Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Castro
RSS Feed
Amazon Music
Podcast Addict
Podchaser
PocketCasts
PlayerFM
Overcast
Castbox
The player is loading ...
Send us a text When Coach Will Gorden stepped off the plane in China to lead a development program for Major League Baseball, he faced an immediate challenge: coaching 42 young baseball players who didn't speak English. This experience became the foundation for his transformative coaching journey that would span three countries and reshape his approach to leadership. "More than anything, I learned a new way to communicate," Gorden explains on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. "After working with t...
When Coach Will Gorden stepped off the plane in China to lead a development program for Major League Baseball, he faced an immediate challenge: coaching 42 young baseball players who didn't speak English. This experience became the foundation for his transformative coaching journey that would span three countries and reshape his approach to leadership.
"More than anything, I learned a new way to communicate," Gorden explains on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. "After working with those kids who didn't speak the language, I can do anything with anybody in the United States." These international experiences—from witnessing the meticulous batting practice routines of Chinese Taipei's team to observing the profound reverence Japanese players showed toward the game—provided Gordon with a unique perspective few American coaches possess.
Now back at Rockhurst High School in Missouri after stints coaching in China, Taiwan, and India, Gorden has implemented a coaching philosophy built around what he calls "service-minded leadership." Rather than following the traditional model where freshmen handle equipment duties, Gorden places this responsibility on his seniors. "If you want to be seen as a leader, you're serving your teammates," he explains. This approach teaches players that leadership isn't about privilege—it's about service to others.
Gorden's candid reflections on his evolution as a coach reveal profound wisdom. Where he once believed "there weren't enough sprints that would cure everything," experience has taught him adaptability. "Kids change and I have to be willing to adapt to that mindset as well," he shares. This growth mindset extends to his approach with parents, where he welcomes hard conversations about playing time—a topic many coaches avoid.
Perhaps most refreshing is Gorden's perspective on youth baseball. When coaching his nine-year-old son's team, which didn't win a game all season, his measure of success was beautifully simple: "I asked them all individually...did you have fun? They said yeah. And do you want to play again? Yeah. Okay, that's it. Then we did our job." In today's hyper-competitive youth sports landscape, this commitment to joy and development over trophies offers a powerful reminder of what truly matters.
Ready to transform your coaching philosophy? Subscribe to Baseball Coaches Unplugged for more conversations with innovative coaches who are changing the game one player at a time.
- Follow: Twitter | Instagram @Athlete1Podcast
- Website - https://www.athlete1.net
- Sponsor: The Netting Professionals
- https://www.nettingpros.com
Chapters
00:00 - Introducing Coach Will Gordon
03:38 - Building Culture at Rockhurst High School
07:04 - Coaching Baseball in China
12:22 - International Coaching Experiences and Lessons
16:13 - Service-Minded Leadership in Baseball
21:56 - Hard Conversations in Coaching
26:40 - Coaching Your Own Child
32:30 - Youth Baseball Development Philosophy
36:20 - Leadership Lessons and Coaching Relationships
43:16 - Final Thoughts and Royals Talk
Transcript
WEBVTT
00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:13.775
Hello and welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged, where I sit down with coaches from around the country and in this case, around the world and bring real stories and strategies from the best coaches and minds in the game.
00:00:13.775 --> 00:00:26.661
Today we're joined by a coach whose baseball journey has taken him from across state lines and across the globe, from coaching in Kansas and Missouri to leading MLB's development efforts in China.
00:00:26.661 --> 00:00:30.312
Coach Will Gordon brings a unique perspective to the dugout.
00:00:30.312 --> 00:00:34.124
Now back to where it all began, at Rockhurst High School.
00:00:34.124 --> 00:00:44.609
Coach Gordon shares his insights on building culture, international coaching lessons and what it takes to lead a successful high school program in today's game.
00:00:44.609 --> 00:00:50.497
To lead a successful high school program in today's game Rockhurst High School head coach Will Gordon.
00:00:50.497 --> 00:00:51.981
Next on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.
00:00:52.862 --> 00:00:57.567
Welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged with Coach Ken Carpenter, presented by AthleteOne.
00:00:57.567 --> 00:01:11.739
Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for baseball coaches, with 27 years of high school baseball coaching under his belt, here to bring you the inside scoop on all things baseball, from game-winning strategies and pitching secrets to hitting drills and defensive drills.
00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:12.944
We're covering it all.
00:01:12.944 --> 00:01:21.447
Whether you're a high school coach, college coach or just a baseball enthusiast, we'll dive into the tactics and techniques that make the difference on and off the field.
00:01:21.447 --> 00:01:23.905
Discover how to build a winning mentality.
00:01:23.905 --> 00:01:28.748
Inspire your players and get them truly bought into your game philosophy Plus.
00:01:28.748 --> 00:01:34.911
Get the latest insights on recruiting, coaching, leadership and crafting a team culture that champions productivity and success.
00:01:34.911 --> 00:01:39.531
Join Coach every week as he breaks down the game and shares incredible behind-the-scenes stories.
00:01:39.531 --> 00:01:45.245
Your competitive edge starts here, so check out the show weekly and hear from the best coaches in the game.
00:01:45.245 --> 00:01:47.150
On Baseball Coaches Unplugged.
00:01:50.521 --> 00:01:57.468
Today's episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged is powered by the netting professionals, improving programs one facility at a time.
