Our Coaching Staff
Providing professional instruction and competitive playing experiences in the WNY area since 2012.
Joe Barberio serves as Managing Partner & Head of Player Development. He brings experience as a player, coach, instructor, and alumni to the organization. As a graduate of Saint Mary's High School, Joe earned Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017 before making his commitment to SUNY Niagara.
In two seasons at SUNY Niagara, Joe served as a two-way player contributing behind the plate and at third base. He was also a pitcher in the starting rotation for the Thunderwolves. Offensively Joe finished with a career .355 batting average while hitting seven home runs. He earned All-WNYAC honors in both 2018 and 2019, was named to the NJCAA Regional All-Tournament Team, and awarded the JBB National Two-Way Player of the Year Award in 2019 after posting a .348 batting average, 1.87 ERA, and 64 strikeouts across 43 innings pitched. On May 5th during his sophomore season, Joe pitched a no-hitter against Corning CC. His success at Niagara led him to accept an athletic scholarship to continue his collegiate playing career at Canisius University and the University of Mount Olive where he recorded over 100 innings of work on the mound.
In collegiate summer baseball, Joe competed as a starting pitcher for the Niagara Power of the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL). During the 2019 season, he earned All-League honors, an NYCBL All-Star Game selection and was named the starting pitcher. On the mound, he helped lead the Power to the NYCBL Championship going 3-0 with a 1.55 ERA in twenty nine innings. He later pitched in the Coastal Plain League with the Morehead City Marlins, making five appearances as a setup reliever while recording eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings.
Joe also enjoyed a career with Royal Printing in the AAABA collegiate league, earning multiple All-Star selections and being named to the organization's All-Decade Team in 2024. In addition to his playing accomplishments, he has served as an Assistant Baseball Coach at St. Mary's High School, working under the leadership of his father.
As Head of Player Development, Joe combines high-level playing experience with a passion for teaching baseball and helping players develop a strong mind and skill set for the game.
Nick Barberio is a Partner & Training Director, with a background in coaching, training, and competitive athletics. An NC9 alumni and graduate of Lancaster High School, Nick was a standout multi-sport athlete, competing in both baseball and wrestling throughout his high school career.
On the baseball field, Nick helped Lancaster High School to a Section VI Championship and Far West Regional Runner-Up finish in 2018. As a varsity player, he earned selection to the 2019 ECIC All-Star Game and received ECIC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors during his senior season. Following high school, Nick continued his baseball career at Hilbert College before transferring to Fredonia State University. He also competed during the summer in the AAABA collegiate league with Lancaster Edge, earning a selection to the 2022 AAABA All-Star Game.
In wrestling, he established himself as one of the area's top competitors. He became a member of the prestigious New York State 100 Wins Club, finishing his career with 122 victories leaving him Top 20 all-time in wins at Lancaster High School. His accomplishments included winning a NYSPHSAA Section VI Class AA Championship, qualifying for the Eastern States Classic, capturing championships at both the Spencerport Teike / Bernabi Tournament and NFWOA Tournament, and earning Section VI placement honors four times during his high school career.
Nick's coaching experience spans multiple levels of competition. He served as Head Baseball Coach and General Manager of Nickel City Nine American Legion from 2023 to 2024 after previously serving as Head Baseball Coach of Lancaster Legion Post 7275 from 2020 to 2023. He was also the Assistant Modified Wrestling Coach at Lancaster Middle School. Nick is currently an Assistant Baseball Coach at St. Mary's High School where he is responsible for coordinating the offensive and defensive schemes.
As Training Director, Nick combines his coaching experience, competitive athletic background, and passion for training players and coaches to bring the most out of his teams and students.
John Barberio
John Barberio is the original Founder of Nickel City Nine Baseball LLC, and has been one of Western New York's most respected baseball instructors, coaches, and program builders for more than three decades. Since founding Nickel City Nine Baseball in 2012, John has dedicated himself to developing athletes and providing opportunities for players to compete and learn at the highest levels of the game.
John's coaching resume includes serving as the current Head Varsity Baseball Coach at St. Mary's High School since 2024. During his short tenure as head coach, the Lancers have recognized five first team All-WNY Recipients. He began his high school baseball coaching career at Leonardo DaVinci High School between the years of 2006 and 2013. After starting the team from scratch with coach Jim Connors in 2006, the Dragons went on to capture the Cornell Cup in 2009 after compiling a 12-0 record in the regular season. In 2013, the team made it to the semi-finals of the Class C sectional tournament. John has served as the Head Coach of the Lancaster Edge AAABA Collegiate Team. In 2023 the program captured the AAABA Western Region Championship and went on to compete in the national tournament in Johnstown, PA.
