Throwback to 2019: In this episode of Ahead of the Curve, I engage in a discussion with Andrew Wright, the Head Baseball Coach and Assistant Athletic Director for Recruitment and Retention at the University of Charleston in West Virginia. Coach Wright generously shares his wisdom regarding how to not only evaluate players, but also ways to empower the coaching staff as well. Find out what Andrew Wright’s training methods typically consist of what valuable advice he has benefited from along the way. Show Notes: Andrew Wright introduces himself and shares his background How does player development and evaluation work in his program Which types of information do they measure and evaluate What are his players competing against and which skill metrics are involved It is one thing to identify problems, it is another to offer assistance to fix them What daily routines and drills do they do to establish a productive team culture A lack of education, empowerment, or accountability lead to the process breaking down How can you convey problems to players without shattering their confidence Don’t let players feel let down, put down, or shut down How do you get all of your coaches on the same page What does your coach development process look like What are some great interview questions for recruitment Being a super stubborn coach is a disservice to your team When you think kindly of someone, where is that coming from What are some unique things that Andrew’s organization is doing that others aren’t How is this spring’s practice plan shaping up What does Andrew suggest to head coaches or assistants that want to be head coaches It is important to respect how your ideas get results When pitchers get behind, it is typically because of their fast ball What is something that Andrew Wright has learned lately that he is excited about Which resources are useful that have come up in staff meetings 3 Key Points:  Don’t just bog the players down with the details. Show them how to apply them.  Team culture is a product of your belief, behavior, and experience.  Learn how to listen and how to manage your reaction when addressing issues.

Tweetable Quotes: “In a given year we have anywhere from 47 to 55 players for whom we are responsible. So, we have to get very creative.” – Andrew Wright (2:49) “At the Division 2 level, you can’t just recruit your wins, you have to recruit and develop them.” – Andrew Wright (4:24) “Unless we are willing to share the information, and be very transparent about what we are doing, we can’t really prove our worth. It’s just an opinion at that point.” – Andrew Wright (5:54) “We probably gather more information than we can actually process at this point. But the beauty is in the application.” – Andrew Wright (9:54) “We want to be candid with each other, and we want to be vulnerable, and we really want to be real with each other.” – Andrew Wright (13:53) “If we don’t have daily conversations about what it is supposed to look like, and hold each other accountable, then it is not going to work. You are doing it for show.” – Andrew Wright (31:32) “I want people who are willing to hold their own opinions as accountable as they hold someone else’s.” – Andrew Wright (37:01) “Be authentic. People see right through you when you are not.” – Andrew Wright (52:07)