00:01:57.468 --> 00:02:04.447
The netting pros specialize in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for baseball and softball.
00:02:04.447 --> 00:02:09.936
This includes backstops, batting cages, bp turbos, screens, ball carts and more.
00:02:09.936 --> 00:02:17.433
They also design and install digital graphic wall padding, windscreen, turf, turf protectors, dugout benches and coveys.
00:02:17.433 --> 00:02:22.550
The netting pros also work with football, soccer, lacrosse and golf courses.
00:02:22.550 --> 00:02:26.807
Contact them today at 844-620-2707.
00:02:26.807 --> 00:02:31.497
That's 844-620-2707.
00:02:31.497 --> 00:02:36.328
Or visit them online at wwwnettingproscom.
00:02:36.328 --> 00:02:43.086
Check out Netting Pros on X, instagram, facebook and LinkedIn for all their latest products and projects.
00:02:44.889 --> 00:02:46.834
Hello and welcome to Baseball Coaches Unplugged.
00:02:46.834 --> 00:03:04.252
I'm your host, coach Ken Carpenter, and wow do we have a very interesting guest for today's show and I really think you're going to enjoy the stories he shares about the differences between players in the US and the players that are playing the game in China.
00:03:04.252 --> 00:03:14.569
Got one simple ask If you enjoyed today's show, be sure to share it with a friend and, if you get a chance, leave us a review.
00:03:14.569 --> 00:03:15.724
It helps us to grow the show.
00:03:15.724 --> 00:03:22.008
Now let's get to our sit-down with Coach Will Gordon, rockhurst High School in Missouri.
00:03:22.008 --> 00:03:26.188
Thanks for taking time to be on Baseball Coaches Unplugged.
00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:33.099
Hey, always good to talk to another member of the coaching community and I've done it across various different aspects.
00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:36.330
I'm excited to get the opportunity to talk to you today.
00:03:38.040 --> 00:03:52.932
Well, you're back at Rockhurst High School and I guess I want to start off with you know how are you blending the culture and expectations of your past coaching experiences into this new chapter you have going at Rockhurst?
00:03:53.901 --> 00:04:02.133
Well, last year was my first year to be back at Rockhurst, after I had a short stint there for four years, as an assistant coach as well, prior to.
00:04:02.133 --> 00:04:11.246
So I feel like this is my second run, which is nice to know the lay of the land and also the times in between.
00:04:11.246 --> 00:04:14.191
Between 2011 and 2025.
00:04:14.191 --> 00:04:36.685
I spent 14 years kind of growing up, learning the game a lot more literally, went and coached around the world during that time and I've been I've coached in China, china and been the head coach of two other high schools on the state of Kansas in those times, but all of that kind of blends itself into what do we want to do as a unit, what do we want to do as a team?
00:04:36.685 --> 00:04:47.091
The school itself is Jesuit in its background, and so I feel like that gives us a strong foundation and culture that we can always kind of tie back into as well.
00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.151
It's a school that's seen a lot of success, especially in the football side.
00:04:51.151 --> 00:04:52.824
It's yet to win a state baseball title.
00:04:52.824 --> 00:05:00.706
It's had a couple of big leaguers roll through there as well, and one of the first things I'm doing is trying to tie back into those roots as to who was here.
00:05:00.706 --> 00:05:01.848
Why was this important.
00:05:01.848 --> 00:05:04.894
What are we doing and how can we move forward together as a unit?
00:05:04.894 --> 00:05:18.112
So I look back towards really the past and kind of you know what can we do and what lessons can we learn from those guys over here, why did it mean so much to them and how can we move forward using those lessons?
00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:25.081
Well, what drives your passion for coaching, both high school and you know your involvement with?
00:05:25.081 --> 00:05:29.531
I believe it's like a club level team there in Kansas City area.
00:05:31.153 --> 00:05:34.170
Yes, so I've been involved in various clubs and organizations.
00:05:34.170 --> 00:05:43.904
I currently am employed by Mackensites, which Mike McFarland and Kevin Seitzer started a while back, and I worked for Building Champions here in town for a long time.
00:05:43.904 --> 00:05:47.211
And I I I told my son the other day he's nine.
00:05:47.211 --> 00:06:19.947
I said, you know, I knew when I was 12 that I wanted to be a coach and just like any other coach, it has nothing to do with wins and losses, it has everything to do with relationships, the fact that I get the opportunity to go meet, and it surprises you every year, right, like you think, oh, this class is so special there's not going to be another one like it, and it's a different kind of special every time, and I think that's what A keeps me feeling so young and B really drives me to get the opportunity just to share and inevitably learn from them.
00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:22.862
That's how I feel like I really grow in.
00:06:22.862 --> 00:06:23.303
The game is.
00:06:23.303 --> 00:06:33.850
Each year I learn something more from a player than I do, probably imparting stuff on my own, so I truly appreciate the opportunity to go out there.
00:06:33.850 --> 00:06:36.970
That's my passion, is what can I learn from these young men?
00:06:36.970 --> 00:06:43.209
And then maybe, if I'm lucky, what can I have the opportunity to teach them, because it goes way beyond the lines too.
00:06:45.161 --> 00:07:01.908
Most coaches never get a chance to coach overseas and you mentioned earlier you know you've been to China with the MLB and what's the biggest lessons that you've brought back here to the US from that experience coaching overseas?
00:07:04.843 --> 00:07:10.788
You know, when you first get a job working for Major League Baseball, you have this expectation and this thought oh my gosh.
