![Thompson](https://ecressey.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Thompson.png)
CSP Elite Baseball Development Podcast: Setting the Coaching Guardrails with Butch Thompson
We’re excited to welcome Auburn University head coach Butch Thompson to this week’s podcast for a multi-faceted discussion that covers rising through the college coaching ranks; transitioning from a pitching to head coach; managing submarine/sidearm pitchers; analyzing fear; building a winning culture; assisting families through the recruiting process; and reflecting on the unprecedented times in the current baseball world.
This week, in lieu of a sponsor, I just wanted to pass along a friendly reminder that Cressey Sports Performance is now offering online consultations for baseball players who can’t make it to our facilities. For more information, click here.
Show Outline
- How Butch transitioned from player to coach and begin his coaching career
- How the idea of range – being a generalist before a specialist – applies to becoming a baseball coach
- What Butch’s biggest mistake was in his early years of coaching
- How Butch managed the transition from pitching coach to head coach
- What non-negotiable characteristics make a great pitcher great
- How spin has always been a noticeable quality in a pitcher’s arsenal, but how advances in science and technology have allowed numerical values to help guide player development
- How Butch defines a coach’s role
- What Butch has done to have success with submarine and sidearm pitchers and how coaches can recruit a different look to add an edge to their team
- How the business of college baseball has changed since Butch first started as a college coach
- What differentiates Butch’s baseball program, Auburn, from other college programs
- What the challenges facing college recruiting coordinators are today
- Where parents and athletes are falling short in their pursuit to get recruited by SEC-caliber schools
- What Butch’s ideal prospect email includes
- How Butch creates unity and manages attitudes in an SEC locker room and why he instills the idea of responsibility over pride
- Why Butch’s work as a head coach now involves more managing than skill development
- Why Butch has been intrigued by fear and what five principles he recommends for minimizing and managing it
- How players can find comfort with the current uncertainty in college baseball currently
- How individuals can look past their fear and find opportunities to advance in tough times
You can follow Butch on Twitter at @3Strikes_AU.
Podcast Feedback
If you like what you hear, we’d be thrilled if you’d consider subscribing to the podcast and leaving us an iTunes review. You can do so HERE.
And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.
Thank you for your continued support!