John Hanrahan has been coaching girls since 1986, when he began coaching his daughter and other 8-year old girls in a t-ball league. While pitching batting practices as he progressed through the age brackets with them, John learned to pitch himself.

To help his players excel, he sought out the most knowledgeable pitching instructors, nationally and internationally. He studied with New Zealand pitchers, female Olympians, pitching gurus from California, and numerous college athletes, coaches and kinesiologists.

In 1989, he and a group of fathers started the Oak Park Windmills of Oak Park, Illinois – a fast-pitch travel organization. He continues to provide training and mentoring to the team and other rival organizations which he also helped start, and their respective spin offs.

In 1996, 10 of John’s students went on to play at the College Division I level. That team took second place at the 18U Class A ASA National Championship.

Each year, he produces some of the finest players in the country. His extensive background and experience have helped students achieve at the highest levels of the sport in travel ball (at the different levels), high school, and NCAA Collegiate Divisions. In addition, because of the broad base of skills taught by Coach Hanrahan students continue to earn scholarships every year.

Coach Hanrahan has developed a system that allows students of different ages to work together in shaping their pitching, throwing, and hitting skills, and developing neural pathways. This promotes sound bio mechanics.

Some noteworthy accomplishments are:

• College All Americans
• High School All-State pitchers, catchers, and position players
• 1989 Pony 12U National Champions
• 1996 Class A ASA 18U National Runner Ups
• 2002 Division III National Championship pitcher
• 2004 Junior College National Championship

John’s knowlodge as a parent and coach has also enabled him to recognize and also to convey the importance of these two roles in the process. This has been especially helpful in becoming acquainted with the subtleties that arise in the different age brackets. (He presently works with players – ages 6 through 22, parents,  and coaches from 27 different fast pitch organizations, numerous high schools, and colleges.)

Hanrahan Softball believes pitching is a learned process. It is like a masterpiece that can only be perfected over time, with each student having her own personal time frame — it cannot be rushed. Consequently, students who follow this process benefit in the long run.