Developing the Whole Athlete
Developing the
whole athlete.

Elite performance training for athletes who want to level up their skills both mentally and physically.

Our Programs
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Elite Mentorship & Coaching
Elite mentorship & coaching

Founded by current and former athletes who know what it takes to reach the highest levels of competition.

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Jaccob Slavin
Our Alumni
our alumni

Get to know the collegiate and pro athletes who have experienced our programs firsthand.

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Jaccob Slavin
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Our Mission

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Our coaches are focused on giving each athlete the tools they need to be successful on and off the field.

Our programs were founded by former and current athletes that have played and worked with athletes at the highest levels of competition. We wanted to create an atmosphere to push athletes and give them resources to compete at the highest level possible. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, our coaches strive to help each and every athlete by designing and implementing rigorous programs specific to each individual

Our Programs

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SPORTS PERFORMANCE TRAINING

Strength programs tailored to the athlete to help them excel in their sport.

Sports Performance training is currently being offered year-round for all sports.

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SPEED & AGILITY TRAINING

Speed & agility programs are custom to the athletes individual goals and unique needs.

Speed and Agility training is currently being offered year-round for all sports.

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SPORT SPECIFIC
SKILL TRAINING

Individual and group lessons to help athletes develop a strong foundation of skills in their sport.

Baseball Skill Training including pitching and hitting lessons are currently being offered year-round.

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Our Coaches

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Tom Dedin

Tom
Dedin Jr.

Co-Founder
& Baseball Coach

As a co-founder of VTool Elite Development, Tom Dedin Jr. brings over 36 years of elite baseball training and development experience. During this time, he’s had the privilege to coach and mentor top athletes at every level including high school youth, D1 & D2 collegiate athletes, MLB prospects and current/former MLB players.

Tom began his coaching career as the Head Coach at Parkland Community College. Following multiple winning seasons, he accepted the role of Head Assistant Baseball Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Coastal Carolina University, and eventually landed at Regis University where he acted as Assistant Coach. Beyond college baseball, Tom spent 2 years as a Scout for the Texas Rangers, worked with the USA Youth Baseball program, and instructed local Colorado pitchers, hitters, and position players at the competitive level.

Tom’s methodologies have been shaped over the years by the many outstanding coaches he’s trained under. As the son of Illinois Hall of Fame coach Tom Dedin Sr., Tom learned the value of teaching baseball fundamentals, strategy, and the mental game at high levels of competition. He’s also had the privilege to work alongside other hall of fame and former collegiate coaches such as Gordie Gillespie and Augie Gorrido (collegiate baseball’s winningest coaches), Jack Leggett (Clemson University), John Vrooman (Coastal Carolina University), and Pat Harrison (Pepperdine and University of Oklahoma).

As a coach, Tom specializes in working with baseball pitchers and hitters; however, he strives to develop the whole athlete. It’s important to him to not only to focus on teaching baseball fundamentals, but to also create long lasting relationships with his students. Over the last 17 years as a youth mentor and coach, Tom has trained many elite pitchers… 46 of which were recruited to collegiate programs. During his collegiate coaching career, he also worked with 14 athletes who went on to sign professional contracts at the minor and major league level.

Coaching Bio
lucas

Lucas Gilbreath

Co-Founder
& Baseball Coach

Co-Founder Lucas Gilbreath is currently a pitcher for the Colorado Rockies. Lucas made his Major League debut on May 1st of 2021 and finished the season with 47 appearances out of the bullpen, posting a 3.38 ERA.

Lucas was born in Westminster and graduated from Legacy High School. He was drafted by the Rockies originally in the 36th round in 2014, but instead attended the University of Minnesota. After three successful years at the University of Minnesota, he was again drafted by the Rockies, this time in the seventh round of the 2017 MLB draft, and signed. Throughout his journey in professional baseball, Lucas has been teaching and instructing during his offseasons for the last 5 years.

Lucas spends his free time researching and studying the intricacies of pitch development, biomechanics movements, and strength and conditioning methods as they apply to baseball. During the offseason, Lucas, a VTool Elite pitching instructor, uses his experience and knowledge to assist the development of players as it pertains to pitching and throwing. Along with pitching and throwing, Lucas uses his experiences and connections to help players understand how to develop both on and off the field.

Coaching Bio
tim

Tim
Naiman

Co-Founder & Sports Performance Coach

Tim’s development as a sports performance coach is an accumulation of being a multi-sport athlete in both high school and college, years of work as a chemist and biologist, and graduate school where he received a masters degree in Sports Performance and Human Movement Science. In 11 years of sports performance coaching, Tim is fortunate to have had 65 athletes go on to play Division 1, and over 20 play at the Professional/Olympic level. He is currently working with 35 players in various organizations across the MLB.

Tim uses his technical background and education to facilitate high level programming and development for various levels of athletes. Along with his experience, Tim relies on high-level technology and methodology to ensure athletes are receiving the highest level of training and information in order to help them develop and grow as efficiently as possible. With his expertise, Tim is able to help VTool elite development create and implement some of the most effective programs for athletes of all ages and abilities.

Coaching Bio
shawn

Shawn Kirkman

Director of
Sports Performance

Certified under the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Shawn brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the VTool Elite team. Working under Tim Naiman over the last few years, Shawn has had the opportunity to train various professional athletes from the NHL, MLB, and NFL while also working with over 30 collegiate and elite high school athletes.

