Top Coach Podcast: Recent Episodes
Cornbelt Sports
Dani Busboom Kelly comes from the volleyball hotbed of Nebraska, where she grew up loving all sports, but especially volleyball at the University of Nebraska. She eventually followed her dream to Lincoln where she starred for the Huskers and got her start in coaching. Since 2016 she’s ben the head coach at Louisville, leading the Cardinals to unprecedented heights.
In this episode, Coach Busboom Kelly talks about why volleyball is important, the city of Louisville, expectations and support, growing up in small town Nebraska, lessons learned from playing multiple sports, her college career at Nebraska, deciding on a career path, learning coaching, landing the position at Louisville, recruiting and the transfer portal, club volleyball, her coaching style, women in coaching, her staff, the first two hours of the day, the culture, advice to potential coaches, and her family.
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Photo credit: Louisville Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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We’re headed back to Ohio to talk to Rick Weaver, assistant baseball coach and head golf coach at Defiance High School.
In this episode Coach Weaver talks about football in Ohio (it’s a big deal), his Ohio State Football obsession, his motivation for coaching, how he got his start in coaching, teaching math and statistics (and, no, he’s not a baseball stats guy), learning coaching as a former outfielder, his golf duties, the mental side of the game, Ken Ravizza, how young athletes have changed, coaching pressures, year-round sports, extra-curriculars, the state of umpiring, and advice to young coaches.
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Photo credit: Rick Weaver
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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High school coaches have a tough assignment. But you never get the idea that they dread it one bit. These are the folks in the trenches — typically doing most everything from coaching to field maintenance to driving the bus or van. Jason Whited is another one of the guys that’s getting it done. He is the very successful coach of the storied program at Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio, just outside of Dayton.
In this episode Coach Whited talks about growing up in Ohio, talking with young people about their college choices, his many teacher of the year awards, military veteran recognition, teaching with stories, balancing winning with development, core values, staff, finding good helpers, parents’ buy-in, burnout, and family.
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Photo credit: Centerville High School Baseball/Elkbaseball.com
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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In this episode of Top Coach we’re headed back to the Northeast, which has proven to be a very productive area for college baseball coaches through the years. This time we’ll be talking to another former hockey guy who’s carved out quite a nice place for himself in the game of baseball. Scott Loiseau has been the head coach at D2 Southern New Hampshire University since 2008 and has created an environment where success has become the norm.
In this episode Coach Loiseau talks about Southern New Hampshire, the 2022 season, sinkholes(!), growing up in Worcester Massachusetts, lessons learned from the game of hockey, getting started in coaching, coaching hockey, his recruiting philosophy, the key component of campus visits, facilities, scheduling, and staff.
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Photo credit: Jim Stankiewicz/SNHU Athletic Communications
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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It’s been a little while since we brought you someone from outside the baseball world. Well, we’ll just say – it was worth the wait. Buckle up and listen close, because Craig Skinner is bringing it! The University of Kentucky women’s volleyball coach knows a great deal about volleyball and even more about coaching. You might want to listen twice to these great insights from the NCAA 2020 national champion.
In this episode Coach Skinner talks about the University of Kentucky and the city of Lexington, the “feel” of the campus, his own athletic career (including a short stint with Michigan Football), getting his start in coaching, celebrating achievements, his coaching path, landing the Kentucky position, advice to potential coaches, the roster and scholarship structure of NCAA D1, the size and athleticism of players current and past, volleyball hotbeds, what makes volleyball different, and communication.
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Photo credit: University of Kentucky Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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In this episode of Top Coach we’re headed back into the world of baseball operations. Our guest is Denton Sagerman, Director of Baseball Operations and Pitching Development at Indiana University. Well, that most certainly is a large title — and he’s got responsibilities that make you wonder how one person can do it all.
In this episode we talk to Denton about new Hall of Fame inductee and fellow IU staffer Scott Rolen, his days as a two-sport star in Olmstead Falls, Ohio, his playing days at Dayton, his engineering background, making a pivotal career decision, getting his coaching start at Wright State, data analytics, landing at Indiana, Manager Appreciation Night at Indiana, his pitching development role, learning new apps and programs, utilizing technology, helping other coaches get started with technology, and the Indiana staff.
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Photo credit: Denton Sagerman
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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We often point to what northern colleges are up against — especially with the start dates for the various collegiate divisions so early on the calendar. Well, you can add another layer of difficulty for Scott Landers and his SUNY Oswego baseball team with lake effect snow of the kind that only Lake Ontario can bring. As most coaches note, there’s nothing to be gained from complaining, so they’re learned to deal with it. So well, in fact, that 2022 went down as one of the most successful for this baseball program.
In this episode Coach Landers talks about Oswego, the university, the 2022 season, the impact of the transfer portal – even on a D3 school, learning to win, the SUNYAC conference, weather, recruiting, facilities, staff, baseball as a platform for life, the Cape Cod League and the Bourne Braves, and coaching in the summer.
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Photo credit: SUNY Oswego Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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David Kelton readily admits he never thought of coaching as a career option. He was so focused on his career as a player — through the professional ranks with the Cubs and the Braves — that his efforts were solely of what it would take to get to the big leagues. But here he is — the now very successful coach at Lagrange College in Georgia — bringing all the passion to the coaching game that he brought during his playing days.
In this episode Coach Kelton discusses LaGrange College, NCAA D3 baseball in Georgia, growing up in the area, summer baseball, being drafted by and playing in the Chicago Cubs organization, preparing mentally, lessons learned from professional baseball. striving, going back to school, attributes of a successful coach, evaluating players, differences in players over the years, the D3 lifestyle, and his staff.
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Photo credit: LaGrange College Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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When you talk about connect the dots or the coaching tree, this guy ranks high on both those scorecards when it comes to Top Coach guests. Chris Razo is the head baseball coach at Heartland Community College in Normal, Illinois. From his high school days through his brief foray into pro ball, he has been coached by at least seven past Top Coach guests, including Jerry Raschid, Nate Metzger, Josh Kauten, Mark Kingston, Billy Mohl, Bo Durkac, and Dusty Rhodes. We’re not keeping score, but that’s got to be a record.
In this episode of Top Coach, Coach Razo talks about, Heartland Community College, high school baseball, his competitive nature, his college career at Heartland and Illinois State University, pro ball, his coaching path, K’s Academy, the legacy of Heartland CC, recruiting, facilities, how his competitive nature translates to coaching, and his staff.
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Photo credit: Heartland Community College Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Today’s guest has no small task – leading the smallest school in NCAA Division 1 baseball, in a small town, pretty much in the middle of nowhere in the western part of South Carolina. That being said, Elton Pollock has demonstrated that he is up to the task, turning his alma mater, tiny Presbyterian College, into giant killers.
In this episode Coach Pollock talks about Presbyterian College and Clinton, South Carolina, growing up in South Carolina as a successful multi-sport athlete, influential early role models and coaches, his dual sport career at Presbyterian, playing baseball for a young Tim Corbin, his experience in pro baseball, working in the business world prior to coaching, building the program at Presbyterian, relationships, recruiting philosophy, red flags in recruiting, facilities, changes in athletes through the years, the first two hours of the day, hunting, and his staff.
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Photo credit: Presbyterian College Athletics
Intro Music: Matt’s Blues, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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There’s not too many guests that can claim a feature film about their high school team. The Final Season is a film about the last year ever of baseball at Norway High School in Iowa. Just so happens that Justin Schulte was a member of that squad. It appears that he has learned a lot from that experience and at his other stops along the way to put him in position of one of the winningest collegiate coaches in Iowa. 654 of those wins have come at his current stop at Southeastern Community College, where he is in season number 17.
In this episode Coach Schulte discusses Southeastern Community College and the town of West Burlington, Iowa, facilities, playing in a minor league stadium, weather, playing his high school sports at the legendary Norway High School, Jim Van Scoyoc, his college playing career, his path to coaching, his first staff hire at SCC – Chris Ramirez, NJCAA Division 2, ICCAC conference, the most difficult part of his job – recruiting, SCC’s geographically diverse roster, bringing in kids from Latin America, dealling with the brutal spring Iowa weather, dealing with losing, staff, and family.
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Photo credit: Southeastern Community College Athletics
“Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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This week we’re headed to Neosho, Missouri where we’re talking to the had baseball coach of Crowder College, Travis Lallemand. Coach Lallemand heads up one of the more formidable teams in all of NJCAA D1, capping off many of their seasons with trips to the World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
In this episode Coach Lallemand discusses Crowder College and Nesosho, growing up in Kansas, getting his start in coaching, learning the profession, the difference between the NJCAA divisions, options for high school athletes, the two-way receruiting that characterizes JUCO baseball, selling JUCO baseball, development, the “sophomore jump”, evaluating players, culture, having a field named after him, staff, and family.
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Photo credit: JoplinGlobe.com
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Buckle your seatbelts! You’re going to be taken on a very passionate drive for the next hour. Michael Avalon has got a great thing going at Pearl River Community College in Mississippi. And after listening to this episode of Top Coach, you’ll get a pretty good understanding of why it’s happening. Pearl River is coming off a 2022 NJCAA D2 World Series championship and has a lot of big time schools lining up for their players.
In this episode Coach Avalon discusses Peal River Community College and the town of Poplarville, the 2022 championship run, growing up in Jackson, Mississippi, his (very passionate) basketball coaching/English teaching father, SOAP, lessons from his father, “destiny”, program building, buying into (and selling) a vision, punching the time clock, player development, coach-player meetings, honesty, and culture building.
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Photo credit: Pearl River Community College Athletics
Intro Music: “Matt’s Blues” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
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Back to Pennsylvania and the PSAC this week to talk to the head coach at West Chester University, Mike LaRosa. Coach LaRosa grew up in the area and never imagined he’d end up both playing and coaching for the local university. Well, time has demonstrated that he made a great choice.
In this episode Coach LaRosa talks about growing up in the area, his “baseball family”, his hall of fame playing career, his own recruiting experience, pro ball experience in the CanAm League, his business career, his first job at Neumann, his part-time gig at Widener, how a part-time position taught him to prioritize, landing the job at West Chester, the unique challenges presented by COVID, recruiting in Pennsylvania, the quality and quantity of good athletes in southeastern Pennsylvania, evaluating players – showcase vs. high school baseball, facilities, and his family.
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Photo credit: Scott Rowan
Intro Music: Matt’s Blues, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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Back to the baseball hotbed of Pennsylvania to talk to the head baseball coach at Slippery Rock University, Jeff Messer. When you’ve been at one place for 38 years, you’ve probably got some things to say that people ought to pay attention to. For those of you headed to Nashville in January, Coach Messer will be one of the coaches receiving a spot in the ABCA Hall of Fame.