00:07:10.788 --> 00:07:15.891
You know, first paycheck says Major League Baseball and you're super excited.
00:07:15.891 --> 00:07:18.980
And we traveled 7,000 miles around the world.
00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:24.108
And, just like every other part of this game, you get humbled pretty quickly by the game.
00:07:24.108 --> 00:07:37.730
And you look at the facilities and, and it's just, you're living in china, um, and, and it's quite different, um, living in china for a lot of reasons, um, but one is I got 42 players.
00:07:37.730 --> 00:07:42.485
They're all ages 11 to 16 years old and none of them speak english.
00:07:42.485 --> 00:07:49.964
And, uh, my first, first day off there, I went for a little look, see, and they gave me a chance.
00:07:49.964 --> 00:07:57.471
I'm off the plane, uh, and it's less than 24 hours and my head boss tells me hey, I want you to go work with this young man on hitting.
00:07:57.471 --> 00:07:59.117
And I'm like, okay.
00:07:59.478 --> 00:08:02.362
So we walked down there and and it's dead silent.
00:08:02.362 --> 00:08:04.584
I mean, he, we're not going to have a conversation.
00:08:04.584 --> 00:08:15.132
We put a ball in the tee, we do front flips, I throw him some BP, we talk a little bit just by moving motions and things like that, and we communicated.
00:08:15.132 --> 00:08:17.514
And so you want to talk about what did I take back?
00:08:17.514 --> 00:08:19.896
More than anything was a new way to communicate.
00:08:19.896 --> 00:08:30.576
What I always tell guys you know me, with 42 guys that didn't speak the language together, I can do anything with anybody in the united states, we'll be just fine.
00:08:30.576 --> 00:08:31.781
Uh, we can communicate in terms of that.
00:08:32.524 --> 00:08:35.695
And then then the funny thing about the, the kid that I took down and go hit.
00:08:35.695 --> 00:08:42.852
We don't talk the entire time, we get done, we walk up and my boss says, well, how'd he do to the kid hitting?
00:08:42.852 --> 00:08:44.143
He was like perfect english.
00:08:44.143 --> 00:08:45.405
Oh, you know, he does pretty good.
00:08:45.405 --> 00:08:47.210
He knows exactly what he's talking about with hitting.
00:08:47.210 --> 00:08:55.181
And I was like you understood english the whole time, had had no idea, but my boss wanted to see what it was going to be like.
00:08:55.181 --> 00:08:59.169
You know, hey, go see, go see if you can teach this kid who doesn't know anything.
00:09:00.011 --> 00:09:28.206
Um, and so really the big thing I took back was how lucky we are here in the United States as well, how privileged we are when I see an 11-year-old kid who gets to see his parents once a week, once a year, excuse me and doing his own laundry, and our kid from Tibet who has literally showered twice a year for his whole 14 years growing up and I have to explain hey, bud, after showers we got to hit the showers after practice.
00:09:28.206 --> 00:09:31.008
It really makes you appreciate the game here.
00:09:31.008 --> 00:09:36.148
It makes you see a lot differently and I had some pretty cool moments over there too.
00:09:36.148 --> 00:09:47.919
But bringing that attitude every time back to the field when I watch those kids over there, the appreciation for the opportunity that they had is so amazing.
00:09:47.919 --> 00:10:01.809
And then to then hopefully translate that a little bit to our kids here in the United States at every level, you know this is, this is an opportunity each and every day to go out and do something that not everybody gets to, and don't take it for granted.
00:10:03.581 --> 00:10:05.172
Well, that, that is just mind boggling.
00:10:05.172 --> 00:10:05.715
I can't even for granted.
00:10:05.715 --> 00:10:06.440
Well that is just mind-boggling.
00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.985
I can't even imagine that.
00:10:07.985 --> 00:10:11.450
And you know, I was kind of wondering.
00:10:11.450 --> 00:10:23.332
You know the difference between the kid here in the US that's playing high school, he's on some elite travel team, and then you've got a kid, like you said, from Tibet.
00:10:23.332 --> 00:10:33.087
Those differences have to be huge, I guess, and it's maybe not so much the baseball side of it, but it's their lifestyle, I would think.
00:10:35.061 --> 00:10:36.364
Yeah, the kid from Tibet.
00:10:36.364 --> 00:10:49.951
You know, one of the unique things over there is we all kind of gave them American names, mainly because it's very difficult for me to yell Wong Wei Hao, which was one of my kids' names, where I can just call him Willie and that's easier.
00:10:49.951 --> 00:10:57.264
But the kid from Tibet, he chose the name Roger for Roger Clemens and he was this left-handed pitcher and he just won.
00:10:57.264 --> 00:11:12.365
For the first time ever, he pitches for Team China now they beat Chinese Taipei and he's the upwards of 90 miles an hour and this is a kid that, like I said when I tell you how to, I had to tell him how to take a shower, like hey, bud, you got to do this every day.
00:11:12.365 --> 00:11:17.769
The next day in my office, my secretary meets me and she's like hey, I need you to talk to Roger.
00:11:17.769 --> 00:11:26.961
Did he, did he not took a shower?
00:11:26.961 --> 00:11:27.602
Could you tell me?
00:11:27.602 --> 00:11:31.773
Needs to wear clothes to and from the shower, though he just had his towel and all his glory going back and forth and it was just.
