Episode Transcript
[00:00:04] Speaker A: Welcome to the ABCA's podcast. I'm your host Ryan Brownlee.
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This episode is sponsored by Netting Pros.
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Steve Ruzich has been a fixture at South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois for four decades, building one of the winningest programs in NJCA baseball history.
With a career record of 13, 85 and 817 through 2025, Ruzic ranks fifth all time and wins among NJCA coaches. Under his leadership, the Bulldogs have captured 15 regional championships, made two NJCA World Series appearances and earned nine regional runner up finishes. The program's best season came in 2005 with a school record 51 wins and an.823 winning percentage.
Brujich has been named NJCAA Region 4 Coach of the Year 14 times and has coached six players who reached the big leagues including Tony Singrani and Rob Makoviak inducted into the NJCA Baseball Coaches hall of Fame in 2014. Brujzic was among the inaugural recipients of the NJCA Coaches Legacy Awards in June 2025, an award which honored the all time winningest coaches in NJCAA history.
Let's welcome Steve Ruzich to the podcast.
Here's Steve ruzich, South sub 2026 ABCA hall of Fame class, but 1385 wins fifth all time NJCA. Now 14 time Region 4 coach of the year NJCA hall of Fame, but also got honored with the Legacy Award last year I think too as well. So Steve, thanks for jumping on with me.
[00:03:57] Speaker B: Thanks for having me. And.
[00:03:59] Speaker A: And we go way, way back.
[00:04:01] Speaker B: Yes, we do, don't we?
[00:04:02] Speaker A: Way back. By the way, congrats on having a field dedicated in your name.
[00:04:07] Speaker B: That was a great event. That was a couple weeks ago and just tremendous, just tremendous with Ryan especially, you know what it's all about with our alumni coming back and it was a weekend where we did it with the golf outing the day before.
So it was a long weekend and dedication on Saturday and it was just tremendous, man. It worked out well as I did. It only spit for about 10 minutes, but the weather cooperated and it was just a great event for everyone.
[00:04:36] Speaker A: Rough estimate, how many hours have you put in field work on that field?
[00:04:41] Speaker B: You know, somebody once told me the great Jim Aducci that played, you know, professionally one time when he showed up at the field at the White Sox summer program and I was dragging the field in between summer games and he looked at me, comes up, goes, how many times have you think you have dragged your field? I go, why did you bring that up? I have no idea. But no, it's, you know, just like every coach, man, that's dedicated, right? The one thing you want is a beautiful looking field. So I enjoy doing it too. It really does.
[00:05:09] Speaker A: Yeah, but I've seen you there like even, like not your events, even the other events that you host, you're there working on the field.
[00:05:18] Speaker B: Yeah, I am. I just something that is home to me and just, you know, I want kids to play on a good field, man. It represents our institution, it represents myself and as much as I can be there and it's always a good thing and you know, and hopefully, you know, down the line maybe, maybe get some of those guys to be able to play here.
[00:05:35] Speaker A: Has much of field work changed over the years?
[00:05:38] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely.
[00:05:39] Speaker A: What's been the biggest difference besides the is material? Probably the biggest difference with how, how much better the material is now.
[00:05:45] Speaker B: Yeah, material is a lot better, right. If you have it level, I think it does definitely, you know, help with the, you know, the drainage of everything. But, you know, obviously, as much as the guys hate it, you can't live in the Midwest without a tarp. If you have natural surface, how often.
[00:06:01] Speaker A: Do you have it laser graded, if any?
[00:06:04] Speaker B: No, we haven't laser graded. We have vans come out and we did it about four years ago, I want to say. So every few years it makes a.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Huge difference, 100%, huge difference. Hey, you've coached six big leaguers now. What are some of the common traits with those guys?
[00:06:21] Speaker B: You know, it's funny you say that, because it's amazing how the guys that have made it, I say this have probably been one of the most cockiest players that played for you.
But, you know, I always said, you know, you know, with Sangri and Burdock and those guys, you know, they believed in themselves, man. And I'll never forget Segrati, when he told me when he got drafted by Kansas City at the time, and I mean by the Cincinnati Reds, he said to me, he says, hey, he told the agent, the faster you sign me, the faster I make it to the big leagues. And sure enough, he did, man. So, you know, we call it a cockiness, right, Ryan? But we talk about, I think every player has to have that inside of them, you know, and you don't have to show it, but you got to believe in yourself. You don't believe in yourself, you got no chance of doing well at any level.
[00:07:18] Speaker A: Is the difference. Maybe cocky, maybe they're not good. Like self confidence, they're good. I think that's the difference. Like, if you call a kid cocky, it probably means they're not very good. They think they're good, but they're not good. But. But if they're good and they think they're good, then you call that self confidence.
[00:07:34] Speaker B: Yeah, I think a lot of that goes to tens of, you know, nowadays, right, with bat flips and, you know, and stuff like that. That's what I call cockiness. Right? That's cockiness, kid, right there, too. Where the other guys, you know, just believe in themselves and kind of stare you down and stuff like that, which is always a good thing.
[00:07:50] Speaker A: You know, we've. It's been kind of a point of emphasis in the office. Now we're going to touch on it probably at the convention is sportsmanship, you know, because I think you see it now at the higher levels and, and you see what happened at the little League World Series this year, especially the games to get there, you're starting to see that trickle down to the. To the lower levels a little bit now, which is not a good thing. And so I think we need to try to rein that in somehow.
I mean, what do you talk to your guys about with that, as far as how to handle in game stuff in the dugout? How are you talking to your guys about how to handle that stuff in game?
