- March 25, 2026
New owners of the Volusia Sports Center, Chris and Anna Kinsella. Photo by Michele Meyers
New owners of the Volusia Sports Center, Chris and Anna Kinsella. Photo by Michele Meyers
Youth athletes practice their swings at the Volusia Sports Center batting cages. The new owners upgraded the HitTrax system with video analysis, providng players with in-depth information about their swings. Photo by Michele Meyers
Baseball players practice on one of the infields at the Volusia Sports Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
Professional scheduler and longtime baseball coach Chris Kinsella, and his business operations-minded wife Anna, are the new owners of the Volusia Sports Center, located at 1137 S. Nova Road, Ormond Beach.
In January, a friend reached out to Chris after seeing a Facebook post by real estate agent Carl Lenz stating that the building, property and its assets were for sale. A property deal had just fallen through for the Kinsellas in Palm Coast when Chris called VSC’s then owner, Deanna Newkirk, whose business deal had also fallen through with Sean Harmon, president of The SBA Clubhouse in Brooksville, Florida.
Anna and Chris chuckled as they recalled the story about their speedy purchase of VSC on Feb. 1.
“I called her (Newkirk) up,” Chris said. “The next day, we were walking through the facility for the first time. Then the day after that, we said we’ll take it, and we’re signing the lease.”
Newkirk said she was seeking someone dedicated to supporting youth sports in Volusia and Flagler communities.
“I knew when I met them that they were the right people to carry on the legacy,” she said.
The Kinsellas are from Castle Rock, Colorado. Anna has known Chris since she was 12 years old and reconnected with him on Facebook years later. In 2018, the Kinsellas moved to a 5-acre farm in Illinois to be near Chris’ family. After two years, they decided warmer weather and a more populated area were what they desired, and after thoroughly researching different locations, they chose Palm Coast.
Fifteen years and three kids later, they set out on their next adventure together.
Anna has a master’s degree in health care administration. Having worked in health care for 20 years, she recently resigned from her position as the manager of operations at a local practice to start her own business. That, coupled with her husband’s baseball experience and passion for helping kids through the sport, made it an easy decision to purchase VSC.
I’ve got all this education. ‘You’ve got the knowledge,’ I told Chris. Let’s do it.”
— ANNA KINSELLA
“I’ve got all this education,” she said. “‘You’ve got the knowledge,’ I told Chris. Let’s do it.”
The facility includes an air-conditioned indoor training area and is surrounded by two outdoor infields, a large turf-covered area, and a hitting/pitching tunnel. There are eight indoor cages, regulation pitching mounds, four Junior Hack Attack baseball pitching machines, a HitTrax system, an upstairs viewing area and a strength and conditioning room.
The Kinsellas said they are keeping VSC as a local training facility for youth athletes. The batting cages will be open to the public. There will be baseball and softball lessons, speed and agility training and team practices. On rainy days, the indoor space is available for local teams to rent and have practice. Memberships will be available for purchase.
In preparation for the opening, the Kinsellas upgraded the HitTrax system with video analysis. Batters will be able to access data captured from multiple camera angles, enhancing their ability to make necessary improvements to their batting technique. Athletes will also be able to access the information through an app and email the data to coaches, trainers and college recruiters.
New to the team is strength and conditioning trainer/coach Chris Parks, who has worked with thousands of athletes in the area. The Kinsellas outfitted the fitness room according to Parks’ specifications. He has already held a spring break training camp with coaches Phil Bruder and Brock Chance. Parks is currently offering a fitness program for homeschool students on Mondays and Fridays that covers speed and agility, strength, conditioning, endurance and confidence.
Chris Kinsella works for Ford AV. He orchestrates the work schedule for their employees who install audio and video, IT and security technology worldwide. He also runs their three younger children’s schedules. Adilynn is the youngest at 9 years old, Beau is 11, Isabelle is 12, and Savannah is 19. At one point, he was coaching his kids’ soccer, softball, and baseball teams simultaneously.
“I had it easy, if you ask me,” Anna said. “My time was just eight to five, easy. Chris was running around every day.”
When Chris’ stepdaughter, Savannah, came into his life, he knew he wanted to help kids become strong adults.
“I realized that I wanted to make sure that my kids had what they needed to be strong adults,” he said. “I’m trying to make the future stronger — the next generation stronger. Growing up isn’t easy. I think it’s hard for kids, and I know the game of baseball can teach life lessons. If I can help make it easier as they get into high school and through high school, then I can do that, and it starts with my kids. Then I thought, why not help more kids?”
Having coached baseball for 15 years, he started and runs the Florida Diamond Athletics competitive league in Palm Coast. This nonprofit organization helps families afford the cost of travel baseball for their children. He currently coaches two of its teams.
Anna said she does not have a favorite sport, but she is knowledgeable about business operations and management. Chris brings his expertise in sports and his passion for helping kids. The two are hoping to expand the business and reach more children.
“I see it being a family company that our kids could run if they wanted to,” Chris said. “My goal has always been to reach as many kids as possible. I think we could potentially expand and see 100, 300, 500, 1,000 kids come through (VSC) and benefit them.”
VSC is holding its grand opening on Saturday, April 4, 10 a.m. to noon. There will be an Easter egg hunt, food vendors, a facility tour and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
