Today we’d like to introduce you to Trent Mongero.
Hi Trent, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2006, we moved our family just north of Atlanta, to Gainesville, Georgia. I took a job as head baseball coach of North Hall HS. It was also at this time that I was paid by Sterling Publishing to author a series of comprehensive baseball books called “Winning Baseball.” each book was developmentally appropriate for specific ages (From T-Ball to Professional). This included step by step instruction for parents, players, and coaches on key fundamental skills, drills and practice ideas for all defensive positions, as well as hitting.
Both Book 1 and Book 2 came with a 4 hour (dual layer) instructional DVD that accompanied the written word and skill progression pictures. These books were produced and available in all book stores across the USA and on line. The books received nothing but high praise from top coaches, parents and players. These reviews are still available on Amazon and other places on line today. over 100 hours of video content was filmed over the course of one week by a film crew at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s Brooks Field. I was responsible for editing and creating the final digital content from all of the raw video. In the books, we wore the North Hall Baseball uniforms and my players helped by demonstrating skills for photo progressions and video skills/drills content.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Assisting with the books was current Atlanta Braves Hitting Coach, Tim Hyers (who has won multiple World Series Championships with the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rangers). Tim Helped me with all the hitting in the book. He is visible in all the photos and videos in the books. Also assisting with the project content was Scott “Emo” Emerson, The current MLB pitching coach of the Oakland A’s. Scott helped with all the pitching content (written, photos, and video) but is not visible in the book like Tim Hyers is.
while authoring the Winning Baseball Series, I was simultaneously teaching and coaching baseball at North Hall HS. I had just been hired away from a very strong program in NC to now build a power house program for the Trojans (who had only reached the playoffs a few times in their school history and only made it to the second round one time up till 2006. Raising a family, being a husband, a teacher/coach, and authoring/editing made for long days and exhausting long nights and early mornings… for nearly 3 years.
Once the books were released, I started traveling the state of Georgia and the country giving talks, working elite camps, training teams anytime I was not directly teaching or coaching at North Hall. I also began to post regularly on social media and Youtube to help promote the books and try to help the baseball community navigate the challenges they would face growing through the game of baseball. I started with Youtube, then Facebook, creating my Coach Monger0 – Winning Baseball page, then Twitter (nowX), and lastly Instagram. All of my accounts have organic following, never have paid for follwers or advertising to grow my following. It was never about that. It has only been about helping others that trusted my content and were seeking the help.
In 2013, We (North Hall) played for our first state Championship, losing to Cartersville HS in two games. In 2017 we won the schools first State Championship, beating Pierce county in two games straight at Grayson Stadium in Savannah where the Savannah Bananas play their home games. This was the also the first baseball state championship for all of Hall County Schools. To top it off, my Son Taber was voted C0-Georgia Player of The Year for 3A and was a first team All-State infielder for the second season in a row. Also on our team, is current MLB Pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, Reese Olson, who was also C0- Georgia Player of the Year for 3A. Even with these two players, this state championship was a complete team effort.
COOL SIDE NOTE: The shortstop on the loosing team (Pierce County) was Stetson Bennett, two time National Championship QB for the Georgia Bull Dogs! Humbly I was voted Georgia Coach of the Year, as well at National HS Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association. I was a main-stage speaker at that year’s conference addressing six thousand Pro, College, and high school coaches in the audience.
I have always been most passionate about teaching infield play, being a former Division One SS and pro player in the Atlanta Braves farm system. I have always conducted Elite Infield Camps over my 35 year coaching carrer, but in 2018 I started a company called “Dirt Bro Baseball.” It was a part of my other company called “Winning Baseball, LLC.” Also in 2018 I was hired away to southeast Georgia, to Brunswick to coach at Glynn Academy. Adam Wainwright had just built a major baseball/softball complex for his alma mater … The Red Terrors. In 2021 we finished in the Elite 8 of the GHSA 6A State Playoffs, the best finish in over 30 years for Glynn Academy. That would be my last year coaching in Georgia. With a diagnosed heart issue and 30 years under my belt, I retired from teaching/coaching to doing Elite Infield Camps full time.
In 2018, I started posting more content specifically related to elite infield play. I also started traveling the country conducting Dirt Bro Elite Infield Camps with my son, Taber Mongero, DirtBroUSA.com. Taber was as a very successful Division one shortstop at UNCW and who now is a coach at UNCW directly responsible for their player development. UNCW Played in the NCAA university of Georgia regional in 2024. They defeated GT and lost to UGA, then lost to GT to be eliminated.