00:11:31.793 --> 00:11:38.131
Yeah, so it was a trip, but you look at that kid and here's a 90 mile an hour arm at the.
00:11:38.131 --> 00:11:44.993
You know, beat chinese taipei and he's given an opportunity and, um, that's pretty much what all those kids are looking for.
00:11:44.993 --> 00:11:48.990
Right, there is just that unique opportunity that's there as well.
00:11:48.990 --> 00:11:51.749
So it was definitely an experience, for sure.
00:11:51.749 --> 00:11:59.470
I was in India for a week Major League Baseball Summit in India and with the mindset of, okay, what do cricket players?
00:11:59.470 --> 00:12:02.048
You know, you've seen Million Dollar Arm that was kind of the deal.
00:12:02.048 --> 00:12:10.509
There was only one field in all of India while we were there and we got to be on that field and there's some talented players over there.
00:12:10.509 --> 00:12:21.967
The game is definitely growing and it was just once again, this opportunity to do something that could give them another opportunity and it was really fun to see as well.
00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:28.988
Now, were there any other parts of the world that you had a chance to coach in, or were those the two main ones?
00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:33.811
So I coached in China, I coached in India and then I coached in Taiwan.
00:12:33.811 --> 00:12:50.490
I was the 14U coach for the Chinese national team in Taiwan for, like the Little League World Series, which I always thought like we came within one game of winning it, I thought it would be hilarious to return to the United States as the head coach of China and having their team there.
00:12:50.490 --> 00:12:54.250
But you know, you talk about experiences.
00:12:54.250 --> 00:13:00.673
To this day, chinese Taipei's batting practice was the most impressive thing I've ever seen in my entire life.
00:13:00.673 --> 00:13:04.490
They set up and they had all their hitters go through.
00:13:04.490 --> 00:13:14.283
In the first round they hit nothing but balls through the 4-3 hole and I mean on the ground through the 4-3 hole, one through nine every time.
00:13:14.283 --> 00:13:20.726
And then their second round, they went through the 5-6 hole and it was on the ground every single time.
00:13:20.726 --> 00:13:25.750
And the third round was right up the middle and they needed to hit that L screen, like that was their job.
00:13:25.750 --> 00:13:34.328
Oh, and before that it was 10 minutes of straight bunting and all that occurred there, and so it was unique to see that.
00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:42.506
And then in our championship game we had a kid who ended up pitching for the Brewers organization, starting for me, and I don't know where their kid ended up.
00:13:42.506 --> 00:13:43.361
I'm sure he ended up somewhere.
00:13:43.361 --> 00:13:59.231
We two 14 year olds so in 85, 86, with just bangers for days coming out of the hand, and I mean it was nothing, nothing through the fourth, two outs ground ball, right back to my kid, right down the right field line and the wheels came off of that bus rather quick.
00:13:59.231 --> 00:14:06.048
But we gave them a run for their money, um, and and all their coach could ask me afterwards was how do we teach our kids how to hit home runs?
00:14:06.048 --> 00:14:09.474
And I said I don't like.
00:14:09.474 --> 00:14:10.755
You guys can hit the ball wherever you want.
00:14:10.755 --> 00:14:12.909
That's best barrel control I've ever seen in my entire life.
00:14:12.909 --> 00:14:15.380
Um, don't worry about hitting the home runs.
00:14:15.380 --> 00:14:24.249
So it was, it was unique to see that perspective clean fielding, um, and just a, an incredible um reverence I want to say for the game.
00:14:28.647 --> 00:14:30.677
And they throw all the time.
00:14:30.677 --> 00:14:40.688
Would you say that the showmanship and the bat flipping and the 35 things in their back pocket and everything that's probably not happening a whole lot over there, I would guess.
00:14:43.443 --> 00:14:47.101
No, there's a Japanese school in shanghai that would come over and we were.
00:14:47.101 --> 00:15:09.889
The place where I was was three hours away, okay, and I would get to the ballpark at 7 am and those kids were there by 6 50 am waiting for me to unlock the gate to go to our school and the moms came with the bento boxes and they line up their helmets and they line up their bats and they ran in four groups of four in unison, around the track in lockstep, before my kids even came anywhere close to the yard.
00:15:09.889 --> 00:15:12.369
I mean, it was just a different thing.
00:15:12.369 --> 00:15:20.884
You know, you see Shohei today say something to the umpire, every at-bat commonplace, and and and to every player.
00:15:20.903 --> 00:15:22.086
That I was telling my kids.
00:15:22.086 --> 00:15:39.518
You know I always wondered why they take off their hat before they go into the field and they do it twice actually, and it's to thank the field for the opportunity to play on it and then afterwards it's to say thank you for the opportunity to have done this, and I just think that's such a unique way to go about looking at the game and and and it's a.
00:15:39.518 --> 00:15:46.403
It's a really cool thing to think about every time you step on a field, because you know we push the hustle in between the white lines.
00:15:46.504 --> 00:16:04.730
But, man, when you, when you take a moment and do that, um it's, it's pretty powerful message wow, I and I imagine now you're back here in the us and you can really tie everything that you've done there to help you build a consistent, winning program.
00:16:04.730 --> 00:16:11.240
And what is there like a certain blueprint that you've put together now that you've had this experience?
00:16:13.376 --> 00:16:14.442
You know, I don't know.
00:16:14.442 --> 00:16:20.888
I think younger versions of myself, you know, probably hammered in on the, I don't know.
