What are things you think are important to making a great baseball team and program? 

I want to coach those young guys just as hard as old guys, because they’re the future. So they learn what we’re talking about as a staff and that way, when our varsity next year, it’s their turn, they already know. Yeah, so we take the time to coach them. And I tell the young kids, guys, although you’re not on varsity, I mean, you’re the future. So I’m as excited as they are. 

Do you have any goals that aren’t related to baseball?

We preach being a good teammate, which basically comes down to, one day you can be a good father, you’re gonna be a good human. Outside of baseball, baseball is [only] gonna take you so far. When you go to college, be a straight A student, there’s more in life than baseball and sports. One day, you’re gonna be a father, you’re gonna be a husband, you gotta be a brother. It’s my job to teach you more than just about baseball. It’s how to be a grown man. It’s just things like that, that I tried to instill in them. And it always comes back to being a good teammate. And that’s what I always preached to them.

What is your favorite part of baseball? 

Just being out there with the guys. I love doing what I’m doing in the classroom, but when I get to the baseball field, it just picks up a notch. Being out there and seeing them learn and seeing them grow and how excited they get to be on the baseball field. And just knowing that they give it all to God. It really starts with your seniors. Any time a first year head coach comes in, it’s kind of hard. Those seniors have had somebody over the last three years and it’s all about my job as best as they want to get those guys on board with what I’m doing. So when I get those seniors on board, and the rest of them will follow suit, and so far, these guys have been nothing but great. There’s 14 of them, which is a lot. And they’ve been great since day one, they’re as excited as I am.

What changes have you made or are planning to make?

They’ve had a very successful program here, and it’s just my job to come in and maybe tweak a few things and just continue with what they’ve been doing and just play fast and play strong. Just getting the buy in, it’s all about getting that big buy in from the whole program from the top player on varsity to your last player on the sophomore team. I’m a very big program guy, which means I want to make sure that the young guys do just as good as varsity guys. And I want to make sure that they know that I know who they are. Because I’ve been at places where I’ve worked for guys, and they’re like, hey, go tell so-and -so to come here. And so, I just wanted to make sure when I’m a head coach, they know that I know their name, know who they are, what they can do, that they’re important to the program. 

What’s different about Seven Lakes than the other schools you have coached? 

So this school is totally different. I’ve been in places where, I get 30, 40 kids in the whole program. When I already have 14 Seniors, you can just tell right there that baseball is very important here. It’s just crazy how good every sport is. And I want to make sure that we keep that standard here at Seven Lakes with the baseball program. When you see soccer is ranked number two in the state, girls soccer, boys basketball is beating Tompkins, scoring 100, it is my job to make sure that our baseball kids get in line, follow suit and make sure that we’re successful too. And like I said, the kids, they love baseball here. I’ve been to schools where I gotta go recruiting hallways. I’ve been at schools like, hey, you wanna come play baseball. So being here at Seven Lakes, it’s been awesome. Here it’s 60 kids easily, so that’s good. 

What would say is the most difficult aspect of coaching baseball or coaching in general? 

The difficulty here is going to be trying to find playing time for 25 guys on the roster. And it’s just for me to keep preaching, work while you wait. Work [and] you’re gonna get your time. So I wish I could play all 18 of you. But hey, guys, there’s nine spots. So it’s your job to work and when I call your name, just be ready to roll.

What is your personal history playing baseball? 

So I played at Spring High School, and then I went and played at St. Jack Community College out of high school. And then I was only there for a year. I got redshirted there because I had an injury and shoulder surgery. So then I went to Angeline junior college for two years out in East Texas. And then I finished my playing career at SFA. For two years playing there, had a bunch of arm problems. I couldn’t buckle my seat belts. I had people like, you’re gonna go try for pro ball, and I was like, no, I want to get my degree, teach, coach and get out, throw, catch with my son one day.