Episode Transcript
[00:00:04] Speaker A: Welcome to the abca's podcast. I'm your host ryan brownlee.
This episode is brought to you by Rapsodo Baseball. Great coaching starts with knowing what to work on next.
Rapsodo gives coaches the objective data, video and instant feedback they need to make every rep more purposeful with 20 plus hitting and pitching data points, live on live capabilities, seam orientation, scripted sessions and more. Rapsodo's Pro 2.0 and Pro 3.0 units help coaches dial in on player development for their athletes with pro level data and ball tracking technology.
From establishing baselines to validating adjustments and tracking progress, Rapsoda takes the guesswork out of development.
Measure what matters, train with purpose. Learn more by emailing salespsodo.com or visit their website rapsodo.com baseball this episode is sponsored by Netting Pros.
Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time.
Netting Professionals specializes in the design, fabrication and installation of custom netting for backstops, batting cages, dugouts, BP screens and ball carts.
They also design and install digital graphic wall padding, windscreen turf, turf protectors, dugout benches, dugout cubbies and more.
Netting Professionals is an official partner of the ABCA and continues to provide quality products and services to many high school, college and professional fields, facilities and stadiums throughout the country.
Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time.
Contact them today at 844-620-2707 or infoottingpros.com, visit them online at www.nettingpros.com or check out Netting Pros on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn for all their latest products and projects. Make sure to let CEO Will Minor know that the ABCA sent you. Now on to the podcast.
This week on the ABCA Podcast, we're joined by ABCA ATEC, NCAA Division 2 coach of the Year, University of Tampa Head Coach Joe Erso Erso is one of the most accomplished coaches in college baseball history, building one of the greatest dynasties in the game, developed countless professional players and established a standard of excellence that very few programs at any level can match.
Since taking over the Spartans in 2001, Erso has turned Tampa into the gold standard of NCAA Division 2 baseball, building a program defined by championships, player development, consistency and an unwavering commitment to winning. In 2026, Erso led Tampa to its third consecutive NCAA Division 2 National Championship, becoming the first program in Division 2 baseball history to win three straight national championships. Spartans finished the season with an impressive 519 record, defeating Westchester University 84 in the deciding game in the National Championship Series in Cary North Carolina. That victory gave Tampa its 11th national championship in program history and the eighth under Erso's leadership, an incredible accomplishment that further solidifies his place among the greatest coaches in college baseball history. Erso has accumulated more than 1100 career victories, won numerous Sunshine State Conference championships, made multiple trips to the NCAA Division II College World Series, and earned national recognition as one of the premier coaches in the country, including being named the 2025 ABCA ATEC NCAA Division 2 National Coach of the Year. Let's welcome Joe Erso to the podcast here. Joe Erso, University of Tampa, ABCA ATEC Division 2 coach of the Year, but had a great year again, 519 record, 8th national championship for you and 11th overall for the program. So, Joe, thanks for jumping on with me.
[00:04:08] Speaker B: Yeah, thank you very much for having me on.
[00:04:10] Speaker A: I mean, have you really had time to reflect on the run that you guys are on?
It's unprecedented.
[00:04:18] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, you really sit back and you talk about it, and it's. In a lot of ways it is unbelievable. You know, you look at bringing in 22 new guys last year and, you know, it's tough enough to repeat in any sport, as we know, but to, to do that with a new roster, kind of three straight years, really a new roster minus, you know, a couple, couple guys. But it's, we're very proud of it. It's obviously says a lot for, you know, our program and, and the culture we've been able to create here.
[00:04:53] Speaker A: How long does it take guys to mesh in the fall with you? I mean, you guys have kind of got it figured out now. Not all were they figured out, but how do you get all those guys to mesh in?
[00:05:04] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, we put a lot on them. You know, they have to take ownership into this program and, you know, we give them a couple weeks early on where we don't even have anything mandatory besides weightlifting. And you see these guys, you know, going out there and hitting on their own and Texting me at 8 o' clock at night. Coach, can you turn the lights on? I'm able to do that from my phone. So they take advantage of being together on the field. They start their hitting drills, and that's kind of where they start to build it, and they start to build their new friendships and their new brotherhoods. And obviously they know when they sign up to come here, they know what's at stake. They know it's championship or bus, and there's that positive peer pressure to do the extra, and it's not easy to build it. Every year. And you hope to get the right personalities when you're out there recruiting. And hopefully we did the same again this year and, you know, if we can build another family atmosphere to make a run.
[00:05:58] Speaker A: Did you switch that along the way as far as letting them be on their own for a little bit?
