Any recent info about 'Nova baseball? I see the last posting was 2010 and was pretty brief.
Reputation of coaching staff? Status of facility? Is it fully funded? We are taking admissions tour this week. (son is 2013 rhp/of)
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My son was recruited by them and I know TRHit knows the head coach so PM him regarding the program.
They are not fully funded (at least as of 2010). I believe they had 6 spots, which makes it very difficult for them to compete in the Big East. Their field is not on campus so the team has to commute over to it - which is another disadvantage. The school is obviously excellent academically, but has the reputation of being “vanilla nova”. You can come to your own conclusion regarding this after visiting and doing your own research. All sports there take a back seat to basketball of course. With all of the conference gyrations I am not even sure where they are headed actually. This will be a good question to ask, because there are probably funding minimums with certain conferences.
My son really liked Dave Miller the hitting coach, and he was supportive of him playing two ways for them. (RHP/OF also) We did not get to the point of an official visit due to the lack of funding in the program, the distance, the school fit, and the prospect of getting a package that was competitive with what else my son had on the table. It was just not a good fit for him when everything was taken into consideration. It is certainly worth a solid look. My take on them is that it is an excellent school with a mediocre NE baseball program, which is not a necessarily a bad thing, you just need to know what you are getting into. Coaching seems sound from what I could tell. There is a player from our area out here in Cal. that likes it and I talked to his dad about his experience and he was positive.
They are not fully funded (at least as of 2010). I believe they had 6 spots, which makes it very difficult for them to compete in the Big East. Their field is not on campus so the team has to commute over to it - which is another disadvantage. The school is obviously excellent academically, but has the reputation of being “vanilla nova”. You can come to your own conclusion regarding this after visiting and doing your own research. All sports there take a back seat to basketball of course. With all of the conference gyrations I am not even sure where they are headed actually. This will be a good question to ask, because there are probably funding minimums with certain conferences.
My son really liked Dave Miller the hitting coach, and he was supportive of him playing two ways for them. (RHP/OF also) We did not get to the point of an official visit due to the lack of funding in the program, the distance, the school fit, and the prospect of getting a package that was competitive with what else my son had on the table. It was just not a good fit for him when everything was taken into consideration. It is certainly worth a solid look. My take on them is that it is an excellent school with a mediocre NE baseball program, which is not a necessarily a bad thing, you just need to know what you are getting into. Coaching seems sound from what I could tell. There is a player from our area out here in Cal. that likes it and I talked to his dad about his experience and he was positive.
quote:My son really liked Dave Miller the hitting coach, and he was supportive of him playing two ways for them. (RHP/OF also)
BaseballmomandCEP,
FYI - Dave Miller is now an asst at William & Mary along with Jamie Pinzino (former head coach at Bryant) on Coach Leoni's staff.
BOF- thanks for the details. I know that 'vanilla nova' nickname well! You affirmed what I was trying to glean from other posts.....
Having an off campus field IS a bummer. I notice the effect that seems to have at Georgetown, for example.
Fenway, the update is helpful too, W and M is on his wish list ... I think we talked about that before. We are trying to decide about how many college camps to do but I know Leoni really likes to recruit from camps, so he might do the holdiay one down there.
Not to "hijack" my own thread, but speaking of w and M, it seems like 95% of the W and M roster is VA. Is it totally out of the question to get recruited there from CT?
Having an off campus field IS a bummer. I notice the effect that seems to have at Georgetown, for example.
Fenway, the update is helpful too, W and M is on his wish list ... I think we talked about that before. We are trying to decide about how many college camps to do but I know Leoni really likes to recruit from camps, so he might do the holdiay one down there.
Not to "hijack" my own thread, but speaking of w and M, it seems like 95% of the W and M roster is VA. Is it totally out of the question to get recruited there from CT?
quote:Not to "hijack" my own thread, but speaking of w and M, it seems like 95% of the W and M roster is VA. Is it totally out of the question to get recruited there from CT?
IMHO it is not an unreasonable question to ask the head coach or the recruiter. Leoni's coaching staff is new to the school and both Leoni (Univ of RI) and Pinzino (Bryant Univ) have New England ties.
I have the impression that Va area schools have more talent available than there are slots (alot like Ca) and consequently they don't have to recruit too much outside of the area. I would imagine if a player that fits what they are looking for comes to them, they will take a look. I took a look and Miller is the recruting coordinator so give him a call. Like I said my son really liked the guy, even though he only spent a weekend talking to him.
