BVA Coaching Staff
Tony Watson
Head Coach
Coach Watson is entering his 4th season as the head coach of Belle Vernon Area High School Baseball. In 2021, he helped guide the Leps into the WPIAL playoffs. Previously, he served in the program as a Varsity Asst/Pitching Coach from 2014-2019. Tony is a 1993 BVA graduate, where he was a 3 year varsity letterman in both baseball & basketball. He was named to 1st team All-Section & 1st team All-WPIAL as a pitcher on the '93 BVA Playoff Team, as well as an All-Section basketball selection.
Tony continued his baseball career at Waynesburg University as a pitcher for Coach Steve Lee, graduating in 1998. He was a member of back-to-back PAC Championship teams in '94-'95 and was invited to regional tryouts with the Baltimore Orioles & St. Louis Cardinals.
Over the years, he has coached youth baseball throughout the BVA School District, as well as the 1998 West Newton American Legion team. Tony also served as a BVA varsity asst basketball coach during the 1998-99 Section Championship Season.
Coach Watson has had 7 players commit to play collegiately over the past 3 years, ranging from Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 & JUCO.
Tony is employed as a substitute teacher in the Belle Vernon Area School District and he resides in North Belle Vernon with his son, AJ .
Tony continued his baseball career at Waynesburg University as a pitcher for Coach Steve Lee, graduating in 1998. He was a member of back-to-back PAC Championship teams in '94-'95 and was invited to regional tryouts with the Baltimore Orioles & St. Louis Cardinals.
Over the years, he has coached youth baseball throughout the BVA School District, as well as the 1998 West Newton American Legion team. Tony also served as a BVA varsity asst basketball coach during the 1998-99 Section Championship Season.
Coach Watson has had 7 players commit to play collegiately over the past 3 years, ranging from Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 & JUCO.
Tony is employed as a substitute teacher in the Belle Vernon Area School District and he resides in North Belle Vernon with his son, AJ .
Nate Raffle
Assistant Head Coach
Coach Raffle is entering his 3rd season as the varsity assistant head coach. Previously, Nate has served as the head JV coach/catching instructor for 8 seasons. He attended Yough HS from 2003-05, where he played varsity baseball. He then transferred to Greensburg Central Catholic for his senior year, in which their baseball team set a school record for most wins in a season (21). Nate played in the AA WPIAL championship game during the '06 campaign.
Coach Raffle continued his baseball career in college, playing for Young Harris (JUCO D1), Lindsey Wilson (NAIA D1) & Penn State Greater Allegheny. Nate graduated with a degree in Informational Science & Technology/Mechanical Drafting. Following college, Nate was signed by the Atlanta Braves Organization, where he was a catcher in their farm system.
Nate is currently employed by Raffle Construction as a foreman for his family's business. He and his wife, Kelsea, reside in Ruffsdale with their daughters, Avery & Ellie.
Coach Raffle continued his baseball career in college, playing for Young Harris (JUCO D1), Lindsey Wilson (NAIA D1) & Penn State Greater Allegheny. Nate graduated with a degree in Informational Science & Technology/Mechanical Drafting. Following college, Nate was signed by the Atlanta Braves Organization, where he was a catcher in their farm system.
Nate is currently employed by Raffle Construction as a foreman for his family's business. He and his wife, Kelsea, reside in Ruffsdale with their daughters, Avery & Ellie.
Jason Bradburn
Varsity Assistant Coach/Hitting Coach
Jason is entering his 3rd season as a varsity assistant coach & hitting coordinator. Coach Bradburn was an all-section performer for South Park Baseball in 1991-92. He played collegiately at Edinboro University, Northeast Louisiana (D1) & Point Park College. Jason was named the 1993 PSAC Rookie of the Year while at Edinboro, before transferring to Northern Louisiana. At NIU, Jason garnered All-Conference & All Section Honors.
Coach Bradburn was recently honored by being named to the National Semi-pro Baseball Hall of Fame in Evansville, IN.
Jason currently resides in Rostraver with his wife Melanie & their 2 daughters, Quinn & Brecklynn.
Coach Bradburn was recently honored by being named to the National Semi-pro Baseball Hall of Fame in Evansville, IN.
Jason currently resides in Rostraver with his wife Melanie & their 2 daughters, Quinn & Brecklynn.
Evan Hannan
Varsity Assistant Coach/Strength & Conditioning
Evan is entering his 4th season as a coach on our staff. Coach Hannan also heads up the Leopards Strength & Conditioning Program. Previously, Evan served as the BVA Freshman head coach & most recently, as our head JV coach.
Evan is a 2016 BVA graduate, where he was a 3-year Varsity starter & a first team All-Section performer for 3 straight seasons. He was also a team captain for 2 years & was a Winner of the Mighty Leopards Award.
Coach Hannan continued his baseball career at W&J College, where he played from 2016-19. He was a member of 2 PAC championship teams, 2 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships & 2 appearances in the NCAA World Series.
Evan received a Bachelor of Business Administration & a minor in public policy. He also graduated from Duquesne Law School in 2023 & is now practicing law in the Pittsburgh area. Evan currently resides in Pittsburgh.
