Rockford, Illinois-May 12th, 2023–The Rockford Rivets are thrilled to have a stacked coaching staff for the 2023 season. With the help of this coaching staff our Rivets will be set up for success and hoping to bring home a Northwoods League Championship. 

Introducing our 2023 coaching line up→

Manager: Vincent Tornincasa “Vinny”

Vincent Tornincasa is in his second summer with the Rockford Rivets.In the summer of 2022, Tornincasa was the hitting coach and interim manager for the Rockford Rivets in the Northwood Leagues. He helped the team go 37-35 overall, including a 20-16 record and a second-place finish in the Great Lakes East Division for the second half of the season.

Tornincasa is wrapping up his first season as an assistant coach for the University of Illinois Springfield baseball program. He is in his 12th year as a coach, and he has worked with seven professional players.

Tornincasa also works with the Athletic Performance Factory where he was the Lead Hitting and Fielding Instructor. He provided individual hitting lessons and used technology to increase each player’s understanding of their movements, swings, and hitting philosophy.

In 2021 and 2022, he was an assistant coach at Andrean High School. He was the infield coordinator and helped the program win the 2022 Indiana State Championship. Other coaching jobs included being an assistant coach in 2018 for the Carroll Merchants, and an assistant coach from 2015-20 for Purdue Northwest. 

Assistant Coach: Jake Lotz

The Rockford Rivets are thrilled to welcome Jake Lotz to their coaching staff as Pitching Coach for the 2023 season. Lotz is no stranger to the Northwoods League, having played for Rockford in 2020. This will be his first season coaching for the Rivets, and he is eager to bring his experience and knowledge to the team.

Currently serving as an assistant at Northern Illinois University, Lotz primarily focuses on working with the pitchers. He previously served as the pitching coach at Triton College, where he developed a reputation for getting the best out of his players. 

Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, Lotz attended St. Laurence High School before going on to play five seasons at Lewis University. During his time at Lewis, he received a GLVC honor and an all-region award for his exceptional performance on the mound.

Assistant Coach: Tanner Bradley

Tanner Bradley is a highly accomplished and experienced hitting coach, currently serving as the Pitching Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Southeastern Illinois College (NJCAA D1) for the 2022-23 season. 

Bradley’s journey in baseball began at Rend Lake College, where he played a pivotal role in the team’s remarkable success as they secured the 2019 Region 24 Championship. Following his time at Rend Lake, Bradley continued his collegiate career at the University of Montevallo, where he pitched for two additional years while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

With a solid foundation in both academics and athletics, Bradley’s commitment to excellence and his passion for the game led him to the role of pitching coach at Limestone Community High School during the 2021-22 season. There, he honed his coaching skills and played a vital role in developing the talent of the young athletes.

Currently, as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Southeastern Illinois College, Bradley continues to make a significant impact on the next generation of baseball players. His knowledge, experience, and dedication to player development make him a valuable asset to the team and an integral part of their success.

Manager Vincent Tornincasa, on Lotz and Bradley: “I’m very excited to have both Jake and Tanner on staff this summer. I actually coached Lotz a few summers ago and know what a competitor he is. He was my first call when I began looking for coaches. Tanner joined the staff a little later and is more than qualified, so I’m really lucky to have them both. They each played in the league, so they’re familiar with it, and I have all the faith in the world that they’ll make a positive impact for the ball club.”