Mike Rathwell, CEO of Driveline Baseball, joins the ABCA Podcast this week. Driveline has been at the forefront of pushing data-driven player development and are continuing to push the envelope on cost-effective player development. We discuss Driveline's new initiative of Pitch AI, which uses motion capture on your phone. We also dive into his affinity for Warren Buffet and Charlie Munger, Driveline's partnership with Motus Sleeve, saving time with Driveline's TRAC program, keys to self discover...
Aug 31, 2020•1 hr 22 min
On this week's ABCA Podcast, we have the Iowa High School state championship coaches joining us for a roundtable on their seasons and how all of them dealt with COVID-19 protocols. This is a great episode for because it deals with the questions around COVID-19 and the answers each of these programs came up with. We hear from 1A coach Joel Shares from Don Bosco, 2A co-head coaches Eben Baumhover and Mike Kennedy from Van Meter, 3A coach Chad Wiedmann from Norwalk and 4A coach Michael Barta from J...
Aug 24, 2020•58 min
We catch up with Tom Oldham, owner Dynamic Velocity, in this episode of the ABCA Podcast. He is an Omaha native, pitched collegiately at Creighton University and was an eighth-round draft pick of the Marlins in 2003. In this episode we cover his core beliefs in players development, habit building, building trust with your athletes by asking questions, challenges of running a facility, and some of his favorite books: Atomic Habits, It Takes What It Takes, The Power of Habit, The Inner Game of Ten...
Aug 17, 2020•57 min
This episode features Lauren Johnson, the Mental Conditioning Coordinator for the New York Yankees. She also has experience working at the IMG Academy with Justin Su’a and at the collegiate level with Sacramento State baseball and Point Loma Nazarene soccer. Johnson played soccer collegiately for San Francisco and Point Loma. We discuss how to help players that are dealing with injuries stay engaged, helping with triggers to get unstuck, how getting turned down for a job with the Army was the be...
Aug 10, 2020•1 hr 4 min
We continue with the second half of this special ABCA Podcast series as longtime longtime college coaches Mark Martinez (San Diego State) and Spencer Allen (Northwestern) serve as hosts again, this time interviewing Eastern Kentucky University head coach Edwin Thompson and Presbyterian College head coach Elton Pollock. Both Thompson and Pollock have very unique paths to becoming NCAA Div. I head coaches and are great examples of each person having an interesting journey in the coaching professio...
Aug 05, 2020•1 hr 17 min
This ABCA Podcast features a new twist, as longtime longtime college coaches Mark Martinez (San Diego State) and Spencer Allen (Northwestern) will be hosts and are interviewing MLB Diversity Pipeline Director Tyrone Brooks and Brewers Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator Quintin Berry. Allen is in his fourth season as the head coach at Northwestern University and his 18th season coaching overall. Martinez is in his seventh season as the head coach at San Diego State and has more than 30 years of...
Aug 04, 2020•1 hr 28 min
This episode features University of Iowa pitching coach Robin Lund, who has a doctorate in exercise science and is a certified strength and conditioning coach. He spent 16 years in the classroom and lab teaching at the University of Northern Iowa, where he also helped with the baseball and softball programs. We dive deep into motor learning, the future of cognitive training for baseball players and his "Big Five" ideas on leveraging motor learning to improve effeciency. We also dive into his res...
Aug 03, 2020•48 min
ABCA official partner Rapsodo recently donated more than $50,000 to Turn Two for Youth, the official charity of the ABCA, to support youth baseball. In this podcast episode, we connect with Rapsodo Marketing Manager Kate Tuttle, Rapsodo Director of Diamond Sports Seth Daniels as well as Eric Smith and Billy Owens from Turn Two for Youth. We discuss Rapsodo’s donation to Turn Two for Youth, hear about how Turn Two for Youth got started, and both organizations go into what the ABCA has meant to bo...
Jul 27, 2020•51 min
This episode features Steve Goody, the CEO and Co-Founder of Pocket Radar. He is also on the advisory board of On Base U. and has spent over 35 years in the technology industry as a system architect and designer of hardware and software systems and products. Steve is named an inventor/co-inventor on 17 patents and holds a BSEE from the UC-Davis. In this episode we discuss how Pocket Radar came to be as an idea and then a company, his mission for Pocket Radar, the updates to Smart Coach and his r...
Jul 20, 2020•1 hr
We connect with LSU-Eunice head baseball coach and Athletic Director Jeff Willis in this episode of the ABCA Podcast. We cover everything that goes into being a coach and AD, and also discuss what it takes to develop a national championship program and championship-caliber people.
