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This episode is brought to you by baseballcloud and Axebats.

Go to axebat.com and use our code AOTC at checkout to save 10% on your purchase of Axe Bat training products including all of the Axe Bat Speed Trainers and wood bats! 

During this episode of Ahead of the Curve, I interviewed Steve Dintaman, Head Baseball Coach at Sinclair Community College and an Associate Scout for the Texas Rangers. Steve Dintaman shares what he has learned as a head coach at Sinclair for 12 years, what it takes to maintain the team culture with young players constantly coming and going, and what he looks for in players and coaches. 

 

Episode Highlights: 

What is a Tartan?  

Why did Steve Dintaman get involved in baseball coaching? 

What is the fall training program over at Sinclair Community College like? 

How do they indoctrinate new players into their program? 

What are some things that Coach Dintaman does to build the team culture? 

How do you balance team chemistry with players coming and going? 

What does the team do to instill a sense of competition?  

How is he getting to know his players? 

How does Coach Dintaman develop coaches? 

Does Coach Dintaman hire his own coaches? 

What would make ideal hires for the Sinclair Tartans? 

How does the typical spring practice plan look like at Sinclair? 

What does his batting practice setup look like?  

What are the after-season meetings look like when talking to players? 

What advice does Steve have for someone who wants to be a head coach one day? 

Are there things that they do in practice that the players get excited about? 

What is something that you believe that other coaches might disagree on? 

Which books or resources does Coach Steve Dintaman recommend? 

 

3 Key Points:

Don’t go into a team bragging about how good you are. Let your play do the talking. 

The core values of the Sinclair Tartans are: sacrifice, confidence, character and brotherhood. 

Join the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) if you want to become a coach.

 

Tweetable Quotes:

“Just lifting during the season, there are still some guys in high school that haven’t done that before. So we are lifting two or three times a week” – Steve Dintaman (09:68)

“We are probably practicing anywhere from five to six times a week with an off day built in.” – Steve Dintaman (10:03)

“I think my advice for any student athlete going in the fall is: be ready to go and keep your mouth shut and go to work.” – Steve Dintaman (11:43)

“The number one emphasis for our program is always going to be player development and the guys understand that our goal is their goal. We want them to reach the highest level they can play.” – Steve Dintaman (22:44)

“We are all part-time coaches too. No coach here is a full-time coach.” – Steve Dintaman (33:43)

“I think the first thing I would do is if I bring someone in obviously they have had some success and they have some nice pedigree with some references, but that we have the same philosophies.” – Steve Dintaman (37:15)

“There is nothing worse than a center fielder trying to track a ball and he’s going near the wall, about to make a catch, and all of a sudden his pitcher just catches it, and your like, “Come on Bro, get out the way.’” – Steve Dintaman (43:44)

“The thing I have always told people is, ‘surround yourself with good people and good things will happen.’” – Steve Dintaman (50:20)

 Resources Mentioned: 

Ahead of the Curve Podcast

Twitter: @AOTC_podcast

Steve Dintaman: Linkedin  Twitter

sinclairathletics.com/sports/bsb/index