Meet the Team at Ahead in the Count Recruiting, LLC
Tom Coons
Co-Founder/Director
Career Highlights
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30+ years of experience as an educator, college coach, and recruiting coordinator.
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Served as President and Advisor for a Northeast-based sports recruiting company.
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Founded and operated a successful travel baseball organization with 8 teams, helping numerous athletes earn college opportunities.
Career Bio
Tom has always valued guiding athletes and their families through the recruiting process, supporting them from the first conversation to the final college decision. He has extensive experience in directing and coaching at the collegiate level and guiding student-athletes toward high levels of success both athletically and academically. He has helped numerous student-athletes develop and achieve their collegiate goals, as well as having athletes continue to the professional level.
Tom has well-developed skills in supervising and evaluating, recruiting and developing qualified student-athletes. He collaborates with many contacts, including agents and scouts.
Tom also experienced the recruiting journey from the parent’s perspective when his son was recruited out of high school to play collegiate baseball. The process was exciting but sometimes overwhelming—beginning with letters in the mail, followed by emails, phone calls, college visits, and countless family discussions. Ultimately, his son found the perfect fit, thriving both academically and athletically. After graduation, he went on to play professional baseball and now serves as a Division I college baseball coach.
Developer
Chad Porter
Co-Founder/Director
Career Highlights
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17+ years as Head Baseball Coach at the NCAA Division II level (Ohio Valley University, Texas A&M International University).
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Named 2006 West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Co-Coach of the Year.
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Named 2017 Great Midwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
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Led both Ohio Valley and Texas A&M International to their first-ever Top 25 NCAA DII national ranking.
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Coached and mentored numerous players who advanced to play professional baseball.
Career Bio
Chad's baseball career at started at Heidelberg College before transferring to Ohio Valley University, where he completed his playing eligibility and earned a B.S. in Physical Education. He later earned an M.S. in Physical Education/Teacher Education from West Virginia University.
Chad began his coaching career in 2002 as an assistant baseball coach at Ohio Valley University. After two seasons, he was promoted to head coach in 2004. In 2008, he accepted the head coaching position at Texas A&M International University, leading the Dustdevils from 2009–2014. He then returned to Ohio Valley University, serving as both Director of Athletics and Head Baseball Coach.
Currently, Chad is the Head Baseball Coach at Warren High School in Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Zac Carte
Director of Analytics/Advisor
Career Bio
Zac Carte is a lifelong catcher, coach, and program builder with a proven track record in player development and baseball leadership. A four-year starter at Ohio Valley University, Zac appeared in over 150 collegiate games behind the plate, posting a career batting average above .320. Known for his toughness, leadership, and consistency, Zac built his playing career on traits he now instills in the athletes he mentors.
After graduating in 2007, Zac returned to OVU as an assistant coach, gaining firsthand experience in player development and collegiate program management. He later coached at Parkersburg South Middle School (2008–2009) and with Parkersburg Post 15 American Legion (2009–2010), emphasizing fundamentals, accountability, and preparing athletes for the next level.
From 2015–2020, Zac served as President of Belpre Youth Baseball/Softball, leading major facility upgrades, expanding participation opportunities, and building a strong foundation for long-term community growth. In 2018, he founded the Blennerhassett Bears, a respected travel baseball program that has produced numerous collegiate and professional players. Today, he continues to impact the game as an assistant coach at Warren High School and as the operator of 304 Hitting Company, an indoor training facility specializing in hitting, catching, and year-round player development.
Zac is also a certified Mental Performance Mastery coach, equipping athletes with tools to compete with confidence, resilience, and an elite mindset. His holistic approach—blending physical training with mental performance—has helped countless players maximize their growth and opportunities.
LET US EVALUATE YOU
EXPERT SCOUTING AND COLLEGE EVALUATION
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FOLLOW OUR EXPERT GUIDANCE & CREATE A INDIVIDUALIZED SCOUTING REPORT
WE HELP YOU FIND THE BEST ATHLETIC, ACADEMIC, AND FINANCIAL FIT
RECRUITING PLAN
COLLEGE CHOICES
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THE PITCH COUNT
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Contact us to help with your recruiting needs. We offer a variety of packages, as well as a series of showcases to help get you evaluated.
Why Ahead In The Count Recruiting?
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Analytics
We use various proven software options and with our established recruiting ability we break down abilities, schools need and find the school that fits you the best. Our analytic team, certified in Rapsodo, will help to break down school options.
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Player Development Focus
We supply 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 can be developed for you.
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Personalized attention
We will create a personal portal which is a breakdown of size, skills, academics as well as communication with our team and our team's communication with college coach’s.
We communicate with parents and student athletes on progress.
We will also coach players on the correct way to communicate with college coaches before, during and after college visits.
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Higher Education Consulting
We use Logistics, Finances, Analytics, Player development focus in addition to providing Personalized attention to find the school that best fits your needs.
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Logistics
Where do you see yourself going to school? How far from home? What size of school best fits your personality? College campus vs City school? Private vs. Public? What climate would you prefer (hot, cold, change of seasons)?
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Finances
We will guide you through what scholarships/financial help are available and how to apply. Look at the perks of in-state vs out of state, grant money vs scholarships, scholarship lengths, student loans and FAFSA.