DIAMOND CODE COACHING STAFF
Matt Schaeffer
Founder, General Manager
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Matt Schaeffer is the founder and sole-owner of Diamond Code Baseball, LLC, created in late 2021. Schaeffer began Diamond Code with the intention of providing guidance and resources for players across the Treasure Coast and Palm Beaches to train, play, and become recruited.
Coach Matt played four years of college baseball, pitching for Florida A&M University (NCAA DI), Tallahassee Community College (NJCAA DI), and Appalachian State University (NCAA DI) where he would earn his bachelor's degree in Communications, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During his time as a student athlete, Schaeffer would develop a unique multi-slot pitching approach in his effort to achieve athletic success on the mound, and would go on to face a myriad of top programs at both levels- including three National Championship winners in Northwest Florida State College, University of Virginia, and Coastal Carolina. His last collegiate appearance would come in a start against defending National Champions Coastal Carolina where Schaeffer would toss six innings of three hit baseball, allowing just one earned run.
Schaeffer opted to forego international playing opportunities to instead begin his coaching career, where in 2017, he would join South Florida State College as their top assistant coach, in charge of recruiting and pitching. During his time with the Panthers, Schaeffer would help SFSC reach team-high in wins and strikeouts in just his first year, as well as improving the team ERA from 5.34 to 2.98 in 2020. In the shortened 2020 season, Schaeffer's Panther pitching staff was ranked fourth in the state in ERA and shutouts, and seventh in strikeouts.
In 2022, Schaeffer accepted a position at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) in Fort Myers as their new pitching coach. The 2023 season would see FSW rank as a formidable pitching staff in the state, as the Bucs pitching staff would rank amongst the top-10 across numerous team categories, helping propel the program into the state playoff picture. The FSW pitching saw two players drafted in the 2023 MLB Draft; right-handed pitchers Marty Gair (Philadelphia Phillies, Round 13) and Tyler Kennedy (Pittsburgh Pirates, Round 19), alongside Bucs outfielder AJ Shaver (Philadelphia Phillies, Round 17). This trio made FSW the only junior college in the country with 3 players drafted in 2023.
In his collegiate coaching career, Schaeffer has coached 4 MLB draftees, 14 all-conference players, including 3 all-state players, and one NJCAA All-American, as well as placing over 60+ student-athletes at four-year colleges. In collegiate-summer baseball, Coach Matt has been a part of numerous league titles, and coached over 20 league all-stars, having multiple players who would go on to receive league-wide honors.
Alvin Swoope
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Treasure Coast High School standout Alvin Swoope was a recognizable part of the local baseball community prior to going off to play collegiate and professional baseball. Since his return, he has continued to impact the local athletic community.
Swoope, who initially signed and played at Florida State University, would finish his career at Division II powerhouse Mount Olive University (North Carolina) before making a run through independent baseball, where he would collect a Frontier League Championship in 2019 with the River City Rascals. In 2019, Swoope batted .288 through 73 games, with eight doubles, three triples, seven home runs and twenty-eight runs batted in.
After stepping away from the game for a few years, Swoope joined Diamond Code in their inaugural season to coach the next generation of players from the Treasure Coast and surrounding areas. Coach Swoope was in charge of Diamond Code's defensive unit, where he provided skills, tactics, and insight to help defenders elevate their defensive productivity. Swoope also carried the weight in offensive instruction where he focused on the development of fundamental processes and movements of young hitters.
In August of 2022, after a successful first season, Swoope was announced as the Head Coach of Diamond Code Baseball. He will serve as the primary coach for all teams throughout the fall and summer seasons, and be in charge of the implantation of player development processes to ensure the growth of the Diamond Code organization.
Off the field, Swoope leads the charge in identifying potential sponsors, community engagement opportunities, and other opportunities for Diamond Code Baseball to grow within the community.
Brandon Bednar
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Coach Bednar joins Diamond Code Baseball in the summer of 2023, adding another coach to the staff with significant experience to share with players throughout development and competition.
A Florida 5A State Champion in 2009 at South Fork High School, where he was inducted into the Bulldog's Hall of Fame in 2022, Bednar lead the team to a championship while earning himself scholarship to play Division-I baseball at Florida Gulf Coast University. At FGCU, Bednar played every infield and outfield position throughout the course of his career. After hitting .288 as a freshman, .305 as a sophomore, and .348 as a junior, Bednar was selected in the 7th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. After five seasons with the Giants, he was traded in 2018 to the Philadelphia Phillies, and would complete the 2018 campaign with the Colorado Rockies organization. Following his time in affiliated ball, Bednar had a short stent in Canada, where he finished his playing career. With over 600 career games played, Bednar finished his career a .270 hitter.
At the completion of his playing career, Bednar would transition into coaching, where he would end up spending time on staff at Jacksonville University (NCAA Division I, A-SUN). In his first year at JU, he would help lead the Dolphins to an ASUN Championship and a NCAA Regional Tournament bid.
