BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

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BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Ken Carpenter

177 episodes

6 days ago

Send us a text Twenty-two coaching vacancies in one county—without scandal, without losing streaks—just a wave of veteran leaders saying, “Enough.” We sit down with Mansfield News Journal sports reporter Jake Furr to unpack the forces driving high school coaches out: parents bypassing the chain of command, school boards overruling athletic directors, and an expectations spiral fueled by travel ball spending and the D1-or-bust myth. Jake walks us through the stories behind his three-part seri...

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Send us a text Twenty-two coaching vacancies in one county—without scandal, without losing streaks—just a wave of veteran leaders saying, “Enough.” We sit down with Mansfield News Journal sports reporter Jake Furr to unpack the forces driving high school coaches out: parents bypassing the chain of command, school boards overruling athletic directors, and an expectations spiral fueled by travel ball spending and the D1-or-bust myth. Jake walks us through the stories behind his three-part seri...

Show more...

Episodes (20/177)

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Why Top High School Coaches Are Walking Away

Send us a text Twenty-two coaching vacancies in one county—without scandal, without losing streaks—just a wave of veteran leaders saying, “Enough.” We sit down with Mansfield News Journal sports reporter Jake Furr to unpack the forces driving high school coaches out: parents bypassing the chain of command, school boards overruling athletic directors, and an expectations spiral fueled by travel ball spending and the D1-or-bust myth. Jake walks us through the stories behind his three-part seri...

6 days ago

36 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

The Transfer Portal Killed Freshman Playing Time: Here's Your Plan B

Send us a text Ready for an honest look at the smartest path from high school baseball to D1 and beyond? We sit down with Coach Austin Nelson of Cochise College to unpack why junior college baseball often beats jumping straight into a crowded Division I roster. With the transfer portal stacking lineups with 22 to 24-year-olds, an 18-year-old freshman can get buried. JUCO flips that script: you face peers your age, see the field early, and stack real-game reps that drive development and recrui...

1 week ago

32 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Inside Eaton High’s Blueprint For 15 State Titles

Send us a text What does it really take for a small farming community to build a high school baseball dynasty? We sit down with Eaton High School head coach Todd Hernandez to unpack the real blueprint behind 15 Colorado state titles, four since 2021, and a 74-game win streak that turned heads nationwide. No fluff, no gimmicks—just culture you can feel and drills you can steal. Todd traces the roots back to youth baseball, where kids in Eaton learn varsity habits early and see role models wea...

2 weeks ago

36 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

What Does "All In" Really Mean? Character, Effort & Teamwork

Send us a text A Hall of Fame coach with 500+ wins doesn’t hang around by accident. Coach Mike Shade of Gahanna Lincoln High School (OH) opens the dugout door to 41 years of lessons: why relationships anchor a program, how practice—not pep talks—decides results, and what “all in” really means for player standards, culture, and accountability. We trace his journey from early assistant days to a sustained run in the OCC’s gauntlet, where weekly battles sharpen teams for the state tournament. W...

3 weeks ago

36 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

What Makes a .260 Hitter More Valuable Than a .300 Hitter?

Send us a text What if the fastest way to win more games is to stop spending outs? We take a hard look at the numbers that truly drive runs—on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and the deceptively simple OPS—and show how a smarter lineup can flip close scores in your favor. From a striking Barry Bonds breakdown to a candid reflection on batting a high school star second for extra plate appearances, we lay out why batting average and RBIs often hide the real story and how to build an order...

1 month ago

16 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Failure by Design: Why Baseball Prepares You for Chaos

Send us a text A thrown chair blocks the stage door, and a young actor freezes—until a director offers three words that change everything: use the difficulty. We take that vivid moment and walk it straight into the dugout, exploring how coaches can turn injuries, slumps, rainouts, and schedule chaos into catalysts for growth. Rather than gritting our teeth and hoping the plan survives contact with reality, we show how to build plans that thrive on disruption—and teach players to see pressure ...

1 month ago

9 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

3 Fundamental Pillars Every Coach Needs in Their Baseball Program

Send us a text Mason Stookey knows the true meaning of rebuilding. When a tornado hit Coweta (OK) High School's baseball field in 2021, destroying their fence, equipment, and freshly planted rye seed, he faced a critical choice: follow the trend toward artificial turf or recommit to maintaining a premier natural playing surface. His decision to double down on tradition speaks volumes about his coaching philosophy. "When people step into our yard, I want it to be the best surface they can be ...

1 month ago

30 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Why Tough Schedules Build Championship Teams

Send us a text Championship programs aren't built on talent alone – they're founded on consistent systems, deliberate culture-building, and a philosophy that develops complete athletes. Coach Ben Evick of Cape Henlopen High School has mastered this formula, leading his program to three Delaware state championships in seven years. What stands out immediately in Coach Evick's approach is his firm belief in multi-sport participation. While many programs push early specialization, Evick actively...

1 month ago

28 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Why Coaches Play Their ‘Favorites’ — And How to Become One

Send us a text Ever wonder what separates the starters from the bench in high school baseball? The answer might surprise you—it has less to do with March tryouts and everything to do with what happens in September. The players who earn starting positions understand that the foundation is built months before the season begins. Physical preparation through consistent participation in team weightlifting programs doesn't just build strength—it demonstrates commitment while allowing coaches to ev...

