27 replies to this topic

[white_shadow]

"My opinion of some of them vary slightly"... For the sake of discussion and not looking to rip on anybody -what is your opinion ? It's probably just as good or better than mine.

I certainly wouldn't rip on any of them as I think all of them are pretty good baseball coaches. Some of them came into pretty good situations and have brought more success with them. The question I would like to see is which of those in Procells initial list would you hire at a school that has very little baseball tradition and their program is at or near rock bottom. Let's use Spencerville as an example.......who from this group could turn that mess around in 5 years or less? Certainly Held would be at the top of my list just because of his ability to develop pitchers. After that, I don't know. Lou in his prime would probably get the job done. I think Spencer would maybe get it done. Kids would love to play for Thompson. Brandt, I'm not sold on yet. Has done a good job but I need to see a few more years before I'm convinced. Jimmy Morris has proved he can turn around a God-awful program but I'm not sure he can sustain it and even though they are at least competitive, they won't win consistently anytime soon. Not a huge Dorner fan but hard to argue with some of his success. Harlamert does well at Coldwater but kids in that town come out of the womb playing baseball so it would be hard not to do well there. Dues has a good program at V-B but not sure how they were before he got there. Don't know alot about the PCL coaches but probably wouldn't choose any of them over most that I listed above.

[Rooney]

Great observations. As I read your response I had never given thought to who could turn around a program like you mentioned. Excellent subject for a brief discussion. As you stated earlier I too, would have a slightly different view. But as a whole I agree with much of what you said.
My argument for getting one of the good "younger" coaches' would be their enthusiasm and in my opinion if say Spencerville could hire someone like Spencer from Shawnee or Harrlement they would get a "honeymoon" of sorts from the public - kind of a wait and see attitude - and this would allow them a little time to work their system into place.
The disadvantage of hiring someone like Held, Wharton, McBride, Morris or Dorner is that because of their experience and success they don't get the free pass / wait and see attitude the younger established coaches' would get. It would be expected of them to produce immediately or at least show great improvement.
I still think the topic of assistant coaches and their influence for a programs success is largely ignored. Like Dad used to say" behind every good man is a better woman" would be an excellent analogy of any long - standing successful baseball program. Maybe this would be a time to acknowledge their contributions. I would imagine many of these coaches' that have been discussed feel a little like I do and know that they alone are not the reason for success..but as a whole only the head coach gets the accolades and maybe rightfully so ...it's their reputation on the line not the assistants in the program.

[countywidehasbeen]

I been looking at this thread for several days….wanting to respond, but waiting to the point that I could/would word things the way I exactly feel.
All of the names mentioned above are great coaches! They all win a lot of games (or did, if they have retired). They all send a lot of kids to the college ranks. And, I also never see anything negative in the newspapers about them. So, let me repeat myself; I think all of the above coaches are great coaches!

But here is where I’m going to veer off in another direction…….as a dad. I realize that my son is not a “shoe-in” to play college baseball…..regardless of what school/coach he plays for. A small percentage of area players go onto play college ball, and then many of those do not play all 4 years…….for various/whatever reasons.

So, if I was get to pick a coach to send my kid to….it would be a coach that teaches his players how to play the game right! How to play hard! How to represent himself and his school! Because, someday my kid will be teaching/coaching my grandson how to play the game.

My perfect coach would be a cross between Held (Defiance), McBride (Kalida), Swick (Ft Jennings), Thompson (Elida), and the guy that coaches or used to coach at Lima Temple Christian.

My reasons why: Obviously Held, because he has a proven track record of developing good ball players. He seems to always have fundamentally sound teams. McBride, because as a small school……Kalida always has great numbers! They always have a JV roster, and always have a huge ACME program. He seems to keep the Kalida kids interested. Swick, because of something we don’t see from the outside looking in. The kids love to play for him. I heard that many times in years past the kids get quite emotional at season’s end. Thompson, because he is such a super nice guy. I have talked with him several times and he seems like a very genuine person. And finally, the coach at Temple….because, he never has numbers, always battles uphill, but kept a chugging thru it all.
I think if I could mold a coach for my kid, he would have a little of each of these coaches.

You don’t have to agree with me. This is just my opinion.

[Procell]

I think that is pretty much the sentiment here as well...a mixture of all the above would be great...
Not always looking to send a kid to college...or the pros...looking to develop good young men that will walk away being able to say that they learned some life lessons from some guys who were "called" to be involved in their lives at the time.

I agree with you...you didn't veer off in another direction at all...just jumpin on the bus!!! LOL

[momof31]

As a mom of a Spencerville player...we hoped to get someone half as amazing as some of the men mentioned! I also want someone dedicated to the program and who will stay! LOL Not to mention someone who can help develop pitching and hitting! (Not asking for much, am I??) I also just want someone to BELIEVE in my kid. He has had enough of a mental block on himself the last couple of years. He needs someone encouraging and instructional.

I hope in 2 years I can come back and brag about the man who coached the last half of my son's high school career! We'll see!!

[white_shadow]

As a mom of a Spencerville player...we hoped to get someone half as amazing as some of the men mentioned! I also want someone dedicated to the program and who will stay! LOL Not to mention someone who can help develop pitching and hitting! (Not asking for much, am I??) I also just want someone to BELIEVE in my kid. He has had enough of a mental block on himself the last couple of years. He needs someone encouraging and instructional.

I hope in 2 years I can come back and brag about the man who coached the last half of my son's high school career! We'll see!!

How many coaches have they had since 2000? Why have they left? Any success out of any of them? I know they haven't had recent success but don't know much about the program.

[Pitching101]

momof31, I applied for the job and had heard that I was the frontrunner for the position but then just got an email the other day saying they hired someone else. I was really looking forward to turning that program around and had hoped that I could start something new. Unfortunately that's not the case this year.

However, I would love to work with any young athletes that might be interested. I coached high school baseball for 3 seasons here locally and also had numerous college offers coming out of high school. If interested you can reply back to this with email address or any other way to contact you and I'd be glad to help.

[momof31]

momof31, I applied for the job and had heard that I was the frontrunner for the position but then just got an email the other day saying they hired someone else. I was really looking forward to turning that program around and had hoped that I could start something new. Unfortunately that's not the case this year.

However, I would love to work with any young athletes that might be interested. I coached high school baseball for 3 seasons here locally and also had numerous college offers coming out of high school. If interested you can reply back to this with email address or any other way to contact you and I'd be glad to help.

Hmm...Pitching101, I am wondering who you are? I'd heard several applicants, but you don't fit as any of them.

I'm pretty easy to find (the number is a football #). My kid is excited for any changes. He loves the game, but we really hope someone works on his hitting and maybe help develop some pitching. (He pitched casually in fall ball, but he hasn't really been taught!) I'm sorry you didn't get the job, but hope some opportunities come along.