I just found out that my son was was coached by, and played on coach Jay Thompson's (Harrisburg HS) team at the U of I High School prospect camp. We received a nice letter from him today about our son. I would like to thank him for his kind words, but I'd rather do it via email. Does anyone have coach Jay Thompson's email address and would be willing to PM me with it. Thanks, Tuzi.
pm Tuzi.
We were at the U of Illinois Advanced Camp this Summer and Coach Thompson was coach of my son's "team" while there. My son rates him as 1st tier and from what I observered during the championship game my son underated him. Quite a person and coach.
just being curious
what did you guys base this off of?
what did you guys base this off of?
Carl Hunckler has done more with little talent than anyone in the state----only a few all-stater's and consistent 20 win seasons. Give credit where it is due-this guy gets the best out off the talent that comes in the building. Is there a more competitive conference than the DVC? If he had stayed at Catholic he might have 500 wins.
I thought " IT " was Dann Giesey of Johnsburg if you have seen their website. He takes credit for developing everyone from Autin Wright to the Rown kid from Nequa. If you haven't seen " IT "...take a look and get an aneurysm.
quote:Originally posted by GBsouth12:
This is a tough topic and will no doubt generate a lot of great discussion. I would like to take the time to say that I think my former high school coach at Glenbrook South Dave Lindley (pre-GBS he was head coach at Hinsdale South) is one of the best coaches in the state.
I realize this was posted quite a while ago and he has since retired, but I played for Lindley at Hinsdale South and I couldn't agree more. I feel that playing for him and Paul Hoel not only made me a better player, but has made me a much better coach than I would have been.
Roy I hate to get into this discussion but Austin did play for Dann Geisey. As far as the websites I think if you go on many of them it seems that most take credit for players that have not played for them or played very little and never really practiced or developed them. I am not saying all the players but some of them. That being said I think most players are developed by a variety of coaches, including high school coaches, travel coaches (sometime a variety of travel coaches), private pitching, hitting and fielding coaches, speed coaches strenght training coaches ect. Sometime even a few dads and since you mention Austin trust me his dad has worked with him plenty. As far as knocking Dann or any other coach on this site I hate to see that but it seems like all of them get knocked at some point on this website or other places, just ask sparky, tt, dann or any of the rest of them. It doesn't seem to bother them though as they seem to be in it for the right reason. I myself find it hard to criticize anyone that is willing to put in as much time as most of these coaches do with so may young men. Does that mean I agree with every coaching decision, of course not, but at the same time I appreciate the time and effort it takes to coach high school, travel or college athletes. JMO
I've seen "it"
I don't like to brag, but thinking about some of my coaching moves I think I belong on the list.
For instance in The AAA Minors, there was the time when we were in the bottom of the last inning all tied up. For the last 3 innings little Bobby Smith was bugging me to let him go to the bathroom, but I kept on telling him to wait until the game was over. He was sitting there squeezing his legs together and holding it in any way he could. Then with two out our catcher Chucky hit a ball to the wall in right center but only got as far as second due to his lack of speed. Well I knew we had to score on a base hit, so I put in the kid who had to go to the bathroom to pinch run. I knew once he started to go he wasn't going to stop and sure enough the next kid lined a single to center and little Bobby Smith beat the throw by a step and kept right on going to the bathroom.
I'll bet none of these other coaches who have "it" would have pulled that one off. A great coach needs to know his talent and how to use it.
For instance in The AAA Minors, there was the time when we were in the bottom of the last inning all tied up. For the last 3 innings little Bobby Smith was bugging me to let him go to the bathroom, but I kept on telling him to wait until the game was over. He was sitting there squeezing his legs together and holding it in any way he could. Then with two out our catcher Chucky hit a ball to the wall in right center but only got as far as second due to his lack of speed. Well I knew we had to score on a base hit, so I put in the kid who had to go to the bathroom to pinch run. I knew once he started to go he wasn't going to stop and sure enough the next kid lined a single to center and little Bobby Smith beat the throw by a step and kept right on going to the bathroom.
