JUCO Coach Resignation

My son's JUCO coach resigned right after his freshman season.  Within a few days he had a bunch of D1 offers from coaches who said they would not have touched him if the coach had stayed, but once there was no coach it was öpen season".  He accepted one of the offers by Memorial Day so the new coach coming in knew he was gone.  For us it was a blessing, for others it could be the opposite.

Assumption is they would give current freshman on scholarship opportunities and a similar offer.  Seems like if overly drastic changes were made it could scare some folks off.

This very thing happened when my son was a freshman at a JuCo.  Coach was asked to leave after son's freshman season concluded.  Since son hadn't had any interest from other schools he had no choice but to stay.  Fortunately, my son was able to earn a spot as a starter and had a really good year. He received a nice D2 offer at the end of his sophomore year.

I would panic a little bit. Coaches are human and they want to bring in their guys. I have seen it at a few levels but it isn't always the case. If your kid is a big time player he probably won't be affected but if he is a borderline starter it may be time to go to a team that wants him.

I don't think I would panic.  Be concerned?  Yes.

At my son's JuCo, the administration didn't have a replacement until mid-July.  With students reporting to campus in 30 days, he really didn't have time to scout and sign players.  He had to deal with buying/renting a home, arrange movers, etc - no way he had time to scout and sign any players.    He had been an assistant coach at a D1 university that was out of the area.  The incoming coach had to work with the returning players and one's that had already committed to the school.  The next year he was able to recruit "his" players.

Happened to my son a year ago, but we were very fortunate.

Last season, his coach got suspended about mid way through the season, then let go after the year was over.  There was concern over who would take over.  My son had zero interest from other schools at the time so he was basically stuck there or go to a different JUCO.

Things worked out for the best,  The assistant coach, who recruited him, took over and this season went on without a problem.  

I wouldnt think there would be reason for concern.  I would think the new coach would have to go with the sophomores next year,

Was just apprised by mom that junior told her they were told that scholarships would be honored...good news. Still many questions if we are truly back but still positive news.

Correct.   The NLI is with the school, not the coach.

Good coach, grateful for what he has seen in my son...wish him the best.

When the 2015-16 baseball season begins in August, the North Central Texas College Lions will have a new head coach at the helm for only the third time in program history.

Scott Harp announced he is stepping down as NCTC head baseball coach after his team's doubleheader sweep of Vernon College on May 2. Harp has been the head coach at NCTC for 11 years and has spent 17 years total coaching at the school. He served as assistant coach under Kevin Darwin from 1998 to 2004 before taking over the program for the 2004-05 season.

"I have been blessed to be here for 17 years," Harp said. "It's been an amazing run but it's time for a new adventure. Basically, 17 years is a long time. I'm still young and I just felt it was time to move in a different direction, pull back the reins and switch gears and see what's going to happen. I've always missed being in the classroom. Plus I get to spend some more time with my family. You give up a lot of weekends when you are coaching at a community college. I think my wife felt like a single mother for a lot of these spring seasons."

Harp's wife, Amy, is a department chairperson at Lewisville High School. The couple has two sons, Hank (10) and Ty (5).

In his 11 years as head coach, the Lions accumulated 323 wins and finished in the top four at the NJCAA Region V tournament twice including a runner-up finish in 2007.

Thinking back over 17 years as a coach at NCTC, Harp says he has a lot of great memories.

"No doubt, going to the JUCO World Series (in 2001) with Kevin Darwin was amazing," he said. "I think of a lot of other individual memories of seeing young men come in who really don't know a lot about college baseball or doing a lot of things as it relates to growing up, then seeing them two years later go on to a four-year school and have success both on and off the field. That's really what the true blessing comes from. Taking young men and seeing them grow up. Honestly the best memories come when they call you when they are 27 and married with kids. That's the stuff that is really special."

Harp made the decision a couple of weeks ago, but did not tell his players until after the final out of their final game of the season. He says it was emotional for him to break the news to his guys.

"It was tough to walk out to the outfield for the last time to speak to the team," he said. "I got very emotional. There is no doubt. It just hits you; 17 years rolled into one moment and you look up and say 'wow I can't believe it's been 17 years.' Some amazing memories kind of just hit me at once. They were shocked, but I was glad because they could tell that I had passion up to the day of the last game. I tried to always coach with passion, energy and excitement."

Harp, who also teaches history at NCTC and will continue to do so, credits his co-workers, especially Presidents and Athletic Directors he has worked for over the years, for his long tenure at the college.

"I couldn't have stayed here for 17 years if it wasn't for the great administration we've had with Dr. (Eddie) Hadlock and now Dr. (Brent) Wallace," Harp said. "Also being under Van Hedrick as athletic director for all these years. Without the support of the administration, especially at the community college level, there is no way somebody stays for that many years."

Under Harp, 90 NCTC players have gone on to play at four-year universities. Seven former Lions have made it to the Major Leagues. But Harp is most proud of the success his players have enjoyed in the classroom.

"Since 2006, we have had at least one Academic All-American every year," he said. "I feel as a head coach, you want to not only grow them on the field, but off the field. Doing well academically sets them up for whatever they are going to do for the rest of their life. When it's all said and done, only a very few are blessed enough to play baseball and be set for the rest of their life financially. Education is always the equalizer that allows guys to break through ceilings and open doors for them in the future."

NCTC will immediately begin the search for a new head baseball coach