[00:08:24] Speaker B: Well, I think the biggest thing is it starts on day one, man. What's accepted in your program and what's not? I mean, we don't talk to the other team at all. And I think if you look back, all the good teams do it the right way. And the right way is, hey, they beat you and shake your hand and say goodbye. Right? There ain't no backflips. There's no point. There's no talking the other dugout. But, you know, it's challenging because, you know, I'm being honest with you. There's a lot of other programs that let them get away with it and just think it's part of it, and they let their dugouts talk to one another. And, you know, I just say, hey, let our action show on the field, man. You want that dugout to shut up and go score some runs, man?
[00:09:00] Speaker A: When does that show up as far as guys? Probably first couple fall games. You may have some new guys that haven't heard that yet, correct?
[00:09:07] Speaker B: Absolutely. And I. And you got to say something right, right away. I said, really? Are you going to say that? You know, so you do have to nip it right away and just tell them. And I don't know. I don't really care if it bothers him or not, but I've always was brought up the right way of respecting the game, respecting your opponent, respecting the umpires. And I think that's one of the great things that you do, is you just go out there and you play the game the right way.
[00:09:30] Speaker A: This is a listener question, actually. They want to know who is your favorite employee that worked for you for three days?
[00:09:39] Speaker B: My favorite employee that worked for you for three days, Mel Kaczynski is my favorite guy. Right. My main guy at the field. That's absolutely right.
[00:09:47] Speaker A: What about Rick Odette?
[00:09:50] Speaker B: Yeah, you know, Rick Odette was my assistant coach, you know, that I got. He worked with me for two days, and I got him a job down at St. Joe in Rensselaer.
[00:09:59] Speaker A: He also wanted to know, over time, what do you feel like has changed with the game of baseball?
[00:10:04] Speaker B: For the best from the past, from now.
[00:10:07] Speaker A: What, what's better about the game now than when you first started?
[00:10:10] Speaker B: Oh, I just think kids, I think kids are stronger, right. I mean, I think, I think they're finally realizing it's a year round thing as well.
And I think what's changed a lot of it in a good and a bad, right, is going back. I didn't have. We didn't have any indoor facilities to work out with since when I was coaching. I mean we use the gym out here and I mean we used to throw fly balls up in the lights to make sure that the guys would work. To make sure that, you know, they were working against not losing the ball in the sun. I hope we didn't do any eye damage to any of those guys that looked at those, those balls that we threw up in the gym. But, you know, now we're able to work out an indoor fac and you know, and, and maybe not be as far behind for the northern schools when they go play the southern schools because, you know, a lot of these good universities, man, they got indoor domes now and they can enter squad and play life, you know, go live. I remember getting in a batting cage. That's what we do, right?
It's crazy. So I think that, I think that number one has, has, you know, has changed the game of, of actually preparation to get ready to, you know, for a season, I think is one of.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: The greatest things you look and that's one of those things you don't realize at the time. But you look at the facilities in your area with the BO Dome, you know, the max, like those areas have been around, you think about it now, they've been around for 20, 25 years now. And you think about the amount of good players and there's always been good players in that area.
But for them to be able to train the entire year now and not, not kind of thaw which good or bad with arms. But I think that's where you've seen we've produce some really good big leaguers here and good college baseball players a lot more, I think over the course of time here because of those indoor facilities and giving guys an opportunity to work the whole year.
[00:11:55] Speaker B: Yeah, no question. You know, and it's just not, you know, obviously it goes beyond, you know, just the hitting aspect. It goes to the strength, conditioning coaches that you have and stuff like that. And you know, I think too, right. I mean, I don't know if it's good or bad, but you know, a lot of these Guys are realizing that it's a year round sport now as well, man. So you take a couple of weeks off and, and then you start training again for base.
Because I don't think anybody realizes the grind during the spring juco season of playing 56 games from the time you start in the middle of February to the early May, when you're playing, you know, here in the Midwest, you know, when you're playing a single game on a Tuesday, single game Wednesday, single game Thursday, two on a Saturday, one on a Sunday, the gruel on your body is one thing. So I think that, you know, preparation of trying to get your body in great strength during the winter, you know, will carry over through that time and.
[00:12:46] Speaker A: It allows your pitchers to have a place to long toss in the, in the wintertime. Where in the past I think that was always your biggest concern as a cold weather coach is you might have a guy go home and he's got to throw into a net or play catch in a gym. But now they've got facilities where they can actually stretch it out, where they might be a little bit closer to being ready when they show back up on campus.
[00:13:09] Speaker B: Yeah, it's 100%. I mean, it's like when people go away, they're able to have those facilities where they're able to go home for winter, even wherever it is, maybe in Canada or wherever it is, and they have those facilities to get them ready. And the great thing is during the year too is now, now you're actually throwing live. The hitters inside a dome where the ball, where the hitters, you know, you know, the pitchers are at least, you know, getting their work in as the hitters.
[00:13:31] Speaker A: Yeah, and I was going to ask you that because obviously you, you get games in, but then in that part of the world, in south side of Chicago, you may have to go back inside. How are you trying to keep guys sharp and competitive when you do have to go back inside?
[00:13:44] Speaker B: Yeah, that's a tough scenario, right? I mean, once you've been outside, I always say it's always tough to go back inside, but I think there's always something to work on during the game. But, you know, it's not long, right? You go away for a weekend, you give them Monday off, you're back at a Tuesday, Wednesday inside, and then you're leaving Thursday for another weekend. So.
