Our Staff

Tim Epling

Team Manager

Tim is the founder of the Upper Deck Baseball/Softball Training Center in Beckley, West Virginia. For the past twenty (20) years, Tim has been dedicated to the sport of baseball and will brings a wealth of professional baseball experience to his position as Field Manager of the West Virginia Miners.

  • 1981 - 1983 Tim pitched for Nation Power North Carolina Methodist College where they finished #3 and #5 in the country.
  • 1985 - 1990 Professional Baseball Umpire
  • 1996 - 2000 Field Manager, Liberty High School; Led the baseball program to its first Sectional Championship. In five seasons, Tim compiled a 101-32 record.
  • 2001 - 2008 Head Coach, West Virginia Tech Baseball Program; During those 7 years, WVU beat 32 nationally ranked teams. One of the victories was against #1 ranked Emery Riddle, who ended up as runner-up in the NAIA College World Series. His pitching staff was consistently ranked in the top 5 programs in the country. His pitching staff pitched 3 no hitters in 3 consecutive years.
  • 2008 - In the fall of 2008, Coach Epling founded the Upper Deck Baseball/Softball Training Center with the intent to bring a unique approach of baseball/softball development to Southern West Virginia. Coach Epling often travels around the United States speaking to players and coaches. In addition, Tim trains various elite players and develops comprehensive programs on pitching and hitting for coaches at all levels of instruction.

Danny Flores

Hitting/Defensive Coach

Danny Flores is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida. Flores was recruited to play college baseball in 2004 for Garrett College in McHenry, Maryland. Flores played for the Lakers of Garrett College for two years. Flores had one of the highest batting averages on the team.

In 2006, he was recruited by Tim Epling to play for West Virginia Tech University. While in college he was awarded the Most Improved Player Award, as well as, First Team All- Conference Utility Player out of 12 teams. Flores was known as the Best Instinctive Player and ended his college career hitting over 300 and stealing over 50 stolen bases.

While at WV Tech, Flores was a Graduate Assistant Coach under Head Coach Lawrence Nesselrodt for one year. After college ball, Flores spent three seasons playing semi- pro baseball for the Oakland Oaks. After he graduated Flores worked at the Upper Deck Baseball Training Center in Beckley, where he was a baseball instructor and personal trainer. Flores coached two years in Virginia at Bluefield College under head Coach Mike White as Assistant Baseball Varsity Coach, Head JV Coach, Facilities Manager and Statistician for the Rams. Flores made Bluefield college history with overall record 41-15 his first year coaching.

Danny looks forward to his third season as the Infield and the 1st base coach for the West Virginia Miners.