Scott Bankhead - NCBA Owner/ Former MLB Player
Scott Bankhead, founder and owner of the North Carolina Baseball Academy, established the academy in 1998 after a decade-long Major League Baseball (MLB) career. Bankhead has used his extensive experience—from youth baseball to professional leagues—to train young players and foster their development both on and off the field. Over the years, his program has guided hundreds of athletes to collegiate and professional careers, with six former players reaching the Major Leagues.
A North Carolina native, Bankhead was an All-State player at Reidsville Senior High and later starred as a pitcher at the University of North Carolina, leading the team to multiple ACC Championships. His professional career spanned 10 years across five MLB teams, with his standout season in 1989 when he posted a 14-6 record with the Seattle Mariners. Bankhead also represented the U.S. in the 1984 Olympics, earning a silver medal.
Beyond his playing career, Bankhead served as a pitching coach with USA Baseball’s 18U National Team, helping lead the squad to gold and silver medals in international competitions. His involvement in coaching and mentoring has had a lasting impact, as many of his athletes have gone on to productive careers beyond baseball. Bankhead is honored with inductions into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina American Legion Hall of Fame, recognizing both his athletic achievements and contributions to the sport.
Scott’s Accomplishments:
- 1981 National HS Player of the Year
- 1983-’84 UNC All American
- 1984 USA Olympic Baseball Team
- 1984 1st Round MLB Draft Pick
- 1986-1995 10 Year MLB Career
- 1998 Founded NCBA
- Director of MLB Quality Instruction
- Over 200 NCBA Students Have Gone to the College and Professional Levels
Check out Scott Bankhead’s exclusive interview with USA Baseball
Nick Black - NCBA Assistant Director
Nick is a distinguished 20-year college coaching career at Guilford College. After a standout career as a catcher for his alma mater, he served as an assistant coach for four years before leading the program as Head Coach for sixteen years
Nick brings a wealth of baseball knowledge, great communication skills, and a strong commitment to helping young athletes improve both on and off the field. He coaches all areas of the game here at NCBA.
Colin Smith - NCBA Instructor
Colin Smith, a Triad local and graduate of High Point Central High School, is a proud former Golden Spikes team member. He played collegiate baseball as a catcher at North Carolina Central University, Southeastern Community College, and Guilford College.
Colin also gained coaching experience as the Head Coach of the Lexington Flying Pigs in the Old North State League, a collegiate summer league. At NC Baseball Academy, Colin instructs players of all ages in hitting, catching, pitching, fielding, and essential baseball skills, helping them reach their full potential on the field.
Shane Schumaker - NCBA Instructor
Shane starred as a collegiate player at UNCG and is in their record books as one of the most accomplished players in Spartans history.
After his playing career at UNCG, Shane played professionally in several independent leagues then coached 3 years at UNCG before heading back to his home state of California to continue his coaching career. Shane had very successful coaching stints as an assistant and as a head coach in multiple baseball and softball programs at the NAIA and JUCO levels of the game.
Shane also has been an Associate MLB Scout with the Atlanta Braves and has a background in running the NTIS (National Team ID Series) program in CA. for USA Baseball since 2015 and has been an evaluator for the USA Baseball 13U team as well.Shane will teach all aspects of the game of baseball and softball (including softball pitching) with a specialty in Hitting and Fielding.
Saunders Joplin - NCBA Instructor
Saunders joined NC Baseball Academy’s instructional staff in January 2022 and works with players of all ages, focusing on hitting, catching, pitching, and basic skills.
A Triad local, Saunders graduated from Grimsley High School and played for NCBA’s Golden Spikes program. He began his college baseball career at Winston-Salem State University, playing two seasons before transferring to Guilford College, where he completed both his playing career and degree. Primarily a catcher, Saunders brings his well-rounded experience to NCBA.
– NCBA Instructor since January 2022
– Grimsley High School Graduate
– 2-year player at Winston-Salem State University
– 2-year player at Guilford College
– Specializes in Hitting, Catching, Pitching, and Basic Skills
Chris Corbett - NCBA Instructor
Chris graduated from High Point Christian Academy in 2013 before playing college baseball at Rollins College from 2014-2017. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. Chris played in the Giants minor league system from 2017 to 2019, reaching High-A with the San Jose Giants.
Chris began his coaching career in 2020 as an assistant coach and head junior varsity coach at North Carolina Wesleyan College. He worked primarily with the team’s hitters and catchers. He then served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Randolph-Macon College for two seasons (2022-2023).
In 2024, Chris joined the Kansas City Royals organization as an assistant hitting coach for the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits. He was promoted in 2025 to the same role with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals and will remain with the organization for the 2026 season.
Chris combines a focus on fundamental skills and an analytical approach to development that is underpinned by a belief in the importance of character. He will instruct players (Sophomores and younger) in hitting, catching, pitching, fielding, and basic baseball skills.