In this episode Coach Messer talks about Slippery Rock (the town and the school), small college town life at a big school, growing up in Massachusetts, his coaching path, changes over the decades (competition, the PSAC, student athletes), being an advocate, baseball in the state of Pennsylvania, the very competitive PSAC, Kevin McMullan, advice to coaches regarding finding the right fit, leaning on advisors, facilities, turf field, scheduling, and his staff.
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Photo credit: Slippery Rock Athletics
Intro Music: Matt’s Blues, Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/Audio Player
You may not have heard of Tennessee Wesleyan University, but you can bet that come playoff time, everyone in the NAIA knows what is headed their way when Billy Berry and his Bulldog baseball squad [...]
If you need to consult with someone on the work-life balance issue, look no further than Drew Briese of Centre College Baseball and USA Baseball. Despite a very full plate, he notes that his schedule [...]
Florida JUCO baseball is the real deal. Many names you recognize have come through this pipeline as players and coaches. One of the guys racking up the wins and developing big time players is Marty [...]
Five minutes into this interview and it’s clear why Scott Stricklin loves having Tatum Hodge on his Georgia Bulldog Baseball staff. Seven years in total and now starting year two as the Director of Operations, [...]
Well, we could call it an encore — or perhaps a second (or third) act. How about “the next chapter”? Any way you frame it, Russ Wright has a good thing going at Owyhee High [...]
This week’s episode of Top Coach takes us to Kansas where we’ll be talking to Ryan Thompson, head baseball coach at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe. MNU is coming of a confernce champioship and a [...]
The next generation of young coaches give you reason to be hopeful. Rob Vaughn could be the poster child for that optimism. Listen to 15 minutes of this interview with the head coach of the [...]
Another coach with roots in the Northeast making an impact in the coaching world. Edwin Thompson spent his formative years in Maine, adding another coach to the legacy of Northeast coaches. These days Coach Thompson [...]
All the way back in episode 37, we featured a young volunteer coach at Penn State University that caught our eye because of his passion for the game and his genuine desire to influence the [...]
As Ed Servais is quick to point out, everybody wants to play in Omaha. He gets to play, practice, and live there. For the last 20+ years, Coach Servais has called Creighton University and Omaha [...]
It was a banner year in 2022 for the Georgia Southern baseball team, culminating in a #16 national seed in the NCAA Division 1 tournament. Just rewards indeed for one of college baseball’s really good [...]
Except for four years of college, Larry Lee has called San Luis Obispo home — and what a home! At his “homes”, first at Cuesta College and now at Cal Poly, Coach Lee has amassed [...]
Nick Pou (pronounced Pew) is another example why the Atlanta metro area has some of the finest coaches in the country and another great example as well of why I’m confident in this next generation [...]
I guess you could say he’s a Texas guy through and through. Except for a couple of summers in Kansas, Kevin Brooks has never called any place but Texas home. After spending his first 24 [...]
Many of you who follow college baseball will no doubt remember Landon Powell and his exploits at South Carolina for the legendary Ray Tanner. You’ll probably also likely remember that he was on the receiving [...]
When Chris Ramirez made the trek north to take over the baseball program at the University of Illinois-Springfield, you began to notice that there was some great baseball be played in Illinois’ capitol city. Coach [...]
Greg Dennis called Chattanooga his home during his formative years, gaining attention for his skill at the game of baseball. Those skills took him to Texas for his college years, followed by a long stint [...]
Another coach from the Northeast makes a huge impact on college baseball. As we’ve seen and heard on Top Coach, that is not news. Mik Aoki is another in that long line who got their [...]
There’s typically a compelling story behind folks who stick with anything for a long time — and do it well. Keith Veale demonstrates in this episode of Top Coach that it is indeed the case. [...]
Raise your hand if you’ve driven down I-75 between Lexington and Knoxville and wondered about that great looking campus along the east side of the highway in Williamsburg, Kentucky. That very beautiful and inviting campus [...]
Tony Klarberg is doing his best to grow the game of baseball in Sweden. He first joined us in episode 167 back in 2016 with an international panel assembled at the ABCA convention in Nashville. [...]
Jordon Banfield believes in himself. That becomes apparent two minutes into a conversation with the Oakland University coach. And not in an arrogant way. Not at all. It’s in the “Let me take your non-paying [...]
Another fine example of what the Northeast produces when it comes to baseball. The list is seemingly endless when it comes to guys who’ve had to coach in an unfavorable climate, yet have managed to [...]
Seemingly, Eddie Smith has been around the world and back. For such a young guy, he’s taken on new challenges at every turn, no matter where that opportunity is located or in what form it [...]
The thing that strikes you immediately about Tony Wolfe is that he has a great grasp on why he’s doing what he’s doing. And as you’ll hear in this episode, he makes sure that the [...]
Jim Chester has done it all in his college coaching career, with a coaching path that has travelled from JUCO to NCAA D3 to D2 to D1. He’ll be the first to tell you that [...]
This interview was originally released in 2017. It has proved to be so popular that it continues to get downloaded every single day. Many of you have either not heard it or haven’t heard it [...]
Tom Marker is one of the risings stars on the high school baseball scene. In his short time at Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, Coach Marker has his Pioneer baseball squad contending [...]
We do love our D3 baseball here at Top Coach and today we’ve got a guy who’s found a home doing what he loves at his D3 alma mater. Ed Mathey is racking up the [...]
We’ve had our share of coaches who’ve grown up in California and moved east to play or coach — Erik Bakich, Rob Cooper, and Butch Chaffin, to name just a few. Today we add to [...]
Since helping to relaunch the baseball program at the University of North Georgia, Tom Cantrell has steady and relentless, amassing nearly 800 wins in his 22 seasons at the helm. He’s another one of the [...]
In this episode of Top Coach Podcast, we’re headed back out to the California JUCO ranks to talk to the head coach of Butte College baseball, Anthony Ferro. Buckle your seatbelt and hold on tight, [...]
We’ve had great feedback from prior episodes featuring coaches from sports outside of baseball. Well, we’re making a concerted effort to get back on that track and bring you some of the brightest coaching stars [...]
Chuck Box has quite a tale to tell. This long time coach didn’t take a “traditional” path into College Station. But it is exactly his openness and eagerness to learn that has earned him a [...]
Just a couple short years ago, Robbie Britt was coaching baseball and teaching at a high school in Clarksville, Tennessee. Little did he know that he’d be trading the rolling hills of middle Tennessee for [...]
What keeps us going week after week? It’s coaches just like this. Brian Green has been with us twice before — back in episodes 193 and 283. Episode 283 just should be on your speed [...]
Here’s a prime example of good things happen to good people. Billy Mohl is good people. And what he’s got going on at the University of South Florida is better than good. This former D1 [...]
It’s our first baseball trip into the state of Nebraska and we’re visiting with John Rypel, the head coach at Nebraska Wesleyan University, an NCAA D3 school in Lincoln. In this episode, Coach Rypel talks [...]
Dr. Barry Davis, head coach at Rider University in New Jersey, has quite a story. He knew early on that he wanted to be a head baseball coach and geared most everything he did to [...]
Two things become abundantly clear when talking to Dr. Barry Davis — he knew early on that he wanted to coach and he geared everything he did toward eventually becoming a head coach. All the [...]
There’s something about Pennsylvania college baseball that is fascinating. There’s the weather, of course, but when you factor in the sheer number of baseball playing schools — more four year schools than any other state [...]
Another content (not satisfied!) D3 baseball coach this week. Stu Fritz is loving what he’s doing at Hope College in Holland, Michigan and has no signs of slowing down. This former ABCA president has lots [...]
Doug Schreiber is a long time friend of the Top Coach Podcast and one of our original guests from all the way back in 2013. Back then he was the very successful coach of the [...]
Andrew Wright has come a long way from Charleston, West Virginia to the Dominican Republic — even further if you factor in the running start from Canada. It was obvious from early on, however, that [...]
This is Scott Jackson’s third visit to Top Coach over the course of seven years. Frankly, we could have him on annually and still have plenty to talk about. This time, however, we’ve talking about [...]
Following on the heels of the most downloaded episode of 2017, Johnny Cardenas his another one out of the park. Things are going well for this Texas native, so well that he was recently awarded [...]
Call this a soft opening. We’re scheduled to officially kick off the reboot of the Top Coach Podcast next week when, once again, we’ll have one of your favorite coaches behind the mic. Until then, [...]
For the last of our series of six interviews during the current worldwide pandemic, we’ve asked the head baseball coach at the University of Michigan, Erik Bakich, to share his thoughts. In this episode, Coach [...]
More than a month after most sports were cancelled in the U.S. and around the world, and nearly every high school and college saw their entire season cut short, there is a glimmer of hope,but [...]
Kevin Wilson teaches hitting, but by his own admission, he’s more of a life coach. Of that there’s no doubt. There is perhaps no one in the world of coaching who brings a broader perspective. [...]
Next up in our series of six interviews with some of the most trusted mentors in amateur baseball is a voice that has been heard loud, strong, and enthusiastically (!) across many platforms for the [...]
A voice of reason and reassurance in good times and bad. There isn’t a bad time to hear what Tim Corbin has to say. Coach Corbin so poignantly said in episode 248 that he “tries [...]
These are times when coaches are facing uncertainty, cancelled seasons, and concern for their loved ones. We’ve brought in a group of coaches to address some of those concerns and add a little perspective. Leading [...]
Seems that you don’t have to look very far to see how baseball transcends the parameters of the game itself and spills into every facet of our lives. Coaches doing it for the wrong reason [...]
Michael Johnstone is embarking on an initiative not unlike what others before him have done. That is, trying to bring baseball to other parts of the planet. He’s got quite a daunting task, however, because [...]
Coaching in the North takes on a whole new meaning when you’re talking to the coach of a high school team in Alaska. Although we do a have a pin in the Top Coach guest [...]
Jim Chester has pretty much seen it all when it comes to collegiate coaching, having covered nearly every level from JUCO to D1. These days he’s in the baseball rich state of North Carolina, wielding [...]
So you’ve got San Diego. That’s quite a nice pitch when it comes to recruiting. When it comes to practice and games — well, let’s just say there are not many worries about getting something [...]
The ABCA and now USA Baseball — two organizations looking to help promote the game of baseball and educate its coaches. Andrew Bartman‘s mission is to educate and he did that well for the past [...]
When we last spoke with a coach from the University of California, they were in a period of renewal, playing baseball under the banner of a foundation set up to support the baseball program. In [...]
If only we had a reason to invite Jeremy Sheetinger back to talk to us. Hmmmm… Well, it turns out that the guy who never sleeps is at it again. He’s got a new address, [...]
