Rob Fournier, former head coach at Wabash Valley and current coach at Western Kentucky University, discusses his decision to leave a successful junior college program and make the jump to coaching at the Division I level. He shares his approach to building a winning culture and getting the most out of his players. Fournier also talks about his recruiting strategies and how he finds talented players who may have been overlooked by other programs. He emphasizes the importance of developing relatio...
Sep 04, 2023•34 min•Ep. 319
Matt Hollod is the associate head coach at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho. With over 20 years of coaching experience at various levels, including Division One, Division Two, Division Three, and junior college, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the podcast. Summary: In this episode, Patrick Jones interviews Matt Hollod, associate head coach at Northwest Nazarene University. They discuss the recruiting process, the transfer portal, and the differences between different lev...
Aug 28, 2023•50 min•Ep. 318
Alan Jaeger is a mental skills coach who specializes in working with athletes in baseball and softball. He has worked with players at all levels, from youth to professional, and is known for his expertise in meditation and mental wellness in sports. Summary: In this episode, Alan Jaeger discusses the importance of meditation and mental practice in baseball and softball. He emphasizes that there is no age limit for starting these practices and believes that introducing basic concepts at a young a...
Aug 21, 2023•52 min•Ep. 317
Dr. Lauren Bailey is joining us today, a leading sports vision expert. In this episode, we'll uncover the process behind honing your visual prowess on the field, gaining insights into how top athletes enhance their performance through cutting-edge vision techniques. Timestamps for Dr. Bailey [3:33] Can we take good vision and make it great? [5:10] Vision Assessment [10:05] Taking Care of Your Eyesight [14:59] Thoughts on Fixation - Soft Focus and Pivot Point [21:37] Importance of decreasing anxi...
Aug 14, 2023•52 min•Ep. 316
On the latest Patrick Jones Baseball Podcast, I am talking about how to navigate the recruiting process. I talk about specific metrics needed to play at the Power 5 and D1 level, why in-game numbers matter, the pros and cons of the transfer portal, contacting college coaches, and the role social media plays in helping players get recruited. Timestamps [4:18] Pros and Cons of the Transfer Portal [7:52] What a Power 5 Player looks like [20:00] How The Scholarships are Spread Out [23:36] The Import...
Aug 07, 2023•34 min•Ep. 315
On this Patrick Jones Baseball podcast episode, we welcome Dean Jackson. Dean brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our conversation as a former professional pitcher within the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Dean has recently transitioned from his role at Driveline, where he made significant contributions to the advancement of pitching techniques through motion capture labs; his expertise in mechanics, throwing routines, and recovery remains as relevant as ever. Aspiring pitchers se...
Jul 31, 2023•47 min•Ep. 314
On the latest Patrick Jones Baseball podcast, my guest is Ryan Atkinson, current pitching coordinator at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, owner of Performance House, and former MiLB pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Ryan went from undrafted out of the University of Cincinnati, got a real job working at a hospital for 12 months, and then decided to try out for an independent team. He made the Independent Team Evansville Otters, and less than two weeks later, the Arizona...
Jul 24, 2023•53 min•Ep. 313
The current hitting coach at North Greenville, Trey Dyson, is on the podcast this week. North Greenville won the D2 National Championship in 2023. In this episode, Trey talks about his career as a coach, advice for current coaches, and what he's looking for when recruiting at North Greenville. Timestamps for Trey Dyson: [2:55] Going back to Baseball [5:28] Being on TV [7:29] Transition from TV to Coaching [9:00] Initial Thoughts on Coaching College Baseball [11:45] Building Trust with Players [2...
Jul 17, 2023•48 min•Ep. 312
This week we welcome Eddie Smith to the podcast. Eddie is the head baseball coach at Utah Valley University. No D1 college baseball program has seen a bigger turnaround than Utah Valley over the last three years. Before taking over the program in 2021, Utah Valley finished with a 10-47 record. This past 2023 season, they finished with a 34-27 record. In this episode, Eddie talks about his vision for the program, questions he asks recruits, the type of player he wants, and player development. Tim...
Jul 10, 2023•45 min•Ep. 311
Dave Lawn just completed his 8th season as a coach on the staff at the University of Arizona. Dave has been a pitching coach for nearly 40 years at the collegiate level (wow)! In this episode, he opens up about some of his mistakes, what he believes in, and stories from his coaching journey. Timestamps for Dave Lawn [2:38] Proudest Moment as a Coach [5:26] Connecting with the Players [16:21] Numbers that get you Recruited [28;20] The Importance of Breathing [39:37] Visualization [41:03] Coaching...