[00:06:03] Speaker B: No, I kind of always had that philosophy of let them get acclimated with school, you know, get in the weight room, get a couple weeks under their belt. You know, there's plenty of time for them to hear, you know, coach's voice and, you know, us on them and telling them what to do every day. So it's nice to let them to have their time together as well. And even with our practice plan, you know, we try to not bury them with, you know, three and a half, four hour practices out there. We try to condense things. It's a lot of what we learned in professional ball when I was managing with the Angels of, you know, we can get a lot of work done in two hours and 15 minutes. So by doing that, they're going to, they're going to have enough energy, they're going to want to be out there extra before practice. And I, I really do believe that's where the personalities start to, to mash and the brotherhoods are formed.
[00:06:56] Speaker A: How do you handle the strength and conditioning? What's the schedule look like right now for them with strength and conditioning?
[00:07:01] Speaker B: Yeah, we, we try to do four days in the fall. I'm lucky. Roberto Mena is our strength coach. He was a shortstop on our 06 and 07 championship team. So they know, you know, right off the bat that this is a guy that knows what it takes to win here. And they get in there four days a week with them in the, in the fall, get after it, get as big and strong and fast as they can the fall, because come springtime, obviously the number one goal is just be healthy, be on the field. We'll pull back to a couple days a week at that point and just kind of try to maintain and you know, what we had worked for. And some of the guys will get a third lift on their own that are still, you know, wanting to elevate their game a little bit more. But it's a great program.
[00:07:44] Speaker A: Do you like the championship format now with D2? Do you like the championship series?
[00:07:49] Speaker B: I do, I like that, you know, it's a four team bracket. You got to get out of it and then it's two out of three. So I feel like you, you do get a better, you know, Sense for who's who was the best team when you get to that two out of three final because you know anything can happen on a one one game showdown like we used to do for so many, so many years.
[00:08:11] Speaker A: You guys seem to have acclimated to the, to the new climate of recruiting. How are you able to check boxes off on guys? I, I, I don't think you get as long a look on guys anymore in the recruiting process.
How have you been able to kind of check. I think you guys do as good a job anybody in the country at any level as far as getting guys to be able to come in and get acclimated.
[00:08:32] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean that's the toughest part of our job. It's, you know, you're going, you have different philosophy, you know, from decade to decade. It feels like with the recruiting and now, you know, here we go where it's a little bit tougher to get the junior college guys to commit to us right away. Losing them to a lot of, of division ones. And then you hate to rely on the portal because now you haven't done enough homework. So it's, it's a process. It's, it's a lot to, to you know, pick guys on just videos and maybe in recommendations. We like to, you know, see these guys live as much as we can and that's why we've had such a heavy junior college roster for so long. But, but we're transitioning into some of these portal guys. This is going to be probably one of our heaviest teams that, that, you know, with the amount of portal guys we got this year to see. Hopefully we'll see if we did a good job with it. But I feel like, you know, we're going to make a few more mistakes when you not able to go out there and see them in person enough.
[00:09:37] Speaker A: How do you line up recruiting with your staff?
[00:09:40] Speaker B: So I mean we pretty much all, you know, we all take the whole thing. You know, I treat them all like head coaches. So Sam, Jose, they've been with us from the get go Sam from day one. Jose is a player for four years and, and now coaching, you know, since 2013. So you know, even in game management we're managing together. We do the same with the recruiting. So you know, the all star weekend for the junior college was this weekend. All three of us went. It's like, you know, why not why, why, why do we got to go, you know, three guys, three separate places we go to, we go together.
We try to make good decisions while we're there, make a good follow list or maybe make the decision to bring a guy in on that day and make him a nice offer. But we all. We all take it, you know, take responsibility into the recruiting.
Jose is, you know, tag the recruiting coordinator, but, you know, he likes to bounce stuff off me just as much as I'm going to do with him with the hitters. And. And then he'll do the same with Sam with the pitchers, guys that he likes that he knows fit what Coach Sam likes. And, you know, pretty much, you know, obviously Sam's going to have the. The final call on those pitchers, but we've kind of. We got a really good thing going, the three of us, you know, as Spartans.
[00:10:57] Speaker A: That seems like it's your personality to be very communal. I mean, have you always been that way? Just seems like that's your personality is that you're very communal.
[00:11:05] Speaker B: Yeah. And, you know, ultimately I'm responsible for, you know, whatever happens on that field, but. And I get, you know, the credit when we win, but it's really the staff, I mean, they're outstanding.