Shawn works closely with Co-Founder Tim Naiman to create and implement high level programming and instruction for numerous athletes. With his background in various sports and disciplines, Shawn brings substantial insight and practical knowledge as it regards to athletic development in almost every sport discipline.

A local to Colorado, Shawn grew up in Boulder County and attended the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is now pursuing his master’s degree in Applied Physiology, where he hopes to continue to grow his knowledge and experience to continue to provide athletes with some of the highest-level methodology available.

Coaching Bio
Nick Kreutzer

Nick Kreutzer

Baseball Coach

 

Nick's Accolades & Achievements:

  • 2X State Champion at Holy Family High School in Broomfield, CO.
  • Redshirted at Cisco Junior College immediately following high school graduation.
  • Transferred to Arkansas Baptist College where he became First Team All-Region 5
  • Transferred to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
    • 2nd Team All-Conference
    • 1st Team All- Academics
    • Bachelor’s Degree
    • Master’s Degree
  • Played Summer Ball in The Alaskan League (Chugiak Eagle River Chinooks) and the Northwoods League (Green Bay Booyah).
  • Played Independent League in the United Shores Professional Baseball League for the Eastside Diamond Hoppers.
Coaching Bio

Athlete Testimonials

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"I am 19 years old, and I have trained with Tom Dedin for 5 years now. Over these years of training, I have completely changed as a pitcher. I have been able to make great jumps with my velocity, as well as further develop my off-speed pitches through lots of mechanical drills and knowledge with Tom..."

Nick Jacobs

Eastern Oklahoma State College

"My name is Nick Jacobs, I am 19 years old, and I have trained with Tom Dedin for 5 years now.

Over these years of training, I have completely changed as a pitcher. I have been able to make great jumps with my velocity, as well as further develop my off-speed pitches through lots of mechanical drills and knowledge with Tom.

The biggest thing through training for me has been the ability to throw harder and throw safer, protecting my arm with the right mechanics. Tom is a very well-educated person through the game of baseball, with a very good eye on what is wrong/what needs to be improved on in one’s mechanics. Not only has he helped me out with pitching, but he also helps position players throw harder and more efficiently.

Tom has helped me grow as a person and a ball player over the last 5 years, and I wouldn’t want to train with anyone else!"

Nick Jacobs, Eastern Oklahoma State College

Full Testimonial

"The summer program that I did at VTool challenged me and prepared me to be successful this preseason as a collegiate athlete. I am going to school this fall in great physical shape and feeling confident in my technique and knowledge about what I need to be doing for my body to play at peak performance..."

Sophia Solomon

D1 Beach Volleyball at the University of San Francisco

"The summer program that I did at Vtool challenged me and prepared me to be successful this preseason as a collegiate athlete. I am going to school this fall in great physical shape and feeling confident in my technique and knowledge about what I need to be doing for my body to play at peak performance.

Shawn has helped me become a much stronger physical athlete as well as mental athlete. Training with Vtool has been so helpful in taking my game to the next level!"

Sophia Solomon - D1 Beach Volleyball Athlete at University of San Francisco

Full Testimonial

I have worked with Tom ever since I was 13. In that period of time, Tom has greatly improved my mechanics, pitching mindset, and general approach to life. Tom’s knowledge of both the science of pitching mechanics and his knowledge of the game have helped me develop as a player. Tom tires to reach out to his players on a personal level, establishing a relationship with them. Because of the help Tom has given me as both a player and a man, I am signed to a division one athletic scholarship...

Evan Moll

University of the Pacific

"I have worked with Tom ever since I was 13. In that period of time, Tom has greatly improved my mechanics, pitching mindset, and general approach to life.

Tom’s knowledge of both the science of pitching mechanics and his knowledge of the game have helped me develop as a player. Tom tires to reach out to his players on a personal level, establishing a relationship with them. Because of the help Tom has given me as both a player and a man, I am signed to a division one athletic scholarship.

I have also been working out with Shawn and the results I have had with him haven’t greatly impeded me as a player. My strength, endurance, and power have all improved significantly since I have been working out with him.

The work Tom, Lucas, Tim, and Shawn are doing now at VTool is going to help players from all over reach their full potential."

Evan Moll, University of the Pacific

Full Testimonial
VTool Elite Merchandise

VTool Elite Gear

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Ready to show the world that you're training to be an elite athlete? Grab your VTool Elite gear and let's show 'em what you're made of.

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Our Alumni

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VTool Elite Development has had the pleasure to work with numerous athletes that have reached their goal to play at the elite level. Here's some of our athletes who's hard work has paid off and helped them achieve collegiate and/or professional excellence.

Vance Walker

Vance Walker - NFL Defensive End

Vance Walker

NFL Defensive End

Jaccob Slavin

Jaccob Slavin - NHL All-Star

Jaccob Slavin

NHL All-Star

Lucas Gilbreath

Lucas Gilbreath - MLB Pitcher

Lucas Gilbreath

MLB Pitcher

Kyle Leahy

Kyle Leahy - MLB Pitcher

Kyle Leahy

MLB Pitcher

Dan Skipper

Dan Skipper - NFL Offensive Tackle

Dan Skipper

NFL Offensive Tackle

Chloe Doyle

Chloe Doyle - D1 Collegiate Catcher

Chloe Doyle

D1 Collegiate Catcher

Talk with a Coach

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Wondering what program may be best for your athlete? Feel free to send us a message or reach out to speak with one of our coaches.

303-960-8766

info@VToolElite.com