2 months ago

13 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

The Secret Sauce to Winning 3 State Championships in 5 Years

Send us a text What separates consistently successful baseball programs from the rest? For Coach Jared Ingersoll of American Fork High School (UT), it's creating what he calls "the AF way" – a distinct approach to baseball marked by exceptional energy, relentless hustle, and players who genuinely compete for each other rather than themselves. After leading his program to three state championships in five years, Ingersoll pulls back the curtain on building championship culture. He reveals how...

2 months ago

43 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

5 Accountability Moves Every Championship Team Makes

Send us a text Ever wonder why some baseball programs consistently win championships while others, despite similar talent, fall short? The answer often lies in one word: accountability. But not the kind that's just plastered on team hoodies or chanted in pre-game huddles. True accountability separates the great teams from the mediocre ones, and in this episode, we dive deep into what that really means. When a player boots a ground ball or skips a workout, how the team responds reveals everyt...

2 months ago

11 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

What Does “Burn the Boats” Look Like in High School Baseball?

Send us a text Ever wonder what it takes to build a championship baseball team in a place where players sometimes have to shovel snow off the field just to practice? South Dakota State Champion coach Jeremy Van Heel takes us behind the scenes of his Brandon Valley High School program's remarkable journey to victory. When Van Heel recognized his team had championship potential, he focused not on physical skills but on the mental game. "Our biggest downfall was the eight inches between the hea...

2 months ago

27 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

How to Prepare for College Baseball: What Coaches Really Look For

Send us a text What happens when college baseball recruits finally arrive on campus? Are coaches getting the players they thought they recruited, or do they discover someone entirely different? Brian Warning, former college recruiting coordinator at Thiel and Lake Erie College, pulls back the curtain on the critical summer period before college baseball and how it separates future contributors from those who'll struggle to make the team. With candid insights gained from years evaluating tale...

3 months ago

43 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

The Most Insane Baseball Performance You’ve Never Heard Of

Send us a text Some baseball stories transcend the game itself, becoming legends that remind us why we love this sport. Ryan Heath's April 23, 2007 performance is exactly that kind of story. Imagine a quiet, hardworking kid from a small rural high school who had never hit a grand slam in his life. Then, in one magical doubleheader for Oakland University, he launches three grand slams, adds another home run, and drives in a staggering 14 RBIs. This isn't fiction – it's the incredible true sto...

3 months ago

8 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

4 Moments That Defined the Greatest CWS Upset Ever - Gary Gilmore

Send us a text When Gary Gilmore arrived at Coastal Carolina, they had won just 17 games the previous season. Nobody—except perhaps Gilmore himself—believed this program could ever reach college baseball's pinnacle. Yet through a remarkable development-focused philosophy, unwavering faith, and a culture built on love, Gilmore guided the Chanticleers to one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. The 2016 College World Series champions weren't built on blue-chip recruits or lavish...

3 months ago

1 hour 32 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

3 Leadership Lessons That Ignited A State Championship

Send us a text Championship teams aren't born—they're built through transformative moments. When Olentangy High School was run-ruled by their rivals midway through the 2025 season, head coach Ryan Lucas watched something remarkable happen. His players, on their own accord, gathered in the locker room for an honest conversation about identity and commitment. That player-led meeting sparked a stunning turnaround—16 wins in their next 17 games culminating in an Ohio Division I State Championship...

3 months ago

1 hour 1 minute

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

5 Reasons High School Pitchers Are Getting Injured More Than Ever

Send us a text What's destroying young pitchers' arms across America? The answer might be right there on the radar gun. In this eye-opening episode, Coach Ken Carpenter tackles the alarming rise in serious arm injuries among youth and high school pitchers. Drawing from conversations with experts like Dr. Tom House and his own 27 years of coaching experience, Ken explores how the relentless pursuit of velocity—"chasing 90"—combined with year-round pitching schedules and early sport spec...

3 months ago

10 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Is It Still Called ‘Old School’ If It Works? Clint Hurdle

Send us a text Ever wonder what happens when a Major League manager storms the field to argue a call? For Clint Hurdle, former Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies manager, one such confrontation led to an unexpected humbling when an umpire refused to eject him, saying "I've had to watch this horrible baseball for four days. You're going to have to watch it too." It's just one of many candid insights Hurdle shares in this revealing conversation. After spending decades in professional base...

3 months ago

40 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Why High School Baseball Matters More Than Travel Ball for Overall Player Development

Send us a text Baseball's developmental landscape has undergone a massive shift in recent years. The glittering allure of travel baseball—with its showcases, fancy uniforms, and promises of exposure—has many believing it's the superior path to player development. But is it really? Drawing from 27 years of high school coaching experience and 8 seasons in travel baseball, Coach Ken Carpenter delivers a thought-provoking analysis of what's truly best for young athletes. The fundamental differen...

4 months ago

12 minutes

BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

What Can Chinese Taipei’s Batting Practice Teach American Teams?

Send us a text When Coach Will Gorden stepped off the plane in China to lead a development program for Major League Baseball, he faced an immediate challenge: coaching 42 young baseball players who didn't speak English. This experience became the foundation for his transformative coaching journey that would span three countries and reshape his approach to leadership. "More than anything, I learned a new way to communicate," Gorden explains on Baseball Coaches Unplugged. "After working with t...

4 months ago

43 minutes