Jul 13, 2020•1 hr 16 min
This episode with Creighton University assistant coach Connor Gandossy is a blue print for recruiting and developing at the NCAA Division I level. We deep dive into the 12-month calendar of recruiting and developing players. Is a great listen for anyone interested in the amount of time and preparation it takes to perform the job of recruiting and coaching at the Division I level.
Jul 06, 2020•1 hr 29 min
We catch up with Alan Jaeger, CEO of Jaeger Sports in this ABCA Podcast episode. He is one of the Forefathers to the modern day warm up, training and throwing and founded Jaeger Sports on the principle that athletes need to develop both their physical and mental skills in order to be successful in game situations. He is also the author of the Year Round Throwing Manual and his “J Bands” can be seen at any baseball field in the world from the Pro Level on down to Youth Baseball. He has also been ...
Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 33 min
We hear great perspectives in this episode with Blake Beemer, recruiting coordinator Ball State, Kenny Fullman, program manager Chicago White Sox ACE Program, and Edwin Thompson, head coach Eastern Kentucky University. Beemer has had previous coaching stints at Penn State and Eastern Illinois University. Fullman is one of the founders of the White Sox Amateur City Elite Program. He has been a member of the Chicago Police Department for 25 years. He was also the head coach at Harlan Academy for 2...
Jun 22, 2020•1 hr 7 min
We connect with Kerrick Jackson, head coach at Southern University, and Juahn Clark, Assistant Executive Director at the ABCA, to talk about diversity in this special episode. Jackson is going into his third season as head coach at Southern University. He is also the Chair of the ABCA Diversity Committee. Jackson has worked with the Boras Corporation and scouted with the Washington Nationals. Prior to coaching the Jaquars he had stops at Missouri, Nicholls State, Fairfield, Emporia State and Cof...
Jun 15, 2020•1 hr 20 min
Pete Savage, head coach of Reno High School and Reno Legion Baseball in Nevada, joins us as we resume our weekly ABCA Podcast episodes. We discuss his team core covenants of H.U.S.K.I.E.S, using outside resources to help his program, keys to building a successful program, accountabiity for players, great tips on parents in the program, his favorite team building exercises, fundraising ideas and tips for young coaches.
Jun 08, 2020•1 hr 2 min
In the final episode of the Father-Son Miniseries, ABCA Podcast host Ryan Brownlee sits down with his own dad, Jim. Jim was a 30-year NCAA Div. I head coach at the University of Evansville and Illinois State and is a Lifetime ABCA member. He came out of retirement in 2013 to be the pitching coach at the University of Iowa. He currently works for his other son with Diamond Sports Promotions. Jim coached a son for eight-straight years and a coached with a son for 14 years. We also dive into some o...
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 14 min
This Father-Son Miniseries episode features one of the most prolific father and son coaching combos in college baseball history: Mike Martin Senior and Junior. In 25 years together as a player/coach or head/assistant coach duo, they had 17 Super Regional berths, 10 College World Series appearances and averaged over 40 wins per season. Senior retired with 2029 wins, the all-time record for coaching wins in any division. Junior took over as head coach of the Florida State program this past season ...
Jun 04, 2020•34 min
We connect with Andy, Michael and David Lopez in this ABCA Father-Son Miniseries episode. Andy is one of only three coaches to lead three different programs to the College World Series along with Larry Cochell and Ron Polk. He and Augie Garrido are the only coaches to win national championships at two different programs (1992 Pepperdine and 2012 Arizona). He retired from coaching in 2015 and was inducted to the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2018. Michael and David both were members of the 2012 national c...
Jun 03, 2020•57 min
This ABCA Father-Son Miniseries episode features Mike, Ben, Drew and Sam Bianco. Mike has been the head coach at Ole Miss for 19 seasons and is the winningest and longest active coach in the SEC among all baseball, basketball and football coaches. He has 16 NCAA Tournament appearances, six Super Regional berths and one College World Series appearance. He won three national championships as a member of Skip Bertman's staff at LSU. Ben is a junior at Louisville, Drew is a sophomore at LSU and Sam ...
Jun 02, 2020•1 hr 4 min
We connect with Dr. Joe Eisenmann from Volt Athletics in this episode to discuss dynamic warmup and training recommendations, the Relative Age Effect, why he believes in No Lines, No Laps, No Lectures, why he loves Scott Berry (ABCA Board member and head coach at Mayville State) and his work with Volt Athletics. He also gives podcast and book recommendations for Long Term Athletic Development.
