CSP Elite Baseball Development Podcast: Setting the Coaching Guardrails with Butch Thompson

Written on April 1, 2020 at 6:24 am, by Eric Cressey

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.

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And, we welcome your suggestions for future guests and questions. Just email elitebaseballpodcast@gmail.com.

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