THE EDA PROGRAM

Darold Brown brings more than three decades of professional baseball experience, including nine seasons as a player and 19 years scouting for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers. Now Director of Player Development for the University of San Francisco baseball program, he has built his career around identifying talent and helping athletes develop the preparation, accountability and skills needed to advance.

Dr. Joseph Ditre is a professor of psychology at Syracuse University and Director of its Center for Health Behavior Research and Innovation. His expertise in clinical psychology, health behavior and behavioral medicine strengthens EDA’s ability to support athletes’ mental wellness, resilience and overall well-being alongside their academic and athletic development.

Jeff Duva is the founder and president of CSA-PrepStar, the nation’s first collegiate recruiting organization dedicated to helping student-athletes and families navigate the college recruiting process. Since 1981, PrepStar has helped more than 75,000 athletes pursue collegiate opportunities and access over $2.5 billion in scholarships and financial aid.

Bob Fontaine Jr. brings nearly five decades of professional baseball scouting and player-development experience, including leadership roles with the California Angels, Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners. Throughout his career, he has traveled the world identifying and developing Major League talent, giving EDA athletes access to an exceptional understanding of what professional scouts look for in emerging players.

Dr. Harold Goldstein is a professor of industrial-organizational psychology at Baruch College and co-founder of Siena Consulting, with expertise in leadership development, talent assessment and predicting performance in professional sports. He helped develop the NFL Player Assessment Test and brings EDA a research-based understanding of the motivation, preparation and personal qualities that help athletes succeed.

Ron Maestri is an American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer who transformed the University of New Orleans baseball program into a national contender, earning nine NCAA Tournament appearances and two College World Series berths. A former UNO head coach and longtime athletic director, he brings EDA decades of experience developing college athletes and helping young players meet the academic, personal and competitive demands of collegiate baseball.

Tim Mead is the former President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and spent 40 years with the Los Angeles Angels organization, including 22 years as Vice President of Communications. His extensive experience in baseball leadership, communications and community engagement gives EDA athletes access to a respected industry perspective developed across every level of the game.

Danny Montgomery is Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Scouting for the Colorado Rockies and has been with the organization since its founding in 1991. A former professional player and longtime scouting executive, he is a member of the Scouts Hall of Fame and was named Major League Baseball’s 2018 East Coast Scout of the Year.

De Jon Watson is a veteran baseball executive with more than three decades of experience in professional scouting, player development and baseball operations. A former professional player, he has held senior leadership positions with the Washington Nationals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, helping identify and develop athletes at every level of the game.