Family-owned and operated
Family-owned.Berg, Sarkis and Anna Ohanian Built by players.From the Bandits to Duke, the ACC and pro ball Backed by experts.Performance, catching, hitting, mental game, compliance
Time to Sign is led by the Ohanian family and a staff of former college and professional players, college coaches and specialists who work with TTS players and families. Select anyone below to read their full bio.
Our Leadership
Family-owned and operated.
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South Florida Bandits | 25+ Years in Recruiting Berg Ohanian
Founder & President Read bio
South Florida Bandits | 25+ Years in Recruiting
Berg Ohanian
Founder & President
For more than 25 years, Berg Ohanian has worked at the intersection of amateur baseball, college recruiting, player evaluation, and mentorship. As the Founder and President of Time to Sign Sports, Berg has built his career around one central objective: helping serious student-athletes use baseball to create meaningful educational opportunities and find the college environment in which they can thrive.
Berg's roots in the college recruiting world extend back well before the formal creation of Time to Sign. Alongside legendary travel baseball figure Mark Holtzman, Berg helped build the South Florida Bandits, the travel baseball program that sits at the foundation of the Time to Sign organization and remains an important part of its history and identity today.
Together, Berg and Mark built the South Florida Bandits into a true travel baseball juggernaut and one of the most respected amateur programs in the country. Their teams were loaded with future Division I players, MLB Draft selections, and eventual Major Leaguers. The level of talent assembled during that era was so extraordinary that college coaches who recruited those teams still describe some of them as among the best travel baseball teams ever assembled.
The South Florida Bandits legacy is an essential part of the Time to Sign story. The program has produced hundreds of college commitments, more than 170 MLB Draft selections, and dozens of players who ultimately reached Major League Baseball. Alumni include DJ LeMahieu, Rick Porcello, Matt Harvey, Anthony DeSclafani, Marcus Stroman, and numerous others who advanced to the highest levels of the game.
That success also helped establish the network of relationships that would become one of Time to Sign's greatest strengths. Berg spent years working directly with college coaches, identifying players who could compete at the next level, and helping connect student-athletes with programs that fit them academically and athletically. Those relationships were built through years of trust, successful placements, and a consistent track record of sending prepared players into college baseball.
Berg's experience also includes years of coaching players directly. He has coached throughout youth and high school baseball and served as an assistant varsity coach at North Broward Preparatory School in South Florida. Those experiences gave him a firsthand understanding of player development as well as the challenge of balancing high-level academics, competitive baseball, and the college recruiting process.
In 2010, Berg formally established Time to Sign Sports, expanding the recruiting and advisory side of the organization while building upon the foundation created through the South Florida Bandits. Rather than representing two unrelated organizations, the Bandits and Time to Sign share the same baseball roots, relationships, and commitment to helping players advance to the next level.
Under Berg's leadership, Time to Sign has evolved from those South Florida roots into a broader platform encompassing travel teams, college recruiting, player evaluation, development resources, showcases, events, and individualized advisory services.
Throughout that growth, Berg's philosophy has remained consistent. The recruiting process begins with understanding the individual player: his baseball ability, academic profile, personality, aspirations, family priorities, and the level at which he can realistically succeed. From there, the objective is to identify schools where the student-athlete can find the right combination of baseball opportunity and educational value.
That approach has helped Berg build lasting relationships with college coaches throughout the country, many of which span decades and multiple generations of coaching staffs. Time to Sign families consistently point to Berg's understanding of the recruiting landscape, his ability to identify appropriate academic and athletic fits, and his willingness to personally advocate for players as distinguishing characteristics of the organization.
Berg's perspective on recruiting has also been shaped by navigating the process within his own family. His son, Sarkis Ohanian, came through the South Florida Bandits before earning an opportunity to play at Duke University. Sarkis became the first member of the Ohanian family to graduate from college before being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round of the 2015 MLB Draft and now serves as Vice President of Time to Sign Sports.
That journey reinforced Berg's belief that baseball can be a vehicle for far more than simply continuing to play the game. When approached correctly, it can create access to extraordinary educational opportunities, meaningful relationships, and experiences that shape a young person's life well beyond baseball.
Berg's daughter, Anna Ohanian, is a graduate of the University of Florida and Harvard Business School, currently serves as Director of Business Strategy at Princess Cruises, and is a Business Advisor to Time to Sign. Her involvement adds another dimension to the organization's leadership, bringing expertise in finance, strategy, and business development.
Before dedicating himself to baseball full time, Berg spent decades as an entrepreneur and owned a luxury consumer products business. That background has influenced the way he has built Time to Sign: around personal relationships, long-term trust, attention to detail, and an expectation that every family receives individualized guidance rather than a one-size-fits-all recruiting experience.
Today, Berg continues to work directly with players and families while leading Time to Sign into its next chapter. The organization now combines the competitive baseball foundation established through the South Florida Bandits with a comprehensive recruiting and development system designed to help student-athletes progress from youth baseball through the college recruiting process and beyond.
After more than 25 years in amateur baseball and college recruiting, Berg's greatest asset remains the same: an ability to understand a player, understand the college baseball landscape, and connect the two honestly.
From the powerhouse South Florida Bandits teams of the past to the expanding Time to Sign organization of today, that philosophy has remained at the foundation of everything he has built.
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Duke University | Cincinnati Reds Sarkis Ohanian
Vice President · Florida Regional Director Read bio
Duke University | Cincinnati Reds
Sarkis Ohanian
Vice President · Florida Regional Director
Sarkis Ohanian brings a rare combination of elite academic, collegiate, professional baseball, and recruiting experience to his role as Vice President of Time to Sign Sports. Having personally navigated the path from South Florida travel baseball to Duke University, the Cape Cod Baseball League, the MLB Draft, and professional baseball, he now uses that experience to help student-athletes and families navigate many of the same decisions that shaped his own career.
A South Florida native, Sarkis attended North Broward Preparatory School, where he developed as both a shortstop and pitcher while competing for the South Florida Bandits on the travel circuit. As a senior at North Broward, Sarkis posted a 2.41 ERA with 49 strikeouts in just 29 innings and played a key role in the Eagles' District and Regional Championships and run to the Florida State Championship.
Sarkis continued his career at Duke University, competing for four seasons in the Atlantic Coast Conference while earning a degree in Sociology and a Certificate in Markets & Management. His career was defined by continued development, culminating in a dominant senior season in 2015. Working exclusively out of the bullpen, Sarkis went 4-1 with a 1.97 ERA across 45.2 innings, striking out 62 hitters while allowing just 11 walks. His 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings and 5.64 strikeout-to-walk ratio established him as one of the ACC's best relief pitchers.
Among ACC pitchers who threw at least 45 innings that season, Sarkis' 1.97 ERA ranked fourth in the conference, and he was one of only three pitchers in the ACC to surpass 45 innings while maintaining an ERA below 2.00.
During his collegiate career, Sarkis also spent two summers with the Hyannis Harbor Hawks in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League. His 2013 summer was particularly dominant: he appeared in 10 games without surrendering a single run over 14.1 innings, allowing just six hits while recording three saves. His performance earned him a selection to the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game, placing him among the top players competing in the nation's premier collegiate summer league.
Following his senior season, Sarkis was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round, 265th overall, of the 2015 MLB Draft. He and teammate Michael Matuella became the first pair of Duke teammates selected within the first 10 rounds of the MLB Draft since 2002.
Sarkis spent five years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. In 2016 with the Dayton Dragons, he recorded 13 saves, tied for second in the Midwest League, while striking out 61 hitters in only 35.1 innings and posting a 0.93 WHIP. During one remarkable 21-appearance stretch that June and July, he allowed just six hits in 22 innings while recording 42 strikeouts against only five walks. Across his professional career, Sarkis struck out 159 hitters in 100.2 innings, averaging more than 14 strikeouts per nine innings.
Sarkis' story also carries particular significance beyond baseball. When he graduated from Duke in 2015, he became the first member of the Ohanian family to graduate from college, fulfilling a goal rooted in generations of sacrifice and reinforcing his belief that baseball can be a vehicle for extraordinary educational opportunities.
Today, Sarkis serves as Vice President of Time to Sign Sports, where he works directly with student-athletes and families while helping lead the organization's recruiting, team, event, and player-development initiatives. His experience extends beyond his own playing career into years of player evaluation, college placement, recruiting strategy, and relationship-building with college coaches across the country. Time to Sign's current recruiting model places particular emphasis on evaluating both the athletic and academic profile of each player, an approach that closely mirrors Sarkis' own journey to Duke.
Having experienced virtually every stage of the process himself, from being evaluated and recruited as a high school player to competing in the ACC, performing on the Cape, hearing his name called in the MLB Draft, and navigating professional baseball, Sarkis brings a perspective that cannot be learned from the sidelines. He understands what college coaches are evaluating, what high-level baseball demands, and how important it is for families to identify opportunities that align with a player's ability, academics, development, and long-term goals.
At Time to Sign, his objective is straightforward: give serious student-athletes the honest evaluation, strategy, relationships, and preparation necessary to maximize both their baseball and educational opportunities.
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University of Florida | Harvard Business School | Princess Cruises | Citi Anna Ohanian
Business Strategy Read bio
University of Florida | Harvard Business School | Princess Cruises | Citi
Anna Ohanian
Business Strategy
Anna Ohanian serves as a Business Advisor to Time to Sign Sports, bringing a background in investment banking, corporate strategy, entrepreneurship, and business development to the organization.
Anna earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Florida before beginning her career with Citi’s Southeast Public Finance investment banking group. Over more than five years at Citi, she progressed from Investment Banking Analyst to Associate and Assistant Vice President, advising on more than 80 financings totaling approximately $15 billion. Her work helped municipalities and public entities throughout Florida and the Southeast access capital to fund major infrastructure and community projects.
Anna later earned her MBA from Harvard Business School, graduating in 2025 with Second Year Honors. During her time at Harvard, she was selected as a Toigo Fellow and PIMCO Future Leaders Scholar and was nominated to serve as a tutor for both Finance II and The Entrepreneurial Manager. She also spent a summer with Boston Consulting Group, gaining additional experience in management consulting and corporate strategy.
Today, Anna serves as Director of Business Strategy at Princess Cruises, where she applies her background in finance, strategy, and business development to complex growth and strategic initiatives.
As a Business Advisor to Time to Sign, Anna works alongside the organization’s leadership on long-term strategy, business planning, growth initiatives, and the continued development of the systems necessary to scale Time to Sign nationally. Her experience evaluating businesses, analyzing growth opportunities, and helping organizations make disciplined strategic decisions provides an important perspective as Time to Sign expands its team, recruiting, event, and advisory platforms.
A first-generation college graduate and the daughter of immigrants, Anna’s career reflects the same principles of education, preparation, and opportunity that are central to Time to Sign’s mission. From the University of Florida to Wall Street, Harvard Business School, and corporate leadership, she brings a perspective that extends beyond athletics and reinforces Time to Sign’s commitment to preparing student-athletes for success both on the field and beyond it.
Regional Directors
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Villanova University | University of Maine Dylan McNary
Regional Director · New England Dylan McNary brings a unique combination of Division I playing experience, performance training expertise, and firsthand familiarity with the Time to Sign recruiting process to his… Read bio
Villanova University | University of Maine
Dylan McNary
Regional Director · New England
Dylan McNary brings a unique combination of Division I playing experience, performance training expertise, and firsthand familiarity with the Time to Sign recruiting process to his role with the organization.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Dylan attended Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, where he developed into one of the region’s top high school infielders. He earned All-ISL honors as a senior after previously receiving Mid-Wach A All-Star recognition and went on to play Division I baseball at Villanova University. During his high school career, Dylan was also a Time to Sign student-athlete, giving him firsthand experience with the organization and the recruiting process he now helps other players navigate.
Dylan earned the starting shortstop job early in his freshman season at Villanova and became a fixture in the Wildcats’ lineup. Over three seasons, he appeared in 83 games with 80 starts, frequently hitting at or near the top of the order while establishing himself as a versatile and athletic defender.
He later transferred to the University of Maine, where his collegiate career culminated in an outstanding 2023 season. Dylan earned America East All-Conference Second Team honors after batting .299 with a .393 on-base percentage and .632 slugging percentage, while recording 10 home runs, 28 runs scored, 27 RBI, and eight stolen bases in 33 games before a season-ending hand injury.
Following his playing career, Dylan turned his focus toward athletic development and performance training. A Certified Functional Strength Coach with advanced study in biomechanics and biology, he most recently served as Director of Fitness & Health at 5 Tool Performance in Massachusetts. There, he worked directly with athletes to build individualized training programs based on movement quality, physical profile, sport-specific demands, and long-term development goals.
Dylan’s coaching philosophy emphasizes purposeful training, consistency, attention to detail, and the efficient development and transfer of strength and power. His objective is not simply to make athletes stronger, but to help them become healthier, more explosive, and more prepared to perform when it matters.
At Time to Sign, Dylan brings the perspective of someone who has lived the process from both sides. He progressed from a Time to Sign player and New England high school prospect to a starting Division I shortstop, an all-conference college player, and now a professional performance coach. Today, he uses that experience to help young athletes develop physically, understand what is required at the next level, and navigate the college baseball journey with greater purpose and preparation.
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Virginia Tech | Kansas State | Colorado Rockies Zach Kokoska
Regional Director · Mid-Atlantic Zach Kokoska brings firsthand experience at virtually every stage of the amateur and professional baseball journey to Time to Sign. A former Time to Sign student-athlete,… Read bio
Virginia Tech | Kansas State | Colorado Rockies
Zach Kokoska
Regional Director · Mid-Atlantic
Zach Kokoska brings firsthand experience at virtually every stage of the amateur and professional baseball journey to Time to Sign. A former Time to Sign student-athlete, Zach progressed from one of Pennsylvania’s top high school players to Division I baseball, an All-Big 12 career, the MLB Draft, and professional baseball with the Colorado Rockies organization.
A native of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Zach starred at Greater Latrobe High School, where he helped lead the Wildcats to the first WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A state championships in program history. His senior season was one of the most accomplished in Pennsylvania high school baseball, as he batted .538 while setting six school records and was named the 2017 Gatorade Pennsylvania Baseball Player of the Year and USA Today Pennsylvania Player of the Year.
During his high school career, Zach was also a Time to Sign player, giving him firsthand experience with the recruiting process and the organization he now helps represent.
Zach began his collegiate career at Virginia Tech, competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference before transferring to Kansas State University. In Manhattan, he developed into one of the most productive hitters in the Big 12.
His collegiate career culminated in an outstanding 2021 season in which he hit .363 with a .445 on-base percentage and .675 slugging percentage while recording 19 doubles, 15 home runs, 46 RBI, and 56 runs scored. He also reached base in 41 consecutive games, one of the longest streaks by a Kansas State player during the program’s Big 12 era.
Zach’s performance earned him First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region honors, Second Team All-Big 12 recognition, and a spot on the Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team. Just as importantly, his success extended beyond the field. Zach was named a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, earned multiple Academic All-Big 12 honors, and was twice selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team.
Following his collegiate career, Zach was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He has since advanced through the Rockies’ minor league system, reaching the Double-A level with the Hartford Yard Goats while establishing himself as a power and speed threat. Through the 2026 season, Zach has accumulated 75 professional home runs and 84 stolen bases.
At Time to Sign, Zach brings an especially valuable perspective because he has personally navigated the path the organization helps young players pursue. He went from a Time to Sign player and high school prospect to competing in two of college baseball’s premier conferences, becoming an Academic All-American, earning an opportunity in the MLB Draft, and building a professional baseball career.
His experiences allow him to speak honestly with young athletes about recruiting, development, academics, adversity, transferring, and the standards required to continue advancing in the game. Zach’s story represents the type of complete student-athlete development Time to Sign strives to provide: creating opportunities, making informed decisions, continuing to develop, and being prepared when the next opportunity arrives.
Regional Advisors
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Warner University | Collegiate Head Coach Addison Rouse
Regional Advisor · Florida Read bio
Warner University | Collegiate Head Coach
Addison Rouse
Regional Advisor · Florida
Addison Rouse brings more than 16 years of college coaching, recruiting, and player development experience to Time to Sign, providing student-athletes and families with the perspective of a current collegiate head coach who has spent his career evaluating and developing players at the next level.
Addison Rouse enters his second season as Head Baseball Coach of the Warner University Royals, bringing with him over 17 years of coaching experience across NAIA and NCAA Division II & III programs. A native of Florence, Kentucky, Rouse has established a proven track record of competitive success, academic achievement, and Christ-centered leadership throughout his career. In year one, the Royals finished fourth in the competitive Sun Conference, made a Sun Tournament semi-final, & finished in the top 35 of the national RPI rankings.
Rouse came to Warner following five seasons as Head Coach at Saint Xavier University (Ill.), where he revitalized the Cougars’ program and guided them to multiple postseason runs. His tenure was highlighted by the program’s first 40-win season since 2009 (2022), two CCAC Tournament Championships (2023 & 2025), and three NAIA Opening Round appearances. Under his leadership, SXU also earned ABCA Academic Excellence Awards in four consecutive years, produced eight professional signees, and developed two CSC Academic All-Americans.
Before his time in Chicago, Rouse served as Head Coach at Salem University (W.Va.), where he set a program record for wins in 2019 and led the Tigers to their best winning percentage since moving to NCAA Division II. He also guided the program to three ABCA Team Academic Excellence Awards and coached five All-East Coast Athletic Conference honorees.
Rouse began his head coaching career at Eastern Nazarene College (Mass.), where his teams produced multiple All-Conference selections and he mentored the league’s Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He also gained valuable coaching experience as an assistant at Brescia University (Ky.) and Henderson State University (Ark.), as well as with Medicine Hat American Legion Baseball in Alberta, Canada.
As a player, Rouse competed at both Ohio Valley University (NCAA Division II) and Brescia University (NAIA), where he helped lead his team to a KIAC Championship (2009) and two NAIA National Tournament appearances. He earned his B.A. in English from Brescia University (2009) and later his M.S. in Sports Administration from Henderson State University (2012).
Beyond the diamond, Rouse has served the game as a 14-year member of the ABCA, FACA Baseball Clinic Speaker (2025), a USA Baseball Regional Clinic Speaker (2021), and a clinic speaker at the IHSBCA Coaches Convention (2022). He has also contributed at the national level as a member of the NAIA Baseball Executive Committee, NAIA World Series Games Committee and is an active NAIA Champions of Character Ambassador.
Warner University Athletic Director Sean Hanrahan praised the hire, stating: “Coach Rouse brings a consistent record of excellence both on the field and in the classroom. His championship pedigree, holistic approach to student-athlete development, and commitment to Christ-centered leadership make him an ideal fit to lead the future of Royals Baseball.”
At Time to Sign, Addison provides an invaluable college coaching perspective to the organization’s evaluation and recruiting process. Having spent his career building college rosters, recruiting student-athletes, developing players, and helping them progress toward professional opportunities, he understands what coaches are actually looking for when evaluating prospective players.
That experience allows Addison to help Time to Sign student-athletes better understand where they currently stand, what areas of their game need to improve, how they project at the collegiate level, and how to position themselves for the right opportunities. His perspective reinforces one of Time to Sign’s core principles: successful recruiting begins with honest evaluation, purposeful development, and finding the right academic and baseball fit.
Rouse and his wife, Alisha, reside in Lake Wales with their children, Davy Gray, Drew Gray, and Shae.
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University of Virginia | Major League Baseball | Kansas City Royals Brian Buchanan
Regional Advisor · Florida Read bio
University of Virginia | Major League Baseball | Kansas City Royals
Brian Buchanan
Regional Advisor · Florida
Brian Buchanan brings decades of experience as an All-American collegiate player, Major League Baseball veteran, professional coach, manager, and father of college baseball players to Time to Sign.
A standout at the University of Virginia, Brian developed into one of the most accomplished hitters in program history. His 1994 season remains one of the greatest offensive campaigns ever produced by a Cavalier, as he hit .396 with 22 home runs and 66 RBI while posting an .838 slugging percentage. He earned First Team All-American and First Team All-ACC honors and would later be named to the ACC's 50th Anniversary Team.
Following his junior season, Brian was selected 24th overall by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 1994 MLB Draft, becoming the first player in University of Virginia history to be selected in the first round.
Brian went on to play five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets. Across 346 Major League games, he compiled a .258 career batting average with 32 home runs and 103 RBI. His professional playing career ultimately spanned more than a decade and also included a season in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks.
After his playing career, Brian transitioned into professional coaching and player development, beginning a lengthy tenure with the Kansas City Royals organization. He spent six seasons managing throughout the Royals' minor-league system before becoming the hitting coach at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and ultimately earning a promotion to the Major League staff as the Royals' Assistant Hitting Coach in 2017.
Brian later served as the hitting coach for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers. Under his direction in 2021, Omaha led all of Minor League Baseball with a franchise-record 231 home runs while also leading Triple-A East in runs, hits, RBI, stolen bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
In recognition of his playing career and lasting impact on the program, Brian was selected as a member of the inaugural University of Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame class in 2018.
At Time to Sign, Brian brings an uncommon depth of perspective to player evaluation, development, and recruiting. He has experienced the game as an elite college player, first-round draft pick, Major Leaguer, professional player overseas, minor-league manager, Major League coach, and professional hitting instructor. He understands not only what talent looks like, but what is required for a player to continue developing as the level of competition increases.
Brian's connection to Time to Sign is also personal. As the father of four sons, he has experienced the modern college recruiting process from the same perspective as the families Time to Sign serves. He entrusted Time to Sign with the recruiting paths of his own sons.
That combination of professional expertise and firsthand experience as a parent gives Brian a particularly valuable perspective. He understands the ambitions of young players, the standards of high-level baseball, and the decisions families face throughout the recruiting journey. At Time to Sign, he uses that experience to provide honest evaluation, developmental insight, and guidance designed to help student-athletes pursue the right opportunities and prepare for what comes next.
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Seton Hall University | Former Division I Recruiting Coordinator Mark Pappas
Regional Advisor · Northeast Read bio
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Seton Hall University | Former Division I Recruiting Coordinator
Mark Pappas
Regional Advisor · Northeast
Mark Pappas brings more than a decade of Division I coaching, recruiting, and player development experience to Time to Sign, providing student-athletes and families with the perspective of someone who spent years evaluating prospects and building collegiate rosters from inside a Division I program.
A New Jersey native, Mark was a standout player at Seton Hall University from 2005 through 2008. Over his four-year career with the Pirates, he compiled a .290 batting average with 101 runs scored, 92 RBI, 34 doubles, and 13 home runs. As a senior, he led Seton Hall with 41 runs scored and established a program single-season record with 177 defensive assists while earning NJCBA First Team All-State honors.
Following his collegiate career, Mark transitioned to professional baseball, signing with the Sussex Skyhawks of the Can-Am League. He spent two seasons with Sussex and was part of the Skyhawks' 2008 league championship team before also spending time with the Québec Capitales.
Mark ultimately returned to Seton Hall, this time as a coach, beginning a tenure that would span more than a decade. After initially joining the staff as a volunteer assistant, he was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching role and eventually elevated to Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator prior to the 2018 season.
Throughout his tenure, Mark worked extensively with Seton Hall's hitters, position players, and team defense while playing an increasingly significant role in the program's recruiting efforts. He was part of the staff that captured the 2011 BIG EAST Championship, helped Seton Hall qualify for 10 consecutive BIG EAST Tournaments, and reached the conference championship game in 2018.
Under Mark's instruction, Seton Hall consistently ranked among the BIG EAST's strongest offensive and defensive programs. In 2014, the Pirates led the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, triples, RBI, and stolen bases. In 2021, Seton Hall recorded its most BIG EAST victories since 2013 while four Pirate position players earned All-BIG EAST recognition.
Mark's coaching experience also extends beyond Seton Hall. He managed the Monmouth Monarchs to the first league championship in organization history, served as an assistant coach with the Greek Senior National Team during its international competition in 2018, and later returned to professional baseball as the hitting coach for the Sussex County Miners of the Frontier League.
At Time to Sign, Mark's background as a longtime Division I Recruiting Coordinator provides student-athletes with an especially valuable perspective. For years, he sat on the opposite side of the recruiting process, evaluating high school players, communicating with prospects and families, constructing recruiting classes, and determining which student-athletes were the right fit for Seton Hall.
Mark also brings a unique connection to Time to Sign. During his years coaching and recruiting at Seton Hall, he became familiar with the organization from the college-coach side and saw firsthand the quality of players, preparation, and relationships Time to Sign brought to the recruiting process. Today, he brings that experience inside the organization to help guide its next generation of student-athletes.
His approach centers on honest evaluation, player development, and helping families understand how college coaches actually make recruiting decisions. Having experienced college baseball as a player, coach, and Recruiting Coordinator, Mark is able to help Time to Sign athletes better understand where they stand, what they need to improve, and how to position themselves for opportunities that fit them both academically and athletically.
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William Paterson University | Two-Time First Team All-NJAC Mike Bellovich
Regional Advisor · Northeast Read bio
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William Paterson University | Two-Time First Team All-NJAC
Mike Bellovich
Regional Advisor · Northeast
Mike Bellovich brings decades of playing, coaching, player development, and firsthand recruiting experience to Time to Sign. A former standout collegiate player and longtime coach in the North Jersey baseball community, Mike has spent much of his career helping young athletes develop from youth baseball into high school and college prospects.
A Southern California native, Mike emerged as a standout catcher at Ocean View High School. As a senior, he batted .468 with 37 RBI, ranking among Orange County's top offensive performers, and earned an opportunity to continue his career at the collegiate level. He later competed at Rancho Santiago before ultimately continuing his playing career at William Paterson University in New Jersey.
At William Paterson, Mike developed into one of the top players in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. After transitioning to first base, he earned First Team All-NJAC honors in both 1998 and 1999, establishing himself as a key contributor to one of the country's premier NCAA Division III programs.
His collegiate career culminated with an outstanding 1999 season. William Paterson finished 31-14, captured the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship, and advanced to the NCAA Division III College World Series, where the Pioneers finished third in the nation. Mike was a starting first baseman throughout that postseason run and helped William Paterson secure victories over Rowan, Ursinus, Montclair State, Aurora, and SUNY Cortland on its way to a national semifinal appearance.
Following his playing career, Mike devoted himself to coaching and developing young athletes. Over nearly two decades, he has worked extensively with players throughout Northern New Jersey, emphasizing fundamentals, competitiveness, baseball IQ, and long-term development. He has served as a head coach with programs including the NJ Renegades and has helped build teams whose players remained together and developed over multiple seasons.
Under Mike's leadership, the NJ Renegades captured multiple tournament championships, including Diamond Nation's 12U Fall Classic and 13U Spring Invitational. His approach has consistently emphasized complete player development rather than short-term results, with a focus on pitching, defense, offensive execution, accountability, and learning how to play the game the right way.
Mike's connection to Time to Sign is also deeply personal. His son, Alex Bellovich, played for Time to Sign during his high school career before committing to NCAA Division I James Madison University. Alex developed into an All-State and All-County catcher at Ramapo High School and is now a member of the James Madison baseball program.
That experience gives Mike a perspective that extends beyond coaching. He has lived the recruiting process as a former college player, longtime evaluator and coach, and parent of a Division I student-athlete. He understands the questions families face, the importance of finding the right academic and athletic fit, and the value of honest guidance throughout a player's development.
At Time to Sign, Mike uses that combination of experience to evaluate, mentor, and guide student-athletes throughout the recruiting journey. His approach is rooted in long-term development, realistic evaluation, and helping players understand what it takes to progress from youth and high school baseball into the college game.
Network of Coaches
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New York Yankees | Cressey Sports Performance Eric Cressey
Sports performance, pitching, hitting and defense Read bio
New York Yankees | Cressey Sports Performance
Eric Cressey
Sports performance, pitching, hitting and defense
Eric Cressey is one of the most respected names in baseball performance, player health, and long-term athletic development. As President and Co-Founder of Cressey Sports Performance and Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees, Eric has spent nearly two decades working at the intersection of strength and conditioning, biomechanics, throwing development, injury prevention, and high-performance baseball.
Eric co-founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007 and has helped grow CSP into one of the premier baseball development environments in the country, with facilities in Hudson, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. While his work has included athletes from youth sports through the professional and Olympic levels, he is best known for his extensive work in baseball. More than 100 professional baseball players train with Eric and the CSP staff during a typical offseason, with athletes representing organizations throughout Major League Baseball.
Over the years, Eric has worked with some of the most accomplished players in the game, including Cy Young Award winners and Major League All-Stars. His longstanding work with pitchers such as Corey Kluber helped establish CSP as a destination for professional players seeking individualized approaches to physical preparation, throwing, movement quality, recovery, and durability. In 2017, both American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and National League Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer trained at Cressey Sports Performance.
In 2020, the New York Yankees selected Eric to lead a comprehensive restructuring of the organization's Player Health and Performance department. As Director of Player Health and Performance, he oversees areas including strength and conditioning, athlete assessment, performance technology, facility and equipment development, continuing education, and the integration of player health and performance resources throughout the organization. He continues to hold that position with the Yankees while serving as President of Cressey Sports Performance.
Eric's philosophy has long centered on individualization. Rather than applying the same training model to every athlete, his approach examines how an athlete moves, how his body is built, the specific demands of his position, his training and injury history, and where he is in his long-term development. That philosophy has made CSP particularly influential in the development of pitchers and throwing athletes, whose performance requires a careful integration of strength, mobility, throwing workload, mechanics, recovery, and arm health.
His impact on baseball extends well beyond the athletes he trains directly. Eric is an internationally recognized educator, author, speaker, researcher, and consultant whose work has helped shape the way coaches and performance professionals think about throwing athletes. He has authored five books and hundreds of articles on strength and conditioning, shoulder health, athletic development, and baseball performance, and has educated coaches and practitioners throughout the sports-performance industry.
Eric's academic background reflects the same evidence-based approach. He earned a master's degree in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from the University of Connecticut and completed undergraduate degrees in Exercise Science and Sports and Fitness Management at the University of New England. He is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
For Time to Sign student-athletes, Eric and the Cressey Sports Performance network provide access to a development environment built around the same principles used with athletes at the highest levels of baseball. From strength and movement development to pitching, hitting, defense, biomechanics, and long-term physical preparation, the emphasis is on understanding the individual athlete and building a development plan around what that player actually needs.
That relationship reinforces a central component of the Time to Sign model: recruiting and development cannot be separated. Exposure can create an opportunity, but continued development determines what a player is ultimately prepared to do with it. Eric's career has been built around helping athletes understand that difference and creating the individualized systems necessary for them to continue progressing from one level of the game to the next.
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Toronto Blue Jays Player Development | San Diego Padres | Stony Brook University Justin Echevarria
Hitting and catching Read bio
Toronto Blue Jays Player Development | San Diego Padres | Stony Brook University
Justin Echevarria
Hitting and catching
Justin Echevarria brings a rare combination of professional baseball, collegiate coaching, MLB player development, and specialized catching expertise to Time to Sign. A former professional catcher and longtime coach, Justin has spent his career studying, teaching, and developing the technical, physical, and leadership skills required to succeed behind the plate and at the highest levels of the game.
A Long Island native, Justin played Division I baseball at Stony Brook University, where he became a three-year starter at catcher and helped lead the Seawolves to NCAA Regional appearances in both 2008 and 2010. He developed a reputation as one of the top defensive catchers in the America East Conference, leading the league in throwing out potential base stealers in three of his four collegiate seasons and throwing out more than 40 percent of runners attempting to advance.
Justin's performance earned him two All-Conference selections and recognition on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List, placing him among the catchers nationally considered for the award honoring the top collegiate catcher in the country.
Following his career at Stony Brook, Justin was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 40th round of the 2010 MLB Draft and began his professional career as a catcher in the Padres organization.
After his playing career, Justin quickly transitioned into coaching and player development. He joined the staff at Manhattan College, working primarily with the program's catchers and hitters, before serving as the hitting and catching coach at Adelphi University. He later joined the Fordham University baseball staff, continuing to work with Division I players in hitting, catching, and overall offensive development.
Justin's experience eventually led him into professional player development with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He joined Toronto's minor-league system in 2021 and served as a hitting coach at the organization's Florida Complex League level before advancing through the system. By 2023, Justin had been elevated to Position Coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, one step below the Major Leagues, a role he continued in 2024.
Throughout his career, Justin has developed particular expertise in catching, a position that requires far more than physical tools alone. His instruction emphasizes receiving, throwing, blocking, game management, communication, leadership, preparation, and the ability to work effectively with a pitching staff. His experience as a catcher, collegiate coach, and professional player-development coach allows him to evaluate the position through the same lens used at the highest levels of baseball.
Justin has also dedicated years to individualized player development through the Echevarria Catching Academy, working with athletes on the technical and mental demands of the position. His current development work continues to emphasize receiving, throwing, leadership, and complete catcher development.
At Time to Sign, Justin provides student-athletes with a perspective shaped by virtually every level of the game. He has been a Division I player, MLB Draft selection, professional catcher, college coach, private instructor, and professional player-development coach inside a Major League organization.
That experience is particularly valuable when evaluating young players and preparing them for the next level. Justin understands what separates a talented high school player from a recruitable college prospect, and what separates a college prospect from a player capable of continuing to advance. His approach centers on honest evaluation, attention to detail, position-specific development, and helping athletes understand the standards they will be expected to meet as the game becomes faster and more demanding.
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Milwaukee Brewers | Team Colombia | Houston Astros Christian Correa
Catching Read bio
Milwaukee Brewers | Team Colombia | Houston Astros
Christian Correa
Catching
Christian Correa brings nearly a decade of professional playing experience, international competition, collegiate coaching, and Major League player-development experience to Time to Sign. A lifelong catcher who now serves on the Milwaukee Brewers' Major League staff, Christian has built his career around the technical, physical, and leadership demands of one of the most important positions on the field.
A South Florida product, Christian attended North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, where he earned All-County honors from both the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald and was recognized as a Regional All-American by Under Armour. He continued his career at Chipola College, earning All-Panhandle Conference honors in consecutive seasons and All-State Tournament recognition before transferring to NCAA Division I Nicholls State University.
At Nicholls State, Christian became the Colonels' primary catcher and completed his collegiate career in the Southland Conference. Following his senior season, he signed with the Houston Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2015 and began what would become a lengthy professional playing career.
Christian spent three seasons in the Astros organization, advancing through the system to the High-A level, and later signed with the Colorado Rockies organization. His career subsequently continued through several independent professional leagues, allowing him to accumulate more than 400 professional games across organizations including the Astros, Rockies, Kansas City T-Bones, Sussex County Miners, Milwaukee Milkmen, Lexington Legends, and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
His playing career also took him onto the international stage. Eligible through his Colombian heritage, Christian represented Colombia at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where he emerged as one of the tournament's most productive offensive players. He hit .455 with six runs and seven RBI in six games while handling the catching duties without an error. In Colombia's opening 6-1 victory over Cuba, Christian collected three hits, homered, drove in two runs, and scored twice. He followed that performance with three hits and three RBI against Nicaragua.
Christian also competed for Colombia in Caribbean Series play and spent time in the Colombian Professional Baseball League. His international experience provided another level of exposure to different styles of baseball, pitching staffs, cultures, and competitive environments.
He concluded his professional playing career in 2022 on top, helping the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks capture the Miles Wolff Cup as American Association champions. Even before his playing career ended, Christian had begun preparing for the next phase of his career. He earned a master's degree in Exercise and Sports Science from Eastern Kentucky University while also serving as a graduate assistant coach with the Division I baseball program.
In 2023, Christian joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a Development Coach with the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers. His transition through the professional coaching ranks was rapid. After beginning the year in player development, he advanced to the Brewers' Major League staff and now serves as one of Milwaukee's bullpen catchers. He is returning to that role for the 2026 season, his third season working at the Major League level.
Working daily in a Major League environment gives Christian a perspective few instructors can offer. A bullpen catcher's role extends far beyond simply receiving pitches. It requires familiarity with pitchers' repertoires and routines, preparation, communication, game planning, receiving, blocking, throwing, and the ability to build trust with some of the most talented pitchers in the world.
At Time to Sign, Christian brings that perspective directly to developing student-athletes. His experience as a catcher at the high school, junior college, Division I, professional, international, and Major League levels allows him to evaluate players with a clear understanding of how the demands of the position change as the game becomes faster and more sophisticated.
For catchers in particular, Christian provides a window into what high-level baseball actually requires. His approach emphasizes the complete position: receiving, throwing, blocking, physical preparation, communication, leadership, game awareness, and the responsibility of managing a pitching staff. His career reinforces a core Time to Sign philosophy: talent creates opportunity, but preparation, adaptability, and continued development are what allow players to keep advancing.
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Fairfield University | Professional Baseball Dean Ferrara
Hitting Read bio
DF
Fairfield University | Professional Baseball
Dean Ferrara
Hitting
Dean Ferrara brings a highly current perspective on hitting, player development, and the transition from high school baseball to the Division I and professional levels. As a Hitting Coach and resource for Time to Sign student-athletes, Dean works with players to help them better understand their swings, offensive approach, preparation, and the adjustments required to continue progressing as the level of competition increases.
A native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Dean starred at Ramapo High School, where he earned First Team All-League, Third Team All-State, and Second Team All-County honors. He batted .467 with 31 runs scored, 18 RBI, and 10 stolen bases during his standout high school season and set the Ramapo single-game record with six hits.
Dean continued his career at Fairfield University, where his development over four seasons transformed him into one of the most productive hitters in both program and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference history.
After earning MAAC All-Rookie Team honors as a freshman, Dean experienced a more limited role during his sophomore season before making a significant jump in his development. During the summer of 2023, he hit .422 with a .461 on-base percentage for the Norwich Sea Unicorns, collecting 65 hits, scoring 32 runs, driving in 30, and stealing 17 bases in 43 games.
That breakout carried directly into Fairfield.
As a junior in 2024, Dean earned First Team All-MAAC honors after batting .387 and setting both the Fairfield and MAAC single-season records with 96 hits. He ranked among the national leaders in hits, reached base in 52 of his 56 starts, recorded 29 multi-hit games, and produced one of the most memorable individual performances in program history when he hit for the cycle and tied Fairfield's single-game record with six hits.
Dean returned in 2025 and raised the standard again.
As a senior, he broke his own Fairfield and MAAC record by collecting 99 hits, the fourth-highest total in NCAA Division I baseball that season. He batted .374 with a .435 on-base percentage, eight home runs, 57 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases while establishing another program record with a 29-game hitting streak.
His performance earned him First Team All-MAAC honors for the second consecutive season, ABCA/Rawlings All-Northeast Second Team recognition, a spot on the MAAC All-Tournament Team, and Fairfield University's Co-Men's Athlete of the Year award.
Dean also finished his collegiate career as a champion. During the 2025 MAAC Tournament, he delivered an opposite-field grand slam in Fairfield's winner's-bracket victory over Rider and helped lead the Stags to the MAAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. He was selected to the MAAC All-Championship Team following the title run.
Over his four seasons at Fairfield, Dean finished with a .354 career batting average, 215 hits, 14 home runs, 112 RBI, 129 runs scored, and 29 stolen bases across 165 games.
Following graduation, Dean continued his career in professional baseball and immediately demonstrated that his offensive production could translate to the next level. His experience competing against professional pitching has further shaped his understanding of approach, swing decisions, preparation, and the constant adjustments required of successful hitters.
For Time to Sign players, Dean provides something especially valuable: a resource who has very recently experienced the same progression they are pursuing. He understands what it takes to move from high school baseball into a Division I lineup, develop into an elite collegiate hitter, compete in high-level summer baseball, and ultimately earn an opportunity in the professional game.
Dean's own development also provides an important lesson for young athletes. His college career was not a straight line. After earning early recognition as a freshman and seeing limited opportunities as a sophomore, he continued to develop and ultimately became a two-time First Team All-Conference selection, an All-Region performer, a conference record holder, and a professional player.
As a Hitting Coach and resource for Time to Sign student-athletes, Dean helps players better understand the offensive side of the game, from swing development and approach to preparation, adjustments, and the mental discipline required to become a consistent hitter.
His perspective reinforces a core Time to Sign philosophy: where a player is today does not have to determine where he ultimately finishes. Consistent development, purposeful work, and the ability to make adjustments can dramatically change the trajectory of a player's career.
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Human Performance Mentors | Mental Performance & Leadership Michael Cooper
Mental sports performance Read bio
Human Performance Mentors | Mental Performance & Leadership
Michael Cooper
Mental sports performance
Michael Cooper brings more than three decades of experience in human performance, mental conditioning, leadership development, and mentorship to Time to Sign. As the Founder of Human Performance Mentors and creator of The Missing Playbook™, Michael has built his career around helping athletes and high performers develop the confidence, discipline, resilience, focus, and self-awareness necessary to perform when the pressure is highest.
His philosophy centers on a simple principle: developing the athlete requires developing the person behind the performance.
Throughout his career, Michael has worked with athletes, coaches, executives, organizations, and families across high-performance environments. His work has reached individuals and programs connected to professional and collegiate sports, including Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL, Olympic competition, the University of Florida, Purdue University, the Miami Marlins, PGA Tour athletes, and the Rick Macci Tennis Academy.
Rather than focusing solely on motivation, Michael's approach addresses the mental habits and behaviors that influence performance over time. His work emphasizes confidence, emotional control, preparation, goal setting, resilience, accountability, leadership, focus, and the ability to respond productively to adversity.
Michael's perspective was also shaped by his service in the United States Navy aboard the USS Nimitz. The discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and leadership required in that environment became foundational elements of the performance principles he would later teach athletes and leaders.
His continued study of leadership and human development led him to become a Certified LifeSuccess Consultant and a Certified Leader through the Napoleon Hill Foundation. He has since spent decades translating those principles into practical systems for individuals operating in competitive, demanding environments.
Through Human Performance Mentors, Michael created The Missing Playbook, a developmental framework designed to address many of the skills young athletes are rarely taught formally: how to build genuine confidence, manage pressure, maintain perspective, establish productive habits, overcome setbacks, lead themselves effectively, and create an internal standard that does not depend on outside validation.
At Time to Sign, Michael serves as a Mental Performance & Leadership Advisor, helping student-athletes develop the psychological and behavioral skills that complement their physical development and recruiting preparation.
For young baseball players, that work becomes increasingly important as they advance. Failure is unavoidable. Playing time fluctuates. Recruiting creates uncertainty. Expectations increase. Players encounter slumps, injuries, competition, rejection, and environments in which everyone possesses talent. The ability to respond to those moments often separates athletes who continue progressing from those who struggle to translate their ability into consistent performance.
Michael's role within Time to Sign reinforces the organization's commitment to developing the complete student-athlete. Physical ability may open the door, but confidence, discipline, resilience, preparation, and character ultimately influence what a player does once the opportunity arrives.
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Informed Athlete | NCAA Compliance & Eligibility Rick Allen
NCAA compliance Read bio
Informed Athlete | NCAA Compliance & Eligibility
Rick Allen
NCAA compliance
Rick Allen brings more than three decades of NCAA compliance, eligibility, and collegiate athletics experience to Time to Sign. One of the country's early full-time NCAA compliance administrators, Rick has spent his career helping student-athletes, families, coaches, institutions, and professional advisors understand and navigate the rules governing college athletics.
Rick spent more than 25 years working directly on the campuses of major NCAA Division I institutions. He began his collegiate athletics career at the University of Illinois, where he ultimately led the university's athletics compliance operation, before joining Oklahoma State University as Associate Athletic Director for Compliance. His career placed him at the center of NCAA rules interpretation, eligibility certification, recruiting, financial aid, transfers, amateurism, and institutional compliance.
His expertise also led to significant involvement within the compliance profession itself. Rick has served as President and as a board member of the National Association for Athletics Compliance and has conducted compliance reviews and consulted with athletic departments throughout the country.
In 2008, Rick co-founded Informed Athlete, an independent resource designed to help student-athletes and families understand how NCAA and other collegiate eligibility rules apply to their individual circumstances. Through Informed Athlete, he has advised families on initial eligibility, transfers, scholarships, recruiting rules, waivers and appeals, seasons of competition, and other complex eligibility matters.
Rick also works with attorneys, agents, advisors, recruiting organizations, and other professionals whose clients encounter NCAA eligibility or compliance questions. His experience allows him to take complicated regulatory language and translate it into practical guidance families can understand before making decisions that may affect an athlete's collegiate opportunities.
For Time to Sign families, that expertise is particularly valuable when a player's path does not follow the traditional high school-to-college timeline. Reclassification, postgraduate years, gap years, junior college enrollment, transfers, delayed enrollment, additional seasons of eligibility, and changes in academic status can all carry eligibility implications that are easy for families to overlook.
Those issues have become even more important as collegiate eligibility rules continue to evolve. Decisions that appear straightforward from a baseball or recruiting perspective can have consequences involving academic eligibility, an athlete's eligibility clock, seasons of competition, or future transfer options. Rick helps Time to Sign families identify those considerations before important decisions are made.
His guidance can be especially useful for student-athletes considering reclassification or an additional year before college. Academic requirements and athletic eligibility rules do not always treat a player's graduation date, age, enrollment status, and competitive participation in the same way families might expect. Understanding those distinctions early can help prevent an otherwise avoidable eligibility issue.
Rick also brings the perspective of a parent. His son was recruited to a Big 12 institution on athletic and academic scholarship and later navigated the transfer process from Division I to Division II, giving Rick firsthand experience with college athletics not only as an administrator but also from the family's side of the process.
At Time to Sign, Rick serves as an NCAA Compliance & Eligibility Advisor, providing another layer of expertise for student-athletes whose recruiting paths require careful eligibility planning. Whether a player is reclassifying, considering a gap or postgraduate year, navigating an unusual academic situation, transferring between institutions, or simply trying to make certain that he remains on track for college eligibility, Rick provides families with experienced guidance rooted in decades of NCAA compliance work.
His role reinforces an important Time to Sign principle: identifying the right college opportunity is only part of the process. Student-athletes must also understand the rules that determine whether they will be eligible to take advantage of that opportunity.