After a 2018 that saw Chris Ramirez named as NCAA D2 Coach of the Year, some of the smarter schools started sniffing around. Looks like Lenoir-Rhyne came out the winners as Ramirez as his family [...]
As often pointed out on Top Coach, baseball coaches have to do it all. From grounds keeping, to uniforms to concessions to bus driving. Oh yeah, there’s a little coaching in there as well. Well, [...]
It doesn’t get much better than a trip back down to Louisiana and the Southland Conference. That’s where we’re headed in this episode as we talk with the head coach of Southeastern Louisiana University baseball, [...]
Imagine the meeting where you’re told that you’ll now be playing baseball on a weekly basis against members of the Pac 12 conference. Well, that is exactly what Utah’s Bill Kinneberg got to experience about [...]
Trying to ensure that all bases are covered when it comes to the coaches we interview for the Top Coach podcast, and having covered every type of organization from D1 Power 5 to junior high [...]
In his still relatively young career, Daniel Medina has seen it all when it comes to the high school landscape. He has coached at an inner-city Denver public high school with a $400 budget, an [...]
Eastern Mennonite University is a beautiful little school, nestled right up next to the much larger James Madison University and the beautiful Shenendoah National Park, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. We’ve had the chance to talk with [...]
The thing about most coaches is that they know that this is what they were meant to be doing. There’s something about the impact you can make on people’s lives that drives you. Such is [...]
40 years. Let that sink in. That’s how long Bob Babb has been leading the baseball program at Johns Hopkins University. Looks like the school and Coach Babb both know a good thing when they [...]
2019 marked the third national title for the Central Arizona College Vaqueros, wrapping up things in grand style in Grand Junction, Colorado at the NJCAA D1 World Series. Heading up this championship group is Anthony [...]
It would be easy to argue that there could be one podcast devoted to nothing but California junior college baseball — the history, current events, and the all the people who’ve played or coached along [...]
Every now and then we’ll see a story that really illustrates what it is we’re trying to achieve as coaches in amateur athletics. Earlier this year a video went viral — and it didn’t involve [...]
When one of our guests recommends another potential guest, we tend to listen. Several episodes ago, Niagara County CC head coach Matt Clingersmith suggested strongly that his old coach — and now a rival coach [...]
Aaron Frey is a Sabetha boy who took his coaching passion and expertise a few other places over the years until he heard three years ago that Sabetha High School was starting a baseball program. [...]
“20th year of coaching in the SEC” may be the best way to succinctly summarize the measure of success that Mike Bianco has had at Ole Miss. Baseball in the SEC provides as little wiggle [...]
If we had to paint a portrait of a coach who represents one of the largest groups within the coaching community, it would be of Wayne Meyer. Full time high school teacher. Full time coach [...]
Experience is typically the best teacher when it comes to figuring out why we’ve decided to give so much of ourselves to the coaching life. Yeah, we think it’s all about baseball when we start [...]
From hearing him tell the story, it was baseball that was running through his head while sitting in his accounting classes at Birmingham Southern. Brooks Webb was far too invested to take a different route [...]
Want a recruiting edge for young guys in New England? How about playing in a ballpark that was made to look similar to Fenway Park? Well, that’s only one thing that UMass Boston has going [...]
Darin Thomas has got a good thing going at the University of Texas at Arlington. So good that the university just recently gave him a contract extension that should keep him there at least long [...]
Terry Baumgartner had 11 successful seasons at his alma mater, Western Oregon before moving across the border to beautiful Quincy, California to join Feather River College, one of more than 90 junior colleges in the [...]
Some of these interviews come to us from unexpected places — and I guess this would qualify. Drop a pin on the map at Niagara County Community College and you might think “day trip to [...]
One doesn’t necessarily think of California when they think of NCAA D3 hotbeds — to a great extent because there’s only nine D3 teams in the entire state, and they’re all located in the southern [...]
Eric Theisen is a Michigan guy who played his college ball at Illinois State. After flirting a bit with pro ball it was back to Michigan — and he eventually landed at Hillsdale College. Turns [...]
Not only is University of Memphis baseball coach Daron Schoenrock part of the vast Ron Polk coaching tree, but he’s been fortunate to have been associated with guys like Keith Madison, Jan Weisberg, Fred Corral, [...]
If baseball coaching is about anything, it’s about sharing. Those coaches who like to keep everything to themselves are in the minority. The successful ones share with others the same way it was shared with [...]
Jeremiah Robbins had a good thing going at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho, but the chance to go home and coach baseball was extremely compelling. When Coach Robbins heard that Umpqua Community College was [...]
We love talking to high school coaches. Well, when it comes right down to it, most everyone loves talking to high school coaches. These folks are on the front lines, working with our youth at [...]
Jerry Rashid is an Illinois high school coaching legend, having coached 39 years, racking up over 800 wins, winning a state championship, and producing many college and professional players. He had top notch facilities at [...]
It is nearly as inevitable as wind in Central Illinois — if you’re looking to make coaching a career, you will at some point be looking for another job. Coaches’ resumes are filled with accomplishments…and [...]
It’s bonus week for the Top Coach community, as we bring back Jeremy Sheetinger for a second consecutive week, this time to talk about some of the issues and topics that are on the minds [...]
Given that Top Coach has brought in most of the biggest names in amateur baseball coaching, you’d think that our most listened to episode out of the over 300 that we’ve done would be one [...]
Jayson King had a good thing going at Franklin Pierce, going to the NCAA D2 World Series seven times, winning the conference title ten times, and many other accomplishments. All through this time, other programs [...]
There are some hidden gems in the world of NAIA baseball. Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida is one of those gems. In only his second season at the helm, Adrian Dinkel guided The Fire to [...]
New Mexico‘s Ray Birmingham likes to say that baseball is a place where good people live. He should know. He is one of the really good people in college baseball. This is a guy who’s [...]
Jonathan Estes is beginning year ten as head baseball coach at his alma mater, Freed-Hardeman University. In that time he’s overseen a great level of success, ranking in the top 25 in the NAIA ranks [...]
Legacy, pedigree, and the coaching tree — Erik Bakich has seen it all. The influencers in his career make for a mighty impressive group of mentors. And coach Bakich has not let that influence and [...]
One would assume that a Florida boy doesn’t dream of playing or coaching baseball in February in Pennsylvania, but then again, some opportunities are too good to pass up. Such is the case with Florida [...]
Pete Buscaino says that growing up as one of six kids in a noisy Italian family prepared him well for the world of athletic operations. Well, let’s just say that, as of late, the East Carolina Baseball program [...]
South Carolina head baseball coach Mark Kingston calls Tyson Lusk the best in the business. High praise from a man with high standards. Coaches with high profile programs would rather not be bothered with details [...]
Dream jobs take different forms for different people. For Scott Jackson, he believes he’s found it in Liberty University. With the resources of some Power 5 conference schools and values that reflect his own, Scott [...]
No need to ask twice. When we get the heads up on a bright, young coach, we’re all over it. Mississippi College is part of the very solid NCAA D2 Gulf South Conference. Leading the [...]
When you’re a baseball coach, you learn to handle almost every aspect of your organization – sometimes all by yourself. Whether it’s field maintenance, laundry, equipment repair, or travel — if it’s going to get [...]
Mike Martin has been at it for over 40 years now — and to say it’s been a good run would be an understatement. Coach Martin’s passion for the game have never waned and his [...]
Dana Cavalea found his way into the world of strength and conditioning in an almost unexpected fashion. It almost certainly never entered his mind that he’d be working with World Series champs New York Yankees [...]
Note: This was recorded just about one month ago as the Bearcats were wrapping up fall practice. Folks around southwest Ohio might know Andy Nagel from his long affiliation with athletic powerhouse Moeller High School or perhaps [...]
A lot has changed since we last talked to Lee University‘s Mark Brew. During our last visit in 2015, Lee was just starting their transition from NAIA to NCAA D2. We’ll find out how that transition went [...]
When I spoke at the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association convention a couple of years ago, there was one man that several of my coaching friends said I had to meet. Joe Ray Halsey [...]
As we like to say here at Top Coach, if it’s all about baseball, then you’re on the wrong field. Of course you’ve got to learn the game, but the game is merely the vehicle [...]
The last time we touched base with Cliff Godwin was 2014. At that point he had just landed at East Carolina and had a resume that resembled that of a D1 football coach, with stops [...]
In this week’s episode, we once again head across the pond to talk to one of our favorite guests, Liam Carroll. Since 2015, Liam has been the head coach of the senior team for Great [...]
Cal Bailey is a college baseball coaching legend. And out of our 300 podcast episodes, his first two interviews were easily the most commented upon. Just as we’ve always thought, everyone loves a good story [...]
Today’s interview deals with the journey from D1 to high school baseball. Back in 2015 (episode 151), we visited with a rising young NCAA D1 assistant coach, Joey Seal. Joey and the staff didn’t have [...]
We’re headed to Almost-Chicago for another visit with Mike Stawski, the head coach of Concordia University Chicago baseball, which, as we pointed out previously, is about two blocks shy of Chicago in River Forest, Illinois. Since [...]
It’s been a long time since we visited with St. John’s head coach, Ed Blankmeyer. We’re reminded each time we talk why it is that people hold Coach Blankmeyer in such high esteem. In addition [...]
In our second annual Top Coach Commencement, we invited Kevin Wilson to address the next wave of future coaches. Anyone who follows Kevin will note that it’s not all about batting, but about the why. [...]
We’re long past the point where we’re surprised with a guest that is not well known outside the region in which they coach. Coaches often labor in relative obscurity. However, every now and then there [...]
We stumbled upon a great story a few weeks ago that deals with a first of its kind operation of a summer collegiate baseball team. Turns out that the Niagara Power is the first summer [...]
We’re headed to Chicago for the first time ever — almost. Today we’re visiting with Mike Stawski, the head coach of Concordia University Chicago baseball, which is about two blocks shy of Chicago in River [...]
Given the number of baseball playing colleges in the state of Pennsylvania, it would be hard not to have one of these guys pop up every now and then on Top Coach. But given the [...]
We’re headed back to Council Bluffs, Iowa this week for part 2 of our interview with Marc Rardin, head coach at Iowa Western Community College. Our first visit was cut a bit short by technical difficulties, [...]
Sometimes we look so hard at coaches we see on TV and hear speak at all the conferences that we sometime overlook the really good stories. Thanks to our friends out in the Top Coach [...]
High school baseball in Florida is one tough nut to crack. There are so many good programs at all levels and getting to the top — and staying consistently good — is a difficult proposition. [...]
Sometimes an episode is just so doggone good that we’d be remiss if we didn’t feature t again. Such is the case with an interview we did with Louisville head baseball coach, Dan McDonnell in [...]