Prior to founding Nickel City Nine, John spent over a decade as an instructor at the Buffalo School of Baseball from 1999 to 2012. During this time, he assisted in developing countless baseball players throughout the region. Following a highly successful collegiate and amateur career, he was recognized with an induction into the Western New York Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
As a player, John competed collegiately at Erie Community College from 1986 to 1988 before continuing his career at SUNY Brockport from 1988 to 1990. During his amateur career, as a member of Team New Era, John helped lead his team to back-to-back MSBL / MABL World Series victories in 2009 and 2010. Following the team's 2010 World Series victory, he was awarded Tournament MVP.
As founder, coach, instructor and consultant to the program, John continues to leave an impact on players across WNY. He has influenced and helped a generation of local ballplayers and remains actively involved with the organization's commitment to professionalism and player development on and off the field.
Mason Cisco serves as the program's 16U Coach & Trainer and has been a member of the Nickel City Nine coaching staff since 2024. A graduate of Lancaster High School, Mason established himself as one of Western New York's top baseball players during his high school career, earning First Team All-WNY and First Team All-League honors in 2022 after previously receiving Second Team All-WNY and First Team All-League recognition in 2021.
Following his career at Lancaster, Mason continued his academic and athletic career at Canisius University. Throughout his collegiate career, he earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors in all four seasons (2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026). As a middle-of-the-order hitter and corner infielder, he provided offensive production for the Griffs, finishing his collegiate career with seven home runs.
In addition to his playing career, Mason has served as a Coach and Trainer with Nickel City Nine since 2024, working directly with athletes on their swing mechanics, defensive skills, and baseball acumen. His recent collegiate playing experience allows him to provide current, relevant instruction while helping players understand the discipline, preparation, and mindset required to succeed at the next level.
As a Coach & Trainer, Mason applies high-level playing experiences, coaching experience, and a passion for player development to help athletes maximize their potential.
Christian Pagano serves as our 13U Coach & Trainer. He brings years of high-level athletic achievement and coaching experience to the organization. A graduate of Depew High School, Christian established himself as one of Western New York's top multi-sport athletes, earning numerous accolades across baseball, football, and basketball.
As a baseball player, he was a three-time All-League performer, earning Class B Division Second Team honors in 2018 and 2019 before being named an All-WNY selection and Class B Division First Team honoree during his senior season in 2021. His athletic success extended beyond baseball, earning All-WNY recognition in both football and basketball in 2021. On the football field, he was a two-time Class B Division First Team selection, while on the basketball court he earned All-ECIC First Team honors and was a two-time Class B Division First Team selection.
Following high school, Christian continued his baseball career at Erie Community College, where he earned All-Region Third Team honors along with being named a member of the All-Academic Team in 2023. He later transferred to Fredonia State, where he enjoyed a standout collegiate career. In 2024, Pagano was named Fredonia State Male Athlete of the Year, earned All-Region Third Team honors, and finished second all-time in program history for single-season runs scored.
In addition to his playing accomplishments, he has become dedicated to a coaching career within the Western New York baseball community. He served as an Assistant Coach for Nickel City Nine American Legion Baseball in 2023 and 2024. He also served as an assistant with the Lancaster Edge Collegiate team in 2025. Prior to joining the Edge coaching staff, Christian was a player and a member of the team that won the Western Region title in 2023. He currently serves as the Nickel City Nine 13U coach.
As a Coach and Trainer, Pagano brings a competitive mindset and versatile athletic background. His favorite part of coaching is witnessing individual and team growth come together to find ways to win.
Ethan Flascher serves as the 15U Coach & Trainer, bringing out the best in his players through preparation, confidence, and a clear understanding of the expectations. As a long time student of Nickel City Nine training programs, Ethan advanced as a player before transitioning into coaching and mentoring the next generation of ballplayers.
Ethan played travel baseball for Nickel City Nine and WNY Prospects. Ethan played at Lancaster High School, where he was a member of the varsity baseball program during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. During the 2023 season, he helped lead Lancaster to a Section VI Championship and Far West Regional Championship, before advancing to the New York State Final Four. He followed that accomplishment by helping the Legends capture another Section VI Championship in 2024.
In addition to his playing experience, Ethan began working in player development as a HIT Squad instructor, providing hitting and fielding instruction to young athletes within the Lancaster-Depew Baseball community. He continued his coaching experience by serving as a Lancaster Travel Baseball Coach in 2024 before joining the Lancaster High School coaching staff as Assistant Junior Varsity Baseball Coach in 2025.
As a coach and trainer, Ethan relies on firsthand experience within the Nickel City Nine development system and a passion for teaching the game. Having progressed from a player to instructor and coach, he has a strong understanding of the developmental process. Ethan enjoys training infielders, and demonstrates a strong passion for player development and success.