BaseballmomandCep
MY son is from PA and was recruited by W@M so it is not out of the question to be recruited from outside VA so I imagine CT would be possible too
MY son is from PA and was recruited by W@M so it is not out of the question to be recruited from outside VA so I imagine CT would be possible too
Gentlemen, Thanks for the great input on this. Sorry it took a few days to reply, we were on the road. We picked a great weekend to be out of CT!!
Son attended the Bill Brown showcase camp at George Mason - good event, very well run, many of the CAA were there (but not W and M), plus Georgetown.
Had a frost delay while they shoveled several inches of ice off the field! Great conditions to showcase as a pitcher!! (not) but it went well, all things considered.
Son attended the Bill Brown showcase camp at George Mason - good event, very well run, many of the CAA were there (but not W and M), plus Georgetown.
Had a frost delay while they shoveled several inches of ice off the field! Great conditions to showcase as a pitcher!! (not) but it went well, all things considered.
Does anyone has any updated information about Villanova baseball (and school)? It seems there was upgrade for the baseball field since last posting, Any information would be helpful and thanks in advance.
Every year for the eighteen years I lived near the Villanova field we heard an on campus field was being planned. Unless something has changed since last season, thirty years later the field is still in Plymouth Meeting (eight and a half miles from campus) and lacking a locker room, rest rooms and concessions (unless you consider a grease truck pulling up concessions).
If you’re a right handed hitter a strong wind blows in from left in the spring. It also has an outrageous amount of foul territory.
In 2023 they were 14-37 overall and 7-13 in conference. In a good year Villanova gets to .500 overall beating up in inferior local D1’s. Last year they were 4-7 against the locals.
The head coach has been there seven years. He’s 99-195. That he’s kept his job tells you winning is not a priority.
Doesn’t this tell you all you need to know about the competitiveness of the program from the coach’s profile?
“Mulvey can look back on having built a solid foundation for the future of the program. While the progress may not appear in the win column, he and his staff have created a positive culture centered on the complete student-athlete experience. The results of that focus paid immediate dividends from the standpoints of academic achievement, community involvement and alumni support.”
The next two paragraphs talk about grades and community service. Eventually the profile talks about his coaching and the accomplishments (?) of the baseball team.
My kids went away for college ball. The more talented kids do. My daughter went to grad school in Philadelphia. Their attitude is you want to walk around town with your nose in the air and an attitude you fart perfume (polite version of another phrase) Villanova is the place to go. It’s snobby and preppy.
@Baseballdad2024 posted:Does anyone has any updated information about Villanova baseball (and school)? It seems there was upgrade for the baseball field since last posting, Any information would be helpful and thanks in advance.
Sent you a PM about it. Heading out to Philly in a few days . My first impression (despite never seeing the place) is what RJM said ..but maybe with some Hope and Optimism 
Excl Academics. Mediocre -so far- baseball. subpar Facilities. no Fall cut BS(35 max). decent Mid major conference. Great Basketball Conf. Upscale area.
I am originally from NJ (now west)and haven't been to Philly since Rocky and I were running up those steps.
Thanks RJM!
I always respect and enjoy reading your comments in past years. Appreciate your sharing the information. Yes, it seems still no locker room and concessions.
A strong wind from the left means an advantage for LHH?
@RJM posted:Every year for the eighteen years I lived near the Villanova field we heard an on campus field was being planned. Unless something has changed since last season, thirty years later the field is still in Plymouth Meeting (eight and a half miles from campus) and lacking a locker room, rest rooms and concessions (unless you consider a grease truck pulling up concessions).
If you’re a right handed hitter a strong wind blows in from left in the spring. it also has an outrageous about of foul territory.
In 2023 they were 14-37 overall and 7-13 in conference. In a good year Villanova gets to .500 overall beating up in inferior local D1’s. Last year they were 4-7 against the locals.
The head coach has been there seven years. He’s 99-195. That he’s kept his job tells you winning is not a priority.
Doesn’t this tell you all you need to know about the competitiveness of the program from the coach’s profile?
“Mulvey can look back on having built a solid foundation for the future of the program. While the progress may not appear in the win column, he and his staff have created a positive culture centered on the complete student-athlete experience. The results of that focus paid immediate dividends from the standpoints of academic achievement, community involvement and alumni support.”
The next two paragraphs talk about grades and community service. Eventually the profile talks about his coaching and the accomplishments (?) of the baseball team.