It’s absolutely amazing what they’ve been able to accomplish in the state of Iowa when it comes to collegiate baseball, especially factoring in the brutal, so-called “Spring” weather. And it’s nowhere more evident than in [...]
This week we head out to Riverside, California to talk to the head coach at California Baptist University, Gary Adcock. Coach Adcock has overseen the program’s rise from NAIA to NCAA D2 and now to [...]
We here at Top Coach will have to start giving Robin Green more than just kudos. After all, he’s responsible for one of our most popular guests ever, Cal Bailey, and now he’s teed another [...]
Fred Corral is one of those guys almost universally respected by his peers. Seems he’s made a good name for himself as he’s worked his way across the country, starting with his humble beginnings in [...]
Back in 2016, we talked to then New Mexico State head coach, Brian Green, who had at that point just finished his second season with the Aggies, having taken them from 11 wins to 34. [...]
Up in this part of New England, they love hockey and they love their Sawx — and they do love their baseball. That’s why it’s no surprise that Jeff Mejia has no problem finding guys [...]
If you’re east of the Rockies, it might be easy to forget the giant that is — and has been for decades — an absolute giant in college baseball. Of course, we try at Top [...]
Hey, if you were told that we’d be featuring the subject of one of the top viral videos of 2017, you might think that this episode featured a cat or one of the Kardashians. You [...]
We’re not only headed to California today, but we’re going to the beach. And not just any beach, but the legendary Zuma Beach. Although this is a place that’s been featured in film and song, [...]
This Pennsylvania boy has found a home in Oklahoma. First as a player and staff member (and color guy on the radio!) at Oklahoma State, and for the last 15 seasons at Oral Roberts University [...]
The vast majority of coaches in the Top Coach community do not make their living coaching baseball. That’s why we try to bring a wide variety of coaches from different situations and backgrounds. The fact [...]
If you’ve never heard of Wisconsin-Whitewater, then you obviously just don’t pay attention. The whole athletic program up there in Cheese Land has been knocking it out of the park for years. If you watch [...]
Hey, this week we’re providing that “Wheeling Feeling” for no additional charge! The aforementioned feeling will be provided through your earbuds by Mark Delbrugge, the head baseball coach at Wheeling, West Virginia American Legion Post [...]
Back in January, Kermit Smith had not yet coach game one of his Appalachian State Baseball era. In fact, the dust had barely settled from fall practices. But this young coach had proven his worth [...]
As we branch out a bit into non-baseball territory, it’s a delight to see such big time coaches step up to the plate to share their experiences. This is like an all-star game — not [...]
Oh how we love Louisiana on Top Coach Podcast! These coaches never disappoint. We’ve got another fine example for you today in this episode as we talk to Marty Luquet. He’s retired from high school [...]
We welcome back in this episode an old friend of Top Coach and a former guest. Chris Finwood is the head baseball coach at Norfolk, Virginia’s Old Dominion University. In his first visit on Top [...]
Can a soccer coach hit a home run? You bet! We’ve got the legendary Anson Dorrance for this episode and he hits it out of the park! Coach Dorrance is now in his 39th season [...]
Back in 2013, I sat down with then future Top Coach guests, Wayne Meyer, head coach at Leroy (IL) High School, and Jim Collins, currently director of the Central Illinois chapter of the Fellowship of [...]
There are some people that make you reassess your efforts, wondering whether you’re really as busy or passionate as you thought. Patrick Klein is one of those guys. The associate head coach of the women’s [...]
This week’s episode will provide a lot of bang for the buck! It’s free, you say? Well, consider this an even better bargain. We’re joined this week by the head coach at the University of [...]
These midweek episodes of Top Coach are allowing us to introduce you to coaches not normally featured in this space. Additionally, we’re taking the opportunity to include other people that might not fit the traditional [...]
They wear “Dirtbags” as a badge of honor. It speaks to their attitude and the way they go about their business. This is Long Beach State University baseball. And joining us this episode to talk about [...]
High school baseball in Indiana has been on the rise, providing quality competition on a national level and sending player through to the collegiate and professional levels on a very consistent basis. Justin Keever is [...]
Tony Ingle proves that you can go home again. Dalton, Georgia was home as a star basketball player and now he’s planted his flag solidly on home turf with coaching success at his old school [...]
Miss your coffee today? Never fear. We’re about to give you all the boost you’re going to need for the day. Nick Mingione has enough energy for himself and his entire University of Kentucky baseball [...]
When you mention “baseball hotbed” or “baseball factory”, typically your thoughts don’t turn to Washington D.C. However, after listening to this interview with Mark Gibbs, the head coach at St. John’s College High School, you [...]
Wow! This is a must listen for any coach in any sport. Coach Rob Koll of Cornell Wrestling brings a lot of experience and success to the table. Not only does he know his way [...]
Today we’re visiting with long time NCAA D1 baseball coach, Ken Knutson. These days Coach Knutson is in Arizona at the Arizona Pitching Arsenal (formerly Arizona Pitching Ranch). In this episode, Coach Knutson talks about studying sports [...]
Dr. Tom Hanson is the other half of the terrific author tandem that penned the iconic Heads Up Baseball just about 25 years ago. Now they’re at it again with they’re updated offering, Heads Up [...]
Dr. Ken Ravizza is nearly synonymous with the mental game in baseball. A professor at Cal State Fullerton for over 30 years, he worked with some of the biggest names in the game, from Augie [...]
Our second regularly scheduled non-baseball episode takes us about as far north as we’ve ever gone. Chris Green is a Nebraska farm boy that somehow ended up spending a good portion of his coaching life [...]
Yes, yes — we’ve been just a little weak in the Mountain Time Zone. But we’re out to rectify that. Thanks to a reply to a request we sent out into the Twitter-verse, we were [...]
Wow! What a way to kick off the new midweek installment of Top Coach. These midweek episodes which will feature non-baseball coaches (mostly). If you’ve got a guest you’d like to hear, please drop us [...]
I think we could pretty much go to Pennsylvania once a week and grab a coach who will bring some quality insights for the Top Coach community. This week, we’re in western Pennsylvania, just south [...]
Trying to stand out in the vast and deep baseball landscape of Southern California is a difficult task. We’ve had some of the guys on Top Coach who’ve managed to do it. And the latest [...]
We’re going about as far north as you can go in the baseball world to attempt to play baseball within the confines of the NCAA spring schedule. Duluth, Minnesota is a beautiful place, but in [...]
Episode 250! Seems like a lot, but in a way it feels like such a short journey. Four years ago it was just an idea that occurred on a dog walk. Validation from the inner [...]
Wes Brooks has created quite a legend for himself down in Oxford, Alabama, first as an all-state performer in football and baseball, then right up the road as a record-setting baseball player at Jacksonville State, [...]
Communications can absolutely bury you, whether you’re running a company, an organization, or a team. Frankly, one’s own personal communications can be overwhelming. There was a day not that long ago when all that was [...]
Four state championships in the last six years across multiple classes for University Liggett High School. and head coach Dan Cimini. Coach Cimini and his boys are on a roll and they have the attention of the [...]
As many coaches will tell you, it is terribly hard to follow a legend. Former guest Jon Groth had built a successful program at Tyler (TX) Junior College and decided a few years back to [...]
Things were moving along just fine for Rick O’Dette at his alma mater, St. Joseph’s College in Renssselaer, Indiana when he got the news that there would be no more baseball program after the 2017 [...]
After an amazing response to part 1, we’ve got Denison University head baseball coach, Mike Deegan, back for part 2. In addition to having a great microphone for the interview, he’s got too many other things going [...]
Today’s guest is another example of the quality coaches that labor in in relative obscurity in the NCAA Division 3 ranks. Anyone who knows coaching will tell you that some of the best coaches in [...]
Fresh off an NCAA D2 World Series championship in Texas, West Chester‘s Jad Prachniak was exactly where you’d think he would be when I caught up with him for this interview. That’s right — recruiting. [...]
This week’s episode is not your regular coach interview. Instead we’re taking a brief time out to talk to you about some exciting changes here at Top Coach and Cornbelt Sports. We are thrilled [...]
Couldn’t believe it is only our fourth trip to the great baseball state of Michigan! Only the fourth, but we’re making it count with someone who’s been able to sustain success for 25 years at [...]
In what we hope becomes an annual tradition at Top Coach, Jeremy Sheetinger, college division liaison for the ABCA, gives our first ever Top Coach Commencement speech. Consider this a “sending off” for new coaches, [...]
In the talent rich state of Georgia, there’s some awfully good baseball being played. Over the last 20 years there’s maybe no place that’s been winning more consistently than Columbus State University. During that span, [...]
I’ve known Jim Collins for years. Although we met through baseball, it just so happens that Jim and his three siblings grew up a couple of houses away from my wife and her three siblings [...]
He got his start in the NCAA Division 3 ranks in New York state and jumped to the biggest of big time, landing in Clemson, South Carolina on Jack Leggett’s staff for six years. When [...]
This is only the second time that we have presented a previously aired episode as our regular episode of the week. You’ll absolutely not want to miss this episode. I’m often asked for my favorite [...]
Something special is happening in the state of Arizona. Jay Johnson came into Tempe with little on the resume that would give an indication of how things would play out. To say he’s been a [...]
I guess you can just credit dumb luck, but we’re on a roll when it comes to the state of Georgia and successful high school programs. After great interviews with Tony Wolfe and Chan Brown, [...]
Recruiting is a difficult proposition at best. What if I shrink your potential recruit pool exponentially? That’s what I imagine that Todd Carroll is up against at MIT. Coach Carroll, assistant coach and recruiting coordinator [...]
Next up to the plate in a long line of great coaches at Tulane University is Travis Jewett. When Rick Jones retired a few years ago after a wonderful run at Tulane, David Pierce stepped in [...]
Often overlooked, the junior college coach provides a pipeline to nearly every major NCAA D1 program in the country. What has always amazed me about what these guys do is the continual recruiting process that [...]
My goodness! For as big a baseball hotbed that is Oklahoma, I just realized that this is only our second visit to the state and the first at the collegiate level. Well, we’ve got a [...]
This week we’re back in Connecticut, talking to old friend, UConn head baseball coach, Jim Penders. We had a tremendous visit with Coach Penders back in episode 140, where he shared a lot about coaching [...]
This week we’re talking to Rusty Stroupe (pronounced Strap) of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. As we’ll find out, many things in his orbit are not pronounced the way they’re spelled (see Chair’-a-vul). [...]
We’re glad to have old friend Gina Parris back on Top Coach to talk this time about listening. What an important topic for a coach. This is something that we all need. Some of the [...]
Click here! Mention TOP COACH and receive 10% off your entire order! You asked for it, you got it! After our first conversation with Scott Malone, we’ve got an incredible amount of feedback commenting on that episode. [...]