00:16:20.888 --> 00:16:27.086
I was probably hammered in on the, I don't know, I was probably too rough and there's not enough sprints that we're going to cure everything right.
00:16:27.086 --> 00:16:35.345
And I think the most important thing I've learned along the way is kids change and I have to be willing to adapt to that mindset as well.
00:16:35.345 --> 00:16:43.365
My 9-year-old constantly reminds me of that too, and if I expect them to bend to me to every degree, it's not going to work.
00:16:43.365 --> 00:16:48.687
But what I want them to do is bend for each other, and I think that's the most important thing.
00:16:48.726 --> 00:16:58.062
When I look at continuity in a program year in and year out, the biggest thing that I try to stress is that seniors have to be service-minded leaders.
00:16:58.062 --> 00:17:00.005
That is their job to serve.
00:17:00.005 --> 00:17:03.900
If you want to be seen as a leader, you're serving your teammates.
00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:12.967
We have a rule in my programs that I've been in that the seniors are responsible for picking everything up and putting everything away, and they have the.
00:17:12.967 --> 00:17:14.940
They have the practice plan set up.
00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.483
They have everything put up.
00:17:16.483 --> 00:17:19.398
If there's a ball left out, they're the ones that answer to it.
00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:23.134
And I think I changed that mindset because I was so used to seeing it.
00:17:23.134 --> 00:17:28.582
Well, you're the freshman, you get the balls, you know, or you got to do this, you got to do that.
00:17:28.582 --> 00:17:30.741
And I thought that's not how this works.
00:17:30.741 --> 00:17:35.984
Like a, when you were a freshman, you didn't like you treated like that by senior and B.
00:17:35.984 --> 00:17:37.317
That's not how the real world works.
00:17:37.317 --> 00:17:38.940
Like you better learn to go serve.
00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:46.546
You, better be willing to pick up something for somebody else, and that's what's going to get you noticed and keep you around in whatever profession you're going to be in.
00:17:48.415 --> 00:17:53.142
You know you mentioned, you know early on coaching how you the sprints and different things.
00:17:53.142 --> 00:17:58.527
You know it kind of dulled a memory that I had one year early on when I was coaching.
00:17:58.527 --> 00:18:06.285
We came up as a team but we came up with the idea that for every run we give up.
00:18:06.285 --> 00:18:08.663
That's how many sprints we got to do after a game.
00:18:08.663 --> 00:18:42.135
And the guys just didn't like no player loves after a game to do sprints but it was amazing how motivated they were to not give up runs, especially the pitchers and you know you hate to say you know there's a punishment or however you want to look at it, for giving up runs, but they really took pride in not giving up runs and I think we ended up winning like 24 games that season and you know, know we had a nice season.
00:18:42.135 --> 00:18:49.519
So it's funny because how you can look back on how you used to coach and how you've adapted and changed over the years.
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.786
Do you find yourself in that situation too?
00:18:53.535 --> 00:18:55.743
Oh yeah, all the time I can't.
00:18:55.743 --> 00:19:03.163
My players always tell me oh man, you've gotten so much easier, so much softer, and I like to remind them well, you guys just weren't very talented so I had to be hard.
00:19:03.163 --> 00:19:06.188
Talent, talent solves a lot of problems.
00:19:06.188 --> 00:19:12.309
Um, but at the same time you know one of my former guys I played college with he.
00:19:12.309 --> 00:19:14.576
He led the conference in hitting twice.
00:19:14.576 --> 00:19:20.116
He was my assistant coach this past year and my second year as head coach, and the first time I was head coach.
00:19:20.156 --> 00:19:22.079
He said are you still making guys run the mile?
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.443
I said yeah, timed mile.
00:19:24.443 --> 00:19:26.247
Yeah, stop doing that.
00:19:26.247 --> 00:19:27.670
And I was like why?
00:19:27.670 --> 00:19:30.241
And he's like, where would I have finished in that mile?
00:19:30.241 --> 00:19:30.643
Every year?
00:19:30.643 --> 00:19:31.865
I said dead last.
00:19:31.865 --> 00:19:32.616
I said he goes.
00:19:32.616 --> 00:19:34.442
Did I ever finish last in the conference in hitting?
00:19:34.442 --> 00:19:36.435
No, you finished first.
00:19:36.435 --> 00:19:37.916
Right, yep, he goes.
00:19:37.916 --> 00:19:38.938
Okay, he goes.
00:19:38.938 --> 00:19:43.622
You can run the mile all you want, but look for those guys in the back and hit them three or four holes and see how he turns out.
00:19:43.622 --> 00:19:49.267
But I learned that you learn something each year and some years are.
00:19:49.267 --> 00:19:55.030
This was year one in a program for me and so did the seniors knock it out of the park with their service?
00:19:55.030 --> 00:19:55.791
Absolutely not.
00:19:55.791 --> 00:20:05.435
Did they do the best they could?
00:20:05.435 --> 00:20:12.596
Yes, is it a yes, um, and so I think, more than anything, over the years I've learned patience, um, and maybe, maybe, some grace, uh, whereas before I might not have had as much.
00:20:13.576 --> 00:20:28.765
So it's just a year-to-year thing well, what is something you believe in about coaching or player development that maybe most coaches might not agree with you on, or at least you know they might see it differently?
00:20:32.176 --> 00:20:32.357
Boy?
00:20:32.357 --> 00:20:33.382
That's a great question.
