umpire training and league placement
INSTRUCTORs
Paul guillie
NCAA Experience: 24 Years
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Guillie, a native of New Orleans, LA., is responsible for recruiting, training, scheduling and evaluating umpires of four collegiate conferences. Guillie umpired in the SEC 24 seasons, and was selected to work conference tournaments on over 20 occasions. He is also a veteran of the NCAA postseason, having worked 19 Regionals and 14 Super Regionals. Additionally, he was selected to serve as an umpire in the College World Series on 4 occasions. His leadership, experience on-field, and his work with Video Training along with his wealth of knowledge in the 3-Umpire system will help all students who attend UPC exponentially.
JEFF HEAD
Current Level: NCAA (Division I)
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 10
Hometown: Hoover, AL
Graduate of the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Jeff worked 10 seasons of Minor League Baseball reaching AAA, including the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. He currently works on the SEC and ACC Conference Staff. Has also worked the College World Series 3 times (2011, 2014, 2017), and works in the MLB Partner League American Association. Joined the UPC Staff in 2020. His knowledge of the 3-umpire system and experience in MiLB will assist students during their time at UPC.
CLINT FAGAN
Current Level: NCAA Division I
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 13
Hometown: Georgetown, TX
Clint joined MiLB Umpire Development in 2018 to observe, instruct and evaluate Minor League Baseball umpires. Prior to joining Minor League Baseball Umpire Development in 2018, he umpired the World Baseball Classic, Pacific Coast League, International League, Texas League, Eastern League, Florida State League, Hawaiian League, Midwest League, Pioneer League, Venezuelan Winter League, Colombian Winter League, Arizona Fall League, Florida and Arizona Instructional Leagues. He also umpired part time in the Major Leagues during his eight years at the Triple-A level, working 522 games. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Houston as well as a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. Fagan resides in Georgetown, Texas with his wife, Paige, his daughter, Addison, and son, Hudson.
Seth buckminster
Current Level: NCAA Division I
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 10 Years
Hometown: Stillwater, OK
Began his professional umpiring career in 2006. Worked 8 seasons in MiLB before making his MLB debut on April 8, 2014. Worked the 2015 Premiere 12 in Japan and Taiwan. Named to the 2016 Triple-A All-Star Game crew in Charlotte that season, where he worked in the Pacific Coast League.
matt brown
Current Level: Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 8 Years
Hometown: Conway, SC
A 2016 graduate of the MiLB Umpire Academy, Brown recently completed his seventh year as a Minor League Baseball umpire. Matt's experience gives students insight on what it takes to become a professional umpire. Matt has umpired in Florida Extended Spring Training, Appalachian, Florida and Arizona Instructional League, and the South Atlantic League, Carolina League, and currently Triple-A. Has also worked the Appalachian and South Atlantic League Championship Series, and South Atlantic League All Star Game, Carolina League Championship Series, and Triple-A National Championship Game. In addition to his professional umpire experience, Matt attended the University of South Carolina, studying exercise science. Matt is a native of Conway, SC, where he currently resides. Welcome to the Umpire Placement Course Matt!
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ben engstrand
Current Level: (Double-A) Texas League
MiLB Service Time: 5 Years
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
Graduated from the Wendelstedt Umpire School in 2018. Also is on staff as an instructor at Wendelstedt Umpire School. Ben has worked the Arizona League (2018) and the New York - Penn League (2018), South Atlantic League (2019), and High-A Central (2021), and Double-A Texas League (2022). After his first season in Minor League Baseball, Ben was selected to work the Instructional League in Fort Myers, FL. Ben has instructed at multiple umpire clinics around the country including the Mid-American Clinic in Springfield, MO and the PSOA Clinic in Omaha, NE. Ben graduated with an Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also has his MBA through Northwest Missouri State University. In the off-season he works as a High School Substitute Teacher in West Des Moines, IA. Through Ben's experience and passion for umpiring, students will not only leave with a heightened ability to umpire but also a renewed passion for umpiring.
Jacob McConnell
Current Level: (High-A) South Atlantic League
MiLB Service Time: 4 Years
Hometown: Gainesville, GA
Jacob is a 2019 graduate of the MiLB Umpire Training Academy. He started his Minor League career in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) during the 2019 season. In the 2021 season, he was promoted to the Carolina League (Low-A) and then promoted to the South Atlantic League (High-A) for the 2022 season. He finished the 2022 season working in the Southern League (Double-A). Jacob started his professional umpiring career working for the American Association in 2018 and worked for the league again in 2020. He graduated from Gardner-Webb University with Bachelors's and Master's degrees in Accounting. In the off-season, he works at BatesCarter, an accounting firm in Gainesville, GA, and officiates high school football. Jacob is a part of GHSA Umpire Development, where he helps evaluate high school umpires and run GHSA umpire camps. Jacob currently lives in Gainesville, GA.
Brandon Tipton
Current Level: (Low-A) California League
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 3 Years
Hometown: Katy, TX
Brandon is a 2020 graduate of the MiLB Umpire Training Academy, and was assigned to the Arizona League in his first season of professional baseball. He currently works NCAA Division II and III, NAIA, and Junior College baseball. Brandon graduated college in 2019 with a bachelors in Criminal Justice from the University of Houston-Victoria. He currently resides in Katy, Texas.
David saball
Current Level: (Rookie) Arizona Complex League
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 1 Year
Hometown: Anthem, AZ
David is a 2022 graduate of Wendelstedt Umpire School, and was assigned to the Arizona League in his first season of Minor League Baseball. He previously umpired in the Northwoods League (2020), and American Association (2021). In the off-season, David works as a substitute teacher in Phoenix, AZ, and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in education. He currently resides in Anthem, AZ.
Dylan Hulsey
Current Level: (Rookie) Florida Complex League
MLB/MiLB Service Time: 1 Year
Hometown: Ocilla, GA
Dylan is a 2020 graduate of the Wendelstedt Umpire School. Began his umpiring career in the Northwoods League (2020) and the American Association (2021). Attended the 2022 MiLB Advanced Course where he was offered a position in Minor League Baseball, where he worked in the Florida Complex League (Rookie) in 2022. Also works NCAA Division ll and NAIA College Baseball. Also assists as an instructor with GHSA Baseball Umpire Camps. He currently resides in Ocilla, GA.