Baseball Coach

In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, who determines the starting lineup and batting order, decides how to substitute players during the game, and makes strategy decisions. Beyond the manager, more than a half dozen coaches may assist the manager in running the team. Essentially, baseball coaches are analogous to assistant coaches in other sports, as the baseball manager is to the head coach.

baseball coach

Full-time coaches in professional baseball date to 1909, when John McGraw of the New York Giants engaged Arlie Latham and Wilbert Robinson as coaches.[1] By the 1920s, most major league teams had two full-time coaches stationed in foul territory near first base and third base when their team was batting, although the manager often doubled as third-base coach, and specialists such as pitching coaches were rare. After World War II, most major league teams listed between three and five coaches on their roster, as managers increasingly ran their teams from the dugout full-time, and appointed pitching and bullpen coaches to assist them and the baseline coaches. Batting and bench coaches came into vogue during the 1960s and later.[1] Because of the proliferation of uniformed coaches in the modern game, by the late 2000s Major League Baseball had restricted the number of uniformed staff to six coaches and one manager during the course of a game.[2] Beginning with the 2013 season, clubs have been permitted to employ a seventh uniformed coach, designated the assistant hitting coach, at their own discretion.[3]

More recently, the bench coach is a team's second-in-command. The bench coach serves as an in-game advisor to the manager, offering situational advice, and exchanging ideas in order to assist the manager in making strategy decisions along with relaying scouting information from the front office to the players.[5] If the manager is ejected, suspended, or unable to attend a game for any reason, the bench coach assumes the position of acting manager. If the manager is fired or resigns during the season, it is usually the bench coach who gets promoted to interim manager. The bench coach's responsibilities also include helping to set up the day's practice and stretching routines before a game, as well as coordinating spring training routines and practices.[6]

A pitching coach mentors and trains teams' pitchers. Pitching coaches can alter a pitchers arm angle, placement on the pitching rubber or pitch selection in order to improve the players performance. He advises the manager on the condition of pitchers and their arms, and serves as an in-game coach for the pitcher currently on the mound. When a manager makes a visit to the mound, he typically is doing so to make a pitching change or to discuss situational defense. A pitching coach also helps a pitcher with their mechanics and pitch selection against a specific batter that may be coming up. However, to talk about mechanics or how to pitch to a particular batter, the pitching coach is the one who will typically visit the mound.[7] The pitching coach is generally a former pitcher. One exception is Dave Duncan, the former pitching coach of the St. Louis Cardinals, who was a catcher. Prior to the early 1950s, pitching coaches were usually former catchers.[8]

The bullpen coach is similar to a pitching coach, but works primarily with relief pitchers in the bullpen. He does not make mound visits; rather, he stays in the bullpen the entire game, working with relievers who are warming up to enter the game, while also offering advice on pitching mechanics and pitch selection. Generally, the bullpen coach is either a former pitcher or catcher.

A hitting coach, as the name suggests, works with a team's players to improve their batting techniques and form. He monitors players' swings during the game and over the course of the season, advising them when necessary between at bats on adjustments to make. He also oversees their performance during practices, cage sessions, and pre-game batting practice. With the advent of technology, hitting coaches are increasingly utilizing video to analyze their hitters along with scouting the opposing pitchers. Video has allowed hitting coaches to clearly illustrate problem areas in the swing, making the adjustment period quicker for the player being analyzed. This process is typically called video analysis.

The bench coach, third-base coach, and first-base coach often are assigned additional responsibility for assisting players in specific areas, particularly defense. Common designations include outfield instructor, infield instructor, catching instructor, and baserunning instructor.[9] When a coaching staff is assembled, the selection of the first-base coach is frequently made with the purpose of filling a gap in these coaching responsibilities, as the actual in-game duties of a first-base coach are relatively light.

Teams may also employ individuals to work with players in other areas or activities. These positions sometimes include the word "coach" in their titles. Individuals holding these positions usually do not dress in uniform during games, as the number of uniformed coaches is restricted by Major League Baseball rules. The most prominent of these positions are the athletic trainer and the strength and conditioning coach. All Major League Baseball teams employ an athletic trainer; most employ a strength and conditioning coach. Other positions include bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher. Some teams also employ additional coaches without specific responsibilities.

In general, major league teams will have one person specifically assigned to each coaching position described above. However, minor league and amateur teams typically have coaches fulfill multiple responsibilities. A typical minor league/amateur team coaching structure will have a manager, a pitching coach, and a hitting coach, each of whom also assumes the responsibilities of the first- and third-base coaches, bullpen coach, etc. In U.S. college baseball, the title "manager" is not used; the person who fills the role of a professional manager is instead called the "head coach".

