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Founded by Murphy Su’a and Nina Su’a, Diamonds In The Rough Sports Foundation exists because talent is distributed equally among all kids, and opportunity is not.
Quick answer: Diamonds In The Rough Sports Foundation (DITR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Torrance, California, founded by Murphy Su’a and Nina Su’a and recognized by the IRS in 2008. It gives underserved, low-income and at-risk youth free baseball and softball clinics, K–5 tutoring, leadership training and community service across Greater Los Angeles.
Why we started
Over four decades of coaching, Murphy Su’a kept meeting the same kind of player: a kid from an under-resourced neighborhood with real ability and real grit, but without the academic support, mentorship or money that the college recruiting process quietly assumes.
Murphy and Nina saw youth sports getting more expensive every year, and saw the kids who were being priced out. They started Diamonds In The Rough to give those kids the same professional-level coaching affluent families pay for, and to make sure success on the field was matched by success in the classroom.
The IRS recognized the foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008. Today it serves youth in Torrance, West Carson and across Greater Los Angeles through free baseball and softball clinics, tutoring, leadership development and community service, plus a pathway for student-athletes from American Samoa.
Mission
Transform youth through the discipline of sports and empowerment through knowledge.
We serve underserved, low-income and at-risk youth with free athletic training, academic support and leadership development, helping young student-athletes pursue excellence in academics, character and athletics and preparing them for higher education and meaningful lives.
Vision
A generation of confident, educated, community-minded leaders who rise from underserved communities through sports, education and mentorship, supported by a dedicated training and learning facility where student-athletes grow on the field and in the classroom.
What we stand for
Excellence
We pursue the highest standards in the classroom and on the field.
Equity
We remove the financial barriers between kids and elite coaching and academic support.
Integrity
Character is what you do when no one is watching. We honor the game.
Service
Our athletes give back to the community that supports them.
Resilience
We use the challenges of sport to build the mental toughness life requires.
Leadership
Murphy Su’a
Co-founder & Head Coach
NCAA Division I First-Team All-American at BYU, former Dodgers and Brewers organization player, longtime coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills, West L.A. College and West Torrance High, and 2025 Los Angeles Sportswalk of Fame inductee.
Nina Su’a
Co-founder & Executive Director
Nina leads the foundation’s operations, program administration, outreach and partnerships, and is the primary contact for funders and community partners.
Justin Su’a
Mental Performance Advisor
A mental skills coach who has worked with Major League Baseball organizations including the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays, Justin brings professional mental performance training to our young athletes.
Rob Pene
Strategy & Development Director
Rob leads growth strategy, funding development and technology, building the partnerships that let the foundation serve more families.
Coach Murphy Su’a
Highlights from a life in baseball
- 1979 · NCAA Division I First-Team All-American (third base) and Cameron Tuckett Award winner at BYU.
- 1979–1984 · Professional career in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers organizations, including the 1983 Midwest League All-Star team.
- 1984–2002 · Assistant coach at West Torrance High School; the 2000 team finished 30–2 and ranked No. 1 in the nation.
- 1998–2011 · Coach of the American Samoa national baseball team, including Olympic qualifying play.
- 2001–2014 · Assistant and head coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills, building a nationally ranked NCAA Division II program that produced 21 MLB-drafted players.
- 2017–2020 · Head coach at West Los Angeles College: three All-Americans and more than 40 players transferred to four-year schools.
- 2025 · Inducted into the Los Angeles Sportswalk of Fame.
Today he teaches baseball and softball players of every age, from beginners to college and professional players he works with one-on-one.
He has also coached MLB Urban Youth Academy all-stars in Japan and youth teams on tours of Australia and New Zealand, and served as an associate scout for the Kansas City Royals.
Photo album
A life in baseball
Organization at a glance
| Legal name | Diamonds In The Rough Sportsfoundation Inc |
|---|---|
| Doing business as | Diamonds In The Rough Sports Foundation (DITR) |
| Tax status | 501(c)(3), IRS ruling 2008 |
| EIN | 26-0319019 |
| Mailing address | 4733 Torrance Blvd #402, Torrance, CA 90503 |
| Executive Director | Nina Su’a |
| Contact | 310-686-1759 · Send a message |
Frequently asked questions
When was Diamonds In The Rough founded?
The IRS recognized Diamonds In The Rough Sports Foundation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2008.
Who is Murphy Su’a?
Murphy Su’a is DITR’s co-founder and head coach. He was an NCAA Division I First-Team All-American at BYU, played in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers organizations, developed 21 MLB-drafted players at Cal State Dominguez Hills, coached the American Samoa national team and was inducted into the Los Angeles Sportswalk of Fame in 2025.
Is DITR a registered nonprofit?
Yes. Its legal name is Diamonds In The Rough Sportsfoundation Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 26-0319019.