Jul 03, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 310
In this episode, we have Matt Richter, the head baseball coach at Cedarville University in the great state of Ohio. Matt has over 25 years of experience in baseball as a coach, scout, and recruiter. This past season was his first as a head coach. We talk about common mistakes in the recruiting process, what he looks for in players, and his vision for his program. Timestamps for Matt Richter [2:06] The Importance of getting to know your guys [3:40] Things to Improve upon [9:23] Helping Players th...
Jun 26, 2023•48 min•Ep. 309
Our guest today needs a minimal introduction. He has worked with MLB All-Stars, Olympic gold medalists, and athletes in all sports. Brian Cain has been helping players improve on the mental side of the game for over 20 years. In today's episode, he gives practical ways that you can help players with the mental side of the game right away. I've attached links in the show notes if you want to listen to Brian's podcast and connect with him further. Timestamps for Brian Cain [4:41] Things Baseball P...
Jun 19, 2023•46 min•Ep. 308
Darren Ware is currently the pitching coach at Walsh University in Ohio. Walsh is a Division 2 college baseball program. Darren explains the competition at the D2 level, how he coached his sons growing up (both now college pitchers) and combining old school + new school pitching techniques. Timestamps for Darren Ware [2:48] Agenda for the Summer [4:33] Things Coaches are looking for during Recruitment [8:41] The Importance of Height in Pitchers [11:32] Advice to parents whose kids want to play i...
Jun 12, 2023•46 min•Ep. 307
Aaron just completed his second season at Eastern Michigan University, where his pitchers broke the single-season strikeout record for the second straight season. In this episode, Aaron breaks down his philosophy on pitching development, the mental game, analytics, and what he's learned over his coaching career. Timestamps [4:10] Transition from Division 2 to Division 1 (from a coaching standpoint) [8:45] Changes after fixing a pitcher’s issues [10:18] Red and Yellow Flags [12:15] Recruiting and...
Jun 05, 2023•44 min•Ep. 306
This week I sat down with current ESPN Softball Analyst and former All-American @ Texas A&M, Tori Vidales. Tori is currently a professional softball player for Athletes Unlimited. In this episode, she talks about her background as a player, adjusting as an analyst, and what she wants to improve upon this upcoming season with Athletes Unlimited. Timestamps for Tori Vidales [2:35] Highschool Journey [7:30] Hitting off of a Tee [8:44] Routine before playing the game [13:35] Post Softball life [...
May 29, 2023•51 min•Ep. 305
Bat Speed. You want more of it but don't know how to get it. Do you swing weighted bats? Lift heavier weights? What should you do in the weight room? This week, we welcome Bill Miller to the podcast. Bill specializes in working with rotational athletes. In this episode, he talks about the ways he has been able to help hitters develop more bat speed and increase their exit velocity at the plate. Timestamps for Bill Miller [3:33] Helping Athletes Build Rotational Power and Strength [5:33] Bat Spee...
May 22, 2023•46 min•Ep. 304
Dr. Ismael Gallo, a physical therapist who was once a professional baseball player, appears in today's episode. As a current physical therapist and a former baseball player, he can mix movement and on-field baseball and comprehend abilities and skill growth. He also created a movement system that enables players to execute more effectively from a young age through high school, junior high, college, and professional baseball. This is Dr. Gallo's second time on the podcast. His first episode was #...
May 15, 2023•50 min•Ep. 303
This week we're focusing on the mental side of the game. This is what I've seen separate players over the years. Of course, you have to have the physical skills, but you'd be surprised at how many players have better physical skills but can never seem to put it all together. The reason? The mental game. In today's episode, I'm sharing 7 ways to help players with the mental side of the game. Timestamps [0:44] A Player’s Version of Success [3:40] Plan for Failure [7:23] The Process Checklist [9:19...
May 08, 2023•21 min•Ep. 302
This week we're talking to two great coaches in the private sector. John Sangillo @AcesSangillo and Matt Pilewski @kingfish626 . John is a hitting coach In New Jersey who works with 100s of hitters. He has traveled all over the country doing private clinics. John constantly learns about hitting and discusses how he works with hitters. Matt Pilewski owns PVS Baseball , a baseball facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Matt talks about how he started coaching and what working with pitchers at his f...
May 01, 2023•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 301
Junior College Baseball. That's the theme of this week's episode. Our guest is Erik Shoenrock, head baseball coach at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Erik played collegiately at the University of Memphis and was drafted by the San Diego Padres. In this episode, we cover everything about junior college baseball. How the scholarship process work, roster sizes, tuition, recruiting, development, NCAA rules, and everything else you can think of. Timestamps [6:10] Recruitment after junior colle...
