How to Coach College Baseball

College baseball may not draw 100,000 fans to one of its games, but it has a national following, a national championship (the College World Series), and sends a number of players to the Major Leagues. By any criteria, it is a major inter-collegiate sport. Coaching college baseball is challenging and has its own particular problems, just like managing a team of Major Leaguers and their million-dollar salaries has its own problems.

Instructions

    • 1

      Begin the process of networking early in your baseball career. Choose an undergraduate program with a well respected baseball program. Participate all through college, even if you spend some time "riding the bench." Pay close attention to the techniques of the best coaches.

    • 2

      Break into collegiate coaching at whatever level you can, using your contacts developed through networking to find opportunities. Follow developments within the sport through sources like collegebaseballinsider.com (see Resources below).

    • 3

      Broaden your experience by attending coaching clinics run by members of the Major League community. Pick up individual coaching techniques. Pick an area such as pitching or hitting and specialize in it.

    • 4

      Move up the ladder until you have your own program. As you do, observe the recruiting skills of successful coaches whenever possible. Network with high school coaches. They will be the source of your program's talent.

    • 5

      Develop regional ties once you have your own program. Even if your particular area of the country does not have an abundance of high school talent, acknowledging what talent there is will create enthusiasm that will help your program.

    • 6

      Choose your coaching staff carefully and support them as much as you can. Try to pick coaches who have specific skills that augment yours. Also try to find coaches who are personable enough to recruit well.

    • 7

      Focus on the basics even though you are coaching at a collegiate level. Establish a year around conditioning and skills program. Develop the resources to help athletes who struggle academically or emotionally.