About Us

International Team Tours

AIST (American International Sports Tours Inc.)  provides an incredible sporting experience for your team to travel abroad and play internationally while exploring the world.  No matter the sport or group size, AIST has the experience and resources to provide your team with an amazing tour which will include top quality competition and sports facilities for training and games.  In addition, your team will be able to build lasting memories and team unity while exploring and experience the local cultures and sightseeing attractions.   

Team tours are custom built to fit the needs of your team allowing you to select options that best fit your budget and interests.  We always include first class service with professional tour managers throughout your tour.  We look forward to providing you and your team an experience of a lifetime.   

AIST Select Teams

AIST receives invitations to participate in tournaments from around the world. Some of the tournaments will have national teams competing as well as local club teams.

Our AIST staff and college, high school and club coaching contacts help AIST to identify top athletes from all levels. Our goal is to build competitive travel rosters for these international events. We have over 12 different sports and have traveled to more than 20 different countries.

Our select teams wear USA in support of our country during competition. Our opportunities give young athletes that would not have the opportunity to play for the US National a similar experience in competing in competitive events around the world.

Benefits of Traveling with
AIST Select Teams

Our program is designed to give athletes the opportunity to improve as a player and as a person. Here are a few reasons to travel with AIST select teams:

  • Cultural Experience of a Lifetime
  • Personal Growth
  • Educational sightseeing excursions and experiences
  • Emersion into an unfamiliar atmosphere
  • Develop new techniques and opportunities to improve your skills
  • A better understanding of the world around you
  • Meeting new friends, teammates and opponents from around the world
  • For High School Athletes – a chance to gain experience playing with like talent as preparation for the college level
  • For College Athletes – a chance to gain exposure for opportunities to play professionally abroad – AIST does not guarantee and pro contracts or opportunities by traveling with us

History Of AIST

AIST Select Teams (Individual Tours)

American International Sports Tours (AIST) was incorporated in 2001. Chad Wilkinson and Gary Haarmann saw the need for an honest, loyal and trustworthy international sports tour provider. They wanted to give opportunities for others to experience the world of sports internationally. At the start of AIST, it was all phone calls and snail mail invitations to selected players. Today we have taken advantage of social media, online stats and other recruiting resources to help us locate the best athletes for our select teams. We also host tryouts across the country, some with pro-athletes as well as tryouts online when you are unable to attend. We search the country to find top athletes to represent the USA in international competition.

Friends and family are encouraged to take advantage of these amazing experiences with the athletes. We take great pride in the quality of teams that we put together each year making the experience unforgettable for all who take advantage of the opportunity.

TEAM and GROUP TRAVEL

In addition to individual tours, AIST also provides customized group or team travel opportunities.  Traveling internationally with your team is a great way to build unity and also create lifetime memories.  Teams will have the opportunity to compete against quality competition that will give them the opportunity to experience their sport on an international level.  In most cases, the host teams like to socialize after the game giving your team the opportunity indulge in the culture and spend some time with locals. 

The advantage of taking a sports tour not only gives you more time on the field/court with your team but it also gives them the opportunity to learn about other cultures.  The unique option to combine sports with travel helps to create an incredible experience that you would get as a normal tourist.  With sports, you get to visit and socialize with likeminded people from other cultures.  It’s a fantastic way to watch your team grow and bond together.  

We do our best to provide a professional experience as well as top of the line service and overall quality with our tours. 

Here are some the benefits of taking your team on an international team trip with AIST:  

 

AIST was founded in 2001.  We have steadily grown over the past 20 years and have perfected the international sport tour experience.  With our knowledge and contacts abroad, we can assist teams at any level of play from professional clubs to NCAA Div I and youth levels.  

Our individual select team program has become very popular for athletes who are not able to travel with their teams or schools.  We invite players from around the country to join our select teams representing the USA in international tournaments or exhibition games.  

