BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

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Football is a game of inches, but also one of immense physical sacrifice. This becomes starkly clear as former Ohio State national champion and eight-year NFL veteran Donnie Nickey pulls back the curtain on what players endure during and after their careers.

The conversation begins with comprehensive coverage of Ohio's football landscape. The Buckeyes roll against Ohio University 37-9, showcasing freshman QB Julian Sayin's impressive 347-yard, 3-touchdown performance. The receiving corps shines with Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate both exceeding 100 yards, while Bo Jackson demonstrates explosive potential in the running game...

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Championship programs aren't built on talent alone – they're founded on consistent systems, deliberate culture-building, and a philosophy that develops complete athletes. Coach Ben Evick of Cape Henlopen High School has mastered this formula, leading his program to three Delaware state championships in seven years.

What stands out immediately in Coach Evick's approach is his firm belief in multi-sport participation. While many programs push early specialization, Evick actively encourages his players to wrestle, run track, and play football. This philosophy aligns perfectly with what college coaches and professional scouts seek: well-rounded athletes wh...

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Ever wonder what separates the starters from the bench in high school baseball? The answer might surprise you—it has less to do with March tryouts and everything to do with what happens in September.

The players who earn starting positions understand that the foundation is built months before the season begins. Physical preparation through consistent participation in team weightlifting programs doesn't just build strength—it demonstrates commitment while allowing coaches to evaluate work ethic directly. Smart players balance this intensity with proper rest and recovery, understanding that overtraining can be as d...

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What separates consistently successful baseball programs from the rest? For Coach Jared Ingersoll of American Fork High School (UT), it's creating what he calls "the AF way" – a distinct approach to baseball marked by exceptional energy, relentless hustle, and players who genuinely compete for each other rather than themselves.

After leading his program to three state championships in five years, Ingersoll pulls back the curtain on building championship culture. He reveals how fostering authentic team chemistry creates an almost tangible feeling in the dugout when players truly buy into playing for so...

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Ever wonder why some baseball programs consistently win championships while others, despite similar talent, fall short? The answer often lies in one word: accountability. But not the kind that's just plastered on team hoodies or chanted in pre-game huddles.

True accountability separates the great teams from the mediocre ones, and in this episode, we dive deep into what that really means. When a player boots a ground ball or skips a workout, how the team responds reveals everything about their championship potential. Mediocre teams whisper about mistakes behind closed doors and...

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Ever wonder what it takes to build a championship baseball team in a place where players sometimes have to shovel snow off the field just to practice? South Dakota State Champion coach Jeremy Van Heel takes us behind the scenes of his Brandon Valley High School program's remarkable journey to victory.

When Van Heel recognized his team had championship potential, he focused not on physical skills but on the mental game. "Our biggest downfall was the eight inches between the head," he explains. This honest assessment led to a powerful team...

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What happens when college baseball recruits finally arrive on campus? Are coaches getting the players they thought they recruited, or do they discover someone entirely different?

Brian Warning, former college recruiting coordinator at Thiel and Lake Erie College, pulls back the curtain on the critical summer period before college baseball and how it separates future contributors from those who'll struggle to make the team. With candid insights gained from years evaluating talent, Warning explains how coaches immediately recognize which players dedicated their summer to preparation and which ones chose partying over...

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Some baseball stories transcend the game itself, becoming legends that remind us why we love this sport. Ryan Heath's April 23, 2007 performance is exactly that kind of story.

Imagine a quiet, hardworking kid from a small rural high school who had never hit a grand slam in his life. Then, in one magical doubleheader for Oakland University, he launches three grand slams, adds another home run, and drives in a staggering 14 RBIs. This isn't fiction – it's the incredible true story of a former Buckeye Valley player who made national headlines and found hi...

