Patrick Jones Baseball - Rob Fournier discusses building a winning culture in college baseball

Rob Fournier discusses building a winning culture in college baseball

09/04/23 • 34 min

Rob Fournier, former head coach at Wabash Valley and current coach at Western Kentucky University, discusses his decision to leave a successful junior college program and make the jump to coaching at the Division I level. He shares his approach to building a winning culture and getting the most out of his players. Fournier also talks about his recruiting strategies and how he finds talented players who may have been overlooked by other programs. He emphasizes the importance of developing relationships with players and coaches, as well as the value of being open-minded and constantly learning from others. Fournier also discusses his coaching style and the importance of holding players accountable. He shares insights into his practice structure and how he organizes his time to maximize player development. Fournier also discusses the use of technology in coaching and the benefits of video analysis. Overall, Fournier provides valuable insights into what it takes to be a successful baseball coach at both the junior college and Division 1 level.

Time Stamps:

0:02:25Rob left Wabash Valley to coach at Division I level

0:02:22The move to Western Kentucky was the right fit

0:04:41The secret to success is building a strong foundation

0:06:27Culture is instilled by getting the right players

0:07:55Finding diamonds in the rough requires expanding recruiting efforts

0:09:37Stories of players who exceeded expectations

0:12:39Selling point for Wabash Valley was focus on development

0:12:57Facilities were not a factor, emphasis on school and baseball

0:14:05Typical day in the fall at Wabash Valley

0:15:05Junior college vs Division I coaching differences.

0:15:48Coaching is about developing people and relationships.

0:17:41Utilizing technology and player development in coaching.

0:18:08Emphasis on offense and being a well-rounded hitter.

0:18:26Developing trust with players through observation and communication.

0:19:23Game planning and adjusting based on pitcher and game situations.

0:20:35The competition level in the conference and expectations.

0:21:34Learning and growing as a coach by observing other sports.

0:22:52Organizing practice to maximize time and development.

0:23:57Practice drills and bringing energy to practice

0:28:12Batting practice includes machine work, angle BP, and candy BP

0:29:23Importance of having an open mind and listening to coaching staff

0:30:47Utilizing video and technology to improve coaching

0:31:13Emphasizing the importance of timing in all aspects of the game

0:31:52Watching practice videos to identify areas for improvement

0:32:22Video accountability for coaches and players

0:32:40Holding players accountable for their actions and body language

0:33:16Using video to analyze player behavior and make improvements

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time Stamps:

0:02:25Rob left Wabash Valley to coach at Division I level

0:02:22The move to Western Kentucky was the right fit

0:04:41The secret to success is building a strong foundation

0:06:27Culture is instilled by getting the right players

0:07:55Finding diamonds in the rough requires expanding recruiting efforts

0:09:37Stories of players who exceeded expectations

0:12:39Selling point for Wabash Valley was focus on development

0:12:57Facilities were not a factor, emphasis on school and baseball

0:14:05Typical day in the fall at Wabash Valley

0:15:05Junior college vs Division I coaching differences.

0:15:48Coaching is about developing people and relationships.

0:17:41Utilizing technology and player development in coaching.

0:18:08Emphasis on offense and being a well-rounded hitter.

0:18:26Developing trust with players through observation and communication.

0:19:23Game planning and adjusting based on pitcher and game situations.

0:20:35The competition level in the conference and expectations.

0:21:34Learning and growing as a coach by observing other sports.

0:22:52Organizing practice to maximize time and development.

0:23:57Practice drills and bringing energy to practice

0:28:12Batting practice includes machine work, angle BP, and candy BP

0:29:23Importance of having an open mind and listening to coaching staff

0:30:47Utilizing video and technology to improve coaching

0:31:13Emphasizing the importance of timing in all aspects of the game

0:31:52Watching practice videos to identify areas for improvement

0:32:22Video accountability for coaches and players

0:32:40Holding players accountable for their actions and body language

0:33:16Using video to analyze player behavior and make improvements

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Tips for College Recruiting, Transfer Portal Rules, and Pitching Command Training | Matt Hollod

Matt Hollod is the associate head coach at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho. With over 20 years of coaching experience at various levels, including Division One, Division Two, Division Three, and junior college, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the podcast.

Summary:

In this episode, Patrick Jones interviews Matt Hollod, associate head coach at Northwest Nazarene University. They discuss the recruiting process, the transfer portal, and the differences between different levels of college baseball. Matt emphasizes the importance of considering factors beyond getting drafted when choosing a college program. He also shares his insights on developing pitchers and the value of command.

Key Takeaways:

Only a small percentage of Division One players get drafted, so it's important to consider other factors when choosing a college program.
Division Two and junior college players are increasingly being recruited by Division One programs.
It's important to be realistic about your abilities and consider all levels of college baseball, not just Division One.
Command is a crucial skill for pitchers, and it can be developed through consistent practice and repetition.
Confidence is key to developing command, and getting on the mound more frequently can help build that confidence.

Quotes:

"We all want to play at the highest level, but there are many other variables that are more important than getting drafted." - Matt Hollod
"Confidence equals command. The more you believe in yourself, the better you'll be able to execute pitches." - Matt Hollod

Timestamps for Matt Hollod

[3:20] Only 4.7% of D1 Players get Drafted

[8:18] What Separates the Levels

[12:38] Delusion and Dominance

[19:14] Having Fun while Playing

[22:06] Rules in the Transfer Portal

[26:13] The Things that a coach value and implement among pitchers

[39:33] Percentage In-between outings on the mound in the game

[44:54] Taking Pride in Keeping the Guys Healthy

Follow Matt on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Perry Husband explains the concept of effective velocity in hitting.

Perry Husband, a pioneer in the field of effective velocity, discusses the concept of pitch deception and its impact on hitting. He explains how speed is relative and how different pitch locations can affect a hitter's timing and exit velocity. He emphasizes the importance of understanding a hitter's attention zone and how to exploit it as a pitcher. He also highlights the need for hitters to align with the pitch and the fallacy of trying to swing up for more power. Perry provides valuable insights into the intricacies of hitting and pitching in baseball and softball.

Timestamps:

[3:00] Understanding Effective Velocity

[8:15] Understanding How Zone Works

[19:20] Speed is Relative

[21:10] Using Effective Velocity in the Game

[24:50] Being Drawn to the same Speed

[29:00] A Story About Dustin Maze

[30:25] Following Logic

[33:00] Up and Away Fastball

[44:49] Things to do Differently

[49:09] Moving the Fastball all Over the Place

[56:13] Example of 100/100