Coaching Staff

W.C.B.A. MANAGEMENT TEAM

Dan Krauser: Coach Krauser has over 23 years of coaching experience at the youth, feeder, travel and high school levels. Many of his players go on to play high school Varsity basketball as well as college basketball. Highlights of some of his team include his 2002-14U/8th grade travel team winning the American Youth Basketball Tour National Championship, his 2005-14U/8th grade travel team winning the National State Games of America in Colorado, his 2010-14U/8th grade team taking 5th in the Country at the AAU National Championships and his 2011-15U/9th grade team taking 8th in the Country at the AAU National Championships . Coach Krauser is also the owner and founder of the World Class Basketball Association and also runs the Conant Feeder Basketball Program.

W.C.B.A. COACHING STAFF

The World Class Basketball Association takes great pride in our coaching staff. All of our coaches are American Sports Education Program Certified, have high school coaching experience and/or have played at the college level. The following is a list of our coaches and a brief background on each.

John Ulrich:   Coach Ulrich has over 40 years of coaching experience at the youth, school, travel and high school levels. Coach Ulrich is currently in the Illinois High School Association Hall of Fame and is currently the head coach at Immanual Lutheran School in Palatine.

Jim Sotos:   Coach Sotos has been involved with the World Class Basketball Association for the last 9 years. Coach Sotos played college basketball at Aurora University and played professional basketball overseas. Coach Sotos has also played on many National Travel Teams.

Brian Zyrkowski:   Coach Zyrkowski has been coaching for the World Class Basketball Program for the past 9 years. He was a 4 year player at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates and played college basketball at Harper Junior College. Coach Zyrkowski is currently coaching Freshman basketball at Libertyville High School.

Donn Cropper:   Coach Cropper has extensive coaching experience at the youth and jr high levels. He was the assistant coach for the 14U WCBA travel team that won the AYBT National Championship in 2002.

Joel Peterson:   Coach Peterson have over 14 years of coaching experience at various levels. He was a 3 year Varsity player for Lake Benton High School in Minnesota and was named to the All Area team as a Junior and Senior. He went on to play college basketball at Southwest State University. Coach Peterson is currently an assistant Sophomore coach with Conant High School.

Kyle Osborne:   Coach Osborne is in his first year. Coach Osborne is a former WCBA player and played 4 years at South Elgin High School.

Benson Bautista:   Coach Bautista has been coaching both boys and girls basketball at the junior high level for the past 9 years. Coach Bautista is currently the Head Basketball coach at Mead Junior High School.

Drew Strauch:   Coach Strauch was a 4 year player at Conant High School and was a starter on his senior team that made it to the Illinois Supersectional. Coach Strauch has been with World Class for the past 3 years.

Adam Strauch:   Coach Strauch was a 4 year player at Conant High School and was a starter on his senior team that made it to the Illinois Supersectional. Coach Strauch has been with World Class for the past 3 years.

Andy Milne:   Coach Milne played high school and college basketball in the UK. He played after college in National League Basketball. Coach Milne has coached high school basketball for 12 years and has run coaching clinics in Greece, Spain, Egypt and New Zealand.

Ed Stade: Coach Stade has over 25 years of coaching experience. He was the head coach of St. Mary's school. Coach Stade has also coached and ran both the Bartlet and South Elgin Feeder Programs. Coach Stade has coached in the World Class Program for 43 years and was part of the coaching staff that won the 2005 State Games of America National Championship in Colorado.

Brett Spenner: Brett is in his 2nd season with WCBA . Brett is a former World Class player who went on to play 4 years of high school basketball at Hoffman Estates High School and went on to play college basketball at Augustana College.

Drew Shulman: Drew played 4 years of basketball at Elk Grove High School. He then went on to play college basketball at Carroll College. He is currently one of the Freshman coaches at Conant High School. This is Drew's 3rd season with WCBA.

Erik Stade: Erik is a former WCBA player. He played 4 years of basketball at South Elgin High School. This is Erik's 3rd season with WCBA

***Local high school coaches who have attended our camps as guest coaches and speakers include: Tom McCormack (Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Conant High School), Bob Williams (Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Niles West High School), Matt Vosburgh (Sophomore Basketball Coach at Palatine High School), Dave Wolf (JV Basketball Coach at Conant High School), Dan Travers (Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach at Conant High School), Kevin Katovich (Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Rolling Meadows High School) and Matt Walsh (Head Varsity Basketball Coach at Schaumburg High School).