Wayne Keeton

Wayne manages the daily operations and backend recruiting framework behind the 18U TBC Premier program. He directs all administrative operations, allowing the coaching staff to grow their collegiate recruiting pipeline, and serves as the primary hospitality liaison for visiting college recruiters. Wayne orchestrates recruiter introductions to the coaching staff, ensures athletes maintain competitive and up-to-date recruiting profiles, coordinates all logistical needs, and advises athletes on adding off-season size, maintaining consistent hydration, and proper recovery. By executing the foundational team management, he provides the structural support that empowers the coaching staff to focus exclusively on on-field development, in-game strategy, and closing collegiate recruitment opportunities.

Tacoma Baseball Roots

Born and raised in Tacoma, Wayne grew up playing recreational baseball at Metro Parks and exclusively on local Tacoma summer teams. By the time he reached Stewart Middle School, he was coached by Dan Besett, a former pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. At a time when access to former pro players was rare, Besett’s guidance left a lasting, inspirational impact on him. Wayne went on to graduate from Foss High School, where he was a four-year letterman and an all-league pitcher during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. Although an injury prevented him from playing college baseball, his dedication to studying the game never wavered.

Coaching Journey

Wayne has been coaching since his son, Jackson Keeton, was five years old. After moving through the T-ball and machine pitch ranks, Wayne helped launch the Diamond Dogs out of Puyallup during Jackson's 8U year, successfully running the program for two years alongside the Dinelt and Garthwaite families. Driven by a desire to bring competitive baseball back to Tacoma, Wayne connected with Aaron Trollia and moved Jackson to the Northwest Prospects Academy (NPA) for his 10U season at the Tacoma facility off 28th Street.

Now in his tenth year coaching and volunteering out of the Tacoma facility, Wayne has seen his efforts come full circle, with Jackson currently in his sophomore year playing collegiate baseball at Shoreline Community College.

Tacoma Baseball Club

Having played all his baseball in Tacoma, Wayne was drawn to the Tacoma Baseball Club by Jeff Stice and his vision. Because of Stice’s unmatched dedication to local baseball and the coaches growing his program, Wayne wanted to be a part of it and support it. After Jackson’s 15U year, Wayne and Jon Scholer took over the TBC 16U program. That season, their 16U team played 50 games and won five championships. The TBC 15U team also won five championships, Stice’s own 14U team won 40 games, and TBC sent its first players off to college! Seeing local talent thrive was exactly what Wayne had always hoped to see back in Tacoma, and he was proud to be a part of it.

Building TBC Premier

Recognizing the massive influx of 18U talent and knowing the specific coaching requirements for that level, Wayne transitioned into an operations role and was tasked with finding a new 18U head coach. He had one guy in mind and only asked one person. After some negotiations, Spencer Manjarrez became the new TBC 18U head coach. Together, they built the TBC Premier program from the ground up. With the subsequent addition of Jaden Hasell and Mason Harris, the Premier program reached remarkable heights. As of September 2026, the team has won 93 games and successfully moved 27 players to the college level in just three short seasons. The Premier program now has a 15U and 13U division.

None of this success would be possible without the foundational vision of the Stice family, and Wayne remains incredibly proud to be a part of the organization. Go TBC!