The D2 Baseball Podcast

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, Robert speaks with Travis Graves, the second Head Baseball Coach in UT Dallas history. Graves discusses his extensive background, which includes playing in the College World Series for Southern Miss and winning a national championship as a coach at Eastfield Junior College.

Graves credits his success to a strong line of mentors, particularly former UT Dallas Head Coach Shane Shewmake, who founded the program and provided guidance during the transition.

As UT Dallas transitions to the Division II level in the highly competitive Lone Star Conference, Graves shares his philosophy for maintaining their winning tradition. He emphasizes the importance of mastering the "little things," whether it's an extra step on the lead, tagging up, or hitting the cut-off man. Graves is focused on recruiting "even-keel" players who prioritize accountability, body language, and team success over individual performance. He also stresses the value of a UT Dallas degree to recruits, knowing that "at some point baseball is going to end for you". Graves sets a lofty goal of finishing in the top five of the Lone Star Conference in their first year of eligibility.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this special player story, Robert talks with former Quincy University Hawk Dayson Croes, who made a stunning journey from independent baseball to the San Francisco Giants organization, ending his 2025 season at the AAA level.

Croes shares the incredible, unexpected phone call that led to him signing with the Giants just two weeks before his independent season began, initiating a rapid, multi-level ascent through the affiliated ranks. He details the grind of playing two full seasons in the independent American Association and the challenges of adapting to professional life and travel, including bus bunks.

Croes also offers a fascinating international perspective, discussing his motivation to represent his home island of Aruba and the electric experience of playing in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, where he is currently working to improve his left-on-left hitting. He even recalls leading the 2025 Baseball Champions League tournament in batting average, finishing ahead of eight-time MLB All-Star Robinson Canó.

Finally, Croes emphasizes his belief in his identity as a "contact guy, gap to gap guy" and a commitment to being the "toughest out" in any league. He offers powerful advice to current DII players: never give up, stay true to your skills, and take your development, especially the weight room, seriously.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of 2025 Coaching Changes Series, Robert talks with Chris Rodriguez, the new Head Baseball Coach at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). After serving as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator, Rodriguez discusses his smooth transition and how established relationships with the team created a level of trust.

Coach Rodriguez introduces the team's new mantra, "WAR", which stands for Work, Accountability, and Resilience. He draws on his diverse coaching background, which includes the Lithuanian National Team and the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, to share insights on development and analytics. He emphasizes the importance of player growth, citing former player Seth Masters as a testament to the program's long-term development philosophy, even in the age of instant gratification.

Rodriguez details his program's focus on pitching and defense, proudly noting the program's history of high national defensive rankings and the advantage of having a full turf infield to maximize defensive practice, even during tough Midwest weather. He also touches on how discipline is taught through the inspirational story of David Eckstein, encouraging players to "earn every opportunity" and prepare for the moment. Above all, fans can expect a competitive bunch of "ball players" ready to get after it this spring.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, Robert talks with Brian Lewis, the new Head Baseball Coach at the University of South Carolina Beaufort (USCB). Coach Lewis discusses the seamless transition after being promoted from the hitting coach position and the excitement of leading the program as a full Division II member.Lewis outlines his "toughness and grinding" philosophy, focusing on instilling a winning mentality by raising the floor of talent and challenging his players to be "exhausted by the end of the day, win or lose". He shares how his extensive background, which includes coaching over 150 MLB draft picks in summer collegiate and professional baseball, helps him teach the "mental side of it" and the importance of "staying in the moment".The coach details his team culture, emphasizing positive discipline and holding each other accountable to a routine. He is focused on the Peach Belt and Southeast Region, recruiting players with a "chip on their shoulder" to compete in a highly competitive area. Finally, he tells fans to expect a fun, aggressive style of baseball on the base paths, featuring a lot of stealing and hit-and-runs.Don't miss this interview with USCB Head Coach Brian Lewis!

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, Robert sits down with Central Oklahoma's new head baseball coach, Robbie Rea. A familiar face to the program, Rea discusses his seamless transition to the head coaching role after serving as the pitching coach for three seasons. He credits his strong returning pitching staff and a great administrative team for making the process smooth. Rea also highlights the unique opportunity of coaching alongside his brother, which reinforces the program's family-like culture.

Coach Rea shares his philosophy on player development and recruiting. He emphasizes the importance of recruiting "athletes" who played multiple sports in high school and can be athletic on the mound. On the development side, Rea's focus is on putting players in competitive, "bad situations" during practice so they can learn to "dig their way out of a hole" in games. He also discusses the benefits of playing in the highly competitive MIAA conference and how the MIAA tournament's single-elimination format helps prepare teams for the postseason.

Looking ahead, Rea is committed to upholding the program's legacy of "unbelievable baseball success". He wants fans to expect a team that can pitch and play defense, but also one that is "very opportunistic" and plays with a fun, hard-nosed style of baseball. He concludes by thanking his mentors, including his father and former coaches, who have shaped him into the coach he is today.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, we welcome John Martin back to Emporia State as the program's new head baseball coach. Martin, an alumnus and former coach, discusses the excitement of returning to his alma mater, a move that brings him and his family closer to home. He reflects on his time away and the experiences that prepared him for this new role.