We’ve had coaches on as Top Coach guests that very few people have heard of. What is amazing is that we’ve had hall of fame coaches that aren’t known outside their immediate area. Coaches are [...]
There are many factors that going into being a “top coach”, but winning the College World Series in Omaha certainly doesn’t work against you. Gary Gilmore has had one busy schedule since his Coastal Carolina [...]
Wow! Need a lift this week? Perhaps you can just recharge your batteries by siphoning off some of the energy of this week’s guest, Scott Malone. If he was a player, we’d perhaps call him [...]
Editor’s note: This interview was originally published last May, but I think it’s such a cool idea, I had to run it again! I stumbled across this quite fortuitously and just thought it was the [...]
Since the dawning of the 21st Century, Kermit Smith has plied the coaching trade at NCAA D2 schools, Belmont Abbey and Lander — and, it must be added, was extremely successful, appearing in the D2 [...]
Johnny Cardenas is a Texas boy and former professional ballplayer who’s sure that he’s found the right place — coaching college baseball at Stephen F Austin. He knew he could stretch the pro career out [...]
We had such a great interview with University of Washington head coach Lindsay Meggs the first time around that we’ve invited him back for a part two. Frankly, we could have added a part three. As is the case [...]
Lindsay Meggs says he learned the most from a football coach. This California guy has learned to pick up and apply lessons learned from many sources, including guys like Joe Maddon. The University of Washington [...]
Mark Yoshino is the long time head coach at Bellevue College, the second largest college in Washington State (who knew?). He’s another one of those guys who played multiple sports in high school, but it [...]
Kevin Schneider has proven himself as a successful travel organization coach/administrator and high school coach — including a state championship and three consecutive city championships. Now he’s hoping to parlay that success into a run [...]
This is the first time we’ve presented an episode a second time. I’m often asked for episode recommendations and this is one that comes up often. Southern Maine’s Ed Flaherty is held in high regard [...]
It’s got to be a dream job when a Missouri boy can land an SEC coaching job without leaving his home state. And that’s exactly what Steve Bieser did. After growing up in Missouri, playing [...]
We’ve got a special episode of Top Coach Baseball today, as we talk to the head coach of Gatlinburg-Pittman (TN) High School. Most of you are aware of the wildfires that devastated the area last [...]
Skip Bertman’s name is nearly synonymous with the rise of college baseball as we know it today. What he crafted at Louisiana State University started a ripple effect through the SEC and across the nation. [...]
Jon Groth learned pretty quickly that there are many things in life more important than baseball. After a successful run at Tyler (TX) Junior College, including a national championship, there were some significant changes in [...]
Catcher Con made its debut in 2015 and was a rousing success. Former Top Coach guest, Xan Barksdale, brings his unique perspective and knowledge of the catching game to a conference type gathering with some [...]
Jeremy Sheetinger has listed as his title at the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) website – College Division Liaison. But that doesn’t being to tell the story. If they printed everything he did on his [...]
For most of us, we realized almost from the beginning that we’re in the game for more than just baseball. It’s about the impact that we can have on lives while we play the game [...]
High school baseball in Texas is a big deal. Almost as big a deal as football. In fact the second largest gathering of baseball coaches in the world is the THSBCA convention each January. Just [...]
Now that we’ve got our foot in the door in Arkansas, we plan on returning occasionally. Our trip to Arkansas this time around takes us to Pine Bluff, where we’ll talk to the head coach [...]
We are thrilled to welcome back for a part two, the head coach at the University of San Diego, Rich Hill. In this episode, Coach Hill talks about the benefits he derived from coaching in the legendary Cape Cod [...]
Much of what the University of San Diego’s head baseball coach does comes from his desire to help influence young lives, much the same as what helped him coming from a divorced home. Rich Hill [...]
Oh, it’s a good day whenever we get our good friend, Mike Rooney, back on the line. As usual with Roons, we’re all over the board with the topics. Today’s smorgasbord includes: T.D. Ameritrade Stadium [...]
Back in episode 167 we gathered an international panel at the ABCA convention in Nashville to talk about the state of international baseball — outside of the existing hotbeds of the game. We spent a [...]
We veer just a bit off of our traditional path today to talk to Adam Rosales of the San Diego Padres. Adam will give us some great insight into what he learned from his coaches [...]
We are excited to welcome Boston College head coach Mike Gambino back for a second episode! In part 1, Coach Gambino shared a lot about his overall philosophies. This episode we drill down quite a bit to talk about [...]
There are just not a lot of brand new programs starting each season, but when they do, it’s fascinating to peek inside and see what all needs to be done to get the program off [...]
When you think of ACC baseball, you’re not necessarily thinking of a team in the Northeast, but Boston College certainly got some folks to do a geographical readjustment this season. Coming out of a very [...]
The number of times that Brian Shoop‘s name has been brought up on Top Coach is hard to remember. Let’s just say that many coaches, including Auburn’s Butch Thompson, have listed Coach Shoop as one [...]
Back to one of our favorite states to visit with Matt McGuire, head coach at Roanoke College in the very strong Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Coach McGuire grew up not far from Roanoke College, so [...]
Finally! Yes, we’ve plugged that gaping hole in our Top Coach Guest Map that’s right over Arkansas. And we’ve done it in a big way with the incredibly successful and popular head coach at the [...]
Today we’re talking to actor Jeff Daniels’ teammate on the Chelsea (MI) High School baseball team. And, oh yeah, Wayne Welton had 767 wins as the head coach at his alma mater and won a [...]
Many of you know Joe Ferraro as the golden-throated half of the wildly popular KWB Radio podcast with his co-host (and former Top Coach guest) Kevin Wilson. We’ve had Joe and Kevin on before to [...]
It’s been an incredible game of Can You Top This for Sinclair Community College and head coach Steve Dintaman the last few years, capping an amazing 53-win 2016 season with a run to the NJCAA [...]
I knew there was something I liked about this guy when I started the conversation. Turns out he was taking his wife on a date after the interview. Now there’s a guy who understands what’s important. [...]
This might be the very first coach that we’ve had on Top Coach that has never ever gotten paid a cent for coaching, despite the fact that he’s done it for years. And as you’ll [...]
We’re heading way up into the Northeast this week to talk to the head coach at NCAA D3 Nichols College in Dudley, Massachussets, Nick Puccio. After listening to Coach Puccio for just a few minutes, [...]
37 years, over 1100 wins, and 6 NCAA D3 College World Series appearances. That’s a pretty good resume right there,. But there’s so much more to Tom Austin, as you’ll find out in this interview. [...]
We’ve been looking forward to this interview for a long time. Chip Baker is a popular man on the Florida State campus. Not only because of what he’s accomplished, but because of an infectious and [...]
Paul Zwaska could be your best friend. He’s certainly here to make your life easier. Well, at least when it comes to dirt and grass. Paul is THE guy at Beacon Athletics when it comes [...]
A regular guest and friend of Top Coach Podcast, Kevin Wilson, has written a new book on hitting called The Good Batting Book. Kevin brings his usual common sense approach to the teaching of hitting [...]
Our first high school coach from Oklahoma represents the state well. With over four decades of coaching and over 900 wins, Dan Morgan is still going strong. Most of those victories were racked up at Okmulgee [...]
When Greg Blanchard signed on at Lorena High School in Texas 35 years ago (or so), he did so only when the school agreed to let him start up the long dormant baseball program. As [...]
Billy Hayes has one leg firmly planted in high school coaching and one leg in travel baseball. He’s the very successful coach at Battle Ground High School in Washington state, near the Washington/Oregon line. He [...]
Like some recent former guests, Randy Tomlin has not ventured far from Lynchburg, Virginia — and that’s not a problem. Raised nearby and attending Liberty University, Tomlin only strayed away when the Pittsburgh Pirates came [...]
Quincey Noble has seen and worked in much of the country and has worked at many levels during his coaching journey. All of those experiences have brought him to McNair High School in Stockton, California [...]
Other than a brief foray into minor league baseball, Millersville University baseball coach Jon Shehan has not ventured far from home. He grew up near the campus, had relatives involved with the school, and he [...]
He admittedly kind of stumbled into coaching, but it has been nothing but head down and learning his craft since he’s stepped into the arena. Jason Dietrich is in his fourth season as pitching coach [...]
Bill Kurich is in his tenth season at Webster University in St. Louis. What he’s done there is nothing short of amazing. I first became aware of Webster when they were taking on some really [...]
His title is Director of Baseball Operations, but Chris Domingue (pronounced Doh’ mang) is almost singularly focused on one thing at Louisiana-Lafayette — and that’s academics. This is in addition to his full time gig as [...]
Long mentioned among the top assistant coaches in NCAA Division 1 baseball, Butch Thompson finally gets his shot to direct things as he guides Auburn Baseball in his first season as head coach. Coach Thompson has a resume [...]
Chris Lemonis is a Texas boy who, with each move appears to be getting father and farther from the Lone Star State. After spending time at his alma mater, The Citadel, Coach Lemonis joined his former [...]
Gina Parris is a great friend of Top Coach and many, many coaches in the Top Coach community. She’s been helping coaches, players, and their families with the mental side of the game for 30 [...]
Long considered a cradle for big time coaches, Northwestern State has another good one in Lane Burroughs. Back in episode 162, Coach Burroughs shared a truck load on knowledge. So much so, that we just had [...]
I refer to these types of schools generically as “specialty schools.” That is, schools that have some kind of unique barrier to entry, other than the varying degrees of academic requirements. We’ve had many of these [...]
Top Coach welcomes back previous guest, Xan Barksdale, who is sharing a resource that anyone who coaches catchers (that would be you!) will appreciate. Xan first appeared on Top Coach while an assistant coach at [...]
The way he was reeling off the one-liners, bleeding passion, and sharing wisdom, we just had to have Butch Chaffin back for a part 2. Coach Chaffin has had a successful run for two decades [...]
Here’s another local guy with a national impact. Whether it’s because of his work with USA Baseball, his keen and witty insights on Twitter, or his successful run at Cookeville (TN) High School, Butch Chaffin [...]
Last May, right before the NCAA tournament got under way, we talked to Iowa coach Rick Heller, whose Hawkeyes had caught a lot of analysts and opponents by surprise and were riding a wave of [...]
Jeremy Sheetinger. Remember the name, because if you coach baseball, he’ll probably be talking to you at some point very soon. He was the James Brown of the ABCA convention — the hardest working man [...]
Jim Morris‘ story was well documented in the 2002 film, The Rookie, but Jim’s story is not yet finished. He started his career as a coach in a small Texas town, teaching his kids to [...]