It's the strength of our program. Most head coaches have to go through so many different coaching changes and then have to teach those new young guys their way. And by the time that happens, that coach is leaving. So I've been lucky to not have to have that transition go on in this program. And I think that's a big strength of the program is having that consistency up top with three of us.
[00:11:38] Speaker A: Do you have tips for keeping arms healthy? I mean, you had three guys go over 100 innings last year. Bailey, Satin and. And glanton with over 100 innings last year, which doesn't always happen. Do you have. How are you keeping guys healthy? And you used a lot of arms, too. I mean, you used 16 guys on the mound.
[00:11:54] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, knock on wood, big time. Because, you know, two. We've gone two years of our starting rotation not missing a start, and that's unheard of. You know, the workload normally gets to these guys.
So credit to Sam Millo and what. What the program he designs for the pitchers.
But we're always very careful, too. You know, opening weekend, you know, it's tough. You know, you want to win every ball game and everything's so important to try to become a top seed and regional, super regional World Series if you get there.
So every game is important to win, but you have to try to put development ahead of that in a way or at least equal to it. And that's what. What we've done here.
You know, most guys, when they're getting to 85 pitches, you know, we're panicking. We're like, okay, this is enough. And that's early in the year. And that way we take care of those arms. So now as we start to get into the playoffs now, when we ask them to go 100, 110, they're still, they're still progressing. They're still, you know, sharp, strong at the end of the year because of that program Sam puts in front of
[00:13:00] Speaker A: them, especially as early as you guys start in the spring, too.
[00:13:04] Speaker B: And it's going to be really tough this year. I mean, we open up a Central Missouri state, you know, January 29th, I believe, is the first, you know, day of the season this year. And you're like, man, it's gonna be a big game and you want to have your ace ready to go, you know, deep in the ball game. But, you know, we are not going to change anything that we've done the last two years. I told Sam, do exactly the same program.
Let's not change anything. And knock on wood, let's see if we can keep this thing rolling. Where these, these starters are able to. To get through a whole season without missing a start. That's. That's incredible.
We're taking the team to Dominican this year in January as well. January 11th to 17th. So we were going through our plan. It's like, okay, well, we need to get them ready for this. And. And we were like, wait, slow down. We're not changing anything we've done the last few years. Let's keep these guys healthy. And, and that's what we're going to try to do.
[00:13:56] Speaker A: Is that the first time you guys have gone to the Dominican?
[00:13:58] Speaker B: We actually went four years ago and had a great time, great experience for the guys. You talking about a bonding experience and leaving with just a great appreciation for the culture of the Dominican Republic and so much that the guys are going to learn through not only baseball, but all the community service that we're going to do there.
We go and paint houses in the village and try to give back a little bit while we're there as well.
[00:14:26] Speaker A: You guys been able to keep the position players healthy, too?
[00:14:30] Speaker B: Yeah, for the most part. You know, last year we. We had some bad luck and we lost Max King, our center fielder, to a hamate bone.
Our backup catcher was out first half of the year with a hamate bone as well.
But for the most part, you know, staying healthy, especially Division 2 with the lack of scholarships, you know, we only can have so many players out there with scholarships, which hurts your depth. And so, you know, being staying healthy is obviously the key to making long runs in these tournaments.
[00:15:02] Speaker A: Is there a way to stop a hamate bone from happening?
[00:15:06] Speaker B: Man, you know, I don't think so because it used to be the guys held the bat off the, the knob and I would blame that, but I have, I've had guys that actually choke up, that have broke it as well. So I don't know that there's a way to prevent it.
[00:15:22] Speaker A: Have them take it out when they're a kid.
[00:15:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: Has your in game management style changed much over the years?
[00:15:32] Speaker B: So, I mean, I still try to manage late in the game and have one of the best closures in the country. And that's, that's another key to keeping those starting the starting rotation, you know, healthy is it's a little easier when they're getting at 85 pitches to take that ball from them in the seventh, eighth and ninth. And if you trust your bullpen, so you know, that's the managing style with the, with the bullpen. But yes, for sure. We've had to change a lot with the offense. You know, you've, you've seen the transition of college baseball. You know, the bats change at one point, the baseball changed at one point and the ball went nowhere.
Now we're back to the ball, you know, a real game, I think the balls, you know, more home runs. But we've, we've transitioned, you know, with, with the different styles that we've had and you know, last year was not our best bunning team and all of a sudden we get to the World Series and might have been the best bunning team I've had when it mattered most. So we'll, we'll adjust to the personnel that we bring in each year.
[00:16:34] Speaker A: What about with late game decisions as far as who you're bringing in, as far as arms and pinch hitter? Do you rely on data for that or is that off gut feel since you've coached so many games?