And I think it's, it's, you know, you just got to try to stay. I don't think you have to go as long. Right. You just got to, you know, go over what we need to work on and you know, what we've seen and stuff like that and kind of go back from there. But if the weather is always challenging, you know, here in the Midwest, but, you know, that's what you got to deal with.
[00:14:17] Speaker A: Has it gotten better? It seems like the weather patterns have changed a little bit. Has it gotten a little easier up there?
[00:14:23] Speaker B: Yeah, it's changed. I don't know, it's global warming or whatever, but it's not as much change.
[00:14:28] Speaker A: But it just seems when I talk to people back home, it just seems like it hasn't been as harsh here.
[00:14:34] Speaker B: No, it has the last couple of years in the fact, I mean, right. I can go remember back when our field had a, you know, 36 inch freeze mark and you're trying to get the, you know, the field on freeze where the last couple years we just kind of going right out there and playing. It's crazy.
[00:14:49] Speaker A: That was always the tough part early with the frost line. People that have never been in that part of the world, you don't understand that like when it starts, the dirt starts to sweat like it's not a great thing because, you know, it's starting to thaw and, and it might look like you can get on it and as soon as you step on it, you're going down like 612 inches on it.
[00:15:09] Speaker B: There's no doubt. You know, I remember going on some trips and we get out there, oh man, it's a nice sunny day. And then you walk out, you're walking in the soap, right? But that's how nice it is if those guys that have turf, they don't have to think about that.
[00:15:21] Speaker A: 2005, did you know that team was going to win that many games?
[00:15:25] Speaker B: Yeah, it was, right? It was kind of crazy, right? I mean, we actually, if I, we, we actually had four, you know, Division 1 transfers that came back that year through the time. So, you know, I didn't realize, right. And I mean, and then we went into 2006 and we won 35 consecutive games.
That's pretty hard to do, right. And I mean, I just showed up and made the lineup, man, and those guys went out and played it. And that's hard to do, right, when you're playing five, six days a week, man. But that was something else. I can't even imagine when I look back at that, how that really was. You know, you just get gamers to show up every day and you got to definitely have the pitching to do it. So it's crazy.
[00:16:04] Speaker A: Your time playing at St. Francis. Did you know you're going to get into coaching?
[00:16:09] Speaker B: No. I thought I was going to be a big league baseball player.
You know, I would get drafted, but I did never, never, never even thought about coaching, to be honest with you. I think probably when I found out that, you know, the strike hit in 1985 when I was playing with the White Sox, that I probably, what am I going to do now? And then I did everything underneath the sun before I became the baseball coach here, that south suburban. So I was a head cross country coach, believe it or not. I was assistant men's basketball coach. I was assistant women's basketball coach. I was ahead of the intramural program, and I was actually, the first year I was assistant women's softball coach before I took over 1986. So I told everyone I did that for about $12,200, too. We somehow still made it, but then when I started off in 86, but I never thought I was going to get in the coaching. But just being around the game, obviously, was the big key for me.
[00:17:06] Speaker A: What was the final straw that was like, okay, I need to start doing this.
[00:17:10] Speaker B: Well, you know, I. I think what ended up happening between me and you as a player, I went to a workout with. With the Milwaukee brewers, and after I got released by the White Sox, and I had a great workout, and then they came up to me and after the workout and there were a couple guys afterwards, and I said, hey, what?
If you have any questions, let us know if we don't keep you. And I kept like, three guys that keep me. And I said, you know, you're 22 years old. We want our guys in the big leagues by the time they're 23. So I felt that I was still good enough. I haven't played since then. And I said, boy, now I need to do something else, right? That was the end. I knew that was the beginning, and that was the end. And I said, well, let's get into coaching there.
[00:17:52] Speaker A: I drove up to Chicago after my senior year for a workout with Bill Brick with the Pirates. And I kind of knew I had played in the Cape. I couldn't. Knew it wasn't going to happen. But Bill goes, hey, you'll be coaching with your dad in the spring.
[00:18:06] Speaker B: Yeah. How about that, right? Nothing wrong with that.
[00:18:10] Speaker A: You still heavily involved with youth baseball in the area? Are you still running a bunch of youth stuff?
[00:18:15] Speaker B: No, we're not doing youth. You know, we used to do the camps, and then when Covid hit, we ran out of the camps. And stuff. So the only thing we're doing with the youth is more or less, you know, just running tournaments off our field. That's all we're doing with the youth.
[00:18:27] Speaker A: What do you feel like youth players, parents and coaches need to hear right now?
[00:18:33] Speaker B: Well, I think we all need to be realistic, right. And what are the goals? Right. I mean, you know, I know this is an old school comment, but you know, we look back at the days and you know this and you probably did it. Whatever sport was in, we played, you know, even if we weren't good at it, if we played football, we had pick up football games and we had hockey, you know, whatever it is, we pretended we were hockey players or whatever it was basketball players, you know, I think it's good. But I think, honestly I think a lot of the kids are probably, I think getting burnt out. You know, a lot of these guys are starting in February at the age of 9 and 10. I say that all the time. I'm in an indoor facility. We're getting ready for college games and here comes a nine or ten year old group coming in at the end of January and February. And I'm saying, why aren't you guys playing basketball? Right. You know, and baseball is great, don't be wrong. But I just think, you know, there's just so much, so much, so much. And whether your body breaks down or your mental aspect breaks down, I think, I think that's the case. And then, you know, not everyone's going to be a big league. We know 1% of the people that would get drafted is 1%. The 1% of those people that get drafted make the big leagues is less than 1%. So you know, realistic dreams of what you're, what you're looking for for your child. Right. You know, it was a good tool. It's a great experience. And have your kid go get his education at whatever school. And the most important thing is, I think is, is as they grow up too, right? Is we're all caught up on image where we're concerned about what school a kid goes. So when we go out to dinner we can, he's going to this great school by a name. But they don't realize you're paying $60,000 a year and your kid's not playing either.
