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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 conversation where he told his players: "My biggest fear is that you don't understand the potential you have and how great you can be." The mindset shift that followed became their championship catalyst.

The turning point came when they adopted a "burn the boats" philosophy—inspired by the historical reference to Hernán Cortés eliminating retreat as an option for his men. This no-retreat mentality powered an incredible comeback in the quarterfinals where they overcame a seven-run deficit. Van Heel's team went on to win 11 consecutive games to capture the state title, proving that "pressure is a privilege."

What makes this story particularly compelling is the unique challenges of coaching in South Dakota's harsh climate. Van Heel describes seasons where they couldn't practice outside until mid-April due to weather conditions, forcing creative approaches to team development. Yet these challenges build character and mental toughness that translates to tournament success.

Perhaps most refreshing is Van Heel's perspective on the recruitment process. Unlike the prevailing narrative that expensive travel teams are necessary for exposure, he shares the story of his Notre Dame-bound pitcher who played only high school and Legion baseball. "If you've got talent, they will find you," he emphasizes—a message of hope for talented players from remote areas or families without resources for elite travel programs.

Whether you're coaching in challenging conditions or seeking to develop mental toughness in your players, this episode offers invaluable insights for building champions in any environment. Subscribe, leave a review, and join us each week as we continue to unpack the wisdom of baseball's most successful coaches!

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 progress.

"The summer is the longest window you have to change your game," Warning emphasizes, pointing to those crucial 15-16 weeks between high school graduation and college arrival. Players who utilize this time properly show up physically transformed, baseball-ready, and mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. Those who waste it often spend their first college season desperately trying to catch up.

Warning also addresses the underestimated challenges of transitioning to college baseball: the elevated competition level, the complex mental demands, and the highly structured lifestyle. For players seeking recruitment, he offers three practical strategies: get an honest evaluation of your skill level, personalize your outreach to coaches, and consistently perform as "the best guy on the field" when opportunities arise.

Whether you're a high school player dreaming of college baseball, a parent helping navigate the recruiting landscape, or a coach preparing athletes for the next level, this episode provides invaluable perspective on what truly matters in the transition to collegiate play. Subscribe now and check out new episodes every Wednesday featuring conversations with the best baseball coaches across the country.

00:00:00
College Preparation Reality Check

00:09:56
Summer Development Makes the Difference

00:17:26
The Weight Room Advantage

00:22:01
High School to College Transition
00:30:06
Smart Recruiting Strategies

00:34:02
Coach Warning's Coaching Philosophy

00:39:45
Influence of a Coaching Father

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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 himself featured in Sports Illustrated after doing something that defies belief.

What makes Heath's story so powerful isn't just the eye-popping statistics, but the character behind them. Before becoming a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week, he was a three-sport athlete who embodied everything coaches hope to develop: humility, grit, and a team-first mentality. His response after the historic performance? "I think I was just trying to hit a sac fly." That tells you everything about who he was as a player and person.

For coaches everywhere, this episode delivers a powerful reminder of why we invest countless hours in player development. The spectacular moments that make headlines are almost always built on a foundation of ordinary, consistent effort when nobody's watching. Ryan Heath's once-in-a-lifetime performance demonstrates what happens when preparation meets opportunity, and why character development matters just as much as physical skills. Listen now to this inspiring story that captures the very essence of what makes baseball so special and coaching so rewarding.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 take guys that simply nobody ever heard of," Gilmore reveals, explaining how he prioritized athleticism over polish in recruiting. This development approach, coupled with the program's "selfless and relentless" mantra, created a team greater than the sum of its parts.

What makes this championship story even more extraordinary are the specific predictions Gilmore shared with his team before the final series. In an emotional team meeting, he outlined exactly how they would win—which pitchers would throw how many innings and the precise situations they would face. His players watched in amazement as these predictions unfolded exactly as described. "Coach, you told us what was going to happen before it happened. How did you do that?" they would later ask him.