[00:16:44] Speaker B: It, it is, you know, we're learning some of the data and different things, but a lot of it is, is gut feel and a lot of it is trying to put guys in roles throughout the year that they, they start to know when they're going to be called on. You know, we had a guy in the World Series this past year, it might have been the biggest sacrifice bump with everyone in the park knowing we had to lay down a bunt and he got his job done. And this kid was only called on for that role is pinch running and pinch bunning. So you start to put these kids in roles that they. They take pride in. And so we'll go more with that, the gut feel of those roles like that. But. But there's times where, you know, Jose will see an arm and you know, that he has scouted and he'll say, hey, look, if this kid comes in, you know, X might be the play off the bench for this. This arm slot, per se. So, you know, we'll use the data as well when we need to.
[00:17:44] Speaker A: How's that conversation with go? Like, okay, bunning might be your only opportunity to get in. How does that conversation go with the player?
[00:17:51] Speaker B: You know, obviously, they all want to be in the top nine. They want to be playing every day and just. It's tough. But if I can communicate with them and all of a sudden try to keep, you know, 12, 13 guys happy, obviously that's gonna make my job a lot easier. But it's all about communication. And, you know, we're.
We're trying to put the best lineup out there. They know that, they think they're the best, and I want them to think that. But ultimately, you know, we're gonna. We're gonna have a starting nine, and then you're gonna have guys that are gonna, you know, find themselves in roles. And, you know, we'll have guys they'll. They take. They take pride in it. And, you know, all of a sudden, the seventh innings coming up and I, I look in, a guy's starting to run up and down, you know, the foul line because he knows that he might be called on to pinch run. And, and they'll take pride on it, on everything that they do.
[00:18:39] Speaker A: Do you talk to the guys much after games?
[00:18:42] Speaker B: So I've started doing it the next day. I found myself being.
Making some emotional decisions the day of, you know, because we're competitive as coaches as well. And, you know, right after a game, especially if it's a tough loss.
When I was younger, I, you know, a lot of the. The fire would come out in me, and sometimes I might say something that I. I'd regret. So I've started to address the team the next morning when we, you know, I've had time to. To get over the loss or if it was a win and I didn't like something that went on. I'm able to really use it as a teaching moment the next morning on. On what we're going to need to do better if we, you know, expect to win a World Series.
[00:19:24] Speaker A: How are you tracking that stuff in game? You just taking notes off that?
[00:19:28] Speaker B: Yeah, I take notes throughout. Throughout the game and, you know, I have, you know, what's important to me, so I keep track of every one of those throughout the game. And the more you go through it with your team, the more they realize the, you know, that's. That's what. What Coach Urso and what Tampa baseball is about, and that's how we win ball games.
[00:19:48] Speaker A: How do you re engage? You know, obviously you've won a lot, but how do you re engage to get ready for the. For the fall?
[00:19:55] Speaker B: Yeah, you don't. It's tough to let go. You know, you're. You're having fun all summer and Talking to the 26 champions over and over again and, you know, trying to keep the celebration going. But. But what makes it easy is the transition over here. So here comes 16 new guys that get to experience what Tampa baseball is all about. So it doesn't take long for me, you know, once I start seeing these new guys come in the office to get that. That fire back for the next year's group.
[00:20:25] Speaker A: Do you have any tips on staying your true, authentic self? I think you do as good a job as anybody at any level. We have as far as being your true, authentic self.
[00:20:34] Speaker B: I mean, it's who I am. You know, I was a undersized second baseman, you know, that had to grind my way through to play as long as I did, you know, getting some time in the minor leagues, and it's just the only way I know. So it's just playing hard and communicating with these guys and our staff and having the right people around you to make you look good.
[00:20:58] Speaker A: Have you guys dabbled in nil at all?
[00:21:01] Speaker B: So it's starting to come down to Division 2.
Unfortunately, it was something I didn't think would happen, but it is starting to come down into Division 2.
There was a rumor that we may go Division 1 a few years ago, so we had one of our alums start to build the nil to get ready just in case. I told him if we go Division one, if you're not ready for an il, you have no chance to compete. So he started building it, and now it is starting to come into Division 2 baseball. And especially if you're relying on some of these transfer portal guys, you need to be ready for it.
[00:21:41] Speaker A: What about five for five? What are your thoughts on five for five?