Pennsylvania, as we’ve documented on this podcast, is filled with baseball playing colleges. As best as we can tell, only California has more. That means we have a lot more interviews to go before we [...]
We’re happy today to welcome to Top Coach Steve Springer of QualityAtBats.com. Steve is much in demand across the country, talking about the mental approach to hitting. Steve’s got a great personal story and the [...]
Much like the effort to grow soccer in the U.S., there are organizations making a concerted effort to go against the grain all over the world in trying to develop the game of baseball in [...]
His name is nearly synonymous with winning in NCAA D1 baseball. The legacy he left behind at Clemson is nearly unparalleled. The numbers speak for themselves. But it’s the lives that have been touched by [...]
Rick Eckstein had everything going for him as a golfer — a pretty good one by all accounts, he laid his clubs aside after his sophomore season in high school to focus on baseball. Doesn’t [...]
In this episode, we’re talking to a coach who came to a crossroad — the same one that many of you face. That is, do I continue in my pursuit of coaching or follow another [...]
As we often point out here at Top Coach, it is incredibly important to continually invest in yourself. Whether it be book, videos, clinics, or seminars. And to help you out in that pursuit, today [...]
This former Providence Catholic High School player thought he had a good gig going. Mark Smith was delivering milk in the morning and coaching with the legendary Wayne King at Joliet Junior College. That is, [...]
Louisiana is quickly turning into one of our favorite stops on Top Coach. Seems that every coach we speak to there has a quality that’s highly prized here at Top Coach HQ — that is, [...]
We’re making the short drive up old Route 66 today to talk to the long time head coach at Joliet Junior College, Wayne King. The home to the Blues Brothers and Rudy, Joliet also lays [...]
Here’s a young coach to keep on your radar. For such a young guy, he’s very poised and extremely professional. Add to that, he’s made a career decision that is taking him down a path [...]
It’s one thing to step into a program with a demonstrated commitment to baseball. It’s another thing entirely to commit your foreseeable future to a school that has never before really demonstrated that baseball is [...]
From his time as a walk-on at Stanford to the near program shutdown at Cal, David Esquer had bucked the odds. He knows what it takes to work hard and to overcome. And in his [...]
Paul Blanchard has coached at nearly every level of scholastic baseball, from high school to junior college to NCAA D1, D2, and D3. And he’s doing this all while not straying far from his roots [...]
We really didn’t need to search hard for an excuse to bring Jan Weisberg back on Top Coach for another round. First of all, we didn’t cover even half of what we meant to get [...]
We’ve got a long overdue interview with a Director of Baseball Operations. We’re seeing this position pop up more and more — and not just in D1 baseball. Seems the idea is really catching on. [...]
We’re back at it with another in our popular series, Top Coach Fast Five. In the TC FF we subject our coach-contestant to a lightning round of five (or so) questions about baseball and other [...]
Virginia Military Institute is the third smallest school in D1 baseball, but their accomplishments and aspirations are large. Head coach Jonathan Hadra is a VMI grad who’s in his second season as head coach and [...]
It’s one of the reasons most often cited by our guests about why they’ve gone into coaching — that is, to help in the development of young men. The way Jim Gantt puts it, [...]
Rich Prado and PlayInSchool.com are long time friends of Top Coach Baseball, but today Rich is visiting with us to recount our recent bus tour of 18 colleges in Virginia. This was indeed a real [...]
Joey Seal is a hustler. He may be a least tied for the hardest working guy in college coaching. Norfolk State doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles of their fellow D1 programs, [...]
We’re back at it with another in our popular series, Top Coach Fast Five. In the TC FF we subject our coach-contestant to a lightning round of five (or so) questions about baseball and other [...]
This week we’re headed back out to the Golden State to talk to the head coach of Cal State Chico (or Chico State as they’re known locally), Dave Taylor. Being a former catcher, we take a little time to [...]
Fast Five is back! On our recent trip to Virginia, we stopped the dynamic new head coach at Lee Davis High School in Mechanicsville, Virginia just long enough to get him to answer five (or so) [...]
We heard from many coaches and fans that this was a guy we just had to talk to. Looks like there’s a lot of good buzz about Rick O’Dette from St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, [...]
Another coach who grew up in the shadow of the campus where he would eventually coach. What makes it better is that he married his childhood sweetheart. Yes, life is good for the head coach [...]
Here’s a guy who knew early on that he wanted to coach, so at one point while playing college baseball, Brian McGee stopped playing summer ball and started coaching. Coach McGee got his degree in [...]
Part 2 of The Cajun Way with Louisiana-Lafayette‘s Tony Robichaux! This time we talk a great deal about staffing (and staff development), recruiting, and philosophy. Of course, Coach Robichaux’s passion comes through in every topic we [...]
The stories are what makes Top Coach an important part of the coaching arsenal, as you can learn so much from what others have done. If you’re a frequent listener to Top Coach, you understand [...]
Justin Hill envisioned a restaurant career after college, but soon determined that baseball is where he really belonged. So he kept bugging former guest Mitch Gaspard until he finally gave him a job. It wasn’t all [...]
We’ve got another coach that came from what appears to be the cradle of big time college baseball coaches, Northwestern State. That was just one stop along the way for Mitch Gaspard, who now helms [...]
If there ever was a reason for excuses, it would surely come at the College of the Holy Cross and head coach Greg DiCenzo. Not only does he have the normal concerns — weather, funding, [...]
Tom Meusborn is a legend in Southern California high school coaching, having racked up many championships and guiding his team to such lofty heights that they were named by at least one source as the [...]
His father was a high school coach and his grandfather was a high school coach — both with four state championship trophies to show for their efforts. Even though Jim Penders took a brief foray [...]
Typically, it’s part resume, part travelogue, but Dave Barnett has been at Flagler College now for 28 years. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially for a guy who’s early years included barnstorming the country with The [...]
Been waiting for this day for a long time. Louisiana-Lafayette‘s Tony Robichaux has been on our radar and we finally got him to take a little time out to talk about Cajun Baseball. And it [...]
We do indeed love Virginia and we love baseball in the state of Virginia. Today we’re talking to the head coach at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, Chris Finwood. Coach Finwood has taken a [...]
When a guy comes recommended by someone like Penn State’s Rob Cooper, then that’s an easy addition to the Top Coach lineup. Coach Cooper first crossed paths with Nova Southeastern University‘s Greg Brown in their [...]
Continuing our NCAA D2 theme, today we are happy to welcome to Top Coach the head guy at Quincy (IL) University, Josh Rabe. He is a somewhat local guy, having grown up on a farm [...]
Here’s a great example of actually starting a program from scratch. When Seton Hill University decided to start a baseball program in 2004, Marc Marizzaldi was the guy tabbed to get things rolling. The [...]
We had so many guests on Top Coach mention Keith Madison that we had to move him up our list and get him on ASAP. Not that he needed any more of a recommendation than [...]
He played his college ball with Ben Zobrist at Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbonnais, Illinois, among other places. He then started his coaching odyssey, which at one point involved living in the basement of the [...]
Out of the frying pan, into the fire. That must be how is felt for the University of Missouri as they left the tough Big 12 and entered the arguably tougher SEC. But don’t shed [...]
If you are reading this and you are not a member of the American Baseball Coaches Association then stop reading right now and go register. Do it! The ABCA is one of the finest industry [...]
Our resident Renaissance Man is back with us today for an end of the season recap and a D1 tournament preview. And, of course, UNIFORMS! Yes, when Mike Rooney is on board, our conversation can [...]
Here’s a man who doesn’t back down from a challenge. He started college with a wife and child. He played three sports while in college. He took on the Northern Iowa job when he knew [...]
Missouri State University has fielded a baseball team for 52 years. For 38 of those years, Keith Guttin has been affiliated with the program, the past 33 as head coach. He’s had an incredible run [...]
If I had to use one word to describe Kean University head coach Neil Ioviero, it would be passion. If there’s one thing that draws me to a person in any walk of life, it’s [...]
You’ll hear some familiar stories in this interview. He’s from Massachusetts. He mowed lawns early on to support his “coaching habit.” He was a catcher (and an infielder). This and more will ring some familiar [...]
Gino DiMaria has been a successful football coach and summer baseball coach for almost two decades in Las Vegas. This season, however, he was asked to take over an already successful baseball program at Bishop [...]
By all accounts, the days of the multi-decade high school coach has gone the way of tube TVs and one dollar gasoline. Just when you spot an up-and-comer with a bright future, he decides to [...]
To underscore the fact that all NCAA D1 programs are not created equal, today we’re talking to the assistant coach at Rider University, Lou Proietti. Neither Coach Proietti or the other “full time” assistant coach [...]
It’ll take us a while, but I anticipate we’ll get most of the baseball playing states covered on Top Coach. Today is our first foray into the state of Idaho where there are only a handful [...]
There’s no doubt that our current guest loves to coach. He coaches in the spring. He coaches in the fall. And he coaches in the summer…in Florida. You’ve got to LOVE coaching and the game [...]
Want to see an impressive resume? Look no further. As I mention in the interview, this could have been a very long intro. Joe Brown and his program at SUNY Cortland has a very full [...]
We finally make it out to the west coast to visit with a high school coach. Brett Kay is the head coach at JSerra Catholic High School in beautiful San Juan Capistrano, California. Although this [...]
Did I mention we’ve got a coach from the Northeast? Surprise! Yes, it’s another one of those guys. This time we’ve got a Massachusetts guy. But this one’s found his way to DeepInTheHeartOf. Tim Scannell [...]
I had such a great time talking to Bo Durkac, that I lost all track of time. Instead of having the longest episode ever, I just chopped it into two parts. You can hear part [...]
After two-time Top Coach guest Mark Kingston moved on to the warmer climate of Tampa, Florida, Bo Durkac had a decision to make: Make the trip south with Coach Kingston or stay behind and throw [...]
He’s had a good long run, but at season’s end Bobby Pierce will be calling it quits at Troy University. Growing up in north central Florida, except for a brief stretch when he was at the University [...]
Tracy Woodson will remember Kirk Gibson’s fist pumping home run in the 1988 World Series much better than you or I, as he had one of the best seats in the house. Woodson was a member [...]
In this episode we’re talking to the head coach at Lee University, Mark Brew. Coach Brew has been an active participant in moving the Flames from NAIA to NCAA Division 2 and the Gulf South [...]
I love it when I find coaches that are so obviously content with their situation. Doesn’t mean that they don’t burn with a competitive fire. It’s just that they’ve found a situation that is a [...]
There have been a couple of father-son combos who’ve won 1,000 games each and we’re happy to say we’ve now had one member of each group. First it was Paul Mainieri. Now it’s Ashland University’s [...]
We love it when we can bring a young guy on and pick his brain. Kind of helps us all to refocus and reassess. Our guest today is early on in his coaching career, not [...]
