Big week for juco coaches.
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Son's team played against those two 12 times over the last two years. Great programs and great coaches. Both will do well.
Yeah, this hits home. For one, IWCC is 10 minutes across the river from Omaha. My son has lots of buddies who are there or heading there this fall. Always scary to play for a coach who didn't recruit you.
That is very good to see.
I don’t know what the percentage of D1 teams that Iowa Western would have been able to beat over recent years would be, but it’s gotta be a lot of them!
The players were told that Western Kentucky contacted him for the first time on Saturday, that it was an offer too good to pass up and that everything happened in a 24-hour period. Said they "aggressively pursued" him. That may be the case, but Pawlowski resigned a month ago, so I am not sure he was their first choice. Or 2nd or 3rd. Not saying it was a bad hire. But given his 20-year mega success at IWCC, I have to think D1's have previously come calling plenty of times, so I am wondering why leave now?
The Mitch Thompson hire at Baylor had to be one of the most popular I can ever remember. Just go on Twitter and look at the comments and endorsements. It’s unreal. Mitch took over a pretty good program at McLennan something like 17 years ago after being an Asst Coach at Baylor and being passed up when Steve Smith retired. All he did was turn McLennan into one of the very best JuCo programs in America, culminating with a National Championship in 2021 - with one of the best JuCo teams I have ever seen. Going back to Baylor is a homecoming for Mitch and is being appropriately treated as such. Mitch is a players coach, is immensely popular, and is a tremendous recruiter. I talked to him for 30 minutes in the stands last summer in Grand Junction and he was wondering if he would ever get a D1 HC opportunity. And now he has it. Mitch is one of the good guys and I couldn’t be happier for him. Baylor got this one right!
JuCo coaches are under-rated. If you are a player that isn’t fully developed, you are likely to get more individual coaching, teaching, and instruction if you pick the RIGHT JuCo than you are anywhere else you could go.
@adbono posted:Mitch took over a pretty good program at McLennan something like 17 years ago after being an Asst Coach at Baylor and being passed up when Steve Smith retired.
Pretty sure 2013 was Mitch's first year - He didn't return my call until Trev had committed to Hill, and then proceeded to tell me why his first year program was going to be way better. Truth hurts, but it all worked out... Since I'm tossing out photos today, here's one of Coach Thompson giving it to a blue! Good Luck Coach, I guess I'll have to cut Baylor Baseball some slack now too!
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@JucoDad posted:Pretty sure 2013 was Mitch's first year - He didn't return my call until Trev had committed to Hill, and then proceeded to tell me why his first year program was going to be way better. Truth hurts, but it all worked out... Since I'm tossing out photos today, here's one of Coach Thompson giving it to a blue! Good Luck Coach, I guess I'll have to cut Baylor Baseball some slack now too!
You are correct on the year. I mistyped but was too lazy to go back and fix it.
@adbono posted:JuCo coaches are under-rated. If you are a player that isn’t fully developed, you are likely to get more individual coaching, teaching, and instruction if you pick the RIGHT JuCo than you are anywhere else you could go.
D1 baseball programs that can afford it are now following football programs by hiring player developmental guys. 1 for hitting, 1 for pitching. This gives the assistants more time to spend on the road recruiting.
I think that this is going to help bring in more true freshman to programs instead of relying on the portal. This should be a priority instead of throwing millions of dollar to players who even aren't on campus yet.
JMO
@TPM posted:D1 baseball programs that can afford it are now following football programs by hiring player developmental guys. 1 for hitting, 1 for pitching. This gives the assistants more time to spend on the road recruiting.
I think that this is going to help bring in more true freshman to programs instead of relying on the portal. This should be a priority instead of throwing millions of dollar to players who even aren't on campus yet.
JMO
Bringing on additional staff to develop young players would be a logical solution to the problem. And I applaud any program that will do that.
I just don’t see it happening except in rare occasions. Most schools aren’t going to increase their operational expenses if they don’t have to. Especially when they can reduce travel expenses by recruiting from video of proven players.
Adbono
question, why have the qualified JC Coaches not entered the rank of Division one? Mitch Assisted in our Area Code tryouts at Baylor. He was a true Professional.
He appreciated my need for “time management”
Bob
@adbono posted:Bringing on additional staff to develop young players would be a logical solution to the problem. And I applaud any program that will do that.
I just don’t see it happening except in rare occasions. Most schools aren’t going to increase their operational expenses if they don’t have to. Especially when they can reduce travel expenses by recruiting from video of proven players.
I guess you never noticed Texas A&M has one, Chuck Box. His title is Director of Player and Program Development.
@TPM posted:I guess you never noticed Texas A&M has one, Chuck Box. His title is Director of Player and Program Development.
Yes Barb, I’m aware that Chuck Box is on staff at Texas A&M. And I’m also aware of his title. In fact I have met him and talked with him about his role. I have met the entire coaching staff at A&M and talked with all of them about a lot of things. You want to take a guess what the A&M staff is doing this week? They are conducting exit interviews that have been described to me as a bloodbath. Many young players are getting their walking papers. They aren’t being retained to be developed. And they will be replaced by more experienced players from the transfer portal and from the JuCo ranks. This is what is happening. And it isn’t isolated to a few schools. I was on the field with coaches from more than 50 different schools at the Area Code tryouts last week. They were all saying the same thing. Transfer portal and JuCo transfers. Top D1 schools don’t want to develop freshmen. Because they don’t have to. I know this because countless coaches have told me this. You can continue to make your petty comments if that’s what you need to do. It has no effect on me. It just makes you look foolish.
@TPM posted:@JucoDad how is your son! Now that college baseball is over back to MLB.
He's doing well at the at the moment after a rough patch. He's blessed for the opportunity to learn and progress at this level - but it's hard on the old man...
I've said this before, most all who've played dream about reaching the MLB - and I couldn't be more proud of the work Trev does to compete and the man he has become through the process. However, having a catch with your kid, being part of the youth, HS, juco and college baseball community of parents and players is the parental sweet spot. The joy is in living in the moment while on the journey and not reaching any specific point.
@TPM posted:D1 baseball programs that can afford it are now following football programs by hiring player developmental guys. 1 for hitting, 1 for pitching. This gives the assistants more time to spend on the road recruiting.
I think that this is going to help bring in more true freshman to programs instead of relying on the portal. This should be a priority instead of throwing millions of dollar to players who even aren't on campus yet.
JMO
IMHO, unless the NCAA changes Transfer eligibility (reverts back), freedom to move without penalty is the new normal.
The Team Roster Turnover Dashboard can help you quickly understand where this may be trending
https://collegebaseballinsight...nover-insights-free/
Note, 2022 season is a telling sign of where player movement is trending, combined with transfer portal, NLI and change in rules, some outcomes are predictable.
Note, understanding a school's roster management strategy will pivot about 1 or 2 times within the next 3 to 5 years.
The growth of the JUCO Pipelines will be another factor
https://keepplayingbaseball.or...f-the-juco-pipeline/
There were 26 JUCO Alumni on the 2 CWS Finalist
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