[00:20:07] Speaker A: I think we almost have to go in like two directions with the youth kids now. It's like, okay, it's, it's okay here if you have a child that they are a one sport athlete, okay, here's the template for them to Stay healthy. Now if you have a multi sport athlete, that's good too. Here's the template to kind of keep them healthy too I think because I don't think that you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube with, with only sport. And it's not just the men, it's the women too where you have girls playing one sport. So how do we keep those single sport athletes healthy too? Because they do need some shutdown periods and I think parents just don't know. So I think it's, it's an more of an education piece like okay, if you have a multi sport athlete, cool, this direction's good. Now if you have one that's only playing one sport like this is what they need to do and here needs to be some time for them to take away or go do other things. I think just from a mental health standpoint but also a physical health standpoint, I think we've got to try to, we got to help that group too that they do have some one sport athletes like it's just. That's not going away.
[00:21:06] Speaker B: No, I think you're 100 right with that. Right. And let's look back and probably look at your youth times and stuff like that. So we whoever the best 12 year old kid never even hardly played in high school or college or two. And that break is so important. I think your body needs it.
[00:21:20] Speaker A: What about for high school and travel, Youth, parents, coaches?
[00:21:25] Speaker B: Well, I think it's kind of, obviously it's is. I will say this, I've noticed where the toughest thing I feel in summer ball right now as, as coaches for us at our level is there's not an emphasis on winning anymore. It's all about developing. They tell these kids, right, they develop and we're going to get you exposure. But there's not one thing that comes out of winning, you know. So when you get some of these kids to your program, you, they don't know what that means because it, when, let's look at you go to a tournament, you play on Wednesday, you know, we play Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Somehow these terms are starting even earlier but you're getting these kids. And Ryan, let's be honest, if we don't make it to Sunday, well there's a tournament next week. Now you go back to not even that long ago, maybe eight years ago you were playing for something. In the summer you were playing to try to get, you know, to farming, to New Mexico, right. So you're playing for something now. If you want to Go to a World Series or you want to go some. If you got the money, you're going. So I think the emphasis as they get older is tougher because on us is because we don't want to win. And a lot of those places and some of summer programs don't emphasize that on. And I do get development, don't get me wrong. Right. But I think there needs to be something of how important winning is as well.
[00:22:46] Speaker A: When somebody says winning baseball, what does that mean to you?
[00:22:50] Speaker B: Well, I think if you, if you're right, if you're winning baseball, hey, that means I want to get guys from winning programs, right? That's what I want. If I, you know that I think that's the key of, of our trying to recruiting, right. Is, is to get into places where people have won.
And that to me is important because I always say this, right? What are we afraid of? We're afraid of people getting hurt when they lose and we're worried about their emotions. But you know what, when you lose a tough game, right. It makes those kids a little bit more hungry the next time around. Not talking. Even at the younger level, you know, you don't want to see your 10 year old or 12 year old kid cry. I went through it. I've coached those kids that that's happened too. But you know what, it made those kids stronger and down the, down the.
[00:23:36] Speaker A: Run, feel like you learn more from the losing, don't you?
[00:23:40] Speaker B: Well, I think so. I mean, I definitely do. Right, because it makes you appreciate winning more. That's what I'm saying. You know, if winning doesn't mean anything, then you go out there, go. That's okay. We always say the old statement, what is it? Hey, would you rather have your team win and you know, you, you go over four or would you have your team lose and go four for four? Which one do you want? What scenario want?
[00:23:59] Speaker A: With the ever changing landscape of the four year recruiting stuff, has that affected you guys a whole lot?
[00:24:06] Speaker B: Not as much, no. I mean for our school individually, no. Because you know, we're not one that gets a lot of the transfer portal guys, so it doesn't affect us too much as well.
[00:24:17] Speaker A: Feel like the 20 round draft is good for baseball?
[00:24:20] Speaker B: Yeah, I think so, right. I mean, I mean obviously you look at guys that, you know, get drafted lower in the rounds and you know, everyone, it's their dream to get drafted by a professional baseball team, right? So. But we look at this is what happens to those guys and I know there's guys like Piazza and stuff that would draft them lower and stuff like that, get chances. But how many of those guys, you know, never make it and how many, you know. And what's killed it, Right. Obviously is minor league baseball. They've gotten rid of a lot of minor league teams. So they're. How are you going to keep drafting more players?
[00:24:53] Speaker A: That's what independent baseball is for now.
[00:24:55] Speaker B: Correct.
[00:24:55] Speaker A: Like you're still seeing guys make it to the big leagues. That would, would have been those late round guys. They're just doing it out of independent baseball now.
[00:25:03] Speaker B: Yeah, a lot of them did it, especially around this area too. They, they go to those places to play the independent ball, which is great.
[00:25:10] Speaker A: Has your mentoring skills changed at all over the years with the newer generation?