Behind this magical run was Gilmore's transformation as a leader. After nearly leaving coaching early in his career due to frustration, he discovered his true purpose through faith and relationships. "The most important thing God put me on this earth for was to develop relationships," he shares. This revelation led him to create a culture where love became the team's greatest strength—where players constantly picked each other up after failures and supported one another unconditionally.

Whether you're a coach seeking to build a championship program or simply love underdog stories, Gilmore's journey offers powerful lessons about development, culture, and the extraordinary things that happen when a team truly believes.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 dedicated precious practice time to base running and mastering catching and throwing. The results spoke volumes: they committed just one error through the entire tournament while scoring 34 runs and allowing only 5. Beyond strategic decisions, Lucas shares his evolution from a hard-nosed authoritarian to a relationship-focused leader who recognizes each player's unique personality. "I don't think the kids have changed," he reflects, "society has changed, and you can't be stubborn."

The championship journey contains powerful lessons for coaches at any level. Lucas details his practical approach to the unavoidable challenge of playing time conversations, the specific drills that built their balanced attack, and the emotional Father's Day moment when he embraced his 12-year-old son after the final out. Whether you're building a high school program or coaching at any level, this masterclass in culture-building demonstrates how adversity, properly channeled, becomes the foundation for ultimate success. The blueprint for champions isn't just found in talent—it's discovered in how a team responds when everything isn't going their way.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 with minor league affiliates and developing young talent. He calls it "probably one of the best jobs I've ever had—it just took me 45 years to get it." This role allows him to maintain family balance while sharing his baseball wisdom with the next generation.

Hurdle's coaching philosophy centers on making practice more challenging than games. Drawing from NBA coach Steve Kerr's experience guarding Michael Jordan in practice, Hurdle advises players to "trust the reps, work as hard as you can in practice so you can actually play in the game." He emphasizes connecting with players by finding common interests outside baseball—what he calls "coins"—creating relationships that transcend the sport.

On baseball's analytical evolution, Hurdle positions himself between traditions and innovations: "It's not old school versus new school, let's all be in school." This hybrid approach helped him navigate Pittsburgh's analytics-driven front office while maintaining his baseball instincts. He appreciates data's objectivity while acknowledging human development requires emotional intelligence.

Whether discussing coachability, parent relationships in high school sports, or small-market team challenges, Hurdle brings perspective shaped by almost five decades in baseball. His insights extend beyond strategy to the human elements that make baseball special. For coaches at any level looking to improve their approach, connect with players, or navigate baseball's changing landscape, Hurdle's wisdom is invaluable.

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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 footballs, rocks, and wiffle balls in the backyard? When baseball ended in summer, making way for football and basketball seasons? That natural athletic versatility created what Dr. House calls "neuroplasticity"—more neural pathways between brain and muscles that developed more complete, durable athletes. Today's young pitchers are missing that foundation, instead throwing max effort at showcases year-round without adequate rest or varied movement patterns.

The statistics are sobering: over 50% of Tommy John surgeries now happen to teenagers. As Coach Carpenter's pitching coach once said, "there's only so many bullets available to a pitcher," and today's young athletes are using them up before college. This episode challenges coaches, parents and players to reconsider their priorities: developing pitchers who can locate, change speeds, and maintain durability rather than just lighting up radar guns. After all, what good is throwing 90 mph in high school if your arm breaks down at 19?

Want to share your coaching perspective or story? Visit athlete1.net to request to be a guest on Baseball Coaches Unplugged and join the conversation about protecting young arms and the future of baseball.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 learn the game, handle adversity, and grow as individuals.

High school baseball offers something travel ball simply cannot: comprehensive development six days a week under coaches who see it all—the triumphs, failures, character under pressure, and classroom performance. These coaches teach players to compete rather than simply perform, to serve rather than expect privilege, and to represent something larger than themselves. Meanwhile, travel baseball's weekend tournament structure, often lacking accountability measures or developmental focus, frequently prioritizes exposure and winning over player growth.

College coaches still call high school coaches first when evaluating prospects—not for skills assessment, but to understand a player's character, work ethic, and response to adversity. As former MLB manager Joe Madden noted, today's system of over-specialization is burning kids out and filling their heads with false promises. The solution isn't eliminating travel baseball, but creating better collaboration between both worlds with proper oversight, certification requirements, and a shared commitment to what matters most: developing not just better baseball players, but better human beings.

