Founder story
The Reason Behind ModCore
I've thrown thousands of baseballs in my life. But the most meaningful throw I've ever seen wasn't mine. It was my son's.
Before I'm a coach, before I'm a founder, before anything else, I'm Nolan's dad.
My son was born with developmental processing delays. From the beginning, I knew some things might take him longer to learn. Things that came naturally to other kids could require more patience, more repetition, and a different approach.
Like any father, I wanted to give my son every opportunity to succeed. Not just in sports, but in life.
So I introduced him to baseball.
Not because I needed him to follow in my footsteps. Not because I wanted him to become a great pitcher.
But because I wanted him to discover what he was capable of when he worked hard at something.
I wanted him to learn that progress doesn't always come easily. That setbacks are part of growing. And that with patience, persistence, and the right support, things that once seemed impossible can become possible.
I wanted him to believe in himself as much as I believed in him.
First pitch · Aug 21, 2025 · click for sound
Where It All Started
I played college baseball at Saint Joseph's College, where I was a Division II All American pitcher.
I understood pitching mechanics. I understood player development. I knew what it took to compete at a high level.
But nothing in my baseball career prepared me for the challenge, or the privilege, of teaching my own son.
There was a time last year when Nolan couldn't consistently throw a baseball forward.
Not over home plate.
Not even consistently in the right direction.
I knew how much potential he had. I just needed to find a way to help him unlock it.
So we got to work.
We practiced. We repeated. We adjusted. We celebrated improvements that might have seemed insignificant to anyone else.
And when something wasn't working, we didn't give up on Nolan.
We changed the approach.
Instead of trying to make him fit a traditional development program, we built a program around him.
His abilities. His learning style. His progress. His next achievable goal.
There were frustrating days. There were setbacks. There were times when progress seemed painfully slow.
But we kept showing up.
And little by little, things began to change.
Then Something Incredible Happened
In less than 15 months, the little boy who struggled to consistently throw a baseball forward developed the strongest throwing arm on his team.
The same kid.
The same baseball.
A completely different level of confidence.
It wasn't magic. It wasn't some overnight transformation.
It was hard work. It was patience. It was hundreds of small adjustments and countless repetitions.
It was a child who refused to stop trying.
And it was a development approach built around understanding what he needed to succeed.
I've thrown thousands of baseballs in my life. I've won games, earned awards, and experienced moments on the mound I'll never forget.
But watching Nolan throw that baseball with confidence?
Nothing I've ever accomplished in this game comes close.
Because I wasn't just watching my son become a better baseball player.
I was watching him begin to believe in himself.
And as a father, there is no greater feeling.
Nolan development footage · click for sound
That's Why I Built ModCore Sports
Somewhere along this journey, I started asking myself a question.
What if every child had access to a development program that actually understood them?
What if parents didn't have to wonder what their child should work on between practices?
What if coaches could understand each player's strengths, weaknesses, and progress without spending hours analyzing videos and building individual plans?
What if technology could help us recognize the small things holding a player back, and show us exactly what to work on next?
That became the vision for ModCore Sports.
A platform built around the same philosophy that helped Nolan.
Evaluate. Understand. Develop. Repeat.
Using AI video analysis, personalized drills, development plans, and progress tracking, ModCore is designed to help parents and coaches turn observations into action.
Not generic advice.
Not the same drills for every player.
A development experience that gets to know your child, adapts as they improve, and helps identify their next opportunity for growth.
Because every player is different.
And every player deserves to be developed that way.
I'm a father first. A coach second. And a founder because of what this journey taught me.
ModCore Sports wasn't born from a business plan.
It was born from a father wanting to help his son.
And if this platform helps even one more child experience the confidence, pride, and excitement I've watched Nolan discover, then every late night spent building it will have been worth it.
Because the most important thing we can develop in a young athlete isn't their arm, their swing, or their statistics.
It's their belief in themselves.
Every player has a breakthrough waiting to happen.
Let's help them find it.
ModCoach and ModParent · Live product
ModCoach and ModParent · Live product
From 20 feet to 20Ks per 9
Chase Sonen
Founder, ModCore Sports
Former NCAA Division II All American Pitcher
Proud Baseball Dad
Discover Your Player's Potential