Coach Jason Little

Jason is the founder of GRIT Academy Athletics and a highly respected baseball and softball instructor in North Georgia, known for developing athletes from youth through the collegiate level and beyond.

Jason began playing baseball at age three and was competing in travel ball by age six, training in elite programs across the Southeast led by former Major League players and coaches. He went on to play at Loganville High School, where he was part of a State Championship team, and continued his career at Georgia Gwinnett College. While there, he served as President of the Baseball Association and helped develop both the baseball and softball club programs.

Before founding GRIT Academy in 2018, Jason served as a Cobb County Police Officer, bringing a strong foundation of discipline, leadership, and mentorship into his coaching career.

With over 11 years of experience training athletes and more than a decade coaching within the Cambridge Feeder Softball program, Jason has built a reputation for developing players at every level of the game. He currently leads the North Georgia Feeder (NGF) Program as Director, and previously developed the feeder program at St. Pius X Catholic High School.

Jason works with athletes ranging from beginners to college players, and has helped guide numerous players through the recruiting process to compete at Division I, Division II, and junior college levels. He also continues to train and develop current collegiate athletes, helping them refine their skills and elevate their performance.

Jason is married to Holly Little, a former collegiate softball player at Berry College. Together, they are raising their three children, Luke, Harper, and Hadley, and have built GRIT into a family-driven community focused on developing athletes on baseball and softball fields across our community.

Will is a highly experienced baseball instructor at GRIT Academy, specializing in hitting, infield, and outfield development for athletes across all levels.

A Cumming, Georgia native, Will played four years of varsity baseball as a middle infielder at North Forsyth High School before continuing his career at Reinhardt University. He later earned his degree in Exercise Science from Kennesaw State University and now serves as a Physical Education teacher at King’s Ridge Christian School.

Will has been coaching since 2011, with experience spanning private instruction, travel baseball, and high school programs. He spent seven years as an assistant coach at North Forsyth High School and currently serves as an assistant varsity coach at King’s Ridge, where he helped lead the Tigers to a Final Four appearance in the 2024 State Playoffs. He also stepped into the role of middle school head softball coach in 2024, further expanding his impact across both baseball and softball development.

In the travel ball space, Will has coached every age group from 8U to 18U. He has also worked alongside Michael Barrett, helping build and develop high-level training programs through Barrett Baseball and Roadrunner Baseball.

Known for his strong fundamentals and ability to connect with players, Will focuses on helping athletes improve mechanics, build confidence, and compete at the next level.

Outside of GRIT, Will enjoys spending time with his wife, Chloe, and their first child. 

Sydney is an energetic and athlete-focused instructor at GRIT Academy, specializing in catching, infield, and hitting development.

She played at Hebron Christian Academy and competed at a high level in travel softball with the East Cobb Bullets before committing to continue her career at Truett McConnell University. Her experience as both a catcher and infielder gives her a strong understanding of game strategy, leadership, and defensive fundamentals.

What sets Coach Sydney apart is her focus on the mental side of the game. Currently pursuing a degree in psychology, she is passionate about helping athletes build confidence, resilience, and the mindset needed to perform under pressure.

Known for her positive energy and relatable coaching style, Sydney creates an environment where athletes can grow both on and off the field.

Her mantra: just keep swimming.
And to her, GRIT means recognizing obstacles and choosing to grow through them.

Bri is a dynamic softball instructor at GRIT Academy, specializing in pitching and hitting development for athletes looking to elevate their performance.

Bri began her softball career at age 9 as a pitcher and hitter, and quickly advanced into competitive travel ball by age 11. During that time, she trained under GRIT founder Jason Little for hitting and Holly Little for pitching, building a strong foundation that shaped her success as a dual-threat player. She went on to hit over 18 home runs in a single season and earned recognition as a USA All-American as both a pitcher and hitter. Known for her elite pitch mix, including a dominant drop, curve, and change-up, Bri drew attention from multiple college programs.

She committed to Georgia Gwinnett College, where she competed at the collegiate level and was part of a team that advanced to the NAIA World Series, finishing 5th in the nation. During her time at GGC, she earned recognition on the Continental Athletic Conference Champion of Character team and contributed to a conference championship season.

Before college, Bri was a standout at North Forsyth High School, where she was the winning pitcher in a region championship game and a two-time Honorable Mention All-State selection. She also competed at a high level in travel softball with the EC Bullets and was a member of the USA teenage team.

With over four years of coaching experience, Bri brings a personalized approach to every lesson. She is known for her ability to connect with athletes, understand their individual needs, and tailor instruction to help them improve mechanics, build confidence, and compete at the next level.

Holly is an experienced softball instructor at GRIT Academy, specializing in hitting, slapping, and outfield development for athletes looking to elevate their game.

A former collegiate athlete, Holly played three seasons at Berry College where she was a starting outfielder and slapper. She finished her career with a .319 batting average and helped lead the Vikings to a Southern Athletic Association Championship. Her performance earned her Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition, highlighting her impact at the collegiate level.

Before college, Holly was a standout at Milton High School, earning the Coaches Award as both a freshman and senior, and being named to the Georgia Dugout Club All-State Team. She also competed at a high level in travel softball with Alpharetta Fury and Georgia Fire through 18U, gaining extensive experience against elite competition.

With over 8 years of coaching experience, Holly has developed athletes across all levels of the game. She has coached within the Milton and Cambridge feeder programs, worked with the Georgia Mustangs organization, and served as Head Coach of the GA Mustangs 98 team. In addition to team coaching, Holly has led numerous softball development camps and provided private pitching and hitting instruction, helping athletes build strong fundamentals and game confidence.

Holly is married to the founder of GRIT Academy Athletics, Jason Little, and together they are raising a family around the game they love.  They have three amazing children, Luke, Harper and Hadley.

Kelley Bagarose is a highly experienced softball instructor at GRIT Academy, specializing in hitting, infield, and outfield development for athletes looking to compete at a high level.

Kelley was a standout player at South Forsyth High School, where she earned All-County and All-Region honors while helping lead her team to two region championships, two Elite Eight appearances, and top-five finishes in the state. She also competed nationally with the East Cobb Bullets, a top-ranked travel program, before continuing her career at Georgia Military College on a softball scholarship.

With over 7 years of coaching experience, Kelley has worked across both high school and elite travel softball. She currently serves as the Head Softball Coach at Norcross High School and has coached nationally ranked teams with Atlanta Premier Gold (14U and 16U) and East Cobb Bullets 18U Gold since 2019.

Known for her intensity and commitment to development, Kelley pushes athletes to go beyond talent and truly earn their success. Her coaching focuses on fundamentals, work ethic, and building confident, competitive players.

To Kelley, GRIT means being willing to put in the work no matter how hard it gets. She believes resilience is one of the most important qualities an athlete can have, because talent alone only takes you so far.