Apr 24, 2023•42 min•Ep. 300
Tyler Zombro is a professional pitcher who spent several years in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. In 2019 he was named minor league reliever of the year. Even though he is a professional pitcher, Tyler is also a full-time employee of Tread Athletics. A company that trains pitchers remotely. In this episode, we talk about Tyler's personal development and what he's seen work in developing pitchers and what hasn't. If you love pitching, you will love this episode. Timestamps for Tyler Zombro [7:15...
Apr 17, 2023•50 min•Ep. 299
In today's episode, we're talking about the 'thing' that has ended careers. The word that nobody wants to say out loud in a clubhouse. We're talking about beating the yips. Today's guest is Jason Kuhn, a former college pitcher whose career ended when he got the Yips. Devasted, he wanted to prove to himself that he was mentally tough. So he decided to become a Navy Seal. After he served, he came back to the United States and started working with pitchers who were dealing with the same issue that ...
Apr 10, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 298
Travel Softball can feel like a maze to families. Which tournaments should you attend? What team should you play on? When should you start playing travel softball? This week I sit down with Texas Glory assistant coach Mike Zimmer. Mike has coached travel softball for several years and has a daughter going through the recruiting process. Mike also runs the biggest softball Facebook page. If you are affiliated with travel softball, you will love this episode. Timestamps for Mike Zimmer [3:35] Savi...
Apr 03, 2023•47 min•Ep. 297
Patrick Jones @pjonesbaseball is joined by Tom House @tomhouse this week. Tom House doesn't need much of an introduction. He has been involved with baseball for over 40 years. After his MLB pitcher career ended, he decided to take up coaching and became an MLB pitching coach. He had such a big impact that Nolan Ryan mentioned him in his hall of fame speech as someone who made a massive impact on his career. After coaching at the MLB level, Tom decided he could impact more players working in the ...
Mar 27, 2023•53 min•Ep. 296
Patrick Jones @pjonesbaseball is joined by Kurt Elbin @elbin_kurt this week. Kurt is the recruiting coordinator and associate head coach at Virginia Tech University. He has coached at division 3 and division 2 levels of college baseball. Prior to Virginia Tech, he was at Virginia Commonwealth University, coaching under Shawn Stiffler who was recently on the podcast . In this episode Kurt opens up about his philosophy on developing hitters in his program, how he's evolved over time, recruiting, a...
Mar 20, 2023•48 min•Ep. 295
Chad Miller is the Co-Founder of the Louisville Slugger Science Hitting Center. Chad works with players at every level of the game and is a consultant to several MLB organizations. He is on the cutting edge of technology in hitting, and In this episode, we talk about some of the things that Chad walks us through in his evaluation process. We get into bat fitting, force plates, technology, and his vision for the future of hitting development. Timestamps [2:37] Common Hitting Traits that Need Impr...
Mar 13, 2023•51 min•Ep. 294
This week we welcome the head baseball coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Shawn Stiffler. This season, 2023, is Shawn's first year as the head coach at Notre Dame. Previously he was the head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University. In this episode, we talk about all good head coaches' traits, how to run an organized practice, and how Shawn has changed over his coaching career. [2:28] The Most Important Quality of a Head Coach [4:38] Communication Skills [8:17] Structuring Baseball Practic...
Mar 06, 2023•45 min•Ep. 293
This week we welcome one of the best coaches I have heard speak on the mental side of the game, Andy Mckay. Andy is currently the Assistant GM for the Seattle Mariners. In this episode, we talk about goal setting, preparing for failure, and why as a coach, you should be coaching a player's response and not their result. Time Stamps [6:04] The Importance of Long-Term and Short-Term Goals for Players [11:41] Key Focus Areas for Mental development [19:04] Helping players Prepare for Failure [26:07]...
Feb 27, 2023•59 min•Ep. 292
On this week's episode, we welcome Jason Mills. Jason is the head coach for DH Conley High School, pitching coach for the Canes 17u National, scout for the New York Mets, President of the North Carolina baseball coaches association, and a high school chemistry teacher. This episode discusses developing high school pitchers in a team setting. If you enjoy this episode, please share it with someone you think would like to listen. Timestamps [2:18] Weekly Activities to Reach Your Potential: A Guide...
Feb 20, 2023•50 min•Ep. 291
In today’s episode, my guest is Patrick Murphy, Head Softball Coach at The University of Alabama. His staff has been named NFCA south regional staff of the year 11x, including national staff of the year in 2012, he’s in the Alabama sports hall of fame, and in 2012 the Alabama Crimson Tide won the National Championship. More importantly, Coach Murphy is a good person who cares about his players. I visited him this past fall at the University of Alabama and was blown away by how well his program i...
Feb 13, 2023•40 min•Ep. 290
