Coaches Corner Podcast

Host Walter Beede sits down with newly named Merrimack College head baseball coach Jeff Mejia on this edition of Coach's Corner, presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order.

Coach Mejia looks back on 13 years building Northern Essex into a Division III JUCO powerhouse — more than ten trips to the JUCO World Series and a national runner-up finish — and shares the honest, sometimes hard conversations he had with players and families about where they truly fit in college baseball. He also opens up as a father, reflecting on his own son Jeffrey's path from a Division I commitment to a bump in the road, a reset at Northern Essex, and ultimately a standout career at UMaine — a real-world look at how the JUCO route can reshape a player's trajectory rather than end it.

Coach Mejia dives into what he's building now at Merrimack: a staff of proven evaluators and honest communicators, why he'd rather see recruiting dollars go toward a strength coach than another hitting lesson, and why surrounding yourself with people who tell you the truth — not what you want to hear — is the single best piece of advice for any student-athlete.

He closes with details on Merrimack's September 6th prospect camp and why families from outside the Northeast should make the trip to see the campus for themselves.

A must-listen for any baseball family navigating the JUCO decision, weighing Division I fit, or looking for a coach who will always give it to them straight.

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Host Walter Beede sits down with Ben Fairchild, founder of Fairchild Sports Performance in Greater Houston and one of the country's top strength coaches for youth, high school, college, and professional athletes, on this edition of Coach's Corner, presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order — and brought to you by Bluebook Media Group and Bluebook Sports.

Ben pulls back the curtain on what actually happens when a thirteen or fourteen-year-old walks into Fairchild Sports Performance — and why what the parent thinks their kid needs and what the athlete actually needs are almost never the same thing. He breaks down why posture and mobility always come before velocity and exit velocity, why piling fitness on top of dysfunction cements long-term problems rather than solving them, and why the twelve-to-sixteen window is one of the last truly malleable stages of neurological development an athlete will ever have.

Ben and Walter also dig into the danger of over-competing at young ages, the underrated mentoring dynamic of training alongside older athletes, and why the most important question Ben ever asks a parent isn't "are they working hard?" — it's "do they love coming back?"

A must-listen for any baseball or softball family with a young athlete and a strength training decision to make.

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Host Walter Beede sits down with two extraordinary baseball dads and coaches for a special Father's Day edition of Coach's Corner, presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order — and brought to you by Bluebook Media Group and Bluebook Sports.

Andy Bednar, head coach at Mars High School in Pennsylvania and father of Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar and minor leaguer Will Bednar, joins Kevin Griffin, Division III head coach at Belhaven University and father of Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, for one of the most candid and practical conversations for baseball families you'll ever hear. All three men share what it was really like coaching and raising sons who made it to professional baseball — the dual roles, the grumblings in the stands, the injuries, the draft, the minor league grind, and the moments that made it all worth it.

They tackle the myths head-on: why baseball doesn't need to be a twelve-month sport, why multi-sport athletes develop better, why turning down Team USA events and early college offers was the right call, and why the underbelly of the youth baseball business too often sells parents the ceiling instead of protecting the floor.

A must-listen for any baseball or softball parent who wants a blueprint straight from three men who lived it — and got it right.

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Host Walter Beede welcomes Stetson University assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Greg Lovelady to this edition of Coach's Corner, presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order — and brought to you by Bluebook Media Group and Bluebook Sports.

Coach Lovelady brings a unique perspective to the table — a former All-American at the University of Miami, former Division I head coach, and a coach who has helped develop over 55 MLB Draft selections. He breaks down why the "mid-major" label no longer tells the full story, how the ASUN Conference and a gauntlet out-of-conference schedule against programs like Arkansas, Virginia, Florida, and Florida State prepare Stetson for postseason play, and why the Hatters have earned back-to-back regional appearances — including wins over Power Four programs.

He also digs into how the transfer portal and the new five-year eligibility window are reshaping recruiting timelines, what coaches are really looking for from high school athletes in today's landscape, and how to contact a college coach the right way — directly, personally, and with your video accessible.

A must-listen for any family exploring Division I baseball beyond the Power Four.

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Host Walter Beede sits down with Fordham University recruiting coordinator and pitching coach Elliot Glynn on this edition of Coach's Corner, brought to you by Bluebook Media Group and Bluebook Sports, and presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order.

Coach Glynn brings a rare perspective to the show — a three-time MLB draft selection and member of the elite 2011 UConn baseball program who has built his coaching career from Hartford to Siena to Fordham in the highly competitive Atlantic Ten Conference.

He breaks down exactly what D1 pitching coaches are looking for in a recruit, why velocity alone won't get you there, and how foundational skills like glove-side command and pitch development in catch play separate the good from the great. He also covers what a proper recruiting email looks like, why your transcript matters as much as your video, and how to use platforms like X and the Bluebook app to get on a college coach's radar.