[00:25:16] Speaker B: You know, in a certain way? I think it has, right. You have to take a back seat. You know, you can't, I think you can't be as you know, you can still be. Gotta still be tough. Right. Like I always say here, for someone to play here, they know what they're getting themselves into. And I'm not saying that's a bad thing either. But there's a lot of discipline, there's a lot of old school that goes with it and.
But I think that you have to change because you have to read kids better. And I think that's always been my strength in coaching. As I can read kids. I understand when a kid is down, if there's some other distraction he's got going on in his life.
So I think you got to be a little bit more of attention to that. Where as we all know, negative. Sometimes being negative to a lot of these kids is they don't understand that. They take it as you're yelling at them and they don't understand that it will, it's, it's to inspire them and to get them to be positive players.
[00:26:16] Speaker A: I just feel like they, they internalize a lot more. I think they're more empathetic as a, as a whole. And I do feel like they take a lot more of that constructive criticism to heart where you do have to kind of explain a little bit more, you know, the old. Listen to the, what I'm saying now, how I'm saying it. Yeah.
[00:26:36] Speaker B: And I mean, as harsh as I've been, sometimes a lot of these guys and I have, you know, it's the way I am and you know, put your heart and soul into it. But I've always, in 40 years I've been doing it, I have always made sure if I did, you know, get into someone's grill and talk to them and yell at them that I always, before they left that field we had a discussion of why I did that. So I think that's never has changed. So I think that will always be the way you do things.
[00:27:04] Speaker A: How often do you meet with them in the fall?
[00:27:08] Speaker B: So we just finished fall baseball. We do have a strength and conditioning program coming up that will run starting next week and that will run to the end of November into early December. And we got a strength and conditioning coach. So I kind of stopped by just to see and check in with them.
[00:27:27] Speaker A: I like that your graduation rates on your website by the way.
[00:27:31] Speaker B: Yeah, the graduation, that's important, right? I mean, I will tell you this Ryan. I really believe going back to from when I first started coaching at the juco level you would, you know, 40 years ago you'd get guys that had bad ACT scores, guys that weren't very good academic wise. And it's, it's really changed because I think the kids now find out that hey, you know, jucos may be the way to go because I'm not going to be playing at a four year school until I'm a junior. So they are coming. So I think we're definitely no doubt getting better student athletes in all our sports here at the college, but especially baseball too. I think we had like nine academic all Americans alone last year. So our, our kids are understanding, you know, the most important thing is, right, they need to know if they're going to move on to a four year school which we've sent, you know, quite a few guys out there that you got to get your, you know, your associate degree and you got to graduate.
[00:28:27] Speaker A: What do you relay into those guys when they do get an opportunity to a four year school to, to kind of prep them before they get there?
[00:28:33] Speaker B: Yeah, I think you're right. It's a different level. Right. Let's be honest, you're the best of the best when you move up the level and it's getting tougher each level here. Right. So. But I know, I think our guys are school pretty well of the work ethic that it takes.
But you know, the competition level, I think we've always played a great competition. You know, during our spring trip and stuff we go down south and you know, play the Logan's and the Wabashes of the world and, and then we go, and we always go to Texas every year to play the best in Texas and that's to prepare you for the end of the year. But you know what, let's prepare you to see how good you really are. And you know, a lot of those guys we have played at through the times, through Texas, you know, you see a lot of those guys in the big leagues. You know, I mean, I remember Little, the one guy that pitches for the Cubs and out of the bullpen, he, we faced him from San Jac and he was one of their project guys. So, you know, it's good for our guys to see that. And I think that's, that's what the preparation of playing at a high level will get you to get, you know, prepare you for the next level.
[00:29:29] Speaker A: Those guys that are moving on, when you talk to them, what are some of the eye opening things for them when they do get an opportunity to go to a different place?
[00:29:37] Speaker B: Well, I think they find out that it's 24 hours, you know, they got things that are, you know, that, you know, you got study table, you got weightlifting, you got this. And there's not as much downtime as it is, you know, at anywhere. So I think that's the big thing too.
[00:29:53] Speaker A: Yeah. I call it a lifestyle.
And that's what I always try to relay to people. Like if you want that, like for people that want that lifestyle, it is a lifestyle. You don't, you don't get to put it down if you want to be good, it's a lifestyle. But it's going to set you up for a lot of success later on because you're going to be willing to do some things that the people in the real world have never had to do before.
[00:30:16] Speaker B: You make it right. It's just like here you want to be structured, you want to be organized and, and so when those kids get to that next level that they, they understand that and they understand, you know, from that four year school level too. That's why, you know this in the real world. That's why a lot of people like to hire athletes that, you know for jobs. Right. Because they're, they're dedicated, they're on time and they're accountable.
[00:30:39] Speaker A: Illinois recruiting is competitive. I mean, you look at the amount of schools, not a lot of four year schools, a lot of jucos. I mean, how have you been able to sustain your success for this long with getting good players? Because you've done it year in year out of getting good players to come there.
[00:30:55] Speaker B: Yeah. You know, isn't that change, isn't it funny how the Internet and all these PBR and all these things have changed everything? Right, right. I remember used to go into the high school games during the spring playoffs. And you're still recruiting for this year, right? It's crazy, right? You go watch a regional or, you know, the state tournament, that kid's still looking to go to school. Now you got to do it a year in advance, right? Of what at?
I have two young coaches that do an extremely great job, all three of them do at the recruiting level of finding the players. But again, I make sure that they are looking for character, because to play here, you know, as many years I've done, I need good character. Kids, man, I don't care, you know? You know how fast you are, how great you are. You better have good character. So we do a lot of checking up on high school coaches. You know, I have my coaches reach out to the summer coaches and. And then when they come in, I think that's the most important thing, man, is having guys a good character with good work ethic.