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When Gary Gilmore arrived at Coastal Carolina, they had won just 17 games the previous season. Nobody—except perhaps Gilmore himself—believed this program could ever reach college baseball's pinnacle. Yet through a remarkable development-focused philosophy, unwavering faith, and a culture built on love, Gilmore guided the Chanticleers to one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history.

The 2016 College World Series champions weren't built on blue-chip recruits or lavish facilities. Coastal thrived by taking overlooked athletes, redshirting them to build their skills, and molding them into complete baseball players. "We had to t...

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Championship teams aren't born—they're built through transformative moments. When Olentangy High School was run-ruled by their rivals midway through the 2025 season, head coach Ryan Lucas watched something remarkable happen. His players, on their own accord, gathered in the locker room for an honest conversation about identity and commitment. That player-led meeting sparked a stunning turnaround—16 wins in their next 17 games culminating in an Ohio Division I State Championship.

What separates merely talented teams from champions? Lucas reveals it's the unsexy fundamentals most programs overlook. While teams obsess over hitting, Olentangy dedi...

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What's destroying young pitchers' arms across America? The answer might be right there on the radar gun. 

In this eye-opening episode, Coach Ken Carpenter tackles the alarming rise in serious arm injuries among youth and high school pitchers. Drawing from conversations with experts like Dr. Tom House and his own 27 years of coaching experience, Ken explores how the relentless pursuit of velocity—"chasing 90"—combined with year-round pitching schedules and early sport specialization is creating an epidemic of torn UCLs and Tommy John surgeries in teenagers.

Remember when kids threw footb...

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Ever wonder what happens when a Major League manager storms the field to argue a call? For Clint Hurdle, former Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies manager, one such confrontation led to an unexpected humbling when an umpire refused to eject him, saying "I've had to watch this horrible baseball for four days. You're going to have to watch it too." It's just one of many candid insights Hurdle shares in this revealing conversation.

After spending decades in professional baseball, Hurdle now serves as special assistant to the Rockies' general manager, working...

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Baseball's developmental landscape has undergone a massive shift in recent years. The glittering allure of travel baseball—with its showcases, fancy uniforms, and promises of exposure—has many believing it's the superior path to player development. But is it really?

Drawing from 27 years of high school coaching experience and 8 seasons in travel baseball, Coach Ken Carpenter delivers a thought-provoking analysis of what's truly best for young athletes. The fundamental difference? High school coaches develop student-athletes while travel programs often treat players as clients. This critical distinction changes everything about how players lear...

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When Coach Will Gorden stepped off the plane in China to lead a development program for Major League Baseball, he faced an immediate challenge: coaching 42 young baseball players who didn't speak English. This experience became the foundation for his transformative coaching journey that would span three countries and reshape his approach to leadership.

"More than anything, I learned a new way to communicate," Gorden explains on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. "After working with those kids who didn't speak the language, I can do anything with anybody in the United States." These international...

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What does it take to build a championship high school baseball program without flame-throwing pitchers or Division I talent? Wisconsin Hall of Fame coach Jeff Ryan pulls back the curtain on his old-school approach that's produced 438 wins and a state championship at small-school Prescott High.

Ryan's journey from milking cows on a hobby farm to becoming one of Wisconsin's most respected baseball minds reveals how traditional values translate to modern success. "Consistency, fairness, discipline, and professionalism," he shares, form the bedrock of his coaching philosophy. His 2012 state championship team epitomized these...

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Nestled within the captivating world of collegiate baseball lies an extraordinary tale of transformation. Phil Schallenberger, head coach of Messiah University's baseball program, guides us through his team's remarkable journey from a disheartening 1-7 start to playing for the Division III College World Series championship.

The turning point came not through a strategic overhaul but a profound shift in perspective. After striking out 15 times against the #1 ranked team, Schallenberger embraced honest player feedback that would reshape their season: "Coach, it's not that you're communicating anything wrong—it's that it's being interpreted di...