00:20:33.382 --> 00:20:35.623
I believe in having hard conversations.
00:20:35.623 --> 00:20:38.041
I really believe in those.
00:20:38.041 --> 00:20:45.262
I believe in absolute honesty between players and coaches and this might be a little controversial.
00:20:45.414 --> 00:20:47.442
I have no problem having those conversations with parents.
00:20:47.442 --> 00:20:52.298
You know, first and foremost, I tell parents I'm a parent, hey, I want to.
00:20:52.298 --> 00:20:55.682
I'm going to protect your kids, even from you sometimes.
00:20:55.682 --> 00:20:57.080
That's number one for me.
00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:58.400
I'm going to see them every day.
00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.839
We're going to go to work every day together.
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.943
I'm going to love them.
00:21:00.943 --> 00:21:05.878
So they're my first priority.
00:21:05.878 --> 00:21:08.030
And I said we're going to learn to have hard conversations because that's what life's going to be about.
00:21:08.050 --> 00:21:10.138
And, let's face it, it's about one thing playing time.
00:21:10.138 --> 00:21:12.424
Right, I don't beat around that bush either.
00:21:12.424 --> 00:21:14.758
I know there's a lot of people say I won't want to talk about playing time.
00:21:14.758 --> 00:21:24.580
I've never had a conversation that wasn't about playing time uh, when it comes to a kid, and so my, I think maybe the biggest thing that takes people back is my willingness to go ahead.
00:21:25.122 --> 00:21:25.944
You want to have a good talk?
00:21:25.944 --> 00:21:27.656
Sure, let's go ahead, let's go sit down.
00:21:27.656 --> 00:21:34.076
You may not like what you have to hear, what I have to say, um, but this is what I believe in.
00:21:34.076 --> 00:21:42.963
I've never sat down once to write a lineup to screw a kid, um, and you and I might sit there and have difference of opinion, but I'm not one of those closed door guys.
00:21:42.963 --> 00:21:44.548
I'm not one of those.
00:21:44.548 --> 00:21:46.201
It's an open door program.
00:21:46.201 --> 00:21:52.704
You're more than welcome to come sit down and have that conversation with me, and we'll see where we are at the end of it and go from there.
00:21:52.704 --> 00:22:07.708
There'll be growth on all sides, because there's a lot of times where I don't know something or maybe I need to just listen, and maybe that's okay too something, or maybe I need to just listen and maybe that's okay too.
00:22:07.768 --> 00:22:13.625
Yes, I always made myself open to parents and you know, I think sometimes it probably drove my wife crazy because I take calls at night or whatever and things like that.
00:22:13.625 --> 00:22:21.641
But I figured it was best to have the conversation rather than letting it just brew.
00:22:21.641 --> 00:22:30.101
And you know, the biggest thing I always did was I was like give it at least 24 hours and maybe when you wake up in the morning you might feel a little differently.
00:22:30.101 --> 00:22:32.063
That's kind of what I would hope for.
00:22:32.063 --> 00:22:39.464
But you got to have those conversations because you know, everybody says parents are crazy.
00:22:39.464 --> 00:22:46.642
But you know, ultimately they they just love and care about their son and they want, they want to see them out there on the field.
00:22:46.642 --> 00:22:57.900
And that's a part of life, because once you get to out of high school and you go into the real world, it's it's mom and dad ain't going to be able to help you with that kind of stuff.
00:22:59.724 --> 00:23:02.422
But no, and I've to help you with that kind of stuff.
00:23:02.422 --> 00:23:14.164
No, and I found that having those conversations with the parents and the players like the more I've done that, the more I felt like I had more conversations with players, because they know and their parents know there's nothing.
00:23:14.164 --> 00:23:18.501
I'm not going to say one thing to one party and say something to the other at all.
00:23:18.501 --> 00:23:26.840
We're going to have the same conversation and I like it sometimes to have them both in there because I don't know which version is going to go home.
00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:29.763
So let's just make sure we clean it up and move from there.
00:23:29.763 --> 00:23:42.027
But I think the more straightforward and honest you be, like you said, the adversity is going to come at some time and you're going to have to hear hard truth and you're going to have to advocate for yourself and sometimes you're going to have to listen to somebody else say that you're not that way.
00:23:42.027 --> 00:23:49.942
Maybe that's the impetus they need to be a better player, better person, better parent, better worker later on, and I think that's important to instill early on.
00:23:51.335 --> 00:24:04.305
Yeah, and I always remind myself that anytime I had a conversation like that, to make sure you had make sure I had another coach with me, you had make sure I had another coach with me.
00:24:04.305 --> 00:24:05.266
And you know I had one coach.
00:24:05.266 --> 00:24:09.528
He always wanted to be there with me and he was a human resources director.
00:24:09.528 --> 00:24:16.557
So this guy was like he had his notepads, he had everything going, which you know.
00:24:16.557 --> 00:24:20.763
I appreciate it, because sometimes you forget what may have been said and you know he seemed like he always had it written down.
00:24:20.763 --> 00:24:21.737
So that's good.
00:24:21.737 --> 00:24:32.125
But when you're a're a coach, you got to really have somebody else in there just to make sure that things don't get twisted or out of hand.