[00:21:44] Speaker B: I mean, I think it's. It's great. Especially it takes, you know, most of these guys, it was taking them four and a half years to graduate anyway. So this is going to make sure that every student athlete leaves here with, with a degree, which is ultimately the number one goal. Even though I know, you know, I get judged on championship rings, it's still the ultimate goal and helping get them a great job one day because getting to the major leagues is so tough with it being an international game. So I think it's, it's going to be a great thing and we'll see how it all plays out.
[00:22:15] Speaker A: How's JD Experience been with the Savannah Bananas?
[00:22:19] Speaker B: He has absolutely loved it. In the beginning it was like, you know, still wanting to compete as just a baseball player. And he was a little bit, you know, kind of confused. And I think once he got the flow of what was most important to that fan first, entertainment, he relaxed and end up having a great first season.
They'll, they'll have a draft here at the end of, of this month and hopefully he'll get that second contract.
[00:22:44] Speaker A: Yeah, because you always think about the MLB lockout in case, like, obviously I think it lines up great for them just in case there is a stoppage in play for Major League Baseball.
[00:22:55] Speaker B: Well, I mean, they were selling out, you know, three cities every weekend with Major League Baseball going on. So without it, I'm sure their owner, Jesse Cole will have a great marketing to take advantage of it and the fans are going to love it once they see what this organization is all about. There is a. It's a lot of fun to go to a ball game.
[00:23:16] Speaker A: Is the training much different? You know, with your conversation with JD Is the training much different for him to get ready to play? I know that you have the other aspects of it, but obviously that's got to be a little bit different too with trying to get ready for the other stuff because it is a Broadway show with baseball.
[00:23:29] Speaker B: Yeah, it's, it's a really long day. So you, I mean, they're there, you know, 9am and they're starting their, their training and it's, it's. You got to do all your dance rehearsals and then you have to do obviously your batting cage work and try to take care of your swing because you still want to perform and defense and do your trick plays. And then here comes the VIP autograph signing and there goes another hour of your day. And you know, the amount of work they do before that 7 o' clock game even starts is incredible. So it's, there's a lot to get used to and then, you know, you're dancing in the middle of a swing, you know, things that are not easy to do. And even when the game's over, they have another hour to go on the concourse and sign autographs. So it's, it's a. They're there 9am and they're not leaving until 10pm it's, it's long days.
[00:24:21] Speaker A: Yeah. Ty Gillum I've talked to, he said it's not as bad for the baseball guys. It's the, the non baseball people that help because they travel with a lot of people. He's like the people that aren't used to the baseball lifestyle. Those are the ones that have a hard time adjusting to everything, I'm sure,
[00:24:35] Speaker B: but they have, they've mastered it. Those trucks come in and load all their gear and you know, that last out's made and they're, they're taking everything down, heading to the next city.
[00:24:45] Speaker A: Do you think we're swinging back with baseball? You look what kind of the teams that are excelling at the major league level now. Do you think we're coming back to a pure brand of baseball now?
[00:24:55] Speaker B: I do. You know, you're still going to have your, you know, hitting philosophies and, you know, and with home runs being important and velocity, you being important, but I think, you know, the teams are having success. You're seeing the strike throwers, you're seeing the guys making more contact. And now to see Bunning coming back amazes me and I'm really excited to see that. You know, got some text last night from a few of my high school buddies. You know, this looks like watching Tampa baseball, you know, University of Tampa baseball, when we laid down the sack bunt there early in the game yesterday. So it is good to see a little bit of the old school style comeback and stolen bases. I mean, while the Indians just, you know, they, they ran themselves into a blowout there at the end. So they, they did a great job against us.
[00:25:41] Speaker A: Yeah, I just saw that stat that the brewers are the only team in the big leagues that have used the other side of the field more now. So obviously you hope it kind of swings back to using the entire field, which they don't strike out a lot, which I think those of us that have paid attention baseball for a long time, the longer you let the ball get to you, the less you're going
[00:25:57] Speaker B: to strike out for sure.
[00:26:01] Speaker A: What has made you guys so consistent offensively year in and year out?
[00:26:07] Speaker B: I mean, you, everyone has a different philosophy on, on hitting and, you know, Jose runs all the, the hitting, but we kind of do it together because we have, we have the same beliefs and you know, a great hitter, when they step in the box, they have a clear head. And that's what I give Jose the most credit for, is he's able to during the week, you know, keep these guys level headed and you know, make sure there's not too much information overload in the, in today's game. With all the, every at bat these kids have, they can watch, go back and watch it on synergy and they can see all the data and things and we try to simplify that for them so it doesn't become, you know, information overload and they're, they can't relax in that box and, and, and do what we need them to do. But you know, we have the same beliefs of trying to find guys that you put balls in play because with that aluminum bat and a lot of the hard fields in Florida, you know, a lot of things can happen.