“Be where your feet are.” “Do the best job where you’re at.” These are just a couple of the admonitions we’re heard from the wise voices that have appeared on top coach. We might add [...]
Mike Gustafson and some friends had a dream that those people who have made college baseball what it is would be honored in a fashion much as their professional counterparts. Thus was born the College [...]
Listen to KWB Radio and you’ll find out quickly that it’s all about the approach — the approach to hitting, the approach to pitching, and what we’re here to talk about today, the approach to coaching. [...]
Today’s guest was an assistant coach for former guest, Rob Cooper. After Coach Cooper moved to Pennsylvania and the Big Ten at Penn State University, Wright State University promoted from within, bringing up assistant Greg Lovelady to take [...]
We’ve got another Northeast guy for you this week (surprise!). Patrick Mason is a Massachusetts native who’s now pulling the coaching strings at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, a school known for engineering and architecture. [...]
North Carolina may be the densest state when it comes to baseball playing colleges, but the Campbell University baseball program has found a way the last few years to set itself atop the heap in [...]
We welcome back for a second part to our great conversation, Mississippi State University head coach John Cohen. In this episode, Coach Cohen talks about the work/life balance, what he thinks of today’s student-athlete, practice efficiency, leadership, and [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Daniel Wood, assistant coach at Longwood University.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Jamie Quinn, assistant coach at the Merchant Marine Academy.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Blake Newsome, assistant coach at Francis Marion.
Tony Wolfe‘s coaching career got cranked up a little later than some, but he sure has made up for lost time. Not only has he guided his Buford, Georgia high school team to an incredible [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Matt Laney, assistant coach at Lander University.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Jim Martin, assistant coach at Rhode Island.
Wow! 100 episodes. How time has flown. To celebrate this milestone, we wanted to bring one of the coaches most instrumental for getting Top Coach off the ground to be a guest. Mark Kingston was [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Brian Cain of Brian Cain Peak Performance.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Kevin Allingham, assistant coach at Brevard College.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Justin Willard, assistant coach at Radford University.
As we aim to balance the baseball map just a bit, we head once again to the west coast. This time we’re not far from LAX, where we’re visiting the campus Loyola Marymount of and their [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Greg Elie, head coach at Chattanooga Notre Dame High School.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Mike Zandler, assistant coach at Harvard University.
Every post he makes on Twitter is part travelogue, part recruiting poster. This is definitely one interview that I would have liked to do in person, as the Malibu campus of Pepperdine University is one [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Greg DiCenzo, head coach at College of the Holy Cross.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Roger Cador, head coach at Southern University.
One of the most storied collegiate baseball programs in the country has produced some great players. One of those great players eventually became the head coach. On this episode, we’re talking to the head coach [...]
Jim Chester has spent his life in Pennsylvania and has coached at many levels. He just finished a long stretch with Penn State Greater Allegheny and now is in his first season as head coach [...]
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Top Coach Fast Five with Alex Guerra, assistant coach at Radford University.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. It’s another Fast Five with head baseball coach at Campbell University, Justin Haire.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. We’re playing the Top Coach Fast Five with Nolan Hoskins, a young soon-to-be coach from Amarillo, Texas. Currently attends Sul Ross University.
At the ABCA convention in Orlando. This round of the Top Coach Fast Five is with Tracy Woodson, head baseball coach at the University of Richmond.
I just realized as I was recording this episode that this is the third head coach from this school that we’ve interviewed. Not only has Sacramento City College produced some big time college and pro [...]
It’s back to back NCAA D2 coaches on Top Coach Podcast. We’ve had more than a handful of D2 coaches, but none of their schools are quite like this one. The University of the Sciences [...]
NCAA D2 baseball is often overlooked, but consistently produce a terrific brand of baseball and provide top notch draftees for Major League Baseball. We’ve had several D2 coaches as guests before and it’s always interesting [...]
Russ Steinhorn traveled a somewhat normal route from player to coach, as he worked his way through the coaching ranks. An unexpected call from within the Houston Astros organization, however, led to Coach Steinhorn’s current [...]
Let’s be clear about one thing here — we’re talking HARFORD baseball. Not HARTFORD. Not HARVARD. And the way things are going for this JUCO in Maryland, perhaps Harford will become a very familiar name [...]
Scott Jackson‘s career thus far demonstrates the density of baseball within the Tar Heel State. The University of North Carolina is the sixth entry on his resume and he’s never left the state of North [...]
It’s a grand day indeed at Top Coach when we can combine a coaching legend with a guy that my grandfather would have described as “the real deal”. Coach Ray Birmingham spent nearly two decades [...]
We’re heading back to Texas to talk to the head coach at NCAA D3’s Mary Hardin-Baylor, Ben Shipp. Coach Shipp is another perfect example of someone who does not coach as his full time gig, [...]
Steve Murry knew from a very young age that he wanted to be an athletic coach. Growing up in Nebraska, Murry found himself attracted to the game of football like most other young guys in [...]
So much to cover, so little time. So we’re brought back for part two the College of Charleston‘s head coach Monte Lee. In this interview, we dive into the heart of his responsibilities in Charleston — the [...]
Xan Barksdale made an impact as a catcher and now he’s making an impact by teaching catchers, both as an assistant at East Tennessee State University and with projects such as Catching-101.com. Xan grew up [...]
What’s harder — raising four girls or 35 college baseball players? Well, you’ll find out the answer to that (kind of) and much more from the head coach of the College of Charleston, Monte Lee. [...]
Alrightee! We’re headed back to Mouse Town to finish up our discussion with UCF head coach Terry Rooney. Enjoy! In case you missed it, here’s part 1 of our chat with Coach Rooney. Follow Terry [...]
We’ve closed the circle and completed the UVA Chateau Trilogy in this episode with interview with University of Virginia baseball assistant coach Karl Kuhn. Coach Kuhn is one of the most well respected pitching coaches [...]
Listen up, young and aspiring coaches! You’re gonna like this one. We’re talking today to the head coach of the University of Central Florida (or UCF as the packaging goes these days), Terry Rooney. Coach [...]
A native of Buffalo, New York, Coach Joe Raccuia is another in the seemingly endless line of top notch college baseball coaches from the Northeast. Coach Raccuia started his coaching career at his alma mater, [...]
We’ve closed the circle and completed the UVA Chateau Trilogy in this episode with interview with University of Virginia baseball assistant coach Karl Kuhn. Coach Kuhn is one of the most well respected pitching coaches [...]
It’s back to West Virginia for Top Coach. This time we’re visiting with the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers, Randy Mazey. Mazey is another in the coaching family tree of Keith Leclair and [...]
It may be hard to believe for the casual listener, but I don’t purposely choose coaches that are from or now hail from the Northeast section of our country. Does seem like we get a [...]
From one of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S., comes today’s interview with the head coach of the United States Military Academy Black Knights, Matt Reid. Coach Reid filled the head coaching position [...]
Headed to Packerland today to talk to a coach about baseball. Ryan McGinnis is the head coach of an incredibly successful baseball program at Kimberly High School in Kimberly, Wisconsin. His Papermakers finished second in [...]
Today’s guest is really representative of the vast majority of coaches, in that coaching only makes up a small part of what he does. In addition to his head coaching duties at D3 University of [...]
We try to cover the entire spectrum of amateur (and some professional) coaching here, with a representative selection of coaches from all types of programs. Today we’re talking to JC Harbison of the University of [...]
The city of Bristol straddles two states — Virginia and Tennessee. And it’s the home of NASCAR’s Bristol Motor Speedway. Two high schools call Bristol home. On the Virginia side of the line is Virginia [...]
Nearly one year ago, we spoke to the then director of the American Baseball Coaches Association, Dave Keilitz in episode 14. Dave had announced his retirement by that point, but what we didn’t know was [...]
Pat Casey, coach of two time NCAA D1 World Series champion Oregon State University, joins us on this episode of Top Coach. Coach Casey is a Pac Northwest guy and loves the challenge of winning [...]
We are all too aware that the tools of the trade go well beyond a bat, ball, and glove. At almost every level, we’re all required to master the rake, along with many other implements [...]
So much to say, I didn’t let Coach Cal Bailey get away with just one episode. In case you’ve time traveled into this spot from another distant time and place, go here to get episode [...]
You are in for a treat with this episode. Thanks to a suggestion by Robin Green, we were able to get recently retired West Virginia State University coach, Calvin Bailey, to chat with us on [...]
This week, we’re catching up with UMass-Lowell assistant coach, Brendan Monaghan. Monaghan is another of the many coaches we’ve talked to with a direct link to St. John’s and coach Ed Blankmeyer, who we interviewed [...]
We are loaded in September and October with guests from all around the nation, but today it’s a Q&A with Yours Truly. I figured this is as good a time as any to answer the [...]
Typically, I’ve got information that needs updating by time I chat with our coaches, but today much has transpired from the time I scheduled Jim Martin until the time of our interview. You see, he [...]
Former successful pitching coach at Heartland Community College, Josh Kauten has stepped down from his official coaching duties at Heartland to focus on his growing family. He has not given up on coaching entirely, however, [...]
Back for round two! But this time he’s the head guy. It’s our good friend Cliff Godwin, who has recently taken the reins at his alma mater, East Carolina University. When we last spoke with [...]
Back in November, 2013, episode 18 featured the first year coach at Penn State University, Rob Cooper. In this episode of Top Coach Update, we bring Coach Cooper back to talk about what almost every [...]
Sometimes Top Coach gets a known quantity in a D1 coach who gets his share of media attention. Sometimes, however, we uncover a hidden gem who’s just plying his trade without the intrusion of SportsCenter [...]
I pretty much went blank after our guest said it was 106 degrees in Waco, Texas as we were speaking. Frankly, this is one time I’m glad we do most of these interviews remotely. However, [...]
This week we’re visiting with former MLB pitcher and first round draft pick of the Chicago White Sox, Jim Parque. Jim is currently with the company he founded in 2004, Big League Edge, in Auburn, [...]
We’ve give him sufficient time to breathe, do a few speaking engagements, and run a camp, so we’ve finally pulled Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin back to the microphone for our first chat since the Commodores [...]
Here’s a template I could keep in reserve and roll out every few weeks: “This coach is part of the Jack Leggett coaching tree…” That’s because that coaching tree is so very vast. Well, it’s [...]
Talk about an impressive list of names on a resume, take a look at some of the coaches that Cal State Fullerton’s Rick Vanderhook has work with over the years — Augie Garrido, John Savage, [...]
“Something in the water!” is the way coach Chan Brown explains it when asked about Parkview High School’s boat load of state championships, five of which have come in baseball alone. This Georgia Class 6A [...]