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The difference between consistently winning baseball programs and those that occasionally succeed isn't raw talent—it's the foundational elements Coach Ken Carpenter reveals in this powerful episode. Drawing from 27 years of coaching experience, Carpenter breaks down the eight critical characteristics that championship teams at every level share, from high school powerhouses to small programs that consistently punch above their weight.

At the heart of sustainable success is offensive production—specifically, scoring seven or more runs per game through quality at-bats throughout the lineup rather than relying on a couple of big hitt...

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Ever wonder how top high school baseball programs consistently develop winning cultures? Coach Blake Iles of Olathe East High School in Kansas pulls back the curtain on his coaching philosophy that's produced multiple 20+ win seasons and championships.

What makes Iles' approach unique is his genuine commitment to empowering those around him. His assistant coaches don't just stand around during games – they have "full control" over their areas of expertise. This delegation creates a coaching environment where everyone feels valued and players receive specialized instruction from coaches dedicated to their development. As Il...

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The journey to a state baseball championship begins with preparation long before the tournament starts. Coach Al Zeiher of Saline High School in Michigan joins us to share his championship philosophy as his team readies for the playoff gauntlet.

We dive deep into Michigan's fascinating tournament format where matchups are determined by a random draw—athletic directors literally pulling popsicle sticks from a hat—with no seeding system whatsoever. This creates scenarios where top-ranked teams might face each other in the first round, making mental preparation and competitive mindset crucial from game...

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The college baseball landscape has fundamentally changed, and today we're pulling back the curtain on the recruiting reality that coaches and players are facing nationwide. At the heart of this transformation is a critical choice: developing high school talent or tapping into the transfer portal for seasoned players.

When Oregon State's head coach Mitch Cannon candidly admits, "With a roster of 34, you don't have room to keep a whole bunch of guys around to develop," he's voicing what many coaches are thinking but few are saying aloud. The transfer portal has...

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What does it take to build a high school baseball powerhouse ranked #1 in Arkansas and among the top 25 programs nationally? Coach Leighton Hardin of Conway High School pulls back the curtain on his championship formula.

The secret to Conway's "Wampus Cats" success starts with three non-negotiable values: team, toughness, and competitiveness. Coach Hardin demonstrates how following legendary coaches throughout his career prepared him to establish his own winning culture while respecting program traditions.

You'll discover Conway's innovative practice approach, including their game-changing pregame throwing routine that ensures players are...

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When the rain washes out a week of games and the state tournament looms on the horizon, how do you keep your pitching staff ready? For Coach Jason Brandt, the answer might surprise you.

Coach Brandt of Wapakoneta High School has crafted one of Ohio's most consistent baseball programs through a philosophy that seems counterintuitive at first glance. "The later we get into the season, the less we practice," he reveals, explaining that rest becomes increasingly precious as tournament time approaches. This season, his team has surged to a 12-1 record...

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Winning changes everything—but not in the way most coaches think. Beyond the scoreboard and standings, victory triggers a fascinating biological transformation in the brain that makes future success more likely. Coach Ken Carpenter dives deep into "The Winner Effect," revealing how each hard-fought win releases testosterone and dopamine, rewiring neural pathways to create athletes who thrive under pressure rather than crumble.

The science is clear: players who experience meaningful victories develop increased confidence, better focus, and the ability to take calculated risks in clutch moments. But there's a crucial caveat—easy...

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What happens when American Legion baseball meets small-town Montana culture? Paul Mrazek, Director of the Montana Baseball Coaches Association and Head Coach for Cranbrook Post 24 Legion, takes us into a world where baseball thrives despite vast distances between communities and limited resources.

Montana's baseball landscape is evolving rapidly. After being one of just five states without high school baseball, Montana now boasts 35 high school programs in just three years. Rather than seeing this as competition, Legion baseball has adapted, creating a seamless transition from high school to Legion seasons that gives...

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Ever wonder why your son isn't in the starting lineup? The truth might surprise you. 