[00:31:54] Speaker A: How many of those guys have played for you? I know Lee played for you, but how many the other guys played?
[00:31:58] Speaker B: Almost a lot of my assistant coaches have. My pitching coach played for him. Kyle Hallberg. And Marty Joyce is one of our guys. That's my assistant coach. Those guys do a tremendous job with me. And, you know, Marty was in the area, too, so, you know, they know what the program's about.
[00:32:12] Speaker A: Feel like it's easier because those guys can relay a lot of that to the players about, hey, here. Here's how Coach Rue is like. It doesn't mean that he doesn't like you. Like, this is how he is.
[00:32:21] Speaker B: Exactly. Right. Right. It's always called, right. We've always talked about the good cop and the bad cop. Right?
[00:32:29] Speaker A: What does this mean for you going into the ABC hall of Fame?
[00:32:32] Speaker B: Oh, my God. Right? I mean, it's beyond words, I think, you know, I've attended this thing for 35 years. Right. Even though I started going to 40, it was. It's always, to me, I always say, the best of the best. Right. I always enjoy listening to some of the speakers. I always got to be there for that first guy. To me up, it's to get the juices flowing. But to be part of the guys that are in that hall of Fame is beyond words. I'm totally humbled and honored for this award. I'm really looking forward to it because, you know, I go every year and see. And I never thought, like, hey, one year you may be. And that's not what I am, you know, whatever. But it's. It's just beyond words, and I'm really looking Forward to that opportunity in Columbus.
[00:33:16] Speaker A: At one point in all of those, did you feel like, okay, now it's my turn to try to give back to the younger coaches that are there, because those of us been. I've been going for a long time, and when. When you first get there, it's like, okay, I'm going to shut up and listen because. But at what point did you figure out that, okay, now I can actually probably instill some. Some wisdom to the. The guys that are coming behind me now.
[00:33:39] Speaker B: Yeah, talking to some of those guys is great, but we all know this, right? We never know it. All right? So there. If I always said this when I went to that ABCA convention, if I can pick up one new thing every year I go there, it's well worth the trap, right? And. And I think it is. And then, you know, is there any better fraternity than the abc? Hey, man, let's be honest, right? With coaches, with baseball guys, being around, talking to different coaches and different thoughts and meeting new people, right? And it's brotherhood, man. That's what it's all about. So it's always been something, like I said, man, and we've gone to many, many of them.
Boy, some. Some bad, bad rise and some bad weather sometimes, but. But we had to get to that ABCA convention in Nashville, Tennessee, when the roads were ice, when we were heading through Louisville and Kentucky. I could tell you that I didn't know if I was going to make it.
[00:34:29] Speaker A: I like asking about inexpensive experience.
What have you learned, good or bad, from watching what other people do over the years?
[00:34:38] Speaker B: Well, again, I think it's something that you pick up from each coach that you play for. I mean, I think I was very, very fortunate to play for Gordy Gillespie out of St. Francis. Probably one of the greatest motivators that there was, right?
And then just, you know, coaching against different guys and, you know, you said trying to be like this, right? Trying to mentor different things in our region. I'm trying to mentor the younger coaches sometimes. And mostly, I hate to say this, it's on behavior, right, of how you act when you do different things. So. But picking up different things is always the key. That's why I went to the convention. I told you every time you could pick something up was always a great thing.
[00:35:18] Speaker A: You think it's harder for the newer generation of coaches to maybe reach out?
I feel now, not that it's imposter syndrome, but maybe a little bit where I think people are a little more guarded because they don't want to act like they don't know or afraid to ask questions because they don't want to look like they don't know what they're doing.
[00:35:36] Speaker B: Yeah, I think so. I think some of them do. Right. And you know, and some of the ones are, you know, timid to do a lot of things in their program. Right. I, I think sometimes the younger generation wants everybody to like them, you know, the players like them and, and that's good and dandy. But obviously you got to remember you're the one that's in control of the program. Man, that's the biggest thing has the.
[00:35:59] Speaker A: Game slowed down for you in the dugout over the years in a while. But I can imagine you still get that.
[00:36:10] Speaker B: You still get, oh man, I, I, it's in my blood, right? I, I mean, right. I, here's my deal. I always say you have to be as most active for those kids to respect you. You still need to do as much as you can. Right. So I still throw batting practice even though I've moved up from throwing batting practice. Right. Make sure you get behind the L strain.
I almost gave up on hitting ins and outs. I did do it last year, but I blamed it, I was, it was too cold, cold early in the year. So that's why I didn't have any as much strength. And for now I still do coach third base in the spring just as long as they don't get drilled over there again, which I did last, last spring. But I, I just try to be as active as I can and no, and I, it's always right. I always look at it as, it's always a teaching moment in the dugout. Right. Whatever dugout it is, right. And I, and obviously I think that's the thing. I don't think I have really, I really, really slowed down. I think I've taken a deep breath obviously where I think the toughest thing, I'll be honest with you, when I first started out coaching was you can't play for them. Right? You can't. Because I was a heart, I was a catcher, you know, as a hard nosed guy. And, and I always thought why would they do that? I would never do. And that was the first stuff, the thing that I had to get rid of in my early days of coach, like, hey, nobody's going to play the game with the passion that you have. And that's what I still do, you know, the greatest word I can still say I got passion for the game. So as long as I still have that, you know, I still like Being in the dugout, I still like coaching these kids.