My kids went away for college ball. The more talented kids do. My daughter went to grad school in Philadelphia. Their attitude is you want to walk around town with your nose in the air and an attitude you fart perfume (polite version of another phrase) Villanova is the place to go. It’s snobby and preppy.
@fishnsail posted:Sent you a PM about it. Heading out to Philly in a few days . My first impression (despite never seeing the place) is what RJM said ..but maybe with some Hope and Optimism
Excl Academics. Mediocre -so far- baseball. subpar Facilities. no Fall cut BS(35 max). decent Mid major conference. Great Basketball Conf. Upscale area.
I am originally from NJ (now west)and haven't been to Philly since Rocky and I were running up those steps.
Thanks @fishnsail!
I'll check your PM now.
@Baseballdad2024 posted:Thanks RJM!
I always respect and enjoy reading your comments in past years. Appreciate your sharing the information. Yes, it seems still no locker room and concessions.
A strong wind from the left means an advantage for LHH?
I moved away when my son (youngest) headed for college. I haven’t been to a Villanova game in twelve years. If I was the coach I would load up on left handed hitting. I would go when they played Louisville, West Virginia and Notre Dame. They were all in the Big East. Almost all homers went to center and right.
@RJM posted:I moved away when my son (youngest) headed for college. I haven’t been to a Villanova game in twelve years. If I was the coach I would load up on left handed hitting. I would go when they played Louisville, West Virginia and Notre Dame. They were all in the Big East. Almost all homers went to center and right.
Thanks again, @RJM.
Good to know about that. 2024 son is LHH. This is very useful information for us because we cannot tell from their website. Always appreciate your comments!
The field has no bathrooms. Just portolets that are open to the public. It’s disgusting. The field is nice, but the bathroom situation is gross.
@TerribleBPthrower posted:The field has no bathrooms. Just portolets that are open to the public. It’s disgusting. The field is nice, but the bathroom situation is gross.
Thanks @TerribleBPthrower! Hope the bathroom situation gets better in the future. Sounds like your son played there in the past? Anyway, did you notice anything else with the field/program/school? Any information would be helpful for us.
Villanova is terrible, just read the comments.
If prefer to not a be a part of powerful elite academic school, with a very active affluent alumni network who go out of their way to take care of their own...well by all means dismiss them completely. I listen to so many here preach about the 40 years vs 4 and blah blah and rip a school like Villanova? I am not even a Nova guy but that it is a high quality school that would treat your son very well in life.
Terrible’s son did the Atlantic 100 showcase there. The porta potties have been there for thirty years. Nothing about the facilities has changed in thirty years. Nothing about losing a lot more than winning has changed in thirty years. They’ve mostly been a Big East bottom feeder sometimes qualifying for a last conference playoff seed.
It’s a quality education. They don’t offer a lot of money. They’re proud to brag the parents of the students are wealthy enough to send their kids there. The students are proud to carry the attitude. It’s why the school has a reputation of snobby and preppy.
Neither of my kids did a visit for baseball or softball.
Here’s where I got my personal impression of Villanova. It’s on The Main Line. Its a stuffy, well to do area. After divorce I started dating a woman from the area. Her family was generational money. They look down at people who don’t live there. When her friends and she found out where I lived they referred to it as The Catholic Mainline. They defined it as where the kids of blue collar Roxborough families who made successes of themselves moved to. They called it new money without class. I didn’t think these Main Line people had much class. When I broke up with the woman I told her I respect people more who make their own money than live off their family’s reputation and wealth.
I don’t think I’m going to be offered a job in student recruitment at Villanova anytime soon.
@old_school posted:Villanova is terrible, just read the comments.
If prefer to not a be a part of powerful elite academic school, with a very active affluent alumni network who go out of their way to take care of their own...well by all means dismiss them completely. I listen to so many here preach about the 40 years vs 4 and blah blah and rip a school like Villanova? I am not even a Nova guy but that it is a high quality school that would treat your son very well in life.
There’s no doubt it’s the best D1 school in the local area academically after Princeton and Penn.
Fitting in socially and culturally is important. If you get accepted to an Ivy and are concerned with these issues you suck it up and get the education. Villanova is nowhere near them academically. I’d move on. If looking for a job away from the Philadelphia area Villanova is respected as a good school. But it’s not that big of a deal.
The caste system is a big deal in Northeast cities. I remember a front page and center article in the Inquirer about how special men who attended The Prep (Saint Johns) were. It’s a freak’n private high school. It’s in Philadelphia. Of course some Philadelphia leaders are going to have come from there.
