BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

Ken Carpenter
  • 4.9 (50)
  • Baseball
  • Updated Weekly

Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for insights on high school baseball coaching, travel baseball development, and college recruiting from coaches building winning programs.. Each episode features real conversations about high school baseball coaching, travel baseball development, college recruiting, player development, practice planning, pitching and hitting development, and building a winning baseball culture. If you’re a baseball coach looking for practical ideas on running better practices, developing players, navigating the recruiting process, and leading a successful program, this podcast delivers insights from experienced coaches across high school, travel, and college baseball. Hosted by 27 year veteran high sch;ool baseball coach Ken Carpenter. New episodes drop every Wednesday!  

  1. 1d ago

    College Baseball Reality Check - A Player's Perspective

    Send us Fan Mail The biggest mistake high school players make is treating college baseball like a status contest instead of a development decision. Riley Bender just finished his career at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor after time at the Division I level, and he tells the truth most families do not hear early enough: playing time, relationships, and the right environment can matter more than the label on the jersey when you are trying to grow as a player and a person.  We dig into JUCO versus D1, how the transfer portal changes roster building, and why so many programs now lean on transfers and junior college players instead of slow building freshmen for four years. Riley also shares what it feels like to compete with your own teammates, how culture differs across levels, and why the weight room is no longer optional if you want to keep up with modern college baseball standards. If you are a smaller player, we talk about what can still make you stand out: speed, baseball IQ, and a clear competitive edge.  The conversation goes deeper than mechanics. Riley breaks down the mental side of baseball, including expectations, negative self talk, and a simple shift that helped him perform: detach the process from the results and bet on yourself daily. We also hit travel baseball and recruiting exposure, plus what players actually want from coaches: belief, trust, and enough autonomy to play free when the lights come on.  If you coach, parent, or play the game, this one will sharpen how you think about college baseball recruiting, player development, and the realities of the portal era. Subscribe, share this with a player who needs it, and leave a review with the one decision you would change about your own recruiting journey. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    30 min

  2. Jun 17

    Why Playing Fast Is a Competitive Advantage Most Baseball Programs Overlook

    Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to build a “fundamentally sound” baseball program? In this episode, we sit down with Eddie Hull, Head Baseball Coach at Charlotte Catholic High School in North Carolina, whose teams have earned a reputation for consistency, toughness, and attention to detail. That reputation doesn’t happen by accident. Coach Hull breaks down the everyday standards that drive his program, starting with two clear non‑negotiables: play fast and compete every pitch. We dive into what “playing fast” actually looks like inside a high school program—how tempo, urgency, and preparation keep players mentally locked in and how pace of play can quietly become a competitive advantage. Coach Hull also walks us through the player development model at Charlotte Catholic, including the strength and conditioning culture he builds from the moment freshmen enter the program. He explains why year‑round lifting matters, how strength translates directly to speed and durability, and how a stronger, more physical roster expands what you can demand from players on the field. The conversation also covers youth development and why successful camps aren’t just about drills—they’re about creating an environment where young players stay engaged, have fun, and build real baseball habits that last. Beyond the high school season, Coach Hull shares insights from managing the Queen City Corn Dogs, a summer collegiate team in the Old North State League. He discusses the challenges of balancing development and competition with college athletes, as well as what he’s learned about travel baseball, year‑round training, and how coaches and parents can help players avoid burnout through smarter scheduling and intentional recovery. We also get into the details of in‑game decision making, including: • How hitters can adjust when facing elite velocity • Using pitching machines to simulate high‑level pitching when your staff can’t replicate 95 mph • What a coach should actually say during a mound visit when the game is on the line Whether you’re a coach, player, or parent trying to build a better development plan, this conversation offers practical insights you can apply immediately. Subscribe to the show, share this episode with a coaching buddy, and leave a quick review. One question to think about: What standard in your program do you refuse to compromise on? Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    31 min

