Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar

Robert Woodard- Head Baseball Coach, Charlotte

Bio
https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/robert-woodard/846
On July 1, 2019, Robert Woodard returned home to the Queen City as the fifth Head Coach of the Charlotte 49ers Baseball program. He does so coming off of being an assistant coach at his alma mater, North Carolina, for three seasons. Woodard, a Charlotte native, has also served as pitching coach at UNCW and Virginia Tech.
In his first full season of 2021, Woodard guided the 49ers to a 40-win season, Conference USA Regular Season Championship and berth back into NCAA Postseason play for the first time since the 2011 season.
Woodard, also took home C-USA's Keith LeClair Coach of the Year honors
So on the show we discuss his first steps in year one, we talk building the foundation and we go over what theyre doing this fall! You're gonna love this episode with Robert Woodard!
Time Stamps
01:00- Intro
05:00- Building the foundation
12:30- Recruiting
17:10- Offseason Schedule
26:50- Building the culture on a daily basis
Contact
Email- charlottebaseball@uncc.edu
Twitter- @rwoodardCLT
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby Magallanes- Assistant MLB Hitting Coach, Atlanta Braves

Bio
Bobby's pro career began when the Seattle Mariners selected him in the 50th round of the 1989 MLB draft. He played in professional baseball for 12 years, with six of them in the Mexican League.
Bobby's coaching career started in the Los Angeles Angels' organization in 2002. And since, he been a manager or hitting coach in the MiLB until he was brought up to the major leagues with the Atlanta Braves. In 2020, the Braves promoted him to the major league coaching staff as assistant hitting coach. and most recently he was a member of the 2021 World Series champions.
On the show we discuss what separated this Braves club and we take a deep dive into what makes a great hitter and a great hitting coach.
Time Stamps
01:00- What makes a world series champion
05:43- Relationships are huge
10:00- Peak Performers and how they separate themselves 
12:00- Blocked and Random Practice
20:00- On Field BP and Routines
26:00- Pressure filled moments in the World Series
34:30- 2K Approach
41:00- Team Chemistry and Makeup
45:16- Quick Hitters
Resources
Mindset- Carol Dweck
Motor learning and performance- Schmidt and Lee
https://thelearnerlab.com/train-ugly/
The Bible
Contact (Instagram)
@magallanesbobby
@SwingUgly
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Kimball- Head Baseball Coach, Phoenix College (AZ)

Bio
Kevin Kimball enters his 11th year at the helm of the Bears Baseball program. In July of 2010 Kimball was hired after two years as an assistant at Gateway Community College. At the time, the Phoenix College baseball program had only one winning season since 1993. Since Kimball took the reins his teams have produced 3 of the top 5 win totals in school history. Kimball’s 2015 Bears squad was a few outs away from a World Series birth after eliminating the defending national champions in the Region I semifinals. In 2017 Kimball finally did break through and won a region championship. That 2017 team also broke the school record for wins in a season and was ranked in the top 20 for 9 consecutive weeks – which was another first for the program
Time Stamps
01:00- Intro
03:00- Changing the culture
06:00- BP Rounds
24:00- Mentality / Mental Game
34:00- There are always exceptions to the rule
38:00- Swing Decisions and Timing
Contact
Phone: 602.285.7293
Email: kevin.kimball@phoenixcollege.edu
https://twitter.com/kimballk11
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Turgeon- National Head Coach, IMG Academy (FL)

Bio
This week I got the pleasure of interviewing Dave National Team Head Coach at IMG Academy. Dave has enjoyed a career in baseball that includes thirteen years of professional playing experience that has spanned the globe combined with decades of managing and coaching experience at the professional and collegiate levels. Dave was drafted out of Davidson College in North Carolina in the 1987 by the New York Yankees and on to play thirteen seasons of professional baseball. 
As a Coach, Turgeon has managed and coached at the professional level as well as coached at the collegiate level. His first stop was in the Cleveland Indians organization in 1999. After which he spent time in various college coaching roles with Boston College, UConn, Duke and Virginia Tech. His passion for working with professional players steered his career to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2010.
Dave is also a contributing blogger on USA Baseball’s website.
Show Notes
01:00- Intro
05:00- Ins and outs of IMG Academy
15:00- A day in the life at IMG
19:00- Fall Instructs 
Contact
https://twitter.com/davidturgeon45
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Marker- Head Baseball Coach, Olentangy Orange HS (OH)

Bio
The 2021 season was the 3rd as head coach at Olentangy Orange for Tom Marker. During his tenure Marker has turned the Pioneers into a state and district power, leading Orange to a number one State Ranking and top 50 National Ranking last season.  Marker’s record of 48-11 (.814) is first all-time in winning percentage at Orange. In his career as a head coach Marker is 247-143 (.633). Marker’s efforts have paid off in the win column and across the board as Prep Baseball Report has tabbed Orange as the top program in the state in the final State Poll Rankings. Over the last seven seasons, Marker has led his teams to five district final appearances, winning the district in 2021. Marker was named Ohio State Baseball Coach of the Year, Central District Baseball Coach of the Year, and Ohio Capital Conference Coach of the Year in 2021. Along with that, he was named Central District Baseball Coach of the Year in 2013. He also served as President of the Central District Coaches Association and is currently a member of the National High School Baseball Coaches Association staff. Several players from Orange have gone on to play at the next level, including a 2021 roster with commitments to Vanderbilt, Wright State, Toledo (3), King University, West Liberty University and Ohio Northern University. Marker teaches sixth grade math at Olentangy Orange Middle School and lives in Lewis Center with his wife (Amie) and three children (McKenzie 9, Jackson 4, and Lainey 1). He has been on numerous podcasts including most recently being asked to be on the “Making Math Moments” podcast.
Time stamps
01:00- First 100 days
09:00- Offseason Outline
15:00- Videoing Practice 
18:22- Rules and Standards
21:30- Parent Communication
31:00- Very intentional with time
Resources
Greg Canvel Podcast
Contact
https://twitter.com/coachmarker
thomas_marker@olsd.us
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justin James- Head Baseball Coach, Point Loma Nazarene University (CA)