Coach Martin talks about the challenge of inheriting a roster and the fast-paced process of getting to know his new team and staff. He describes his coaching philosophy as an effort to take "a bunch of puzzle pieces" and fit them together, a process that happens through a lot of competition and adversity. He emphasizes that a strong culture is built on selflessness, where every player is committed to the team's shared goal.

Looking ahead, Martin is focused on building depth across the roster and recruiting players who are committed to working hard and competing every day. He expresses his excitement about the program's strong alumni network and its tradition of winning. He also highlights the importance of the team's facilities, including a full turf field, which allows them to practice consistently regardless of the weather. Above all, Martin wants his team to play a fun, hard-nosed style of baseball that will make the community proud.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this early episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes series, Robert sits down with the fourth head coach in Missouri Western history, Michael Keeran, to discuss his background and his vision for the program. Keeran, who has a strong coaching history at the junior college and high school levels, explains what drew him to Missouri Western, citing the program's strong vision, good facilities, and the highly competitive MIAA conference.

Keeran talks about his "all-in" philosophy, which focuses on winning immediately and not wasting a year on a long-term plan. He discusses the challenges of recruiting an entirely new roster of 30 players in a single summer, relying on his staff's diverse connections and a "speed dating" approach to build a team quickly.

He also details his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes physicality, consistency, and "winning baseball" — a focus on fundamental skills like hitting behind the runner and laying down a drag bunt, which often get lost in today's game. He highlights the program's state-of-the-art facilities, including a turf field and indoor training area, as a key factor in player development. Finally, Keeran shares his commitment to community involvement and building lasting relationships with alumni, local youth, and school districts to ensure the program's long-term success.

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, J.D. Hulse talks about his quick transition from assistant to head coach at Valdosta State, a move he made after working with former head coach Jan Weisberg for years, first as a player, then as a coach at Birmingham-Southern and then at Valdosta State. Hulse discusses his journey and the difficult experience of coaching Birmingham-Southern during their school's final months, a perspective he plans to use to teach his players to be grateful for what they have.

Hulse is excited to take on the challenge of leading a program with a championship tradition and high expectations. He highlights the benefits of playing in the highly competitive Gulf South and South regions, where every game is a chance to build a strong resume for a potential tournament bid.

Hulse then explains his priorities for the team, including his offensive philosophy which is centered on hitting for doubles and implementing a more aggressive base running style. He also touches on the importance of having a coaching staff that is passionate, knowledgeable, and organized. Above all, Hulse wants his team to be "gritty" and "tough" and to play with a championship-level mindset, on and off the field.

Don't miss this episode with Valdosta State Head Coach J.D. Hulse!

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes Series, Robert sits down with Thomas More Head Coach Cole Shaffer.

At just 27 years old, Cole Shaffer is ready to lead the Thomas More Saints into a new era of Division II baseball. In this episode, he discusses his journey to becoming a head coach and the unique advantage of working with an athletic administration that has deep ties to the program's successful past, including a former head baseball coach and athletic director.

Shaffer, who comes to Thomas More after a two-year stint at Ohio Dominican, talks about the offensive philosophy he plans to bring to the Saints, which is based on plate discipline and individualized approaches rather than a "cookie cutter" system. He details the challenges of inheriting a team in late July and his excitement for the 32 players who are committed to the program's new winning mindset.

The new coach also highlights the program's state-of-the-art facilities, including Thomas More Stadium, which offers a professional-quality locker room, indoor cages, and Trackman data for player development and recruiting. He emphasizes that his program is about more than just baseball; it's about providing an experience that will have a "profound impact on the next 40 years of their life". Finally, he discusses the high-energy, fast-paced culture he is building and how his players are embracing the challenge of being coached hard.

Don't miss this episode with Cole Shaffer, head coach at Thomas More!

Want to be a part of a vibrant and growing community of baseball fans? Consider joining the D2 Baseball Patreon! patreon.com/diviibaseball

In this episode of the 2025 Coaching Changes series, Robert sits down with North Georgia's newest head baseball coach, Nolan Belcher, to discuss his background and vision for the program. Belcher, a Georgia native, brings a wealth of experience from his playing days at the University of South Carolina and his coaching stints at USC Aiken, the College of Charleston, and Georgia College.

Belcher reflects on his recent success at Georgia College, including a conference tournament championship and a super regional appearance in 2024, and explains how that experience will help him at North Georgia. He also talks about taking over a program with a "strong foundation" built by former coach Tom Cantrell and the challenges of rebuilding a roster in the age of the transfer portal.

He outlines his core principles, which include recruiting tough, high-character players who are also committed to their academics and will hold each other accountable. He also expresses his excitement about the team's top-notch facilities, including a turf field and indoor facility, which he sees as a major advantage for player development. Belcher concludes by sharing his gratitude for his staff and the people who have impacted his life, emphasizing that success comes from relationships and being surrounded by good people.

Don't miss this episode with North Georgia Head Coach Nolan Belcher!