Subscribe to Baseball Coaches Unplugged for weekly conversations with the game's best coaches who are preserving baseball's soul while navigating its changing landscape. Leave a review and share if you believe in putting player development before business.

Join the Baseball Coaches Unplugged podcast where an experienced baseball coach delves into the world of high school and travel baseball, offering insights on high school baseball coaching, leadership skills, hitting skills, pitching strategy, defensive skills, and overall baseball strategy, while also covering high school and college baseball, recruiting tips, youth and travel baseball, and fostering a winning mentality and attitude in baseball players through strong baseball leadership and mentality.

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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 experiences—from witnessing the meticulous batting practice routines of Chinese Taipei's team to observing the profound reverence Japanese players showed toward the game—provided Gordon with a unique perspective few American coaches possess.

Now back at Rockhurst High School in Missouri after stints coaching in China, Taiwan, and India, Gorden has implemented a coaching philosophy built around what he calls "service-minded leadership." Rather than following the traditional model where freshmen handle equipment duties, Gorden places this responsibility on his seniors. "If you want to be seen as a leader, you're serving your teammates," he explains. This approach teaches players that leadership isn't about privilege—it's about service to others.

Gorden's candid reflections on his evolution as a coach reveal profound wisdom. Where he once believed "there weren't enough sprints that would cure everything," experience has taught him adaptability. "Kids change and I have to be willing to adapt to that mindset as well," he shares. This growth mindset extends to his approach with parents, where he welcomes hard conversations about playing time—a topic many coaches avoid.

Perhaps most refreshing is Gorden's perspective on youth baseball. When coaching his nine-year-old son's team, which didn't win a game all season, his measure of success was beautifully simple: "I asked them all individually...did you have fun? They said yeah. And do you want to play again? Yeah. Okay, that's it. Then we did our job." In today's hyper-competitive youth sports landscape, this commitment to joy and development over trophies offers a powerful reminder of what truly matters.

Ready to transform your coaching philosophy? Subscribe to Baseball Coaches Unplugged for more conversations with innovative coaches who are changing the game one player at a time.

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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 principles, displaying what he calls "quiet intensity"—a focused, unflappable demeanor that carried them to a 26-2 record despite not having a single pitcher who threw harder than 78 mph.

What truly sets Ryan's program apart is his meticulous attention to fundamentals. His teams spend 30 minutes every practice on scripted situations, mastering pickoff plays, controlling the running game, and executing defensive fundamentals that "steal outs" in crucial moments. Ryan's approach to middle infield defense—eschewing the common "alligator funnel" technique for a more precise method—exemplifies his willingness to embrace proven techniques over trendy methods.

Perhaps most remarkable is Ryan's candor about coaching's challenges. He considers making out the lineup card his most difficult task, understanding that his decisions affect not just players but entire families. His solution for surviving 27 years as a head coach? Setting clear boundaries with parents while maintaining unwavering consistency in how he treats every player, from stars to bench players.

Ready to transform your coaching approach? Discover why Jeff Ryan believes "baseball doesn't teach us how to win; it teaches us how to lose," and how this philosophy creates not just better players, but better people. Subscribe now to gain insights from one of high school baseball's most thoughtful practitioners.

Emphasizes four pillars of success: consistency, fairness, discipline, and professionalism
• Believes making out the lineup card is the most challenging aspect of coaching
• Credits his 2012 championship team's "quiet intensity" as key to their success
• Explains how small-school programs can compete through fundamentals rather than pure talent
• Advocates for 30 minutes of situational practice during each session
• Shares techniques for controlling the running game and "stealing outs" through pickoff plays
• Discusses the challenges of coaching longevity and managing parent relationships
• Focuses on infield defense, particularly middle infield play and bunting fundamentals
• Views baseball as teaching players how to lose with dignity more than how to win
• Maintains clear boundaries with parents to survive 27 years as head coach

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