Bio
https://plnusealions.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/justin-james/1020
Justin James is in his third season as the head coach of the Point Loma baseball team in 2021. James returned to his alma mater to take over as the head coach of the Sea Lions in the summer of 2018. He has over 13 years of collegiate coaching experience, including two as the pitching coaching at UC San Diego, where he helped lead the Tritons to back-to-back NCAA West Regional Championships.
In his first season as the leader of the program, James guided PLNU to a 32-21 record, a pair of postseason victories and into the final game of the NCAA West Regional #2. The Sea Lions ranked as high as No. 2 in the West Region poll, and reached No. 14 in the national rankings.
James' second season was cut short due to the COVID pandemic. At the time, the Sea Lions were playing their best baseball. PLNU finished conference play 3-1 (9-8 overall) and in second place in the PacWest standings.
 
On the show we discuss how they approached this fall, we go over their program standards, and how they utilize gamelike practice to steal reps and get ready for the season. Here's Justin James!
Time Stamps
01:00- Vision of the program
04:00- First 100 days
09:30- Standards
18:00- How to build culture
28:00- Offseason Calendar
Contact
justinjames@pointloma.edu
https://twitter.com/CoachJames_3
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Earley- Hitting Coach, Texas A&M

Bio
Michael Earley is in his first season as the hitting coach at A&M and arrives in the Brazos Valley after five seasons at Arizona State.
Earley has built a reputation for developing hitters with his most notable work being the rise of Spencer Torkelson to the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. who went Undrafted out of high school. In the 2020 MLB Draft, four of Earley’s hitters were selected as Arizona State was the only school in the country to boast five players chosen in the shortened, five-round draft. 
 
On part 1 of the show we discuss his transition to College Station, their player evaluation process for this fall and he shared with us some video of their Fall Training Sessions
Time Stamps
01:00- Transitioning to College Station
05:00- Nolan Arenado Discussion
12:30- Player Evaluation Process for this fall
18:00- Fall Training Sessions and Video
Contact
https://twitter.com/earleybaseball
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jason Thompson- Head Baseball Coach, Brennan HS (TX)

Bio
Today we have on Jason Thompson, head baseball coach at Brennan HS. a few highlights , Jason has Over 250 Career Wins, Was the Texas 5A State Runner Up (2016), they Set Alamo Heights School Record for Wins in a Season (28 in 2015) and Reached the Texas Regional Semi-Finals
This offseason he took his current job at Brennan, so On the show we discuss his first 100 days on his new job, how he goes about relationships with parents, and how they plan out the fall by backwards planning from round 3 of the playoffs
Show Notes
01:00- First 100 days of his new job
06:00- Core values as a program
19:45- Parents being a part of the program
29:50- Fall Outline
37:30- Blending to Pre-Season
Contact
https://twitter.com/CoachJ_Thompson
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Micah Franklin- Professional Hitting Coach

Bio
Today we have on hitting coach, Micah Franklin. Micah has spent a total of 28 years in professional baseball, 15 years as a player. In 1997 he made his MLB debut with with the St Louis Cardinals. He then spent 2 seasons in Japan with the Nippon Ham Fighters and Hanshin Tigers and 2 seasons in Korea with the Hyundai Unicorns
He actually started his career as a scout for 8 years, 5 years  for the Diamondbacks and then 3 years MLB pro scout Seattle. then has spent the last 5 years MILB Hitting Coach with the Diamondbacks
On the show we talk player evaluation, what hes doing with players this fall for training, and how we need to approach swing problems using the what, why, and how method. You're gonna love this episode with Micah Franklin!
Time Stamps
01:00- Player Evaluation
07:15- Developing trust with players
13:40- Fall Development
Contact
https://twitter.com/micahf56

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn Stiffler- Head Baseball Coach, Virginia Commonwealth University

Bio
https://vcuathletics.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/shawn-stiffler/551
Head Coach Shawn Stiffler enters his 10th season at the helm of VCU baseball for the 2021-2022 season. Over his tenure, the Rams have climbed back into national prominence. VCU stands as one of just eight programs in the country with 34-plus wins over the last seven full seasons.  Stiffler was named the the sixth head coach of the VCU Baseball program in December 2012 following the passing of his mentor Paul Keyes. Stiffler was promoted after serving as the associate head coach for the first half of the 2012 campaign and serving as the interim head coach for the remainder of that season. Prior to being named head coach, he spent five seasons on Keyes' staff as the Rams' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator.
Time Stamps (part 1)
01:00- First 100 days
09:00- Standards/Core Values
23:00- Offseason Calendar 
33:00- What does success look like at VCU? (what style of players)
Contact
https://twitter.com/ShawnStiffler29
smstiffler@vcu.edu
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices