This week, I'm joined by Mike Deegan, Head Baseball Coach at Denison University, for a conversation that goes far beyond wins and losses. We discuss: building a program around standards, not shortcuts, what college coaches are really looking for in recruits, the role culture plays in sustained success, why coachability and character still separate great players and what today's players, coaches, and parents need to hear about long-term development. Whether you're a coach building a program, a...

This week, we’re joined by Ryan Vondracek—Assistant Coach at Crown College, Head of Recruiting & Arm Care, and Head of Pitching Operations for Minnesota Renegade. Ryan brings a powerful perspective as a former collegiate lefty who turned down opportunities to play overseas to follow his calling into coaching—and he’s been making an impact ever since. In this episode, we dive into: The biggest mistakes pitchers are making with arm care, velocity vs. true pitching development, what college coach

Every high school baseball player dreams of playing at the next level…And a lot of families believe baseball will pay for college. The truth? There is very little scholarship money out there for collegiate baseball players. So what does that mean for YOU? It means if you’re only relying on baseball… you’re already behind. College admissions expert Shellee Howard, has helped over 15,000 students earn more than $23 million in scholarships — many without relying on athletic money. She’s helped fam

This week I'm joined by Matt McGuire, author of Fairfield American - A Legacy of Little League Dreams and longtime leader within Fairfield American Little League. Matt spent 15 years as a coach, board member, and president during one of the most remarkable eras in Connecticut Little League history — a time when Fairfield American reached the Little League World Series three times. But this conversation — and this book — isn’t just about winning. It’s about the moments on the field. The storie...

No scripts. No talking points. Just real questions and honest answers about the current state of youth baseball. In this episode, Jeff and Kevin tackle the issues coaches and parents are actually dealing with — development vs. winning, expectations, athlete health, communication, and where youth baseball needs to be better. This isn’t about hot takes. It’s about accountability, education, and doing right by the kids who play the game. If you’re involved in youth baseball in any way, this is a

This is the final episode of our three-part series, “Insights from the 2025 ABCA Youth Baseball Summit.” We close the series with a powerful conversation featuring: ⚾ Paul Gallo ⚾ Steve Nikorak ⚾ Jeff Sopha In this final installment, the focus turns to leadership, accountability, and what real change in youth baseball actually looks like. The conversation challenges coaches, parents, and administrators to move beyond awareness and toward action — putting kids first in every decision we make...