Jun 01, 2020•50 min
We speak with Bill and Kyle Decker in this Father-Son Miniseries episode. Bill has coached collegiately for 31 years, with a majority of those seasons at Trinity in Connecticut and the past eight seasons as head coach at Harvard. In 2019, Harvard won the Ivy League Championship and competed in the NCAA Regional. In 21 years as head coach at Trinity, the Bantams had nine NCAA Regional appearances, three College World Series appearances and won the national championship in 2008 with a 45-1 record....
May 29, 2020•56 min
This Father-Son Miniseries episode features Eric and Jake Snider. Eric has coached at the University of Louisville for the past six seasons, helping the Cardinals to two CWS appearances, four ACC Atlantic Division Championships, and four NCAA Super Regional Appearances. Prior to Louisville, Eric was the Associate Head Coach at the University of Illinois and addition to several other stops before that. Jake played for Eric at Louisville from 2017-19. The 2018 and 2019 seasons ended in Omaha. Jake...
May 28, 2020•54 min
In this Father-Son Miniseries episode, we speak with Mitch and Derek Hannahs and they also discuss Mitch's youngest son, Kaleb. Mitch has been the head coach at Indiana State for seven seasons, returning to his alma mater in 2013, where he is a member of the school's Hall of Fame. Mitch has been part of six of the program's 10 NCAA Tournament appearances as a player, assistant or head coach, and also has experience at the junior college level. Derek started his collegiate career at Ohio State be...
May 27, 2020•55 min
This Father-Son Miniseries episode features ABCA Board member John Casey along with his four sons, Brian, Kevin, Brendan and Chris, who have all gone on to become baseball coaches themselves. John has coached 38 seasons at Tufts, including 36 as head coach, and was inducted to the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2020. The Jumbos have qualified for the NCAA Tournament five of their last nine seasons. Brian and Kevin both played for John at Tufts. Brian is currently the pitching coach at William and Mary whi...
May 26, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Northwestern University head baseball coach Spencer Allen joins us in this episode as we cover he and his staff's experience with On Base U, how they are implementing the assessments with their players, what separates good players, block and random practice, his biggest transition from assistant to head coach, delegating responsibility to assistant coaches, tips for youth practice planning and some great book and podcast recommendations.
May 25, 2020•40 min
This Father-Son Miniseries episode features Mike and Brian Roberts. Mike coached at the University of North Carolina for 20 seasons as well as multiple stops in the Cape Cod League. He has been the manager of the Cotuit Kettleers since 2004, leading them to three championships, and has coached with the Chicago Cubs for last seven years. Brian played for Mike for the Tar Heels in 1997 and 1998 before one season for Ray Tanner at South Carolina. Brian was drafted by the Orioles in he first round i...
May 22, 2020•54 min
We connect with living legend Woody Hunt and his sons, Scott and Ryan in this Father-Son Miniseries episode. Woody has over 1600 wins in four decades of coaching at Cumberland University and was recently honored with the Pat Summit Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2013, he was inducted to the ABCA Hall of Fame. Cumberland University has 12 World Series appearances and has won three national championships under his watch. Scott played for Woody from 1992-95, has extensive experience coaching at the...
May 21, 2020•55 min
This Father-Son Miniseries episode features Ed and Mick Mathey. Ed has been a head coach for 27 seasons with 15 at North Central College and 12 at Northern Illinois University. North Central has won a record five-straight CCIW Championships. Mick played for Ed at North Central from 2017-19. The 2017 season ended with a College World Series appearance. Mick recently graduated from North Central College with a double major in finance and economics.
May 20, 2020•46 min
Continuing our Father-Son Miniseries, we speak with Scott and Jeff Pickler. Scott is an ABCA and Cape League Hall of Famer who is most well known as head coach at Cypress College and the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Jeff played for Scott at Cypress College in 1996 for one season and then transferred to the University of Tennessee, where he was the 1998 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. He played in the minors for eight seasons, was a pro scout with the Arizona Diamondbacks and coached unde...
May 19, 2020•52 min
In this episode, we connect with Joe Moroney from Always Grind 365. We discuss his path from high school in California to the University of Kansas and playing for coach Rich Price. We get on the topic of independent baseball and playing for longtime manager Greg Tagert. He gives great info on how to implement journaling and how it helps your mental health and athletic performance.
May 18, 2020•50 min