00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:13.775
00:00:13.775 --> 00:00:26.661
00:00:26.661 --> 00:00:30.312
00:00:30.312 --> 00:00:34.124
00:00:34.124 --> 00:00:44.609
00:00:44.609 --> 00:00:50.497
00:00:50.497 --> 00:00:51.981
00:00:52.862 --> 00:00:57.567
00:00:57.567 --> 00:01:11.739
00:01:11.739 --> 00:01:12.944
00:01:12.944 --> 00:01:21.447
00:01:21.447 --> 00:01:23.905
00:01:23.905 --> 00:01:28.748
00:01:28.748 --> 00:01:34.911
00:01:34.911 --> 00:01:39.531
00:01:39.531 --> 00:01:45.245
00:01:45.245 --> 00:01:47.150
00:01:50.521 --> 00:01:57.468
00:01:57.468 --> 00:02:04.447
00:02:04.447 --> 00:02:09.936
00:02:09.936 --> 00:02:17.433
00:02:17.433 --> 00:02:22.550
00:02:22.550 --> 00:02:26.807
00:02:26.807 --> 00:02:31.497
00:02:31.497 --> 00:02:36.328
00:02:36.328 --> 00:02:43.086
00:02:44.889 --> 00:02:46.834
00:02:46.834 --> 00:03:04.252
00:03:04.252 --> 00:03:14.569
00:03:14.569 --> 00:03:15.724
00:03:15.724 --> 00:03:22.008
00:03:22.008 --> 00:03:26.188
00:03:27.060 --> 00:03:33.099
00:03:33.099 --> 00:03:36.330
00:03:38.040 --> 00:03:52.932
00:03:53.901 --> 00:04:02.133
00:04:02.133 --> 00:04:11.246
00:04:11.246 --> 00:04:14.191
00:04:14.191 --> 00:04:36.685
00:04:36.685 --> 00:04:47.091
00:04:47.860 --> 00:04:51.151
00:04:51.151 --> 00:04:52.824
00:04:52.824 --> 00:05:00.706
00:05:00.706 --> 00:05:01.848
00:05:01.848 --> 00:05:04.894
00:05:04.894 --> 00:05:18.112
00:05:19.639 --> 00:05:25.081
00:05:25.081 --> 00:05:29.531
00:05:31.153 --> 00:05:34.170
00:05:34.170 --> 00:05:43.904
00:05:43.904 --> 00:05:47.211
00:05:47.211 --> 00:06:19.947
00:06:21.139 --> 00:06:22.862
00:06:22.862 --> 00:06:23.303
00:06:23.303 --> 00:06:33.850
00:06:33.850 --> 00:06:36.970
00:06:36.970 --> 00:06:43.209
00:06:45.161 --> 00:07:01.908
00:07:04.843 --> 00:07:10.788
00:07:10.788 --> 00:07:15.891
00:07:15.891 --> 00:07:18.980
00:07:18.980 --> 00:07:24.108
00:07:24.108 --> 00:07:37.730
00:07:37.730 --> 00:07:42.485
00:07:42.485 --> 00:07:49.964
00:07:49.964 --> 00:07:57.471
00:07:57.471 --> 00:07:59.117
00:07:59.478 --> 00:08:02.362
00:08:02.362 --> 00:08:04.584
00:08:04.584 --> 00:08:15.132
00:08:15.132 --> 00:08:17.514
00:08:17.514 --> 00:08:19.896
00:08:19.896 --> 00:08:30.576
00:08:30.576 --> 00:08:31.781
00:08:32.524 --> 00:08:35.695
00:08:35.695 --> 00:08:42.852
00:08:42.852 --> 00:08:44.143
00:08:44.143 --> 00:08:45.405
00:08:45.405 --> 00:08:47.210
00:08:47.210 --> 00:08:55.181
00:08:55.181 --> 00:08:59.169
00:09:00.011 --> 00:09:28.206
00:09:28.206 --> 00:09:31.008
00:09:31.008 --> 00:09:36.148
00:09:36.148 --> 00:09:47.919
00:09:47.919 --> 00:10:01.809
00:10:03.581 --> 00:10:05.172
00:10:05.172 --> 00:10:05.715
00:10:05.715 --> 00:10:06.440
00:10:06.440 --> 00:10:07.985
00:10:07.985 --> 00:10:11.450
00:10:11.450 --> 00:10:23.332
00:10:23.332 --> 00:10:33.087
00:10:35.061 --> 00:10:36.364
00:10:36.364 --> 00:10:49.951
00:10:49.951 --> 00:10:57.264
00:10:57.264 --> 00:11:12.365
00:11:12.365 --> 00:11:17.769
00:11:17.769 --> 00:11:26.961
00:11:26.961 --> 00:11:27.602
00:11:27.602 --> 00:11:31.773
00:11:31.793 --> 00:11:38.131
00:11:38.131 --> 00:11:44.993
00:11:44.993 --> 00:11:48.990
00:11:48.990 --> 00:11:51.749
00:11:51.749 --> 00:11:59.470
00:11:59.470 --> 00:12:02.048
00:12:02.048 --> 00:12:10.509
00:12:10.509 --> 00:12:21.967
00:12:23.660 --> 00:12:28.988
00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:33.811
00:12:33.811 --> 00:12:50.490
00:12:50.490 --> 00:12:54.250
00:12:54.250 --> 00:13:00.673
00:13:00.673 --> 00:13:04.490
00:13:04.490 --> 00:13:14.283
00:13:14.283 --> 00:13:20.726
00:13:20.726 --> 00:13:25.750
00:13:25.750 --> 00:13:34.328
00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:42.506
00:13:42.506 --> 00:13:43.361