Staff

CHAD WILKINSON

President/CEO

Chad Wilkinson graduated from Avila University (formerly Avila College) in December of 1997. He earned a Bachelor degree in Marketing. For Avila, Chad excelled in baseball as a starting pitcher for the Eagles for three years. He also played basketball for the Eagles in his last semester of school. Prior to Avila, Chad attended Lindenwood University where he was a member of the football and baseball teams. He transferred from Lindenwood to Avila to pursue his baseball career. After joining Avila, his teams earned 45 plus wins per year in all 3 years of his career. Chad also coached baseball at the collegiate level for 6 years, but put his coaching on hold to run AIST full time.

Chad has been involved with international sports since 1996. After playing two seasons of baseball in Antwerp, Belgium (98 and 99) and one in Brisbane Australia (98-99), he provided tours and coached in Western Europe. He has extensive knowledge of traveling abroad and the experience to provide a great tour.

AIST has grown to be one of the most competitive international sports travel organizations for both individuals and team trips. Our select teams have found themselves in the Championship games during tours every year. We continue to grow every year because of the level of players we recruit and because of the great coaches who have helped and supported us with recommendations and passing on our invitations to the selected players. We thank you coaches for all of your support!

Since the start of AIST, Chad has made it a point to be on tour with his teams to meet each athlete and to ensure they have an experience of a lifetime. AIST is growing and so is Chad’s family. Now his travel time is limited so that he can be with his family. The company now has several employees who share the same passion as Chad to make sure each passenger is taken care of on tour. All of AIST employees enjoy meeting each player and getting to know the teams over the course of the tour.

“I enjoy traveling with my groups to give them any additional help that I can. But most important, I enjoy meeting the people who choose to travel with AIST. I want people to feel comfortable traveling with my organization and know that they will be finding a new family of friends to share unforgettable experiences. It’s important to me that everyone has the time of their life so AIST always has staff on tour to make sure you do! I’ve cut back my travel to spend more time with my two kids (Eliana and Savannah) and my wife Katie. If I miss you on tour I hope to cross paths with you at another time.”

Chad Wilkinson – President/CEO

Gary Haarmann

Vice President

Gary Haarmann is also responsible for building the foundation of AIST. He has helped AIST to reach new heights and continues to be a great asset to the organization. As Vice President he provides great leadership on tours and helping to manage the details of each trip. He is a full time employee at AIST and responsible for the majority of our recruiting and organizing of teams and administrating tours in progress.

Gary has been involved with international touring, playing and coaching since 1996. Gary has resigned from coaching collegiate baseball because of the continued growth of AIST. Gary was the former head baseball coach at Longview Community College in Lee’s Summit. He has been actively recruiting, coaching and administrating tours in Western Europe since 2002. His hands-on experience abroad will help to ensure quality tours and tournaments for all AIST teams.

Gary graduated from Avila University in 1995 with a degree in communications. He has been elected to the Avila Hall-of-Fame for his outstanding play for four years in the outfield. After graduating, Gary stayed on at Avila as an assistant baseball coach for 5 years before pursuing a head coaching job. After coaching at Longview Jr. College for 4 years he took a couple years off from coaching. He now is a part-time baseball coach at Rockhurst University.

Jennifer Hess

Executive Director/Recruiting Coordinator

Jenny was introduced to AIST by competing on the 2012 college softball tour in Munich, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic. She played 4 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as an outfielder and second baseman. While there, she earned her bachelors degree in Kinesiology-Human Performance with a pre-professional emphasis. After her playing years were over, she went on to coach at the college level, volunteer at the high school level, and devoted many hours to individual lessons. She accepted her first coaching job for our U19 High School program for 2015 traveling to the Dominican Republic. “I am honored to join the staff of a solid company that left an unforgettable experience on my life.” She is now a full-time employee at AIST and is responsible for recruiting and organizing teams and leading our international tours.  

Jenny has always had a travel bug, but AIST has really opened the door to many experiences and a chance to cross things off her bucket list that she never imagined. She enjoys getting to meet people, build friendships, and make connections all over the world. AIST has fueled her obsession with collecting globes and maps, which is evident when you walk into her home filled with travel decor. Outside of work Jenny loves to spend time with her family in northern Wisconsin on the lake fishing, kayaking, and around the fire. She also enjoys running, crossfit, playing golf, and basically any outdoor activity.