[00:27:08] Speaker A: I mean, how do you help them eliminate a lot of the noise that's, that's inside their head? I think that's the toughest thing for hitting coach or coaches at every level is to eliminate the noise that's going on between a hitter's ears and a pitcher's ears too.
[00:27:21] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean it's, it's a lot of communication and they have to trust you.
You know, you got to earn that trust. Most of these kids have had a hitting coach growing up, maybe three, four, five hitting coaches. So they start to rely on certain people and you got to earn that trust from them. So, so when, when, when things get going, they, they're going to lean on you.
But it's, it's, it is the toughest thing to do in sports as we know. So the more we put them into drills that are going to help them become successful instead of a bunch of information overload, that's what we're going to try to do and that's what we've been successful doing.
[00:28:00] Speaker A: What are your set drills?
[00:28:03] Speaker B: So we did a really good job last year of identifying, you know, kind of small groups within our starting nine and we would bring them out in different groups for that drill.
So you know, just an easy example if it was a guy that was getting underneath the ball a lot and we needed, we wanted those three guys that were flying out too much or striking out to do high tea drill. We brought them out in groups and we had like three drills for that group and then here comes the next group. You know, maybe they were pulling everything and now we're doing some angle drills to get them, get that group going opposite field a little bit more. So we did a. Last year was, was a little bit more of a grind we had. We got really creative and I think at the end there was one of Jose and I's proudest years with the offense that we knew that we made a difference in the style that we, you know, that coaching practice plan that we put in front of them towards the end there because that offense was up and down as you saw most of the year, and they got hot when it mattered most.
[00:29:08] Speaker A: What's it look like then with full team stuff when you get going in the fall?
[00:29:13] Speaker B: Well, we're three weeks in now, so we'll try to go. You get five practices a week in Division 2, so we'll try to inter squad two of those five and then do as much teaching and those other three to start, you know, building what the expectations are here in our program.
[00:29:33] Speaker A: You know, everybody talks about the arms coming back from break, but what about the legs too? You know, what type of schedule do you have the position players on? Because I think everybody talks about the arms but the, you know, hamstrings, lower backs, that, that can be an issue too with getting going early if they're not arm ramped with their legs.
[00:29:50] Speaker B: You know, another thing that as a youngster we bring them back and I'm doing two a days before school started and thinking I'm get as much baseball as I can, you know, and next thing you know, I got, you know, sore legs, I got blisters on the hands and it was counterproductive. And same thing, you know, you learn as you go and you know, luckily, you know, for me you got, you know, a veteran staff.
All of us played at Tampa, all of us played professionally and you know, we've learned a lot and, and we, we kind of, we don't try to get everything done in one week. You know, we, we know what we need to do to get these guys ready for opening day. And, and a big part of that is, is getting the hands in shape, getting the, the legs in shape, and just being on your feet for three, four hours and spikes alone is work. So it's, it's. You got to get them in shape for that.
[00:30:41] Speaker A: What about more rest in the spring? You give them more days off in the spring than in the past.
[00:30:46] Speaker B: So I do, come April, when it, when it gets hot, the beginning, I give them one day off a week, A playoff team, and we'll start to, you know, possibly give Them a double day off Sunday and Monday after a doubleheader on Saturday, you know, and, and that's, that's been, been able to help them recover a lot more because, you know, with our 50 game schedule, a lot of times April on, you're not playing midweeks.
[00:31:20] Speaker A: What's that look like? After two days off,
[00:31:24] Speaker B: they're refresh and ready to go. So. And even on that, even on that second day, that Monday, you'll see guys go out there, do a little tee work. So it may not be a full day off of baseball, but it's, it's a, it's a good mental day off that they're not, they don't have coach, you know, on them the whole time with, with, you know, a whole practice plan. Might be, hey, let me just go out, work on a couple things I need to, to stay sharp.
[00:31:51] Speaker A: When's team building start this fall for you? I think you're as good as we've got.
[00:31:55] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, it starts right away before the Saturday before the first day of school. We do a big team party at the guy's house.
You know, we go in and we got a big dinner catered and they start to build it right there.
We kind of get out of their way as coaches and, and let the, the senior leadership start taking over. And you know, we tell the guys, you know, the first month here, new guys, you know, please zip it, open up your ears, watch and figure out who you're going to follow because, you know, after a month we're going to expect you to take over the program and you can be a leader in your first year here. But that just kind of watch that first month of why we've had so much success for so long. Here.
[00:32:42] Speaker A: What are some tips for parents that are sending their child off to play college athletics for the first time? You've been through it.