  3. Jun 11

    From The Brink Of Extinction To The CWS - WVU Baseball

    Send us Fan Mail A winning program can be built on talent, but it’s sustained by something harder to measure: trust, standards, and relationships that outlive the final box score. I’m joined by recently retired West Virginia University head baseball coach Randy Mazey and his wife Amanda for a candid, funny, and sometimes heavy conversation about what it really takes to build champions and keep your family steady while you do it.  Randy breaks down how WVU baseball went from being on the brink to a top-tier college baseball program the whole state rallies around, and why he never wanted his “success” defined only by wins. Amanda gives the perspective most coaches never hear out loud: what it’s like to sit in the stands as “the coach’s wife,” how to handle criticism without feeding it, and how a supportive spouse helps shape culture from the background. We also dig into recruiting today, including the transfer portal, shifting rules, and how families can stay calm and focused on player development.  Then we hit a topic every parent and coach has an opinion on: travel baseball. The Mazeys lay out a simple test for whether travel ball is working, plus what’s broken when weekend results matter more than practice reps. Finally, they share the powerful Team Whammer story and how their son Weston’s near-fatal on-field injury led to a foundation that helps families with rehab and recovery costs. If you care about coaching, leadership, and developing people not just players, this one stays with you.  Subscribe, share this with a coach or parent who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    57 min

  4. Jun 11

    6 Reasons Why Troy Is In The College World Series

    Send us Fan Mail College baseball used to give players time to grow up. That window is closing fast, and Troy University head baseball coach Skylar Meade doesn’t sugarcoat why. With transfer portal mobility, rising investment in facilities, and the pressure to win now, coaches have to make quicker decisions and players have to show they can thrive early, not just hang around and develop someday. We talk through the real recruiting priorities he’s using to build a high-level roster: the “outlier” tools that jump off the field, the maturity and discipline that keep you eligible and improving, and the importance of finding the right fit for a program’s culture and community. Meade also lays out what happens when a player enters the transfer portal, including the uncomfortable truth that not everyone finds a new home, and why evaluating environment matters as much as chasing the biggest name. Along the way, he explains Troy’s identity around pure joy and energy without crossing the line into disrespect, walks us through a detailed midweek game day schedule, and shares a leadership lesson he’s still working on: teaching a talented team how to handle success when the spotlight hits. If you care about college baseball recruiting, Division I player development, strength and conditioning, and the mindset it takes to last, this is a practical listen. Subscribe for more conversations with baseball coaches, share this with a player or parent navigating recruiting, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What part of the modern college baseball landscape feels most confusing right now? Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    39 min

  5. Jun 10

    How 2026 National Champion Denison Builds A Dominant Pitching Staff

    Send us Fan Mail Preseason rankings feel nice until you realize you start playing the games and now you have to earn everything again. Denison University associate head coach and pitching coach Ryne Romick joins us to explain how a championship-level program keeps its edge, rebuilds identity, and stays hungry while on their way to a national  championship. We get specific on what actually plays for pitchers at the college level: why “strikes win” never stops being true, how fastball life and fastball command can make or break development, and why the best freshmen often help the team sooner by shrinking their role and ditching their ego. Ryne also pulls back the curtain on college baseball recruiting, including the reality that coaches may only see a short snapshot at a travel tournament, plus the intangibles that matter most when projecting who will thrive in a demanding program.  We also go big-picture on Division I vs Division III baseball, the depth and experience differences, and why “fit” beats chasing labels. Ryan shares why strength training is the biggest readiness gap he sees when pitchers step on campus, and he gives an honest take on the sacrifice and family support required to coach at a high level. If you coach, play, or parent a pitcher, you’ll leave with clearer recruiting priorities and a more grounded plan for getting better.  Subscribe for the rest of our champions series, share this with a coach or player who needs it, and please leave a review and rating so more baseball coaches can find the show. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    45 min

  6. Jun 9

    How The 2026 National Champion Was Built

    Send us Fan Mail Most teams chase talent. The teams that last build an environment that makes talent behave like a teammate. We sit down with Denison University head baseball coach Mike Deegan to talk about what actually drives winning in college baseball, especially at the Division III level where development, academics, and leadership all collide. We get specific about recruiting strategy: why measurable tools are only the starting point, how “fit” shows up in values and family alignment, and why the right people move an entire program forward faster than a single standout player ever could. Mike also shares what he learned inside the Marietta baseball machine, and why the “secret” is usually just sustained work, standards, and sacrifice. From there, we dig into the heart of culture building and people development. Mike lays out the idea that most behavior is shaped by the environment, which changes how you think about buy-in, team-first stars, and long-term accountability. We also get practical about goals and performance: why goals are common, why sacrifice is not, and how Kaizen (continuous improvement) keeps a program grounded when it shifts from being the hunter to being the hunted. We close with a powerful reframing of failure, reflection, and competitiveness, including a pickup basketball story that turns leadership into something you can feel. If you care about college baseball coaching, team culture, leadership training, and building a winning program the right way, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with a coach or player who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking into your next season. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    35 min