Responsibilities of a youth baseball coach include providing a safe environment for everyone. A coach is responsible for inspecting fields and equipment that is used for practice and competition to ensure it is safe. Communication is key when dealing with youth baseball as being positive to other coaching staff, umpires, administrators and others shows that they have a players best interest at heart. Coaches are there not to just work with the stars to get them better but everyone so it is a fair learning experience. [10]Teaching the fundamental skills of baseball is important as a youth coach because in the end baseball is a game, therefore coaches want players to have fun. Having a fun but productive practice environment is important. The rules of baseball are necessary in youth baseball. Many rules such as sliding, the strike zone, and defensive rules are needed. [11]

Hughes, who has a proven track record of setting new standards of excellence, has compiled a career record of 750-584-3 (.562) in 25 seasons as a head coach. He began his head coaching career at Trinity University (1997-98) while also serving as the skipper at Boston College (1999-2006), Virginia Tech (2007-13) and Oklahoma (2014-17). His 750 career victories ranks first among active Big 12 head coaches.

In four seasons as the head coach of the Wildcats, Hughes has put together a 98-92 (.516) record after leading the Cats to two straight runs in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship semifinals. In 2021, K-State turned in a 34-23 mark, its highest win total since posting 45 in 2013.

Hughes has made a name for himself within the community throughout his career, starting with his 19 Ways Foundation which he has taken with him at every coaching stop. During each of his four fall seasons at K-State, the Wildcats have led the country in money raised for the annual College Baseball Vs. Cancer campaign, the signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Hughes began his coaching career at Hamilton College in New York in 1990-91, serving as an assistant in football and was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for baseball. He continued in that dual role at Northeastern University in Boston from the fall of 1991 until the spring of 1996 when he landed the head baseball coaching position at Trinity.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee suspended baseball coach Tony Vitello on Friday for the Volunteers' weekend series with Dayton while university officials, Vitello and the NCAA handle a violation in the program.

Officials announced the suspension right before the third-ranked Volunteers opened a three-game set with Dayton. Josh Elander is replacing Vitello as acting head coach. The university said an update will be provided Monday.

"Coach Vitello has acknowledged his mistake and accepted full responsibility," Tennessee said in a statement. "We appreciate his cooperation in the process and his dedication to do right by the student-athletes in the Tennessee baseball program."

Scott Googins was named the 28th head baseball coach at the University of Cincinnati on June 6, 2017 and will enter his sixth season in the spring of 2023.In 2022, the Bearcats continued to experience success as Griffin Merritt was named the AAC Player of the Year, joining Ian Happ (2015) as the only two Cincinnati baseball players to win the award. Merritt was also named CoSIDA First Team All-American, ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region and AAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Five Bearcats took home All-AAC honors in total, tying the Bearcats record since joining the AAC. In addition to the individual accolades, the Bearcats finished the year 35th in the nation with 87 homers and 27th in homers per game (1.58), both of which led the AAC.Googins guided the Bearcats to their first winning season since 2011 in 2021. UC finished 29-26 and had five players named to the All-AAC First or Second Team. Left-handed pitcher Evan Shawver was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. In addition to Shawver, pitcher Garrett Schoenle was signed by the Chicago White Sox as a NDFA. Besides the talented pitching, the Bearcats had one of the best offenses in the conference in 2021, ranking in the top-3 in just about every offensive category.Prior to a pandemic-shortened 2020, Googins led the Bearcats to one of the most successful seasons in program history in 2019. Despite a slow 1-9 start, UC found itself as the No. 2 seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament where they were yet to win a game. After winning its first three, UC went on to trounce UConn 22-5 to win the AAC Tournament title and advance to the NCAA postseason for the first time in 45 years. With the automatic bid, the Bearcats were shipped west to reigning CWS champion Oregon State for NCAA Regional action. On the big stage the win streak continued with a dramatic 7-6 victory over the national-host Beavers. The magic came to an end with a loss the next day to eventual CWS runner-up Michigan. UC's historic 2019 season came to a close with a 31-31 final tally.Googins' had made magic in the Queen City before and proved he could do it again in his second year of 2019. The team broke numerous records during the campaign. Six Bearcats earned All-AAC Tournament honors with AJ Bumpass being named the tournament MVP. Three players were named to the Corvallis Regional All-Tournament Team. Bumpass was later drafted by the Cincinnati Reds. The win over Oregon State marked Googins' 400th in his storied career.In his first season, Googins guided UC to its best finish since 2011 as the Bearcats finished at 28-28 overall and an even 12-12 in American Athletic Conference play, one of the toughest RPI conferences in the nation. UC led the nation in double plays, turned a triple-play for the fifth time in school history and earned numerous individual achievements. Shortstop Manny Rodriguez was drafted in the tenth round while pitchers Cam Alldred and J.T. Perez also were selected in the MLB draft. All three were all-conference honorees (Rodriguez and Perez on First Team, Alldred on Second), marking the first time UC has ever had two first team honorees and three total honorees in AAC history. Nine different players earned weekly conference accolades throughout the season.In addition, Connor McVey tied for fifth all-time in single season sacrifice flies, Perez tied for fifth in starts and Alldred had the seventh-most strikeouts in a season in UC history. McVey was honored as the 2017-18 AAC Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Catcher Joey Thomas landed on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List and pitcher Nathan Moore was honored as a Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sports Scholar, as the awards came both on the field and in the classroom. An impressive 23 Bearcats landed on the AAC All-Academic Team for having a 3.0 GPA or better. After posting a 3.20 fall GPA and 3.26 GPA in the spring, UC was recognized by the American Baseball Coaches Association with the Team Academic Excellence Award. 041b061a72