Meet Our Coaches and Staff Members

Justin Simon has played, coached and managed at all levels of competitive baseball. As a second baseman and lead off hitter, his high school team won the Pennsylvania AAAA state championship. He later went on to coach at his alma mater and saw his players qualify for the state championships but fall just short. In just seven years, Justin Simon coached 17 players who went to play college and professional baseball. Simon was also selected to manage Team United States in the 2006 Japan-United States PONY Friendship Series held in Tokyo, Japan.

Justin Simon has his bachelors degree in physical education and his masters degree in sport management. He is an instructor at Beattie Tech, Pittsburgh, PA. He and his wife, Michelle, have two children.

John Evans has coached and managed Athletic Association and Tournament team baseball for 20 years. He began coaching at the recreation level and has served at virtually all levels of Athletic Association baseball. He has more than 15 years experience assembling, coaching and managing tournament baseball teams. Evans was selected by PONY Baseball and Softball and sanctioned by USA Baseball to manage Team United States in the Japan Friendship Series three consecutive times. He also serves as a PONY Field Director. Along with Mike Gaus, Justin Simon and Sean Gibson, Evans is a co-founder of the Steeltowne Grays, who are in their inaugural season.

Evans is an attorney in Pittsburgh representing people who have been injured or defrauded. He has two-children.

Mike Gaus has been a baseball coach for 15 years in both Athletic Association and in Tournament Team Baseball. In addition to co-founding the Grays, for five years he managed a National Travel team, the Pittsburgh North Stars. North Star teams won a collection of championship trophies including Ripken (Myrtle Beach) twice, Ripken (Aberdeen), Notre Dame AAU Super Qualifier and the Michigan USSSA Super NIT. The North Stars were an AAU national qualifier, with a best finish of 8th nationally. Gaus has twice been selected as a coach of Team United States in the Japan Friendship Series, a semiannual event held throughout Japan.

Gaus is President of a Health and Life Insurance Brokerage located in Pittsburgh, PA.

He and his wife Barb have two sons.

Barb Gaus is the Gray’s business manager. She has filled this position for various teams, playing both domestically and internationally, for more than 10 years.