00:13:43.361 --> 00:13:59.231
00:13:59.231 --> 00:14:06.048
00:14:06.048 --> 00:14:09.474
00:14:09.474 --> 00:14:10.755
00:14:10.755 --> 00:14:12.909
00:14:12.909 --> 00:14:15.380
00:14:15.380 --> 00:14:24.249
00:14:28.647 --> 00:14:30.677
00:14:30.677 --> 00:14:40.688
00:14:43.443 --> 00:14:47.101
00:14:47.101 --> 00:15:09.889
00:15:09.889 --> 00:15:12.369
00:15:12.369 --> 00:15:20.884
00:15:20.903 --> 00:15:22.086
00:15:22.086 --> 00:15:39.518
00:15:39.518 --> 00:15:46.403
00:15:46.504 --> 00:16:04.730
00:16:04.730 --> 00:16:11.240
00:16:13.376 --> 00:16:14.442
00:16:14.442 --> 00:16:20.888
00:16:20.888 --> 00:16:27.086
00:16:27.086 --> 00:16:35.345
00:16:35.345 --> 00:16:43.365
00:16:43.365 --> 00:16:48.687
00:16:48.726 --> 00:16:58.062
00:16:58.062 --> 00:17:00.005
00:17:00.005 --> 00:17:03.900
00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:12.967
00:17:12.967 --> 00:17:14.940
00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.483
00:17:16.483 --> 00:17:19.398
00:17:19.579 --> 00:17:23.134
00:17:23.134 --> 00:17:28.582
00:17:28.582 --> 00:17:30.741
00:17:30.741 --> 00:17:35.984
00:17:35.984 --> 00:17:37.317
00:17:37.317 --> 00:17:38.940
00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:46.546
00:17:48.415 --> 00:17:53.142
00:17:53.142 --> 00:17:58.527
00:17:58.527 --> 00:18:06.285
00:18:06.285 --> 00:18:08.663
00:18:08.663 --> 00:18:42.135
00:18:42.135 --> 00:18:49.519
00:18:49.519 --> 00:18:51.786
00:18:53.535 --> 00:18:55.743
00:18:55.743 --> 00:19:03.163
00:19:03.163 --> 00:19:06.188
00:19:06.188 --> 00:19:12.309
00:19:12.309 --> 00:19:14.576
00:19:14.576 --> 00:19:20.116
00:19:20.156 --> 00:19:22.079
00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:24.443
00:19:24.443 --> 00:19:26.247
00:19:26.247 --> 00:19:27.670
00:19:27.670 --> 00:19:30.241
00:19:30.241 --> 00:19:30.643
00:19:30.643 --> 00:19:31.865
00:19:31.865 --> 00:19:32.616
00:19:32.616 --> 00:19:34.442
00:19:34.442 --> 00:19:36.435
00:19:36.435 --> 00:19:37.916
00:19:37.916 --> 00:19:38.938
00:19:38.938 --> 00:19:43.622
00:19:43.622 --> 00:19:49.267
00:19:49.267 --> 00:19:55.030
00:19:55.030 --> 00:19:55.791
00:19:55.791 --> 00:20:05.435
00:20:05.435 --> 00:20:12.596
00:20:13.576 --> 00:20:28.765
00:20:32.176 --> 00:20:32.357
00:20:32.357 --> 00:20:33.382
00:20:33.382 --> 00:20:35.623
00:20:35.623 --> 00:20:38.041
00:20:38.041 --> 00:20:45.262
00:20:45.414 --> 00:20:47.442
00:20:47.442 --> 00:20:52.298
00:20:52.298 --> 00:20:55.682
00:20:55.682 --> 00:20:57.080
00:20:57.080 --> 00:20:58.400
00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:59.839
00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.943
00:21:00.943 --> 00:21:05.878
00:21:05.878 --> 00:21:08.030
00:21:08.050 --> 00:21:10.138
00:21:10.138 --> 00:21:12.424
00:21:12.424 --> 00:21:14.758
00:21:14.758 --> 00:21:24.580
00:21:25.122 --> 00:21:25.944
00:21:25.944 --> 00:21:27.656
00:21:27.656 --> 00:21:34.076
00:21:34.076 --> 00:21:42.963
00:21:42.963 --> 00:21:44.548
00:21:44.548 --> 00:21:46.201
00:21:46.201 --> 00:21:52.704
00:21:52.704 --> 00:22:07.708
00:22:07.768 --> 00:22:13.625
00:22:13.625 --> 00:22:21.641
00:22:21.641 --> 00:22:30.101
00:22:30.101 --> 00:22:32.063
00:22:32.063 --> 00:22:39.464
00:22:39.464 --> 00:22:46.642
00:22:46.642 --> 00:22:57.900
00:22:59.724 --> 00:23:02.422
00:23:02.422 --> 00:23:14.164
00:23:14.164 --> 00:23:18.501
00:23:18.501 --> 00:23:26.840
00:23:26.840 --> 00:23:29.763
00:23:29.763 --> 00:23:42.027
00:23:42.027 --> 00:23:49.942
00:23:51.335 --> 00:24:04.305
00:24:04.305 --> 00:24:05.266
00:24:05.266 --> 00:24:09.528
00:24:09.528 --> 00:24:16.557
00:24:16.557 --> 00:24:20.763
00:24:20.763 --> 00:24:21.737
00:24:21.737 --> 00:24:32.125