[00:37:36] Speaker A: Everybody's got to answer this one. Do you have a fail forward moment, something you thought was going to set you back, but looking back now, it helped you move forward. Could be personal or professional.
[00:37:45] Speaker B: Yeah, right.
I think we had a couple tough years here, record wise.
And in the question becomes is, am I still doing it the right way?
What do I need to do?
And I think that's, that's something where you look back of, you know, because I think we've only had a couple years, we've been under 500 and I think we had back to back years and I'm like, all right, we need to reevaluate this and see where we got to go from here. And we got back on the winning track and stuff. But there's always a moment there, right? Then you wonder, are you doing things the right way? Am I, you know, what should I change? And stuff like that, that it's worked for so many years, why isn't that working now? So, yeah, I think there's always that in anybody's code, in anybody's life, let's put it that way.
[00:38:33] Speaker A: What were adjustments did you make coming out of those couple years? What'd you adjust?
[00:38:37] Speaker B: Some of the thing was, is character kids, right? I just don't think we had good enough players. I, I think we had good enough players, but not tough kids. Right? Because that's, that's our type of, you know, that's who we are here, right? Is we've got tough kids that play for us that are always going to play hard, man. And that was the big thing. I think we kind of got away with that where kind of went with maybe some more talented kids, but kids that didn't have great work ethic. So.
And again, right. Goes back to the first thing we talked about, winning those groups that know how to win, man, and it didn't bother them. That was the most tough thing to me. Right. You know, hey, we know we're all not going to go 56 and over. Some teams have, obviously that LSU team did last year, but we, you know, we never know that. But just as long as you play the game hard and play it the right way.
[00:39:24] Speaker A: How do you grade that out in recruiting? I think that's the toughest thing to grade out now because.
And obviously the lower level coaches want their kids to get an opportunity to go to places. So not that they're dishonest, but especially somebody you've known so many coaches in that area. If I'M a high school coach in that area and I, I see a kid that has some talent but maybe needs to get tougher to help them have some success. I might, might send them to you because they, you might toughen them up a little bit.
[00:39:54] Speaker B: Yeah, thanks, I appreciate that because I, I know some guys go, well, he needs you, right?
[00:40:00] Speaker A: But you also need to win.
[00:40:02] Speaker B: That's right. This kid needs you and you know, it needs direction and he needs that and stuff like that. So yeah, I think, you know, the area going back for some years ago, I mean, there were coaches that strictly if you were going to go juco, you were coming here and obviously now, you know, there's a lot of great juco programs now that are out there of kids and you know this. A lot of kids make those decisions. A lot of parents make those decisions. Where I thought in the past, a lot of time was the coach would have, it would be a bigger influence than he was compared to now. To be honest with you, how do.
[00:40:36] Speaker A: You re engage every year? You're still so fiery and passionate about coaching. How do you re engage every year?
[00:40:42] Speaker B: Well, I think that, I think about the break, right. You know, I mean, I'll be honest with you, like you just mentioned, you know, I think like now, this break right now that we have off and it's never off, right. You know, I'm also the ad, so that never ends, but that, you know, you got now until, you know, October, November, you know, December and then I will get fired up at the convention and, and come back and start over and then, you know, I used to coach in summer programs, man, and now that I don't do that. So I think all those breaks that you have, and this is what I'm talking about when I. With the kids that play, you need, you need a little bit of a break, something. So after May or you know, comes to the end and you know, you got the break of June, July, August and then you just re fire up, man.
[00:41:21] Speaker A: How are you mentoring the other coaches in your program, the non baseball coaches in your program as an athletic director?
[00:41:28] Speaker B: Well, I mean, my coaches are tremendous, man. They understand where I'm at. And like you said, you mentioned that a couple of guys have played for me, so they've been through our program. So I think they kind of understand the way things are run here and what, and what's, you know, what's, what's accepted and not accepted. So, you know, the mentoring of them is just very fortunate that they have played for me.
[00:41:53] Speaker A: When you have to hire another sport coach. What are you looking for?
[00:41:56] Speaker B: Oh, God, Right. I've made some good choices. I made some bad choices. Right.
We've always said one thing. I think as a coach, you got to read people, right? I think that's the biggest thing.
But you got to read people in the way that you have to look beyond winning and losing. And I mean, we all want to win.
I've always said this. What we got to make sure and other coaches is, is he going to be structured, organized, where those kids that are going to play for him are going to have two good years of experience by coming and making the right choice here? That's the most important thing, right, Is making sure that you have those type of people. And we've been fortunate because we've had a lot of guys that have been here for, for 18, 20 years, you know, of coaching. So it worked itself out.
[00:42:42] Speaker A: How important is the interview process? I. I put my ad hat on. Sometimes I think it would be hard for me in an interview because sometimes people are just really good at interviewing. Doesn't mean they're a good coach. It just means they're really good at interviewing. You know, I think that would be really difficult as an ad is like trying to get that right on the higher part.
[00:43:00] Speaker B: Yeah. And I think it is. And sometimes that's why you got to have a committee. Right. You get someone outside to look outside of it, too, and, you know, get their perspective of it, too. And, you know, we always have the thing of, no, make it. Don't make a decision within 24 or 48 hours.
Think about where you're at with everything.
[00:43:16] Speaker A: You have any other routines that you like, daily routines that you've developed over the years that you feel like help. You could be morning, could be evening. Yeah.
[00:43:23] Speaker B: You know, I, I, you know, eventually, I used to call it working out. I mean, I don't know if walking is anything working out anymore. Right. But, but no, I think. Right. I think for my mind's sake, I've been fortunate too.
