Anyone have any experience with or information about Va Tech? Coaches? Facilities? General thoughts about the program.
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I know the staff persoannly from their days here in the Northeast
Knowledgeable baseball people---great guys--always pick up the phone and promptly return calls
Solid academic school--cannot comment on the baseball facilities --have not seen them
Knowledgeable baseball people---great guys--always pick up the phone and promptly return calls
Solid academic school--cannot comment on the baseball facilities --have not seen them
Facility photos here..... http://www.hokiesports.com/baseball/gallery/
Articles on the coach here http://www.collegiatetimes.com/topic/pete+hughes
Articles on the coach here http://www.collegiatetimes.com/topic/pete+hughes
A truly great school, an improving program with growing commitment and very professional and knowledgeable coaches, top league and overall great opportunity that is difficult to attain. I have had one son play there and a second strongly consider it. It can be a wonderful experience for any player who is talented enough. I would expect VT to work its way into the upper half of the ACC on a regular basis. The series win last weekend at Florida State is strong evidence that the Hokies are headed in the right direction. A number of their current players will be drafted early.
A wonderful wonderful school, now nationally ranked in baseball. (We're used to that in football, baseball, not so much).
With total objectivity, I can say that the chance to be part of the Hokie Nation is a blessing indeed.
A current player told me he learned more baseball in two weeks under the current coaches than he learned in two years with the previous staff. He liked the previous staff, just didn't realize how much more there was to learn till the new guys came in.
With total objectivity, I can say that the chance to be part of the Hokie Nation is a blessing indeed.
A current player told me he learned more baseball in two weeks under the current coaches than he learned in two years with the previous staff. He liked the previous staff, just didn't realize how much more there was to learn till the new guys came in.
hithard - you have a PM.
A rising ACC Baseball Program.
hitithard,
A brief history about Coach Hughes:
He is New England guy so he can be tough and demanding of his players just as he is on himself and his coaching staff.
In 1997, he went from Boston to San Antonio and in 2 years, turned around the DIII program at Trinity University from a perennial losing program to the start of a national DIII power.
He left for BC. Most at the time projected that he was doomed to fail, that BC would never compete in the Big East and then would fall flat when they went to the ACC. Many said Pete just could not get a winning program at BC. He did and did it with good players who are also really good kids. His players succeed on the field and in the classroom.
When he then got to Va. Tech, the doomsayers started again. In just 3 short years, Coach Hughes has taken that program from the outhouse of the ACC to a national ranking.
Coach Hughes loves baseball and loves coaching college baseball.
He is recognized by his peers as being amongst the very best coaches in all of DI college baseball. He won't get all the publicity. He likely does not want it. When high profile jobs come open, his name usually is at the top because he builds programs and he does it with integrity. He follows the rules and other coaches/AD's know that or find out by asking around.
He is funny beyond belief, a family man with 4 young children(I think) and loves Blacksburg.
As hokieone posted, he knows baseball and knows how to teach and coach the game as well as anyone.
Pete Hughes can coach your son to be a better player. He will create an environment for him to mature and be better off the field. He will demand on both. He has a well deserved reputation of being very successful with most of his players.
A brief history about Coach Hughes:
He is New England guy so he can be tough and demanding of his players just as he is on himself and his coaching staff.
In 1997, he went from Boston to San Antonio and in 2 years, turned around the DIII program at Trinity University from a perennial losing program to the start of a national DIII power.
He left for BC. Most at the time projected that he was doomed to fail, that BC would never compete in the Big East and then would fall flat when they went to the ACC. Many said Pete just could not get a winning program at BC. He did and did it with good players who are also really good kids. His players succeed on the field and in the classroom.
When he then got to Va. Tech, the doomsayers started again. In just 3 short years, Coach Hughes has taken that program from the outhouse of the ACC to a national ranking.
Coach Hughes loves baseball and loves coaching college baseball.
He is recognized by his peers as being amongst the very best coaches in all of DI college baseball. He won't get all the publicity. He likely does not want it. When high profile jobs come open, his name usually is at the top because he builds programs and he does it with integrity. He follows the rules and other coaches/AD's know that or find out by asking around.
He is funny beyond belief, a family man with 4 young children(I think) and loves Blacksburg.
