ABCA Podcast American Baseball Coaches Association

This week on the ABCA Podcast is 2024 ABCA Hall of Fame class inductee LSU Eunice head coach and Athletic Director, Jeff Willis. Willis is entering his 22nd season as skipper of the Bengals baseball team and 20th year as Athletic Director. LSU Eunice has won seven NJCAA National Championships, tying them for most championships in a sport by one school. Willis was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2023. In going into the ABCA Hall of Fame, Willis becomes the first NJCAA coach in the State of Louisiana to be inducted. He joins an illustrious group of Bayou State skippers Skip Bertman, Paul Mainieri, Roger Cador and Tony Robichaux who are also enshrined in the ABCA Hall of Fame. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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. Support for this episode is brought to you by The Headset App. Are you looking for a simple solution for coach to catcher communication for this season that doesn’t require bulky hardware in the dugout? Traditional communication gear can be a headache to set up and carry from game to game. But what if there was a game-changing solution? Introducing The Headset App – your new MVP in communication for coaches and catchers. Enjoy crystal-clear, ultra-HD audio without the major league price tag. It’s compatible with any

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is 2024 ABCA Hall of Fame class inductee, Brian O’Connor. O’Connor is a five-time ACC Coach of the Year and three-time National Coach of the Year. Virginia was named the ACC Program of the Decade by D1Baseball.com. O’Connor is heading into his 21st season as head coach of the Cavaliers. In O’Connor’s tenure with the Cavaliers they have one National Championship in 2015, 6 College World Series appearances, 14 straight NCAA tournament appearances and 9 NCAA regional championships. O’Connor has 839 wins at UVA and his .704 winning percentage is the highest among active NCAA coaches. UVA’s program is built on great recruiting and development. 29 Cavaliers that have played for O’Connor and Kevin McMullan have made it to the big leagues. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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. Support for this episode is brought to you by The Headset App. Are you looking for a simple solution for coach to catcher communication for this season that doesn’t require bulky hardware in the dugout? Traditional communication gear can be a headache to set up and carry from game to game. But wha

This week on the ABCA Podcast we are joined by Tidewater Phillies and Grassfield High School’s Lee Banks. Banks has been a staple on the travel baseball scene for over 25 years. Banks’ initial travel squad was the Tidewater Mets then transitioned to the Tidewater Orioles. Over his career, Banks has had the opportunity to coach future big leaguers Michael Cuddyer, Jason Dubois, David Wright, BJ Upton, Justin Upton, Ryan Zimmerman and Mark Reynolds. Banks coaches travel and high school baseball part-time, he is a full-time consultant for Cox Media. Banks is an 89’ graduate of Norfolk State. In this episode we cover high school & travel baseball, tips for parents in the process, coaching elite players, the impact that Virginia coaches & scouts had on both of us and keeping coaching simple. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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. Support for this episode is brought to you by The Headset App. Are you looking for a simple solution for coach to catcher communication for this season that doesn’t require bulky hardware in the dugout? Traditional communication gear can be a headache to set up and carry from game to gam

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is this year’s Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award winner Lee University head coach, Mark Brew. Following 10 seasons as an assistant coach for the Flames under ABCA Hall of Fame coach, Dave Altopp, Brew took over the Lee baseball program in 2007. Now in his 18th season as the program’s head coach, Brew has guided his teams to 671 wins. The Flames advanced to the NAIA World Series in each of Brew’s first seven seasons as head coach while reaching the 50-win mark each season. In 2008 Brew was named the NAIA National Coach of the Year after leading the Flames to a 63-win season and runner-up finish at the NAIA World Series. After transitioning to NCAA Div. II and the Gulf South Conference in 2014, Brew has led the Flames to back to back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. A 30-year member of the ABCA, Brew currently serves on the ABCA’s College Playing Rules Committee and our NCAA Competition Committee. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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. Sup

This week on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/ATEC Div. I High School Coach of the Year Lewisburg head coach, Rusty Cagle. Lewisburg High School has won their first ever 6A State Championship and second overall in school history. The Patriots finished the season with a 29-8 record. Cagle is one of the few remaining staff members from the start of Lewisburg High School and teaches social studies in addition to his role as athletic director and baseball coach. Cagle started the program 17 years ago. The Patriots also won a 4A State Championship early in Cagle’s tenure at Lewisburg. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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.

Next up on the ABCA Podcast is ABCA/ATEC Div. III Coach of the Year University of Lynchburg head coach, Lucas Jones. Jones is a Lynchburg alum so this was a special season for him bringing home Lynchburg’s first National Championship. Jones took over the Hornets program in 2017 from his head coaching position at Washington and Lee. Jones also had experience as a Div. I assistant coach with stops at VCU and George Mason. The 2023 Hornets squad had 48 wins and captured their 10th ODAC title, first regional, super-regional and National Championship. Jones announced this summer he was stepping away from the program to focus on his mental health. This is an open and honest conversation on what coaches go through on a daily basis. The ABCA Podcast is presented by Netting Pros. Netting Professionals are improving programs one facility at a time, specializing 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.