I'll bet none of these other coaches who have "it" would have pulled that one off. A great coach needs to know his talent and how to use it.
The Rambler
You got to know when to hold it, know when to flow it,
Know when to walk that way and know when to run.
You never score your runs when you're sittin' on the bench.
There'll be time enough for countin' when the whizzin's done.
Special thanks to Kenny Rogers.
.
Carl- I agree you have done a nice job at North. I however think you have had a little more than a little talent over the years.
So, let me get this straight. You cannot say anything negative about PBR on this website, but for the cost of two PBR showcases, Dann Giesey will let you play on his team all summer (approx 8 showcases). He will instruct your son for four months, three nights a week during the winter. During this time, he will make countless phone calls to universities on your son's behalf. Also, your son will have unlimited access to the Hurricanes facility during the off-season. However, it is okay to rip on Dann Giesey because he is not affiliated with PBR. I just want to make sure that I am clear on the rules.
RRF8
Of course there are no rules, except:
You can't rip HS Coaches because other HS Coaches will remind you that all HS Coaches are great. Dann Giesey may be excused from this rule because he also coaches a summer team.
As far as The PBR goes, they have been and will be open for criticism and of course some will stand up for them for various reasons.
I think that the more people know who others posting here are and where they, their interests and their loyalities lie, the more you understand why they are critical. Sparky makes it easy because he puts it right in his name. Others may not be so easy to see.
So, RRF8, as far as I'm concerned, say what you like.
Of course there are no rules, except:
You can't rip HS Coaches because other HS Coaches will remind you that all HS Coaches are great. Dann Giesey may be excused from this rule because he also coaches a summer team.
As far as The PBR goes, they have been and will be open for criticism and of course some will stand up for them for various reasons.
I think that the more people know who others posting here are and where they, their interests and their loyalities lie, the more you understand why they are critical. Sparky makes it easy because he puts it right in his name. Others may not be so easy to see.
So, RRF8, as far as I'm concerned, say what you like.
RRF8, FBD where are you going with this?
It just seems certain organizations are subject to commentary while other are off limits on this website.
Playball2....
Going nowhere with this. Just supporting RRF8 in his questioning of why it may seem to some that there are sacred cows here. Not agreeing or disagreeing with anything in particular.
Going nowhere with this. Just supporting RRF8 in his questioning of why it may seem to some that there are sacred cows here. Not agreeing or disagreeing with anything in particular.
quote:Originally posted by RRF8:
It just seems certain organizations are subject to commentary while other are off limits on this website.
To be blunt, the moderators of this forum do their best to have the membership follow the rules posted on this site for participation. Speaking for myself, I don't know anyone involved but do know when things get out of hand. RRF8, please let me give you one excellent piece of advice. If you intend to be critical of what happens on this site, don't post and don't read. That's about as clear as it can be put. I don't have any agenda, don't know any "teams" posted about, have talked and communicated with Sean Duncan a couple of times, and so, take that for what it is worth.
Per the comments on Coach Giesey, it seems as if his website was referenced. Therefore, any suggestion made was referenced back to what he put on that website. Other comments are valid with regards to player development. Yes, some HS coaches take a lot of credit for developing talents. The same can be said for summer team coaches of various levels. The truth is somewhere in between.
So, again, you are not allowed to question anything or strive to improve this website because you enjoy many other aspects of it. It's either like it or get off of it.
quote:Originally posted by RRF8:
So, again, you are not allowed to question anything or strive to improve this website because you enjoy many other aspects of it. It's either like it or get off of it.
I didn't see nor regard any comments you made as an attempt at improving this website. Per this website, with all of the apparent hostility among the various travel teams, those agendas don't add to the quality of this team when they are aired. In that regard, there are all kinds of sites that allow for that. Not here. I'll go back and re read your comments to see the suggestions you proposed that were "improvements."