Baseball isn't just about who can hit the ball farthest or throw the fastest pitch. High school coaches make tough decisions every single day about who plays and who sits – decisions that go far beyond raw talent. From academic performance and classroom behavior to practice effort and being a supportive teammate, the factors that determine playing time are complex and often invisible to parents watching from the stands.

I'll never forget the parent who app...

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Johnny DeRing, head baseball coach at Buckeye Valley High School(OH), offers a masterclass in building successful high school baseball programs that goes far beyond traditional coaching wisdom.

The power of community stands at the heart of Buckeye Valley's baseball success. In this tight-knit, blue-collar community, parents and former players eagerly volunteer their expertise to transform facilities and support the program. When DeRing needed a bullpen built, community members stepped up with labor and materials, demonstrating how small-town commitment creates championship environments without massive budgets.

DeRing's philosophical approach to...

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Baseball's beautiful chaos demands more than just careful planning—it requires thorough preparation. In this thought-provoking episode, Coach Ken Carpenter challenges conventional coaching wisdom by explaining why preparation consistently trumps planning when navigating the unpredictable nature of America's pastime.

Drawing from his 27 years of coaching experience, Coach Carpenter illuminates the fundamental difference between these approaches. Planning creates rigid roadmaps based on expectations—the perfect pitch sequence, the flawless double play—but crumbles when reality inevitably deviates from the script. True preparation, however, builds resilience, adaptability, and creativity that thrives amid baseball's inhere...

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Parker Byrd's journey from star high school shortstop to amputee baseball player at East Carolina University defies all conventional expectations. After committing to ECU as a freshman, his life took a devastating turn during a summer boating trip with teammates before his first college season. Caught beneath a boat's propeller, Parker suffered catastrophic injuries requiring 22 surgeries in 56 days and ultimately, the amputation of his right leg below the knee.

Most would assume a Division I baseball career was no longer possible. But when Parker expressed this fear to his mother in...

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"Winners rise, losers fall, and which one you become is entirely up to you." These words capture the essence of our deep dive into baseball's most defining moments – not the championship celebrations, but the crushing failures that reveal our true character.

When the pressure mounts and nothing goes your way, what happens next defines you as a player, coach, and person. Every baseball player faces adversity – strikeouts with bases loaded, dropped fly balls, lost games that should have been won. But the response to these moments creates a clear division between cham...

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Pat Bailey opens up about his remarkable 42-year baseball coaching journey that culminated in two national championships at Oregon State and D3 George Fox University. With a career spanning high school, Division III, and Division I baseball, Bailey offers a treasure trove of wisdom on what truly builds consistent winners.

Bailey's approach to recruiting and team-building is refreshingly countercultural. "Culture eats strategy for breakfast," he explains, detailing his three non-negotiable criteria: character, work ethic, and selflessness. This philosophy led him to prioritize high-achieving students (rarely recruiting players with GPAs below 3.5) and...

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Step up to the plate and discover how to elevate your baseball coaching strategy by focusing on the small yet significant victories that define success on and off the field. In this captivating episode, Coach Ken Carpenter discusses the essential elements that contribute to winning games—emphasizing the crucial roles that every player, particularly pitchers and catchers, play in creating a winning atmosphere. Many coaches tirelessly work on flashy plays and big swings, forgetting that true success stems from consistently mastering the fundamental aspects of baseball.

We delve into the vital im...

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Dive into the mind of Head Coach John Dowling, who recently guided McLean High School (VA) to its first state baseball championship. In this episode, Coach Dowling reflects on the thrilling journey of winning, delving into the mental adjustments necessary to maintain focus and manage increased expectations as reigning champions. He highlights the pivotal role assistant coaches play in the development of players, sharing insights on fostering a competitive spirit while nurturing young talent.

Throughout our discussion, Dowling emphasizes the art of creating competitive environments during practice, ensuring players not only...