A must-listen for any pitcher or baseball family with D1 aspirations.

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Brought to you by Corvive and Bluebook Sports — and recorded at Bluebook Media Studios.

Host Walter Beede sits down with Ryan Copeland, Head Coach of Northern Illinois University Baseball, for a deep dive into what it takes to build a winning Division I program from the ground up. Since taking over in June of 2023, Coach Copeland has nearly tripled NIU's conference win total and has the Huskies trending toward the MAC's upper tier.

Coach Copeland breaks down the culture-first approach he and his staff implemented from day one — setting expectations, elevating standards, and coaching players hard while having their backs. He gets candid about what college coaches are really looking for in high school recruits beyond the radar gun and exit velocity, why the ability to perform under pressure matters more than raw tools, and how the better you get in baseball, the more you fail — and why that's the point.

The conversation also covers what makes NIU and the DeKalb campus such a strong fit for student-athletes, how recruiting has evolved in the transfer portal era, where late bloomers fit in the modern recruiting landscape, and how Coach Copeland builds his out-of-conference schedule to balance competition, confidence, and budget.

Topics covered: Turning around a D1 program · Recruiting & evaluating high school talent · Mental performance & failure in college baseball · NIU campus culture · Transfer portal strategy · Late bloomers & scheduling philosophy

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Coach Eric Cirella of Salve Regina University joins Coach's Corner, presented by Corvive — use code BLUEBOOK at checkout for 30% off your first order — for an in-depth look at what it takes to build a nationally ranked Division III baseball program.

Coach Cirella discusses carrying on a family legacy at Salve, competing in the powerhouse NEWMAC Athletic Conference, and everything families need to know about the D3 recruiting process — from timelines and evaluation windows to camps and how to get on a coach's radar. He also covers roster management, player development, D3 merit-based financial aid, and the character traits he looks for in every recruit.

A must-listen for any high school player or family exploring Division III baseball.

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In this episode of Coach’s Corner, we sit down with Jon Martin, Head Coach at Bates College, to break down the reality of Division III baseball at one of the top academic conferences in the country—the NESCAC.

Coach Martin shares why Bates is off to one of the best starts in program history and how they’ve built a culture centered around high-level performance, strong leadership, and genuine player relationships.

This conversation flips the script on what many families think about Division III. It highlights how schools like Bates offer elite academics, competitive baseball, and life-changing opportunities—all without sacrificing the athlete experience.

Coach Martin also emphasizes that the Bates experience is about more than baseball—it's about building confident, prepared young men who leave with options in life, not just in the game.

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In this episode of Coach’s Corner, we sit down with Mike Curran, Head Coach at Ohlone College, one of the premier junior college baseball programs in the country. Coach Curran breaks down what truly makes California JUCO baseball unique, why it’s one of the most competitive environments in the game today, and how it serves as a powerful development path to Division I baseball.

This conversation is a must-listen for parents and players navigating the recruiting process, especially those considering JUCO as a pathway. Coach Curran provides real insight into what it takes to succeed, how recruiting actually works, and why development is about investment—not shortcuts.

Coach Curran also emphasizes that success at the JUCO level comes down to one thing—investment. Players who fully commit to the process, embrace competition, and focus on daily growth are the ones who ultimately move on and succeed at the next level.

Sponsored By

Bluebook Sports

CorVive

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In this episode of Coach’s Corner, we sit down with Chris Morris, Head Baseball Coach at MIT, to discuss the evolving landscape of Division III baseball, recruiting high-achieving student-athletes, and what it takes to succeed at one of the world’s most demanding academic institutions.

Coach Morris shares insights into the rapidly rising level of Division III baseball and why programs like MIT continue to attract elite players who want both high-level competition and a world-class education.

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, just steps from the Charles River and minutes from Fenway Park, MIT offers student-athletes a unique opportunity to balance elite academics with competitive athletics in one of the country’s most dynamic college environments.

Why Division III baseball is stronger than ever and closing the gap with Division I programs

The academic and athletic expectations for student-athletes at MIT

How passion for both baseball and academics drives success at elite institutions

Why multi-sport athletes often develop stronger competitive instincts and resilience

The importance of time management and building routines for college success

What MIT looks for during the recruiting process beyond just baseball talent

How camps and direct communication help recruits learn about programs and coaching staffs

Why student-athletes should focus on academic planning early in high school

The role of strength development, movement patterns, and physical preparation in today’s game

Coach Morris also emphasizes that character, curiosity, and competitiveness are just as important as athletic ability when evaluating recruits who want to thrive in the MIT environment.

For players and families pursuing the recruiting process, this conversation provides valuable insight into how elite academic institutions evaluate student-athletes and what it takes to succeed both on and off the field.

Sponsored By

Bluebook Sports

ProLine Training Balls

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