If you re-read my comment, I said that I am not allowed to question anything or try to improve the website. In this particular instance, I was questioning why it was okay for a contributer to ridicule a certain travel team coach and everyone was fine with it. I went on to point out his positive contributions. Shame on me. I questioned the process of how a baseball publication rates it's players and I was scolded right and left with a "how dare you?!" tone from long time members. Never have I critiqued another travel team on this website. If, for no other reason, I am not knowledgeable enough on the topic to do so. We have been loyal to the same organization for several years and I would not be qualified to comment on others.
I am hoping I can shed a light on this whole best coaches issue. Whether it be at the High School, Travel or Collegiate levels let's be very clear about one thing "Players develop themselves, not coaches." Coaches(at any level)are carriers of information and provide an instructional setting for their development, but it is the players willingness to adapt to that instruction that allows for development. Any setting that allows a player to hit and throw 3 times per week in the high school off-season and plays in a tournament style format (meaningful games)from June through October should and is expected to develop. I for one have been the beneficiary of a player who has had an extensive travel ball experience. As a high school coach I recognize that the IHSA limits my instructional contact with players in the off-season to practically nothing. As a coach, if I could provide an instructional environment for my players 3-4 times per week within the school or keep the cost down to a minimum at an outside facility, I would. However, the reality is that I can not. So I would encourage any player who has the skill coupled with the drive and will to excel to take full advantage of the opportunity that presents itself. However, I am also not looking for credit in a players development either. Again, players develop themselves, coaches provide the opportunities and setting for change and growth. I think the references to "IT" speaks for itself, "IT" is nothing more than an opportunity, taking advantage of "IT" speaks highly about the players and coaches who have committed their time and efforts.
playball2
It's hard to disagree with anything you wrote. The difference between having "it" or not having "it" is the same whether you are talking about a teacher, a supervisor, a principal or any kind of mentor. Some have the knowledge, passion, pride and ability in their profession that puts them on the having "it" list. Those who have none or few of these qualities are not on that list.
Unfortunately coaching like any other job, has a fair number involved who just don't give a ****. Thank God for those who do and more. From what I have heard you (even though you probably don't care) have "it."
It's hard to disagree with anything you wrote. The difference between having "it" or not having "it" is the same whether you are talking about a teacher, a supervisor, a principal or any kind of mentor. Some have the knowledge, passion, pride and ability in their profession that puts them on the having "it" list. Those who have none or few of these qualities are not on that list.
Unfortunately coaching like any other job, has a fair number involved who just don't give a ****. Thank God for those who do and more. From what I have heard you (even though you probably don't care) have "it."
Playball 2-
Well said.
It’s not my job as a parent to tell you/coach what to do – you are the coach. I’ve coached before & I
understand how it works. It is your decision.
Dating back to my college days, and a major pet pieve of mine is that if a coach is going to teach everyone to do the same thing, you are not
coaching. You are now just finding kids who can “fit” your system. If that is the goal of a program it probably is wrong IMO, however, I have to accept that and deal with it.
However, my kid is still my most precious asset I hold on to in life & I owe it to him to put him in a position to succeed in life. That is why there has got to be some kind of balance between the travel baseball people and the high school guys. You are limited in what you can do. My oldest pitched 40+ innings of travel in '06 and I seriously doubt he would be where he is today if he had not had that experience. Your former OF can probably say the same thing.
It has to be a balance between kid & team. Sounds like that is what you are saying and I commend you for that. If there is not a balance then it is not fair to the kid, and it now becomes “something else.”
Good luck this spring, except next week at our place!
Well said.
It’s not my job as a parent to tell you/coach what to do – you are the coach. I’ve coached before & I
understand how it works. It is your decision.
Dating back to my college days, and a major pet pieve of mine is that if a coach is going to teach everyone to do the same thing, you are not
coaching. You are now just finding kids who can “fit” your system. If that is the goal of a program it probably is wrong IMO, however, I have to accept that and deal with it.
However, my kid is still my most precious asset I hold on to in life & I owe it to him to put him in a position to succeed in life. That is why there has got to be some kind of balance between the travel baseball people and the high school guys. You are limited in what you can do. My oldest pitched 40+ innings of travel in '06 and I seriously doubt he would be where he is today if he had not had that experience. Your former OF can probably say the same thing.
It has to be a balance between kid & team. Sounds like that is what you are saying and I commend you for that. If there is not a balance then it is not fair to the kid, and it now becomes “something else.”
Good luck this spring, except next week at our place!
It was nice to see the ESCC represented in your ranking. Bonebrake and Voss are two very good coaches. I think you left off one very prominent escc coach. It would be easy for me to give you his name but I want to see if you really know your stuff. Check the ESCC website and you will find out that this coach has won the most conference championships sicne 1991. Not to mention he is in the IHSBCA hall of fame and will top the 500 win mark this season. Time to do your homework!
Playball, while I agree in premise, I don't agree totally. For some, kids have that talent inside and never believe in themselves until someone helps them discover "it." That someone typically is a coach. Some players have "it" and yet are their own worst enemy. I recently received an email from a young man that had "it" and yet, he's in a world of trouble now. Having "it" was as much a curse as a blessing and so, when the various coaches in his life were removed, he went to others who simply didn't care about the person. He was just another piece of meat and so, having "it" and not having direction is his downfall. Personally, baseball has been very important in my life. I never had "it." But I did have the drive. My coach recognized that way back and so, I was able to fool enough that I had "it" to enable me to get an education. We all know that great players make good coaches in a lot of situations. However, I'd never diminish the role of the coach. I've seen some pretty special coaches out there with "it."
quote:Again, players develop themselves, coaches provide the opportunities and setting for change and growth. I think the references to "IT" speaks for itself, "IT" is nothing more than an opportunity, taking advantage of "IT" speaks highly about the players and coaches who have committed their time and efforts.
Coach B not sure how your saying is any different, I don't believe I diminished the role of the coach at all, if anything I elevated "it".
Thanks for putting this together it was fun to look at. This list shows that the state of Illinois is in great hands. You can make a strong case for so many coaches. I have a few more that do a great job, Lee Milano (Nazareth), Paul Belo (palatine)Don Sutherland (Cary Grove). Sometimes winning and losing is out of a coaches control so you have to judge some coaches by how their teams approach the game. There are some great coaches on teams that you will never see ranked.
quote:Originally posted by talent4thegame:
BEST COACHES In the state
1. Bob Simmonds Triton
2. Jim Hall LockPort hs.
3. Tom Doyle Prarie Gravel
4. Gary Johnson BLAZE.
5. Frank Ganser Andrew
6. Joe Roderhero Providence
7. Rich Peldis Norwood
8. Bill O'Brien Lombard Lightning
9. Jeff Bonebrake Benet
10. Jim Fornacari Glenbard West
11. Tony DelGado St.Francis
12. ED Mathey NIU
13. DEE UIC
14. Chris Ledbetter Oak Park
15. Napoleon New Trier
16. Jack Perconte Express
17. Jared Voss Jca
18. Davenport Kiswaukee
19. Stevens Nothwestern
20. Ithcy Jones Illinois
quote:Originally posted by Playball2:quote:Again, players develop themselves, coaches provide the opportunities and setting for change and growth. I think the references to "IT" speaks for itself, "IT" is nothing more than an opportunity, taking advantage of "IT" speaks highly about the players and coaches who have committed their time and efforts.
Coach B not sure how your saying is any different, I don't believe I diminished the role of the coach at all, if anything I elevated "it".
No we agree! I could have worded that sentence better. I apologize!