Evan is a 2016 BVA graduate, where he was a 3-year Varsity starter & a first team All-Section performer for 3 straight seasons. He was also a team captain for 2 years & was a Winner of the Mighty Leopards Award.
Coach Hannan continued his baseball career at W&J College, where he played from 2016-19. He was a member of 2 PAC championship teams, 2 Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships & 2 appearances in the NCAA World Series.
Evan received a Bachelor of Business Administration & a minor in public policy. He also graduated from Duquesne Law School in 2023 & is now practicing law in the Pittsburgh area. Evan currently resides in Pittsburgh.
Mark Corella
JV Head Coach
Coach Corella is entering his 1st season as the program's head JV coach. Previously, he served as our assistant JR High coach. Mark is a graduate of Brownsville HS, where he was a first-team all-conference player in baseball & football. He currently owns Brownsville's single-game strikeout record of 18 against Uniontown.
Mark continued his collegiate career at Waynesburg College, where he was a 2 sport all-conference athlete. He was named Waynesburg College Baseball MVP following the 1992 campaign.
Coach Corella has coached baseball at the rec level for the past 8 years & currently coaches for the Force 15U travel program in the summer.
Mark currently resides in Rostraver with his wife, Billie & their 3 children, Alexandra, Vanessa & Anthony.
JV Head Coach
Coach Corella is entering his 1st season as the program's head JV coach. Previously, he served as our assistant JR High coach. Mark is a graduate of Brownsville HS, where he was a first-team all-conference player in baseball & football. He currently owns Brownsville's single-game strikeout record of 18 against Uniontown.
Mark continued his collegiate career at Waynesburg College, where he was a 2 sport all-conference athlete. He was named Waynesburg College Baseball MVP following the 1992 campaign.
Coach Corella has coached baseball at the rec level for the past 8 years & currently coaches for the Force 15U travel program in the summer.
Mark currently resides in Rostraver with his wife, Billie & their 3 children, Alexandra, Vanessa & Anthony.
Rob Hannan
JV Assistant Coach
Coach Hannan is entering his 4th season as an assistant coach. Rob is a BVA graduate and has coached youth baseball in the Belle Vernon Area for the past 20 years. He will be assisting with the JV team again this season, after previously serving as a freshman assistant coach.
Rob is self-employed and owns/operates Robert Hannan Flooring. He and his wife Linda, currently reside in Rostraver and have 2 children, Evan & Raya.
Rob is self-employed and owns/operates Robert Hannan Flooring. He and his wife Linda, currently reside in Rostraver and have 2 children, Evan & Raya.
Eric Lind
Jr High Head Coach/Pitching Coach
Coach Lind is entering his 2nd season as the program's Jr High head coach & pitching coordinator. Eric is a 1987 graduate of BVA HS, where he was a 3-year Varsity letterman as a pitcher from 1985-87.
He continued his baseball career by playing collegiately at Garrett College in Maryland. Eric majored in athletic training during his 2 years as a pitcher.
Previously, Eric has coached Bronco & Pony league baseball in the Belle Vernon Area. He currently resides in Belle Vernon with his wife, Shannon & their 3 children, Hayley, Parker & Paityn.
He continued his baseball career by playing collegiately at Garrett College in Maryland. Eric majored in athletic training during his 2 years as a pitcher.
Previously, Eric has coached Bronco & Pony league baseball in the Belle Vernon Area. He currently resides in Belle Vernon with his wife, Shannon & their 3 children, Hayley, Parker & Paityn.
Kevin Rossini
Middle School Head Coach
Coach Rossini is entering his 2nd season as our Head Middle School coach. Kevin is a 1994 graduate of Ringgold High School, where he played varsity baseball. He began his coaching career in the Ringgold School District from 1999-2004.
Kevin has coached rec baseball for 15 years, Pittsburgh Premiere travel baseball for 2 years & is a current coach of the Force 9U & 10U summer teams. K-Ro has coached in our fall middle school program & has been providing instruction to our 7th-8th graders throughout the winter months. He helped guide our Middle School team to an 8-1 record during the 2023 campaign.
Kevin has coached rec baseball for 15 years, Pittsburgh Premiere travel baseball for 2 years & is a current coach of the Force 9U & 10U summer teams. K-Ro has coached in our fall middle school program & has been providing instruction to our 7th-8th graders throughout the winter months. He helped guide our Middle School team to an 8-1 record during the 2023 campaign.
Tom Jackson
Assistant Coach
We welcome Tom Jackson to the staff for the 2024 season. Tom is a graduate of Cyrstal River High School in Florida, where he lettered in varsity baseball. Coach Jackson also played collegiately at Santa Fe Alachua College for 2 seasons.
Tom will be assisting us at the MS, Jr High & JV levels this year. He is also the current head coach of Belle Vernon's American Legion program. Previously, Tom coached RYBA youth baseball for 10+ years & Mon Valley Elite travel baseball for 5 years.
Coach Jackson currently resides in Belle Vernon & has 2 children, Zach & Emily.