Meet Nicole Banks of The Vault Performance & Vault Boys Baseball Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Banks.

Hi Nicole, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I grew up right here in West Covina, and from as early as I can remember, baseball was everything. I loved playing softball, but there was something about baseball that pulled me in deeper. We didn’t have access to local batting cages or performance training facilities—nothing close to what I wished for as a kid. But I made the most of every opportunity I had. My family had season tickets to the Angels, and I grew up at the ballpark. That love turned into a lifelong passion.

After college, I pursued a career on the professional side of the game. I spent 17 years working with a sports agency, where my niche became assisting Cuban baseball players with the complex legal paperwork they needed to sign with MLB organizations. It was an incredible chapter of my life that allowed me to travel internationally and work closely with athletes at the highest level.

But everything changed when I became a mom. With two boys of my own, I couldn’t travel like I used to. I knew I had to find a new way to stay connected to the game I loved—and to build something meaningful not just for my family, but for the community that raised me.

That’s when the opportunity came up: a close family friend was selling an old-school batting cage. Most people saw outdated equipment. I saw a chance to build what I never had growing up.

In June 2022, I opened the doors to The Vault Performance. From day one, my vision was to create more than just a place to hit. I wanted to build a full-circle training environment where athletes of all ages could become the best versions of themselves—on and off the field.

Today, The Vault is home to:

10 batting cages with space for private lessons and team rentals
A full gym powered by VaultTRAIN, our signature sports performance program designed to build stronger, faster, and more resilient athletes
Vault Boys Baseball, a competitive travel ball organization for athletes ages 7–18
And The Vault Academy, our on-site charter school for student-athletes who want to pursue excellence in both academics and athletics.
The Vault is everything I wished I had growing up. It’s more than a facility—it’s a family. It’s a place where former pro athletes give back to the next generation, where hard work is celebrated, and where kids from West Covina and beyond can dream big and train even bigger.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s definitely been an amazing experience, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at The Vault—but like any meaningful journey, it hasn’t come without its challenges. From day one, I’ve been committed to constantly building and improving—making sure we’re offering the best coaching, resources, and overall experience to our athletes and families.

We’ve grown faster than I ever imagined. Our Vault Boys teams are now traveling and competing across the country at the highest levels. We’ve had Division 1 athletes, MLB draft picks, and former pros come through our facility—not just to train, but to pour back into our community. That part has been special.

But owning and growing a business, especially as a single mom of two boys, is no easy task. Finding the balance between work and family is an ongoing challenge. I’ve had to learn to delegate more and let go of trying to control everything—which is tough when it’s something you’ve built from the ground up. It’s not always easy to find people who share the same drive, integrity, and vision, but I’m learning to trust and build the right team.

At the end of the day, every struggle has led to growth. And every win—big or small—reminds me exactly why I started.

We’ve been impressed with The Vault Performance & Vault Boys Baseball Academy & The Vault Performance Academt, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Vault is more than a training facility—it’s a community. Located in La Puente, The Vault is home to three branches: The Vault Performance, Vault Boys Baseball, and The Vault Performance Academy. Together, we provide a space where athletes can grow in every area—physically, mentally, and academically.

The Vault Performance is our foundation. We offer 10 batting cages, private baseball and softball instruction with an incredible staff of professional athletes, and our full gym powered by VaultTRAIN—a proven performance program focused on strength, speed, and injury prevention. We use top-tier technology like Rapsodo, Proteus, InBody, and ForceDecks to help athletes train smarter and perform better.

Vault Boys Baseball, launched just three years ago, is our travel ball program for athletes ages 7 to 18. While our players are still too young to have moved on to the college or pro level, we’ve already built a competitive culture that’s been recognized across the country. Our teams have traveled coast to coast, competing in elite events like Perfect Game, USA Baseball Tournaments.. Our coaches focus on long-term development—on and off the field—and many of them are ex-pros who genuinely love giving back.

The Vault Performance Academy is our academic solution for serious student-athletes. It’s a charter school program run right out of our facility, allowing athletes to get an accredited education during the day and train daily in a focused, supportive environment. Whether families are seeking flexibility, a stronger development path, or reclassification options, our academy provides the structure to help student-athletes thrive.

But what really sets us apart?
The energy. Kids come to The Vault and they don’t want to leave. They hang out, play, train, and support one another—it’s become a second home. That’s what makes me most proud. I’ve built real relationships with so many of our kids and families, and I truly love being able to support them—not just as athletes, but as people.

At the end of the day, The Vault is about connection. We’re creating something special here—where athletes are developed, goals are chased, and families feel seen and supported. And we’re just getting started.

What does success mean to you?
To me, success isn’t measured in money—it’s measured in impact. It’s seeing growth. It’s watching kids walk into The Vault unsure of themselves and walk out more confident, more skilled, and more inspired. It’s helping open doors that might not have been open before.

I’ve seen players who couldn’t throw a baseball now playing on highly competitive teams. I’ve watched our academy kids move on to strong high schools with bigger opportunities ahead of them. That’s success.

It’s the feeling I get at the end of the day knowing that what we’re doing is making a difference. We’re not just training athletes—we’re giving back to the community through sports, creating a safe, supportive environment where kids can grow, compete, and believe in themselves.

That’s what success looks like to me. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Pricing:

• Baseball and Softball Private Lessons
• Baseball and Softball Batting Cages
• VaultTRAIN- our signature sports performance program designed to build stronger, faster, and more explosive athletes. Training can be done in person, hybrid, or fully remote—giving athletes the flexibility to train their way.
• The Vault Performance Academy is a nontraditional school for student-athletes, combining accredited academics with elite athletic training. Students can train daily while completing their education—all in one place.
• Recovery Room at The Vault offers athletes access to top-tier recovery tools including Normatec compression, cupping, and muscle scraping—designed to reduce soreness, prevent injury, and keep athletes performing at their best.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thevault-performance.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevault.performance/?hl=en
• Facebook: ttps://www.facebook.com/thevaultperformanceLP
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-vault-performance-la-puente