Brent Pourciau

Director of Baseball

Brent Pourciau is a retired Professional Baseball player, Pitching Instructor, USA Weightlifting Certified Sports Performance Coach and currently is the Media Director for AIST.

He also currently maintains and operates TopVelocity.net which serves over 1,000 people a day in the world of pitching velocity instruction.

Brent has been with AIST since its beginning. He met Chad in Europe while playing for a USA team that Chad was running. Brent spent the next season playing professional baseball in Belgium and then moved into minor league baseball back in the States.

“Chad is a great friend and a great person. He is very professional and loves what he does. As far as I am concerned there isn’t a better organization to travel with than AIST. Everyone who is apart of the AIST experience are extraordinary people; who you will stay in touch with for years to come. I have traveled with other organizations and AIST by far is more superior due to the staff, organization and funding.”

  • Email: kshaddoc@stevens.edu
  • Phone: 201-216-8056

Karen Shaddock

Stevens Institute of Technology - Head Coach Women's Lacrosse - AIST Director of Lacrosse Operations

Coach Shaddock has been traveling and Coaching with AIST since 2010.  She has been on tour as both a player and coach multiple times.  Now, Coach Shaddock serves as one of AIST Director of Lacrosse program.  Please feel free to contact her for references or information about AIST.  

To find out more about Coach Shaddock by click here.

Britt Harvey

Trine University - AIST Associate Director of Operations - Softball

Britt has traveled with AIST since 2007. She has traveled as a player and later as a coach on AIST select team tours.  Britt is now working part time with AIST as a tour manager and recruiter as well as coaching on some softball tours. For more information on Coach Harvey click here.

Megan Callahan

St. Timothy's School - AD and Head Women's Field Hockey Coach - AIST Director of Field Hockey Operations

Megan has been involved with AIST since 2005 coaching our Italy select team in 6 games of competition throughout the Northern part of Italy. In addition to our select teams, she has taken her former John’s Hopkins  Field Hockey team on 4 tours with AIST.

Megan Callahan has been the Athletic Director and Head Field Hockey Coach at St Timothy’s School since 2017.  Prior to St Tim’s she was the Head Field Hockey Coach at Johns Hopkins University for 20 years. Callahan finished her collegiate coaching career as the all-time winningest coach in both JHU and Centennial Conference history.  During her tenure, she guided the Blue Jays to 14 post-season appearances including 5 NCAA bids and 3 Centennial Conference Titles.  At Hopkins, Callahan produced players which included 9 All-American, 38 Regional All-American and 66 All-Centennial Conference Honorees.

 

Callahan is a current member of the USA Field Hockey Masters Team and has participated in the FIH Masters World Cup in 2014, 2016 and 2018 as well as the Inaugural IMHA Masters Indoor World Cup in 2017.  She graduated from the University of Maryland and was a member of the 1992 National Championship team, 1993 ACC Championship team and 1995 NCAA National Finalist squad.  She resides in Baltimore with her children, Gavin and Grace.

For more information about Coach Callahan click here.

Aleah Hayes

Trinity Valley Community College - Head Coach - Volleyball

Coach Hayes is now working part-time with AIST as a tour manager and Volleyball coach.  She is also the head coach at Trinity Valley Community College (TX).  You can find out more about Coach Hayes here.

Jeff Curtis

Northwood University (MI) Associate Director of Operations - Women's Basketball

Jeff Curtis has been traveling and Coaching with AIST since 2012. He has since moved from coaching to administration but still finds time to travel with AIST.  Click here to find more information about Coach Curtis.

Stephanie Kot

St. Andrews University Associate Director of Operations - Women's Soccer

Coach Kot has been traveling and Coaching with AIST since 2016.  Click here to find more information about Coach Kot.

Stephanie Dragan

Franklin Pierce University Associate Director of Operations - Women's Volleyball

Coach Dragan has been traveling and Coaching with AIST since 2012.  Click here to find more information about Coach Dragan.

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International Sports Teams?

AIST Alumni Page

Below you can search for former AIST athletes. In
addition, we added friends and family starting from 2015.
AIST has always taken great pride in the caliber of athletes
that travel with us. Thanks again for traveling with AIST!
We hope our paths will cross again in the future.

Download Alumni List