ABOUT US

WHY NEXTBASE?

The complex and ever-changing environment of college sports makes it more important than ever for parents to have someone with proven experience to help guide their child toward a future they deserve. The challenges facing players and families are greater than ever with NCAA rule changes, transfer portal rule changes, NIL opportunities, limited roster spots, travel ball, and showcases.

We are a fully integrated team specializing in helping guide high school, JUCO, and collegiate baseball and softball student-athletes in finding the best college fit, both academically and athletically. Using Coach Waggoner’s 25+ years of coaching experience and contacts, along with our analytics team, we offer a personalized touch to the college placement process you won’t find elsewhere. With direct contact to college coaches across the nation, NextBase supplies behind-the-scenes access unavailable elsewhere.

With a 100% placement record, we will find a school to fit your student athlete’s needs.

Aerial view of a baseball field with a dirt infield, green outfield, and nearby green trees.
Baseball player in a light blue jersey with the number 31, wearing a white cap, throwing a pitch on a baseball field.

MEET THE TEAM

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jeff waggoner

CO-FOUNDER, FORMER D1 HEAD COACH

Head Baseball Coach and 2-time Coach of the Year with 25+ years of experience recruiting, coaching, and developing men’s NCAA Division 1 and 2 players.

Extensive experience directing and coaching collegiate baseball programs and guiding student-athletes toward high levels of success athletically, academically, and within the community.

Well-developed skills in supervising and evaluating, recruiting and developing qualified student-athletes,collaborating with agents and scouts.

Coached 7 All-American players, 59 players who Major League Baseball clubs drafted during career, including four first-round draft picks and 13 MLB Players.

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Serving as Director of Analytics, Brent is a 30 year IT professional focused on data integration, testing and data analytics. Specializing in baseball and softball analytics he uses his technical background in order to help our team break down player data, team compatibility, logistics, finances and helping our student athletes discover the best school academically and athletically for each individual.

Brent Held

DIRECTOR OF ANALYTICS

A man in a black and gray zip-up jacket and camo shorts standing inside a sports net, with one arm extended as if about to throw or hit a ball.

Drabick, a Canton native, is the head baseball coach of the Louisville Leopards. He has coached at the Division I level with Lipscomb and Walsh University, served as Director of Player Development at Jackson High School, and trained over 300 athletes across youth, high school, and collegiate levels. A former player at Kent State, Lipscomb, and Auburn—where he competed in the 2022 College World Series—he holds a degree in Business Communications with master’s certificates in Leadership and Supply Chain Management. With experience as both a player and coach, Drabick guides athletes in their development and the college recruiting process.

tyler drabick

FORMER D1 PITCHER, HEAD COACH

Brian Sutphin

College and High School HEAD COACH

With a distinguished career spanning 30 years, coach has compiled an impressive head coaching record of 540-198, a testament to his expertise and dedication. His coaching journey includes significant roles at multiple levels of competition. He spent 20 years as a high school head coach, with 17 successful seasons at Hurricane and three at Nitro. His collegiate experience includes serving as the head coach at Alderson Broaddus College from 2001 to 2003 and as an assistant at West Virginia University from 1999 to 2000. These experiences were fundamental in developing his coaching philosophy and leadership, culminating in four West Virginia state championships: three AAA titles in 2014, 2018, and 2022, and the historic first-ever AAAA state championship in 2025. Additionally, his teams were state runners-up in 2017, 2019, and 2021, showcasing consistent excellence.

His exceptional contributions to the sport have been recognized with numerous prestigious honors. He was inducted into the Southern Sports Legend Hall of Fame in 2023 and the St. Albans Hall of Fame in 2024. He is set to be inducted into the West Virginia Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in January 2026 and has been honored with multiple MSAC and WV Coach of the Year awards, including the 2025 Shenandoah Valley League Coach of the Year for the Staunton Braves. His knowledge and experience have also been sought after as a clinic speaker, with notable appearances at the ABCA High School Clinic in Nashville in 2014 and multiple times at the WVBCA clinic.

WHY CHOOSE NEXTBASE?

  • Higher Education Consulting

    Using Logistics, Finances, Analytics, Player development focus and Personalized attention to find the school that best fits your needs.

  • Logistics

    Where do you picture yourself going to school? How far from home? What size of school best fits your personality? College campus vs City school? What climate would you prefer (hot, cold, change of seasons)?

  • Finances

    We will guide you through what scholarships/financial help are available and how to apply. Take an in depth look at what you can afford, the perks of in-state vs out of state, grant money vs scholarships, scholarship lengths, student loans and FAFSA. Help negotiate scholarship offers.

  • Analytics

    Using various proven software options and Coach Waggoner’s established recruiting ability we break down abilities, schools needs and find the school that fits you the best. Our analytic team uses Eagle Claw to help break down school options.

  • Player Development Focus

    Supplying an honest breakdown of skill level using video and/or in person evaluation. Player evaluations will focus on where a player is weak, strong and what can be improved on.

    Strength and conditioning programs, throwing programs, nutrition program if needed (gain/lose) and individual skill development.

  • Personalized attention

    Each student athlete will create a personal portal which is a break down of size, skills, academics as well as communication with our team and our teams communication with college coach’s.

    Group communication with the parents and student athletes on progress.

    Coaching the players on the correct way to communicate with college coaches before, during and after college visits.

A baseball lying on a patch of green grass.
Baseball player in red uniform swinging a bat at a pitched ball during a game, with a catcher reaching out with a glove behind him on a baseball field.
Aerial view of a baseball field with players in position, including the pitcher and catcher, and fielders on the grass and in the outfield.
A baseball player wearing a white uniform with the number 47 on the back, running on the field towards the outfield grass, holding a baseball glove in his left hand.
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