  7. Jun 3

    How To Take Over A High School Baseball Program And Win Early

    Send us Fan Mail A head coaching interview can be won or lost before you ever shake a hand, and Granville Gehris proves why. We talk with the First Flight High School Head Baseball coach about how he earns trust quickly by showing a real plan: a portfolio slideshow with photos, a clear facility roadmap, and specific culture standards he can actually explain and execute. If you’re applying for a high school head coach job, this is a practical guide to separating yourself from a stack of resumes.  We also get into what happens after you’re hired. Granville shares his first priorities when taking over a new baseball program, why fast “program signal” upgrades like equipment and the field can create instant momentum, and how he pulls the community into fundraising, donations, and even grant writing to raise the ceiling for the entire athletic department. Along the way, we connect culture to academics, leadership, and daily expectations that turn a team into a program kids are proud to join.  On the field, the details matter: competitive practices, pace-of-play standards, time BP that feels like a game, and accountability systems that keep players learning without getting crushed. We also hit player development and college baseball preparation, plus a blunt conversation about travel baseball workload, arm health, pitch counts, long toss, and the risks of chasing max effort without enough research or recovery.  Subscribe for more high school baseball coaching lessons, share this with a coach who wants the next job, and leave a review with the biggest change you’d make to build a winning culture. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    39 min

  8. May 27

    One Game to Survive: Coaching When the Season Is on the Line

    Send us Fan Mail One game can erase months of work, and that reality changes how coaches think. We’re joined by Chris Stewart, head baseball coach at Eastern High School in Ohio and host of the Coaching Life Podcast, just hours before his team plays for a district championship. With the single elimination state tournament underway, we talk about what actually holds up when every pitch feels like it weighs a ton: simple plans, calm decisions, and a team that stays itself under pressure.  Chris shares a coaching mistake that still follows him, a postseason pitching sequence that looked smart on paper and blew up in real time. We dig into the messy truth behind pitch counts, managing arms for “the next game,” and the domino effect one extra-inning night can create. If you coach high school baseball, Legion, or travel ball, this is the kind of story that makes you rethink how you define risk, leverage, and trust in the moment.  We also go personal on one of the toughest roles in sports: coaching your own son. Chris explains why the middle ground is the hardest place to live and how clear communication and consistent standards are the only way through. From there, we zoom out into youth baseball culture, parent behavior, and why perspective changes everything when you have a vested interest in your kid’s at-bats.  Finally, we tackle player development and the overcoaching problem: why great mechanics aren’t enough, how hitters need approach and decision-making, and what “compete” looks like when the pitcher is trying to get you out. If you care about building better players and a stronger program, subscribe, share the show with another coach, and leave us a review. Support the show Follow:  X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged Website - https://www.athlete1.netSponsor: The Netting Professionalshttps://www.nettingpros.com

    49 min
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4.9
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About

Baseball Coaches Unplugged is a podcast for insights on high school baseball coaching, travel baseball development, and college recruiting from coaches building winning programs.. Each episode features real conversations about high school baseball coaching, travel baseball development, college recruiting, player development, practice planning, pitching and hitting development, and building a winning baseball culture. If you’re a baseball coach looking for practical ideas on running better practices, developing players, navigating the recruiting process, and leading a successful program, this podcast delivers insights from experienced coaches across high school, travel, and college baseball. Hosted by 27 year veteran high sch;ool baseball coach Ken Carpenter. New episodes drop every Wednesday!  

Information

  • Creator
    Ken Carpenter
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    213
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED
  • Show Website
    BASEBALL COACHES UNPLUGGED

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