Road trip! Make that Mother Road trip! We took the short drive up Old Route 66 to Lexington, Illinois to visit with the general manager of the Lexington Snipes, Billy Dubois. Billy is one of [...]
In episode 9, we got an update on all things baseball in Great Britain from then development director for BaseballSoftballUK and coach of the GB Lions, Liam Carroll. Liam has since moved on and is [...]
We’re headed back to high school in this episode of Top Coach. Our guest in the head coach at Davidson Academy, Dennis Winn. Davidson Academy is a small private school in Nashville, Tennessee. Coach Winn [...]
Today we’re talking to Chase Jones of the Vs. Cancer Foundation, an organization that Chase founded after he successfully battled brain cancer while a student and baseball player at the University of North Carolina. The [...]
Yeah, you bet we’re talking hitting today! And we’re talking to one of the premier hitting coaches in the U.S., Kevin Wilson. One of the best indicators that he knows what he’s doing is when [...]
Steve Friend is an alumnus of Chabot College in Heyward, California and has been their head coach since 1989. Chabot is a junior college with an enrollment of over 15,000. As Coach Friend says it, Chabot [...]
Who needs detailed statistical analysis to pick the favorites for the upcoming College World Series when you can do it based on uniforms?! Yes, we’ve brought back our favorite ESPN analyst and uniform guru, Mike [...]
There have been 18 head coaches in the history of Baylor baseball, but only two in the last 41 seasons. Steve Smith took over 21 years ago for the legendary Mickey Sullivan and has made [...]
This is not our usual coach interview, as this one comes on the heels of the announcement that Tulane coach Rick Jones is retiring…and far too early. Seems that the stresses of the coaching game, [...]
In episode 47, Top Coach welcomes back a favorite that we hope becomes a regular. ESPN college baseball analyst Mike Rooney is getting very busy right now, but not to busy to come and talk [...]
Several of the coaches we’ve talked to in the last year have discussed recruiting northern players. Our guests in episodes, 20, 44, and 45, Kevin McMullan and Brian O’Connor have done quite well for the [...]
Tim Esmay grew up in the shadow of the Arizona State campus, dreaming of donning the legendary Sun Devil uniform one day. His dream came true first as a player, then twice as an assistant, [...]
In part two of our conversation with the University of Virginia’s Brian O’Connor, we get into some of the more philosophical areas of coaching and then park a while in the area of staffing. The [...]
I’ve been absolutely amazed at how gracious and accommodating all of the coaches we’ve spoken to have been. The University of Virginia’s Brian O’Connor is no exception. When Coach O’Connor found out we were going [...]
Coach Jerry Weinstein is known by a lot of folks as THE GUY for catching. But he’s so much more than that. Penn State’s Rob Cooper considers Coach Weinstein the guy most responsible for giving [...]
Way back in episode 4, we got a chance to talk to Purdue University head coach Doug Schreiber. One of the topics for which Coach Schreiber has become a spokesman is what many see as [...]
In the old days they used to call folks like this “the genuine article” or “the real deal”. That’s what you get when you meet ABCA Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes. He is one of [...]
Matt Magers, head coach at Minnesota State-Mankato, was our guest in episode 7. Today he’s back to talk about the weather. Yes, who doesn’t like talking about the weather? Well, baseball coaches, for one. Coach [...]
Frank Leoni has had quite a journey — from his head coaching position at his alma mater, Rhode Island, to his last D1 head coaching position at William & Mary to his current position at [...]
Brian McRae had a real solid 10 year Major League career with the Royals, Mets, Cubs, Rockies, and Blue Jays — 16 years total in pro ball. His post-playing career found him working in various [...]
Where do we begin with our next guest? Ron Polk has the most wins in SEC history — in any sport. He left his fingerprints all over the Mississippi State program. He’s done about everything [...]
The Jack Leggett coaching tree is big and strong, but almost as amazing is the legacy left by the late Keith LeClair (Western Carolina, East Carolina). Erick Bakich is a product of both. Bakich started [...]
Volunteer coaches abound in baseball, but the volunteer coaches at the NCAA D1 level are a bit different. There are a good percentage of these guys who are retired coaches and still have a lot [...]
Over 1,500 wins as a head coach about says it all. Jim Morris’ accomplishments are plenty and his name has become synonymous with the College World Series. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he [...]
Darren Fenster took a route to where he is today not unlike most of our previous coaches. He grew up in the Northeast, playing multiple sports and went on to star at Rutgers, taking home [...]
Some would say that Scott Brosius has lived a charmed life. He calls it a blessed life. From playing on the same field as Ruth, Gerig, Dimaggio, and Mantle to winning three World Series rings [...]
Mike Rooney, like many previous guests, hails from the Northeast. But he’s now living the good life out in Arizona (at least until May hits and the only good place to watch a game is [...]
With hires like this one, it can’t be long until the Chicago Cubs are playing in October. Okay, some wishful HOPING on this Cub fan’s part, but there’s no doubt that the Cubs’ front office [...]
More than two decades of coaching and currently leading one of the top programs in the country and he’s returning my text messages at 5:00 in the morning. That should tell you a lot of [...]
There are people you speak to where passion seems to ooze out of every pore. Ed Blankmeyer is one of those guys. His legacy appears to be set in cement, but that hasn’t left him [...]
Ole Miss baseball coach Cliff Godwin sings his praises and just the mention of his name on Twitter brings a flood of responses, so I just had to talk to him. I first chatted with [...]
Cliff Godwin is another one of those assistants who’s getting a lot of attention. Coach Godwin is known for his enthusiasm — and that’s on top of all the other things that makes for a [...]
Another episode and another Northeast guy. Bryant University’s Steve Owens is Northeast through and though, having spent his entire life in the Northeast, with the exception of a short stint in West Virginia, courtesy of [...]
Whether it’s delivering the latest clinic session on baserunning or giving a post-game press conference in Omaha, Dan McDonnell has become one of the most recognizable faces in college baseball. Since 2006, he and his [...]
Jerry Rashid‘s 729 wins ranks him #7 all time in the state of Illinois. His Chillicothe Illinois Valley Central team won the state championship in 2006, with current Cleveland Indians pitcher Zach McAllister, and was [...]
Given that a significant portion of our Top Coach community is made up of high school coaches, I really intended to get a high school coach on here sooner. For our first guest I didn’t [...]
Ed Flaherty wouldn’t change a thing. In his 29th season with NCAA DIII University of Southern Maine, Flaherty has amassed quite a resume. Seven trips to the DIII World Series, two rings, and many Coach [...]
Another couple of firsts for us here at Top Coach. The first coach we’ve talked to who’s made it to the big leagues and also the first coach who’s not coached in his first game. [...]
There are at least a couple of firsts with this week’s guest. Texas Christian University’s Jim Schlossnagle graduated magna cum laude from Elon College and he’s listed among the notable residents of his hometown (Hagerstown, [...]
Kevin McMullan is a hard-nosed former football player and wrestler from New Jersey who has parlayed his love for the thinking side of baseball into a great coaching career. Widely regarded as the top assistant [...]
What started out as a college exchange trip for Tom Gillespie has turned into a globe trotting baseball adventure. Doing some work with Major League Baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates filled most of his time [...]
Rob Cooper’s baseball has taken him all over the United States…and the world. Growing up in California and playing in Florida only marked the beginning. He’s been all over the country as an assistant coach and [...]
John Savage has a reputation as a super-organized and a relentless recruiter. And while UCLA has long been able to bring in the best recruits in Southern California, Savage has been able to get the [...]
The Heartland Community College baseball program was nothing more than a dream just seven years ago. In 2013, the Hawks participated in the NJCAA D2 World Series for the third straight year. In six seasons, [...]
Scott Stricklin parlayed a very nice run at Kent State into what most coaches consider to be a dream job — a coaching spot in college baseball’s best conference. Stricklin hopes to bring to the [...]
50 years in baseball is a satisfying way to spend your life. Dave Keilitz has spent the last 20 as Executive Director of the American Baseball Coaches Association and will oversee his last coaches’ convention [...]
Aaron Fitt talks to more college baseball coaches than most anyone else. He’s one of those rare media guys that handles delicate situations in a balanced way instead of looking at it as a sensationalist opportunity. [...]
Paul Mainieri runs one of the most respected and robust college baseball programs in the country. LSU is one of a handful of programs in the NCAA that pays for itself. Mainieri has a long [...]
Faith Baptist Christian School of Brandon, Florida and coach Greg Hughes see baseball as a vehicle to help young people. That is itself in keeping with what most coaches see as their mission or one [...]
Sorry, folks, no coaches during this episode of Top Coach. Your host, Jack Warren, hijacks this episode to talk a bit about some of the things he’s learned during the first nine episodes and reflects [...]
The developments in baseball around the world are pretty exciting. Of course, we all see just how strong the game is in the far east and in Central America, but baseball is gaining a foothold [...]
We could have spent the entire show talking about barbecue and Andy Griffith, but we finally got around to baseball. It appears that Tulane University’s Rick Jones knows almost as much about barbecue as he [...]
Yeah, they play baseball in Minnesota and good baseball at that. Despite playing only seven home games in 2013, Minnesota State-Mankato and head coach Matt Magers fashioned a 42-9 record and a second place finish [...]
Fergie Jenkins used to say that a pitcher’s best friend is a double play. I always said that a pitcher’s best friend is strike one. Our guest today appears to love strikes more than anyone [...]
Nice guys do finish first. At least that’s the case with Arizona’s Andy Lopez. Coach Lopez has two College World Series rings, over 1100 wins, and several Coach of the Year awards, but his passion [...]
From Slicer to Boilermaker — that’s the path that Purdue head coach Doug Schreiber has taken, with many stops in the Hoosier state and one foray into Arizona in between. After starting life as the [...]
Normal, Illinois a go-to destination for high school baseball players looking to play at the next level? You bet! Especially when Illinois State’s Mark Kingston is doing the selling. Find out why Kingston was considered [...]
From selling asphalt repairs and ad space in Tennessee Titans’ broadcasts (both dirty jobs) to an NJCAA D1 national championship — that’s the road that Central Alabama Community College’s Wynn Fletcher has traveled. He admittedly [...]
Indiana University head baseball coach Tracy Smith is a man on a mission. Not only is he focused on making the Hoosiers one of the top programs in NCAA D1, he’s also pushing hard to [...]
Talking hitting with Jermaine Allensworth Cornbeltbaseball.com contributing photographer Alex Shaw sits in with Tom and Jack as they talk hitting with former major leaguer Jermaine Allensworth. Jermaine is currently teaching baseball to young players as a private instructor in Bloomington-Normal. This marks our first show recorded at Boo Boo’s Dawghouse on GE Road, just west of Towanda-Barnes Road.
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