About Academy 48
Where Flexible Schedules Meet Championship Dreams—Balancing Elite Training, Academic Excellence, and Family Time.
Our Mission
Academy 48 empowers student-athletes through a world-class academic and athletic program. By providing a unique, structured environment that integrates practices, games, and studies, we eliminate the need for late-night practices and time-consuming commutes, creating athlete life balance.
Pillars of Success
Athlete-Life Balance
We believe family is the heart and foundation of our student-athletes’ lives. Late-night practices and long commutes rob families of precious time—which is why we reject them. Everything we do revolves around building balance, with family at its core.
Prepared to Win
We don’t just train champions—we build leaders. At Academy 48, education and athletics go far beyond “core” principles. We prepare students to win on the field, in the classroom, and in life through intentional character development.
The Academy 48 Story: Where Passion for Sports Meets Athlete Life Balance
Academy 48 began as a simple P.E. program for homeschooling families—a grassroots effort to keep kids active and connected. It was an introduction to an alternative to the traditional education system.
At the same time Coach Steve was coaching club soccer and middle school baseball. During this time he noticed something powerful: when athletes played school sports, their grades soared, their confidence grew, and they actually loved showing up to class.
But here’s the twist—traditional schools weren’t built for today’s youth sports programs. After pitching district administrators, principals, and athletic directors to blend club-level training and teams with school life, and striking out, Coach Steve said, “Fine, we’ll build it ourselves.”
Cue Academy 48.
Starting with a homeschool baseball cohort, we paired online academics with daytime training—giving families their evenings back, building teams that flourished, and an alternative to the daily athletic grind. Fast-forward a year, the demand exploded. Elite coaches flocked to us, eager to rewrite the playbook on youth sports.
Now, we’re a micro-school for athletes, offering traditional students a stress-free alternative to the “always-on” athlete lifestyle.
Our mission? Athlete-life balance.
Our Staff
Coach Steve – Head Coach
“My favorite people call me coach.”
As a former 4-sport athlete, growing up sports were everything. Fast forward, I credit all my success as an adult to my times on the court, the field, or the pitch learning how to work with others, lead teams, work hard, and learn from failure.
I have been coaching youth sports for nearly 10 years and have loved every moment. From my young girls picking flowers on the diamond to my older boys wrestling on the pitch, these are the times I live for.
Coaching has allowed me to meet so many great people, help so many kids learn the game, and have a ton of fun. When people ask me what I do I always answer, “I empower future champions by coaching kids and teaching them life lessons.
Roman Pena – Baseball Head Coach
Drafted at the age of 18 by the Cleveland Indians in 2005, he quickly made a name for himself as a power-hitting outfielder. Over seven thrilling years in the minors with the Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers, he showed that hard work and passion truly pay off.
After his minor league career Coach Roman took his talents to the Mexican League—where he not only dazzled as an outfielder but also sharpened his skills as a pitcher—before wrapping up his professional career in 2022.
Now, Coach Roman is all about giving back. He’s at the helm of multiple travel and school teams. His mission? To unlock each kid’s potential and make baseball fun and accessible. With his real-world pro experience and infectious enthusiasm, Coach Roman builds confidence, teaches solid fundamentals, and transforms raw talent.