I say I take the dog for a walk. My wife laughs at me. No, you're going for the walk because you got to get out. Right. I'm on that one. I'll be honest with you. I cannot sit around during COVID That was one good thing. I really found out that my wife even asked Patty, when are you going back to work? Right. Because I'm just always kind of on the go. But the other mental side of things, I think it gets me away from everything about. About five, five Years ago, I invested into a hot tub. So every night I meditate for five, you know, for like 20, 25 minutes in a hot tub. And you should see, it makes your mind wand, you know, really relax and your body relax, and it makes you fall asleep earlier. Even though my wife says you don't need that hot tub, fall asleep early. But I.
I look at that way, and then, you know, you're laughing about this. I. I live in Joliet, so I drive to South Suburban every day. It's 45 minutes, and on i80 sometimes it can be an or whatever, especially the roads all day. But that time there in your car by yourself is amazing what it can do for you. Come up with some great ideas, some great thoughts. Sometimes. Sometimes you drive by and now you just miss the exit. Say, oh, my God, there, I just missed the exit. But I think those kind of things always help.
[00:44:46] Speaker A: I think the car's a meditative place, too. I really do. Hey, when you sit in your hot tub, do you have a set? You just sit, like, and kind of let your thoughts go?
Because I don't think people do enough of that, just sitting, like, I think it makes people really uncomfortable. And I think that's why a lot of people don't like meditating, because you're gonna have a lot of thoughts, and eventually you just have to sit with your thoughts and let it decompress. But there's a lot of really good research coming out now. Actually makes your gray matter grow in your brain if you meditate.
[00:45:18] Speaker B: No, it's amazing, man. I mean, I think I have, like, five different spots in my hot tub, and I move around each time. But it's amazing what you can come up with because they start thinking about what lines are cut for you at your job with the team. What can you do? I started thinking, what lineup am I going to make? It's just amazing how it's. How it works for me.
[00:45:38] Speaker A: What are some final thoughts or maybe some other shout outs you want to give? I know you got a brief amount of time for the ABC hall of Fame banquet. Are there any other shout outs you want to give?
[00:45:47] Speaker B: Oh, come on, man. Let's go. You've been around your dad, you've been around your brother. Is there anything better than your family? And that's the one thing about this college here. My three kids went to school here at South Suburban. Okay? All three of them. Okay? My wife, you know, she went to St. Francis. She followed me as a baseball player.
And we all know this, right? If you're going to do this. And they've been married for 39 years. You know, you got to have the MVP at home, man, that she allows you to do what you do. And. And she always has. But she's been the rock of the family.
I'm a big family guy.
My kids have, you know, we got six grandkids. We get together every other weekend or whatever to get together. And that's the most important thing to me. And that's what this program is about, is about family. And I think it showed when we had that dedication, when all the alumni came back because they feel like they're part of it. And I think that's what separates our program from a lot of other places, is I've instilled that since I went. I went to school right here when it was Thornton Community College. I've coached here for 40 years. And we've always treated the last kid on the team like the first kid. So they feel at home and their teammates are their brothers. And just like at home. And my family is a number one.
[00:47:00] Speaker A: To me, I think that's that fine line, especially early on. And I was terrible at it. That fine line of making sure you're putting all the things you can into your job, but also not sacrificing what's going on at home. I was awful at it. Like, I'm still probably bad at it. Just as far as trying to put everything you can into your profession, but also not sacrificing what you have going on at home. How are you able to separate those things?
[00:47:26] Speaker B: The drive. Yeah, the car ride. I'm dead serious. It's 45, you know, by the time the game's over, Right. Let's be honest, right? You're looking down by time you meet, you get done things at the field. That's 40 minutes. Now you're driving your car for 40 minutes. And I've always been able to people, majority of the time, and my wife Patty will tell you is I never bring it home, okay? And she's great because she, like, she's part of it. She knows these kids. So sometimes I talk to her about it, too, but very rarely do I bring it home.
And if I do, it's got to be something really bad that I bring home. But usually that separation of that car ride and afterwards will make sure I don't bring that home.
[00:48:05] Speaker A: Thanks so much for your time.
Appreciate it, man.
[00:48:08] Speaker B: I can't thank you enough, man. I could go on for a while and everything. And I really look forward to seeing you in Columbus. Again, thank you for this opportunity. And thank that committee, man, because it's once. This is the best of the best, baby.
[00:48:20] Speaker A: Hug everybody in the Midwest for me, please.
[00:48:22] Speaker B: I will do that, baby, including your brother.
[00:48:25] Speaker A: I'll talk to him.
[00:48:26] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:48:27] Speaker A: Those of us who have coached and recruited in the Midwest know the job that Coach Rezich has done to make the same suburban program what it is.
He's dedicated a lifetime of blood, sweat and tears to make it one of the best in the country.
So happy for him to be recognized this January in Columbus.
Thanks again to John Litchfield, Zach Halen, Matt west and the ABC office for all the help on the podcast. Feel free to reach out to me via email r brownleadebca.org Twitter, Instagram or TikTok coachbeer_abca direct message me via the MYBC app.
Ryan Brownlee signing off with American Baseball Coaches Association. Thanks and leave it better for those behind you Yep wait for another.
[00:49:23] Speaker B: And.
[00:49:23] Speaker A: The world will always return as your life is ever for yearning and you know that way Wait for another day.
[00:49:49] Speaker B: Sam.
