Conversations with College Coaches: Walsh University
In our latest interview, Dan Mooney spoke with Head Coach Tim Mead from Walsh University. Walsh is a Division II program out of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) . From use of video to strength and conditioning programs Coach Mead gives insight to his program at Walsh University.
1. How long have you been coaching? How long at Walsh University?
I have been at Walsh University for 30 years. We have transitioned from NAIA to NCAA D2 and the GLIAC.
2. Who are some of your mentors or coaches that you look up to?
My mentors have been Hank Burbridge from Spring Arbor, Bob Starcher from Malone, Sam Riggleman (currently at Spring Arbor), and John Wooden, maybe the best coach ever at any level!
3. What is the first thing about your school and program that you’d want a recruit to know about?
We have a 98 % graduation rate in our program, we work every day on character and integrity, I am here to serve our student-athletes.
4. What qualities do you look for in a prospect on the field? Off the field?
We look for skilled players who like to work hard (come early and stay late to practice), who walk the talk (confident but humble). We are looking for young men who want to be champions as people, students, and baseball players. We carry a 3.0 team GPA so we prefer high GPA's and ACT/SAT scores…
5. How has video helped your recruiting?
It is difficult to get out and see all players interested in our program so video helps immensely!
6. Do you recruit from Junior Colleges?
Yes, we recruit players from junior colleges. Our top pitcher this year was from a junior college. He was 8-1 with a 2.1 ERA. It helps when we can get good students from JC's.
7. Can you break down your fall practice schedule? What will you try to accomplish?
Our fall ball is geared toward learning each player's role for the spring, teach fundamentals of the game so players progress, allow our players to learn and bond together to become a family, and play as much as possible.
8. Do you have a strength and conditioning coach?
Our coaching staff oversees our strength and conditioning program. We lift on a regular basis all year. We have a program for pitchers and a seperate one for position players. Our strength and conditioning program is key to our success on the field.
9. Anything planned for your facilities (upgrades, changes, etc.)?
We are currently fundraising for a locker room behind our dugout, an irrigation system for our OF (we have one in our infield), and possibly field turf for our infield.
10. Is there anything you would like to add about your assistant coaches, recruits, parents, or program that we have not asked you about?
We have a full time assistant coach who is our pitching coach (Rob Rose), a GA (Dan Oberhauser) who coaches catchers and OF's, a volunteer coach who works with our infirlders and hitters, a JV head coach and a JV pitching coach who both played in our program. We play 50 games (10-11 in Florida), and 16-18 JV games. We had a JV player last year move up to Varsity and make 1st team All Conference.
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