As hokieone posted, he knows baseball and knows how to teach and coach the game as well as anyone.
Pete Hughes can coach your son to be a better player. He will create an environment for him to mature and be better off the field. He will demand on both. He has a well deserved reputation of being very successful with most of his players.
hitithard
My son will be playing for the Coach Hughes and the Hokies next year. After going through the recruiting process last summer, traveling out to Blacksburg on an official visit and meeting the coaches on campus I believe each of the coaches; Hughes, Turgeon, Gambino and Kunigonis are all upstanding people with utmost integrity. English Field is not set as a stadium atmosphere; it has a homey feel to it and is a pretty baseball facility. The school just funded an indoor hitting facility last year and is planning on turfing the field in the near future. If you and your son have the oppurtunity to visit the school you will love it. There is a lot of pride in Hokie Nation not only on campus but in the community of Blacksburg.
I have attached a HSBBW link to a post from August 07, 2009 11:02 AM
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...=713101402#713101402
I hope this helps, if you need any further information send me a message.
My son will be playing for the Coach Hughes and the Hokies next year. After going through the recruiting process last summer, traveling out to Blacksburg on an official visit and meeting the coaches on campus I believe each of the coaches; Hughes, Turgeon, Gambino and Kunigonis are all upstanding people with utmost integrity. English Field is not set as a stadium atmosphere; it has a homey feel to it and is a pretty baseball facility. The school just funded an indoor hitting facility last year and is planning on turfing the field in the near future. If you and your son have the oppurtunity to visit the school you will love it. There is a lot of pride in Hokie Nation not only on campus but in the community of Blacksburg.
I have attached a HSBBW link to a post from August 07, 2009 11:02 AM
http://hsbaseballweb.com/eve/f...=713101402#713101402
I hope this helps, if you need any further information send me a message.
They're live on TV right now against Miami if you want to judge for yourself how they're doing.
errr, don't judge them by that TV game!! They won the Friday and Sunday games.
CollegeParent,
I'm pretty slow on the uptake sometimes.
Is that your son at Va. Tech playing for Coach Hughes?????
One of those players Coach Hughes mentioned in his interview this week?
If I am right, your son has made himself into one wonderful player and clearly one Coach Hughes would love to rave about, both because of his talent, but equally because of his mental make up, tenacity, and heart!
Wow!
Congratulations.
I'm pretty slow on the uptake sometimes.
Is that your son at Va. Tech playing for Coach Hughes?????
One of those players Coach Hughes mentioned in his interview this week?
If I am right, your son has made himself into one wonderful player and clearly one Coach Hughes would love to rave about, both because of his talent, but equally because of his mental make up, tenacity, and heart!
Wow!
Congratulations.
Yes, the coaches are doing a great job and so are the players. The players have been making the defensive plays this year. They still make errors, however they are taking advantage of just about every baserunning error and other "free" outs offered by the oppsoition.
They even bunt once in a while.
They even bunt once in a while.
infielddad,
Don't feel badly I am a bit slow on the uptake too.
In 2007 first weekend in april Clemson played VTech in Blacksburg, it snowed that friday night. While they were waiting for the umpires to call a white out Hughs came over to talk to Sully (I understand they are very good friends) and Dave could hear him say something about he left Boston to get away from the cold and snow! I remember that because it was one of DK's best outings and he spoke with him afterwards, which is unusual for most HS's of the opposite teams to do.
I didn't know that was THE coach Hughes. Now I understand the turn around in the program.
Don't feel badly I am a bit slow on the uptake too.
In 2007 first weekend in april Clemson played VTech in Blacksburg, it snowed that friday night. While they were waiting for the umpires to call a white out Hughs came over to talk to Sully (I understand they are very good friends) and Dave could hear him say something about he left Boston to get away from the cold and snow! I remember that because it was one of DK's best outings and he spoke with him afterwards, which is unusual for most HS's of the opposite teams to do.
I didn't know that was THE coach Hughes. Now I understand the turn around in the program.
It's great to here all the positive feedback on the program. We where very impressed with everything VT has to offer, the coaching staff was honest and direct through out the recruiting process and he's looking forward to being on campus in September. My son and another Californian from LA are headed to the land of the hokie.
