buck Rodgers.
Pete Randall
Pitching Coordinator
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2010
Professional Career: 10 Seasons Pro Scout for Boston Red Sox / Philadelphia Phillies
Jeran McCormick
Recruiting Coordinator, Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2010
High School Career: McNary High School
Coaching Career: Blaze 9u-16u Head Coach for two separate teams from 2010- 2022, 18u Assistant Coach 2023, NMHS Assistant Coach 2014-Present
Coach McCormick assists with player development at all ages and will be seen helping coaching staffs throughout the season.
Rod Benson
18U Collegiate Bench/Catching Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2014
Coaching Career: Blaze 18U Bench/Catching Coach (2018 – Current). Blaze 18U Collegiate Assistant Coach (2016 – 2017). Blaze 16U Head Coach (2015). Blaze 15U Assistant Coach (2014). 20 years coaching all aspects of youth and select baseball.
High School Career: Beaver High School, 1986. Starting varsity Catcher 1983-1986
Ian Hollis
18U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2017
Coaching Career: Blaze 15U Head Coach, Blaze 14U Head Coach, Blaze 13U Head Coach. Blaze 12U Head Coach (2020). Blaze 13U Assistant Coach (2019). Blaze 12U Assistant Coach (2018). Blaze 15U Assistant Coach (2017).
College Career: Olympic College
High School Career: North Kitsap
Chris Uzzell
18U Pitching Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2021
College Career: Olympic College, Morningside University
High School Career: Central Kitsap High School
Coaching Career: Blaze 13U Pitching Coach (2021). Blaze 12U Assistant Coach (2020). 13U Assistant Coach (2020)
Steve Lovell
18U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2017
College Career: Pierce College, Olympic College
High School Career: South Kitsap High School
Coaching Career: High School Assistant Coach – 7 years
Blake Ecklund
16U Head Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2021
High School Career: South Kitsap High School
Coaching Career: Catching, MI, Hitting Coach
James Olson
16U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2023
Coaching Career: Coaching baseball for 24 years
Brandon Fisch
15U Head Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2022
College Career: Olympic College
High School Career: South Kitsap High School
Tommy Powell
15U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2023
High School Career: Wilson High School
Coaching Career: 5 years
AJ Pearson
15U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2024
High School Career:
Coaching Career:
Ben Palau
14U Head Coach/Blaze Hitting Coordinator
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2010
College Career: Olympic College
High School Career: Bremerton High School
Coaching Career: Current 2024/2025 14U Head Coach, 2023/2024 – 13U Head Coach, 2022/2023 – 18U Assistant Coach, 2021/2022 – 15U Assistant Coach, 2019/2020 – 15U Head Coach, 2018/2019 – 14U Head Coach, 2017/2018 – 13U Head Coach, 2016/2017 – 12U Head Coach, 2015/2016 – 18U Assistant Coach, 2014/2015 – 14U Head Coach, 2012/2014 – 16U Head Coach, 2011/2012 – 12U Assistant Coach.
Don Zimmerman
14U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2018
Coaching Career: Blaze 13U Assistant Coach, Blaze 12U Head Coach, Blaze 14UB Assistant Coach. Titans Assistant Coach (2018 – 2019).
Ryan Schauer
14U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2022
Coaching Career: Born and raised in the area. South Kitsap Southern Little League multi-year All-Star. President of SKSLL. Love coaching the mental game and strategy to work through challenges.
Scott Ostrander
14U Pitching Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2023
College Career: Olympic College
High School Career: Bremerton High School
Coaching Career: Olympic College Assistant Coach – 1 year, SPWAA U12 Head Coach – 1 year, SPWAA Assistant Coach – 4 years
Troy McCormick
12U Head Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2021 Coaching, 1996-2004 Blaze Player
College Career: St. Martin’s University
High School Career: North Mason High School
Sam Cardens
12U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2022
High School Career: South Kitsap High School
Coaching Career: 11U Assistant Coach, 10U Assistant Coach
Mason Fisher
12U Assistant Coach
Northwest Blaze Career: Started 2024
College Career:
High School Career: North Mason High School
Coaching Career: