History and Future

Thunder Baseball school has a rich history in the Knoxville Community. It's door have been open for over 20 years. Kent Mathews started Thunder Baseball School where he had the privilege of coaching and developing many players that went on to play college and professional baseball. 

Tim Nettles (Owner)

Tim grew up in San Diego and baseball fields around the country. After graduating from Torrey Pines HS he played his first two years of his college baseball career at Palomar CC, before earning a baseball scholarship to the University of North Carolina – Asheville. During the summer of 1998 he played in the prestigious Alaska Collegiate League for the Alaska Goldpanner’s. Tim was drafted as an OF by the New York Yankees in June 2000 and was a member of two professional championship teams.

Always a student of the game Tim’s passion for instructing and developing baseball players began well before the end of his playing career. During his freshman in college he began giving private lesson and instruction. Tim continued instructing during his college years in various camps and clinics. Once his playing career was over Tim wanted to continue to teach. He was hired as an instructor at Thunder Baseball School where he worked for 2 ½ years.

Tim met his wife Lisa on the field at Palomar CC where she was an All-Conference Softball 3rd baseman. She earned a softball scholarship to the University of Tennessee to play for the Lady Vols. Once their playing careers were over Tim and Lisa decided to stay in Knoxville and raise their two children (Tyler and Natalie)