Our Staff

Newell Phebus - Owner

Newell Phebus is a baseball coach with experience in little league, high school, travel and college baseball. With over 20 years of coaching experience, he began is coaching career at Fairfield High School in Goshen, Indiana. Coach Phebus currently is the Recruiting Coordinator for Glen Oaks Community College and the General Manager for Marucci Prospects Northern Indiana. He has aided in over 50 high school athletes finding homes at the collegiate level since 2024.

Iron Shepherd was formed to develop leaders before athletes. In a sports culture often focused solely on wins, rankings, and recruiting metrics, the program emphasizes what lasts faith, character, discipline, and leadership. Iron Shepherd does not replace coaches or trainers; it comes alongside athletes, families, and programs to strengthen the internal foundation required to handle pressure, adversity, recruiting, and success.

Ernie Leal - Training & Nutrition

Ernest “Ernie” Leal III is a strength and conditioning professional with experience spanning the collegiate, professional, and secondary school levels. He began his career in college athletics, working with NCAA Division I and Division III programs, including roles at the University of South Florida and Syracuse University, as well as Alfred State where he supported performance training, athlete development, and program implementation across multiple sports.

Coach Leal’s professional experience includes time in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins and in professional football with the Tampa Bay Storm, where he contributed to high-performance environments focused on athlete readiness, injury reduction, and long-term development.

He currently serves as a strength and performance director with the Honeoye Falls–Lima (HFL) Central School District in upstate New York, overseeing the weight room and performance training for a wide range of varsity and developmental athletic programs. In his role, he designs age-appropriate strength, speed, and conditioning programs while emphasizing safety, education, and athletic development for student-athletes.

Ryan Risedorph - Head Baseball Recruiter

Ryan Risedorph is a baseball coach and educator with extensive experience in youth, high school, travel, and collegiate baseball. As a former Indiana All-State high school player, Ryan gained firsthand experience with the recruiting process from the athlete’s perspective during his college baseball career at Vincennes University.

Ryan has held coaching positions at both the high school and travel levels, including roles with Marucci Prospects Northern Indiana and East Noble High School. He has also contributed to a collegiate program at Trine University, further enhancing his understanding of college baseball expectations and evaluation.

With a background in education, Ryan approaches recruiting with a teaching-first mindset. He assists athletes and families in comprehending the recruiting process, facilitating effective communication with college coaches, and making informed decisions regarding their future. Through Iron Shepherd Recruiting, Ryan emphasizes character, discipline, accountability, and long-term growth as athletes pursue opportunities that align with both their athletic aspirations and personal values.