I am currently traveling the country with a full slate of Dirt Bro Elite Infield Academies each year. I also speak to various state HS baseball coaches associations and national associations. On top of this, I have ventured back into high school baseball coaching at a small christian school in Wilmington, NC, Wilmington Christian Academy. I teach two weight training classes and serve as their Assistant Athletic Director. We have won two state titles since coming on staff.
My most recent adventure is being announced as the head coach of a brand new summer baseball team called the Cape Fear Fish Sticks. This team is part of the Old North State League (24 Teams). I have never been able to accept a college or pro offer to coach because of my commitment to my family and to the fact that I do camps throughout the year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life is never a smooth road and along the way there have been numerous challenges. The greatest challenge related to the Winning Baseball Series was getting traditionally published. I sought out agents from across the USA to represent me in finding a suitable publisher. Only one, Robert Astle, agreed to represent me. He loved the project and had a sports background. He as confident he could find a top publisher to hire me to author this series, even though I had never published anything in my life, other than the self published manuscripts… which were the first and second versions of the books/DVDs. He quickly had two major publishers fighting over the rights to the project. I flew to New York City to meet Robert and hear the proposals from each company in their offices… After much thought and prayer, we decided on Sterling Publishing who was owned by Barnes and Noble, to become our publisher….. and the long road of making this project a first class resource began.
During the the publishing process we moved our family from NC to Georgia, started teaching and coaching at a new school, had two children under 7, and an amazing wife who was also a teacher. I spent literally thousands of hours writing, filming, editing, and rewriting the Winning Baseball series. I did not want to turn over the raw instructional video to someone to edit who would not know what a “good take” was from a “bad take.” The video DVD’s were absolute key to the success of my books and they had to be a home run.
I would get up at 4 am write or edit before school. Then go to school and teach 6 classes. After we had baseball practice (either in season or 2 on 1’s out of season). I would come home and my wife, Sonya would have dinner ready and I would take it to the computer to continue writing/editing till usually past midnight. This went on for almost 3 years!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My goal in life, after my playing career was over, was to help others reach their dreams. I love teaching the game of baseball. All areas of the physical and mental aspects, but I’m most passionate about infield play specifically. Im from a family of athletes and coaches. My unlcle John Mongero, was a teacher and a coach for 42 years. He in on the All-Century Team at Roanoke College where he is also in their Athletic Hall of Fame. I grew up going to his basketball camps in the summer and playing for him in HS. I learned what it meant to be a quality coach and also learned how to teach the finer points of skill progression. My father, Richard Mongero, also an accomplished athlete, became my greatest supporter, along with my devoted mother, Judy, and my amazing wife, Sonya.
Over 35 years, I have become knows as a authentic coach who focuses on player development. I have taken 5 different baseball programs and with the help of the school, community, assistants, and players have build or rebuilt baseball programs to become championship caliber teams.
I’m also known in other circles at an elite infield instructor. My infield specific company called “Dirt Bro Baseball” focuses of reaching players across the USA to assist baseball and softball players to become the best version of themselves, both on and off the diamond.
What sets me apart from others is my attention to detail and my ability to effectively communicate skill progressions to any age group of players. This includes other coaches wanting to learn how to coach and parents of players. I have hundreds of endorsements from the biggest names in the game down to everyday parents who watch their child participate in a Dirt Bro Academy. I coach with passion and precision. Managing as many as 70 campers to myself. Unlike most camp experiences, where players rotate from station to station, coached by different coaches, I or sometimes my son, Taber, coach every element of the camp. This includes 7 to 8 hour days. Either in a one day academy, two day academy, or three day academy.
I now have players who have attended as many as 10 different Dirt Bro Elite Infield Academies (camps) in their baseball/softball careers. on top of that, I’m a published author, speaker, presenter, and even c0-hosted an XM Show on Baseball Player Development.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is to trust God and His timing. This includes investing in others in more than just baseball. I have learned to share my passion for the game and life with others and have found that authentic investment in others is what life is all about. Giving back or as some call it… Paying it forward.
Pricing:
- $295 is a typical price for a standard two day Dirt Bro Camp
- from $29 – $49: Digital Instructional Content available on our DirtBroUSA.com Website
- $100 – $300: Dirt Bro “Proven Brand” Gloves and trainers, which I am a national ambassador along with Ron Washington
- $25 or less… TwinTack Bat Grips, which I am this companies National Ambassador
- $ Vary – Private Camps/Training/Mentoring
Contact Info:
- Website: https://DirtBroUSA.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trentmongero/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WinningBaseball/
- Twitter: https://x.com/CoachMongero
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRmz8U8pllo5XGfpGymbgXQ
Image Credits
All my photos – Trent Mongero