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To cut, or not to cut? This age-old question plagues high school baseball coaches every season. On this episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, I, Coach Ken Carpenter, peel back the layers of this emotionally charged decision, exploring the pros and cons of roster management. You'll learn about the benefits of inclusivity and how keeping a full team can develop younger players, ensuring they have the time to fine-tune their skills. We also consider the strategic advantages of having a deep bench to account for unforeseen injuries or academic issues, and how it creates...

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What drives a 40-year-old father to return to JUCO baseball after two liver transplants and a battle with cancer? Join me, Coach Ken Carpenter, as I sit down with Aaron Rouselle, who defies all odds and inspires with his incredible journey. Hear how Aaron's passion for baseball fuels his fight against adversity and how his background as a former athlete and CrossFit gym owner has equipped him with the mental and physical resilience needed to chase his dreams. This isn't just a story about baseball; it's about the indomitable spirit that defines the...

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Unlock the secrets of elite baseball success with our special guest, the legendary coach Butch Chaffin, who brings an astonishing 38 years of experience, including working with USA Baseball. Gain insights from Butch as he uncovers what sets elite athletes apart from the rest: mental toughness and an insatiable love for competition. Discover how top players thrive by facing formidable opponents and maintaining unwavering confidence, and learn about the significance of nurturing a genuine love for the game in young athletes. Butch shares how instilling passion can help athletes embrace challenges and resist external...

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In this episode, we explore how baseball players can overcome performance slumps and the essential role that coaches play in this process. Through discussions on maintaining a positive mindset, refining fundamentals, and providing supportive coaching environments, we equip both players and coaches with tools to navigate these challenges.

• Understanding slumps and their impact on players 
• Importance of maintaining a positive mindset 
• Revisiting fundamentals to reset performance 
• Role of mental preparation in overcoming slumps 
• Creating a supportive coaching environment 
- Strategies for breaking slumps into manageable parts 
- Prioritizi...

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Discover the secrets behind balancing passion and performance in collegiate baseball as we chat with Ohio Wesleyan University's outfielder Sammy Stoner and Otterbein University's pitcher Luke Walter. These former high school teammates share their compelling journey from the carefree days of youth baseball to the intensely competitive world of college athletics. Listen as Sammy and Luke reminisce about their high school escapades while offering keen insights into adapting to higher expectations without losing the love for the game.

Sammy and Luke also open up about the challenges and rewards of being...

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Discover the secrets to thriving youth baseball development with our special guest, Scott Anderson, the head baseball coach at Carmel Catholic High School in Illinois. Fresh from the ABCA Clinic in Washington, DC, Scott shares vital insights on prioritizing practice over tournaments and nurturing young pitchers. We explore the need for collaboration between high school and youth coaches to create a unified approach that ensures the growth and success of future players. If you've ever wondered about the real impact of early athlete rankings and the alarming trend of burnout by age 13, this...

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In this episode, we explore the revolutionary potential of sidearm pitching as a game-changing strategy for baseball coaches. By unleashing the untapped talent of underutilized players through unconventional techniques, we discuss how to enhance team performance and create a unique pitching arsenal. 

• The critical role of pitching in winning games 
• Challenges faced by underutilized pitchers 
• Benefits of adopting sidearm pitching techniques 
• Strategic advantages when using sidearm pitchers 
• Real-life success stories of transformed players 
• Embracing unconventional methods for coaching success

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an e...

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Discover what it takes to coach baseball in a city known for its relentless rain. Join me, Coach Ken Carpenter, and my guest Tim Lee, the head baseball coach at Ingram High School in Seattle, Washington, as we discuss how Seattle's unique weather impacts the game and the adaptations teams have made, like transitioning to turf fields. Tim shares his insights on managing a challenging season, his feature in Inside Pitch Magazine, and how local coaches collaborate to enhance performance. Prepare to elevate your coaching game as we explore strategies tailored for success...