Woody Wingfield, our Director of College Recruiting Operations, recently caught up with Head Coach Tyler Mott from Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU). Ohio Wesleyan plays in the North Coast Athletic Conference and last year finished with a 11-5 conference record (25-16 Overall). Check out what Coach Mott looks for in a recruit, how he uses video to recruit players and what recruits can expect for fall practices.

1. How long have you been coaching? How long at Ohio Wesleyan?
I have coached since I graduated from college in 2004 (OWU). I spent three years as the grad assistant pitching coach at Marietta College. This is now my fifth season as the head coach at OWU.

2. Who are some of your mentors or coaches that you look up to?
The coaching staff at Marietta College (Brian Brewer and Mike Deegan). I learned a tremendous amount from them during my three years there. Also, Dave Koblentz. He was my pitching coach my senior year at OWU and we remain very close friends. I call him quite often for advice…not just about baseball, but life in general!

3. What is the first thing about your school and program that you want recruits to know about?
That our program has been one of the most successful programs in the country since the mid 1980’s. Every four-year player at OWU has won at least one conference title and advanced to at least one NCAA Regional Tournament since 1983!

4. What do you look for in a prospective recruit on the field? Off the field?
On the field – we look for athleticism (body frame, strength, arm action, feet quickness, bat speed, hands, etc)…your typical ‘tools’. Off the field we want to know (from their coaches) what their attitude and work ethic is like. When they visit campus we take note on how they talk to their parents and our players and coaching staff.

5. Has video helped you in the recruiting process?
Absolutely. It is impossible to see every potential recruit in person. We tell those who are interested in us, to send us a quick video (if we haven’t seen them in person yet).

Need Video? Get filmed at a Baseball Factory Premium Video Program and get started on your recruiting process.

6. Can you break down your fall practice schedule? What are you all trying to accomplish?
We spend one day per week on individual instruction. The other three days we do intra-squad scrimmages. We believe the best way our players get better, is by playing the game at ‘game speed.’ We use these practices to evaluate our players, to find out which of the young guys are ready to help us win come spring time.

7.    Do you have a strength and conditioning coach?
Our baseball coaching staff takes care of our in-season and out-of-season strength and conditioning program. We focus ‘in-season’ program on maintaining strength/athleticism, then in the off-season we focus more on strength building, while maintaining and improving flexibility.

8.    What can you tell us about your facilities?
Our athletic facilities allow us the ability to maximize our players potential. Our indoor field house has a four lane running track, three drop down batting cages (two are 70ft in length), four tennis courts and divider curtains. Our football stadium is turf and has lights, which we have access to as well.  Our baseball field hosted the 2003 NCAA Mideast Regional Tournament. Since then we have added a $150,000 press box, a large storage shed, renovated both batting cages (both along 1st base and 3rd base sides), we added over 20 tons of ball diamond clay and 40 tons of top dressing sand to the entire field.

9. What part of the 2012 schedule/year are you looking forward to the most?
Our conference schedule. We play in a very competitive conference. Each of our 16 regular season conference games will be exciting to be a part of! I feel it helps all of our conference teams prepare for the post season!

10. Is there anything you would like to add about your assistant coaches, recruits, parents or program that we have not asked you about?
Our coaching staff model and campus support allow us to compete on a national level every year! We are looking for players who truly love the game and want to work towards exceeding their maximum potential day in and day out!

Check out more "Conversations with College Coaches"