Meet Coach Pete Cimino

“Throw every pitch like it’s the last pitch you will ever throw in your life…because it just might be.”

-Jack Cimino, Father of Coach Pete CImino

Who is Coach Pete?

Coaching Experience:

CP Baseball Performance (Est. 2024)
In May 2024, all National School of Baseball social media platforms transitioned to "CP Baseball Performance." CPBP will become an official LLC in December 2024.

RAGE Varsity Baseball (Est. 2024)
NEXT LEVEL Mental Performance: Life Coach & Mentor (Est. 2024)
Venom Baseball of Illinois, LLC (2019-2023)
National School of Baseball, LLC (Est. 2014-2024)

Trademarked Term: “Dominant Longevity™”
The ultimate goal for all my players: Dominate for as long as your career lasts.

  • Head Coach, Wheatland Baseball (9U through 11U): 2017-2018

  • Head Coach, Naperville Little League (7U & 8U): 2015-2016

  • Head Coach, Naperville Park District Baseball (Tee Ball, Coach Pitch): 2012-2015

  • Head Coach, Haledon PAL Little League (10U to 12U): 1981-1984

  • Softball Playing & Coaching: 2000-2015

  • Baseball Playing Career (1st grade through High School Senior): 1970-1981

My Background

Born and raised in northeast New Jersey (Garfield via Haledon), I started playing organized baseball at age 7 and continued through high school. As I often tell my players, "In my teeny, tiny, little corner of the world, during my era, I was pretty damn good and accomplished some great things."

I owe much of my passion for the game to my father, who was an exceptional player. He was a star catcher and right fielder and an incredible hitter, setting records that still stand at his high school alma mater, Garfield High School.

As a catcher, my father worked with some of the best pitchers in New Jersey. He taught me everything he knew about pitching mechanics and how to keep my arm safe throughout my career. His main coaching point, which resonates with me to this day, was:
“Get your knee up as high as you can. Go forward as fast as you can and stride long. Finish low. Follow through!”
I can still hear his voice in my head.

He also knew a lot about hitting. His approach was simple but effective:

  • Stance was everything.

  • Knees bent.

  • Weight back.

  • Bat up on an angle.

Although the terminology was different back then, most of what he taught me is still used by great hitters today:

  • Powerful hip rotation.

  • Eyes and bat in the hitting zone as long as possible and level until the end.

  • Hands steady (or as he would say, “Hit from where you’re at.”).

His teachings provided me with an incredible foundation for hitting. So much of what I’ve learned—and continue to learn—is rooted in his wisdom. As with everything in baseball, things evolve, and today, we have biomechanics and science analytics to measure and improve player performance.

Philosophy on Pitching

Biomechanics & Science-Backed Coaching

One of my favorite lessons from my dad, which I pass on to all my students, was:
“Throw every pitch like it’s the last pitch you’ll ever throw… because it just might be.”
That philosophy shaped how I approached every game. I left nothing on the field. It was my legacy as a player and remains how I approach life today.

As I grew older, I began emulating my favorite players—especially my idol, Tom Seaver—practicing in front of the mirror. Little did I know, I was unknowingly doing drills that would later be understood as building muscle memory. Seaver’s hip rotation and powerful finish influenced my pitching mechanics, aligning perfectly with the fundamentals my father taught me.

Interestingly, Tom Seaver was part of the original study that laid the foundation for the biomechanics of pitching—the very study that explains why Seaver could throw 98-100 mph and last 20 years in the major leagues without ever suffering an arm injury. Dr. Tom House, Seaver’s USC teammate, was behind this groundbreaking research, further linking my coaching philosophies to baseball’s top-tier methodology.

As I mentioned earlier, I am an expert in biomechanics, thanks to the guidance of Coach Tom House. Unfortunately, the term "biomechanics" has often been misused, misrepresented, and taken out of context. Too many claim to use it in pitching mechanics but fail to truly understand it.

When biomechanics is properly understood and applied, it works. It is the foundation of almost everything I teach in pitching. It is science. Just like hitting, the science behind biomechanics leads to the correct body movements, which in turn provide the metrics needed to dominate the game today.

Player Success & Mental Performance

As of November 2024, 26 players I have worked with have earned college scholarships to continue their baseball careers—and many more are on the way.

Whether you're seeking pitching lessons or hitting lessons, for an individual, small group, or entire team, my years of experience, expert teaching, and proven mechanics will help you become the best player you can be. Your goals are my goals. I aim to help every player reach the next level—before the next level comes.

Finally, I recently became a Professional Certified Life Coach, specializing in mental performance for athletes of all ages. This plays a huge role in how I teach and mentor players, particularly when addressing the mental side of the game. You can learn more at www.nextlevelmentalperformance.com.