[00:32:49] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, the toughest thing is try to get to the right place. You know, they all dream so big and that's great, but just get to the right place so they can compete. Because if they're not playing, they're not developing, they're not playing, they're calling home upset. And there's, I have two, two boys. And when they're not happy, Mama and daddy aren't happy either. So do your homework, get to the right program that you can play if you elevate your game. The great thing about the transfer portal, you know, I've been fortunate enough to send some guys off to the SEC ACC, you know, Big 12. I mean, you know, and they can pursue those, those dreams later in their college career if their game develops enough. But you know, once they get enter college, you know, mommy and daddy can't be there anymore to, to talk to coach and the things that they were able to do in travel ball. So you know, you find out, find a staff that you trust and, and you're dropping your kid off and, and hoping that they're going to give them what they told you on that recruiting day.
[00:33:53] Speaker A: Do you, have you got any more fail forward moments? Something you thought was going to sidetrack you, but looking back now, it helped you move forward. You got any new ones?
[00:34:02] Speaker B: No, I don't, I don't think so. You know, I think, you know, we've, we've kind of, we got things rolling a little bit here with some, some of the consistency over the years and try to stay consistent with that plan to stay out of the guys ways and make sure they're, they're having fun while they're in the program.
But I think, you know, for the most part it's staying consistent, you know, daily with them on my personality so they know what to expect.
[00:34:32] Speaker A: How do you keep them moving forward? I mean, you know, it's easy to get complacent and just kind of assume things are going to happen. How do you keep everybody moving forward?
[00:34:43] Speaker B: That's the toughest part is, you know, when people do get here, they think, okay, we're just, you know, we're Tampa baseball, we're in the regional tournament and now here's when the real season starts. But there's a process to get into that regional tournament and being ready for that regional tournament.
So it's making sure that they don't take that, that part of the season that you know for granted because, you know, people are after us, they've always been after us.
But the, the amount of winning we've done over the last, you know, three decades. So you have to be ready for every match and, and you know, that's going to prepare you ultimately for what you came here for and that's to win a national championship.
[00:35:21] Speaker A: I mean, do you talk about that you're going to get everybody's best bolt?
[00:35:24] Speaker B: Yeah, we talk about a lot and it's like, you know, it's not just because we won the World Series last year. It's not just because we three peded. It's because, you know, you're Tampa and you signed up for this and you know, the guys before you have earned this name and the reputation that, that's been built and it's up to you new guys to keep it going. And you know, there's mo. Most traditions can kind of go in and out and we've been able to keep this tradition going for a long time. So it better not stop on your watch. And they take that, they take that to heart.
[00:35:59] Speaker A: How often do you have alum come back and talk to the guys?
[00:36:02] Speaker B: So they're, they come out.
[00:36:04] Speaker A: I mean, that's. Yeah, yeah, they're gonna hear it every
[00:36:07] Speaker B: day from the staff.
Yeah, I, you know, they're involved a lot. You know, we, we have our alums, we do a golf tournament every year. So our players around them there opening day, they'll all be here. Then we do it. You know, we're lucky enough, we've had enough national championships that there' always a 10 year, you know, 15 year, 20 year reunion. It seems like every, you know, so many years coming. So now the guys get to see, you know, that, that 20 year reunion and wow, that's what it's all about. And that team won a championship and they have a brotherhood for life now because of it. And you know, I explained to him, you know, I was part of the 92 championship team here as a senior second baseman and the group tax is hilarious and we haven't forgot each other all these years. And we had our 30 year reunion a few years back and they all showed up, even if they had to fly in. And my team's able to see the love and what it's all about. And you know, we talk about the success, being at the top, but our alums, I mean, it's really all about them, they have helped us, you know, in so many ways, financially of course as well, to keep this program on top of.
[00:37:18] Speaker A: What do you have the guys do during the golf tournament?
[00:37:21] Speaker B: So they'll come out, they'll grab the bags out of the car, walk them to the golf cart, shake a hand.
You know, they're giving out the goodie bags, all the prizes that we're giving the guys throughout the, throughout the day and then at night for the banquet as well. So it gives. And they're out there with their, their uniform top on. So our alums love seeing that too and seeing the new faces.
[00:37:47] Speaker A: Have your daily routines changed much over the years?
[00:37:51] Speaker B: No, pretty much the same. You know, I try to draw up a consistent plan, you know, for myself as well as my staff.
You know, the recruiting I guess is, is the toughest part, that that changes with your, your day. But you Know, outside of that, we've, we've stayed pretty consistent with our day, with our practice plan as well.
