Trabuco Hills
Baseball
The Staff

Coaches

ONE PROGRAM.
ONE STANDARD.

11 coaches across three teams, united by one approach: develop fundamentally sound baseball players, demand great teammates, and prepare young men for what comes next—on and off the field.

Varsity

Brent Lavoie

Head Coach

Coach Brent Lavoie enters his 21st season as a high school baseball coach and his third season leading the Trabuco Hills program. His coaching career includes seven seasons at Long Beach Poly, six at Whittier Christian, two each at La Mirada and Whittier, and one at Valley Christian. Throughout his career, Lavoie’s teams have captured nine league championships. A Southern California native, Lavoie played collegiately at Missouri Valley College, North Arkansas College, and Biola University. He was a two-year starter at Biola and helped lead the Eagles to the 2003 NAIA College World Series. Known to his players as “Coach Mindstrong,” Lavoie emphasizes mental toughness, personal growth, and character-based leadership. In 2020, he received the FCA Jerry Kindall Character in Coaching Award at the American Baseball Coaches Association National Convention—recognizing his commitment to integrity, service, and developing student-athletes beyond the game. In addition to coaching, Lavoie is an educator and resource specialist at Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School. His philosophy centers on developing complete student-athletes and preparing young men for success both on and off the field.

Dean Schroeder

Assistant Coach

Over two decades of coaching across youth, Pony League, travel ball, high school and college programs. ABCA member with certifications from NFHS, Ripken Baseball, the National Pitching Association and Positive Coaching Alliance. Founder of the Trabuco Colts feeder program and the Get There Athletics nonprofit. Selected as Head Infield Instructor at the Stanford University All-Star Camp and author of multiple player development resources.

Alex Van Cleve

Assistant Coach

Alex Van Cleve is a 2008 Trabuco Hills graduate who played collegiately at Elmhurst University in Chicago, graduating in 2012. In 2010, he played for Coach Lavoie with the East LA Dodgers in the Sunset Collegiate Summer League. Van Cleve has coached at the youth and high school levels, emphasizing fundamentals, skill development, discipline and teamwork.

Dane Nakatsuka

Assistant Coach

Dane Nakatsuka is a 2018 graduate of Capistrano Valley High School and was a member of its CIF Southern Section Division 1 championship team. He continued his playing career at Irvine Valley College and Vanguard University, batting .335 across two seasons at Vanguard. Nakatsuka has also coached in the Western Canadian Baseball League. At Trabuco Hills, he focuses on fundamentals, baseball IQ and player development.

Junior Varsity

Matt Shapiro

Head Coach

A THHS program member since 2015 and a former player and alumnus. Grew up in the Caribbean playing cricket before transitioning to baseball. A business owner in Orange County and father of two, he emphasizes creating a positive, growth-focused environment.

Dylan Kato

Assistant Coach

South Orange County native who attended Aliso Niguel High School and played outfield on the 1998 Pacific Coast League championship team. Competed at Golden West College and Irvine Valley College and earned a BA in English from UC Irvine. More than 20 years with the Nisei Athletic Union as player, coach and administrator with the LA Pirates, and a volunteer coach at the MLB Compton Youth Academy. Works as a freelance copywriter.

Mike Jacobs

Assistant Coach

Mike Jacobs has served the Trabuco Hills baseball program since the fall of 2007. He previously coached travel and youth baseball and held leadership roles with Lake Forest Little League and Saddleback Pony League for 15 years. Originally from Miami, Jacobs graduated from Coral Gables High School and played two years at the University of Miami, where he earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in physics and mathematics. He has worked as an aerospace systems engineer with The Aerospace Corporation since the early 1980s. Jacobs lives in Lake Forest with his wife, Gloria. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.

Eugene Shin

Assistant Coach

Eugene Shin is a 2011 graduate of Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale. He played two seasons at West Los Angeles College, earning All-Western State Conference honorable mention, before finishing his collegiate career as a two-year catcher at Biola University. Shin serves as a JV assistant coach and the program’s catching coordinator.

Freshman

Matt Levin

Head Coach

A THHS alumnus (Class of 2012) and former first baseman from 2009–2011. Began coaching as a JV assistant in 2012–13 and was part of the 2013 JV Championship team that finished 25–3. Business Intelligence Manager at UC Irvine, handling financial, human resources and payroll reporting. Married to his wife Hailey, whom he met at THHS, with a young son, Jackson. Lifelong Los Angeles Angels fan.

Don Marcigliano

Assistant Coach

Extensive experience coaching at the youth and high school levels. Focuses on fundamentals, skill development, game preparation, discipline and teamwork, with an emphasis on a growth mindset and personal development mentorship.

Joey Scotvold

Assistant Coach

Joey Scotvold is a 2018 graduate of La Serna High School who played collegiately at Rio Hondo College and San Diego Christian University. In 2020, he played for Coach Lavoie with the SoCal Shepherds in the Sunset Collegiate Summer League. Scotvold also served as an assistant baseball coach at Vanguard University.