[00:38:12] Speaker A: Love it. I'm add success leaves clues.
[00:38:17] Speaker B: I pinch myself and there's, you know, there's no. Yeah, there's, you know, it's not like we're doing anything different than, than, you know, the guy next door that's having success as well or the guy that might be 500.
You know, we're all, you know, you don't. It's baseball. I mean, you're trying to perfect the basics and you just work hard every day and to put your guys in a position to win.
And, you know, we're kind of all doing that the same thing. There's no, no magic to it.
No real secret sauce to it. I've just been very fortunate to obviously have a great staff and have, have great players around us.
[00:38:55] Speaker A: But you also trust your players too. I think that's a difficult thing for coaches, is that to actually trust that it's. The players have to go out and do it.
[00:39:03] Speaker B: Yeah. And the family atmosphere, it's everything to me. You know, we started putting out on the bottom of all of our championship rings, we have family on the bottom and they. That now has taken priority over everything. To me, like it. I know we build that family.
It's going to be a championship type run. And it starts with my wife grabbing all the parents and they're. And they're meeting up at a restaurant before our game and they're getting to know each other and then they're tailgating and coming to the game. And obviously, you know, it's up to our coaching staff to get the players to buy in, up to my wife to get the parents to buy in. And when they all buy in, it is magical. It's just something really special.
And the, the dinners we do when we get to carry and having a barbecue out there in the parking lot every night, it becomes a family atmosphere that, that I'm probably my most proud of, of everything that we've accomplished here is that these families all come back to me years later. We just had our 2015 team inducted into our hall of Fame here and they all came to my house with their kids and you're talking about chills and that's what it's all about.
[00:40:21] Speaker A: Any tweaks you'd like to see for Division 2 or college baseball as a whole? We have a call next week about adding a transfer portal window in for you guys.
Do you feel like that would help?
[00:40:32] Speaker B: We. We have to just you know, we have to keep some type of edge. You know, like there's the window in Division 1 with, with the transfer portal where they don't enter by a certain day, you know, that they can get penalized.
We need to keep ours broad and open where we're able to continue to do this and, and able to get the mid year transfers and the things to, to keep Division 2 baseball on top, you know, where we're able to still get the, a premium athlete that maybe wasn't given what they were promised at a Division 1. So we, we can't just follow Division 1's lead on everything because we have to keep, keep with some type of edge.
[00:41:15] Speaker A: Yeah, because I mean, that's why I asked because obviously we're here to serve the coaches. So we want to do what's best. What we feel like is best for every level. You know, every level is going to be a little bit different. So we have to, we have to do what we feel like is best for the coaches at that level.
[00:41:28] Speaker B: Yeah. Because the guys we're going to lose, we're going to lose them anyways. I don't think a deadline is going to stop us from that. So we keep, I think by keeping things more open like you guys have done, it has benefited us to be able to grab guys late and grab guys mid year. Whatever we need to do. I love it.
[00:41:46] Speaker A: What are some final thoughts before I let you get back to work here?
[00:41:51] Speaker B: You know, it's just continue to, to work hard and grind at it and you know, obviously we, we all, you know, get excited at the beginning of the year with a new group and hope, hope to build another, you know, family out of this group. Sixteen new guys lost. Last year's whole rotation lost hitters one through four. So here we go again. And you know, we did something that has never been done in Division 2 last year, winning three. And you bet a lot of these guys are talking about, you know, coach, could you imagine and you know, no, I can't this early but, but we're going to try to build it again.
[00:42:30] Speaker A: Yep. Love it, sir. All right, hopefully I see you in Carrie again. Appreciate you. Thank you.
[00:42:35] Speaker B: All right, thanks.
[00:42:36] Speaker A: The great thing about the game of baseball is every year you may see something you've never seen before in the game.
This coming spring might be another one. With Tampa going for a four peat. Coach Erso is the blueprint for how to build a winning culture by pouring into your players and program as a whole. Congrats again to him and the entire Tampa program and another magical season.
Thanks again to John Litchfield, Zach Hale and Matt west in the ABCA office. For all up on the podcast, feel free to reach out to me via email our brownleebca.org Twitter, Instagram or TikTok coachbrabca or direct message me via the MyABCA app. This is Ryan Brownlee signing off with American Baseball Coaches Association. Thanks and leave it better for those behind you.
Yep Wait for another day
[00:43:33] Speaker B: and the world will always return and your life
[00:43:40] Speaker A: is never for yearning and you know
[00:43:45] Speaker B: that way
[00:43:48] Speaker A: Wait for another D.
