January 13, 2025 • 29 mins
Tim Cates talks with former Major League pitcher Daniel Stange about his journey in professional baseball and then coaching career after his playing days ended. The former big leaguer went back to school and then got his MCAA from Concorida University Irvine which led to a AD job and opportunites to coach college baseball. Tim and Daniel also get into some serious baseball chatter about the art of pitching and the state of the game in 2024.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
From a major league pitcher to an athletic director and
head baseball coach to now pitching coach at Utah Tech.
He is Daniel Stage and he joins us to talk
about his professional journey through baseball next on episode seventy
three of the Masters in Coaching Podcast. Let's go well,
(00:28):
Welcome into episode seventy three of the Masters in Coaching
Podcast here on iHeartRadio YouTube. Wherever you happen to be
watching or listening, we appreciate it. So excited to talk
to this week's guests as we are already at episode
seventy three of this Masters in Coaching podcast. He was
a professional baseball player, he then got into coaching. He
was a head coach, athletic director, now pitching coach at
(00:50):
Utah Tech. And he's Daniel Stage and he joins us, now, Daniel,
how you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I'm doing good, sir, doing well well.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
First off, here we sit in September. It's not necessarily
college baseball. See while baseball season and Major League baseball
is winding down. But what's happening right now for you
guys at you taught tech. I know baseball is a
year round sporting out the collegiate level. What are you
guys doing right now in September?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, so right now, obviously for us, we just started
our skill work session and stuff like that, going into
our first bullpens this week with our pitchers and kind
of going into all that stuff just on the field
with this team and kind of building all that stuff already,
and then obviously the recruiting aspect and doing all that
as well too. So it's a kind of never ending
(01:32):
game kind of cycle, which is good.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
What is that recruiting process like for a college coach,
as a head coach and a pitching coach at the
different levels that you have been at, Is it all
the same? Is it different at every step of the levels.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I mean I think it's a little different. I
think timing's a little different. When I was at St. Catherine's,
the A and AI level obviously where we were in
that program, especially initially when we started till even when
we left, timeline was different.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Right. The high school kid had so many options.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
They wanted to go to Vision One, they wanted to
go to junior college, they had all of these different
options in that and so our recruiting cycle was a
little bit more towards the summer as opposed to now.
Right now for us, it's more geart out putting offers
out now if we haven't already, So it's just a
little bit earlier. I think the message we're providing and
the stuff we're able to provide, as far as the
(02:24):
development piece and all that stuff is pretty much the
same in that aspect of it, because obviously the kids
for the most part, not necessarily the same, but still
teaching the same thing. Baseball is the same, right, and
how you treat people as all the same and kind
of going from there. So I think it's just the
timeline is a little different. Different facilities, different this, different that.
But I think the big ballpark picture is pretty similar.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Here we are ten years after you stopped playing professional baseball.
Was this the plan for you that when hey, my
day is done playing the game, I want to get
back into the game and coaching. Was that sort of
what you have thought you'd do.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I mean, if you asked me twenty years ago, or
if you asked like my family and friends twenty years ago,
if I would be in college athletics or just any
type of academic setting in general, they would have probably
laughed at you. Just for the simple fact when I
was going through college the first time, I wasn't baseball
was my focus, for a lack of better term, in
that aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I've I always said, kind of growing up, I wanted,
obviously do the professional side, and I didn't really want
to have a real job. And what I didn't realize
is there's very few that got to play or get
to play professionally.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
That don't really have to have a real job afterwards.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So obviously, and I also knew at that point I
wanted to kind of give back to the game that
kind of gave me so much, from the people that
gave me so much.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So I wouldn't. I wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm not surprised that I'm in kind of giving back
to baseball and that whole side of it. Like I said,
the academic part twenty years ago, probably a little bit
different story.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
But yeah, talk a little bit about your journey from
playing high school to going to college at UC Riverside.
You get drafted, you got six early on in a
ball and rise up through the minor leagues and you
get to the major league level of a couple of
teams what was that like that that rise through the
minor leagues? First off, because it's not a glorious time.
(04:16):
I guess in the minor leagues it's a fun time.
Is you wake your way up, but talk to those
who aren't familiar with the minor leagues of baseball and
making those stops as you make your way to the top.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
So I was lucky enough to, like I said, or
like you said, got draft out of high school, turned
that down, went to UC Riverside at that point when
I signed with Riverside was my only kind of offer.
Andrew Checkets kind of saw me one game. He's now
the head coach at Santa Barbara and has had enormous
success in the college game and all that kind of
(04:46):
like like you said, I got drafted my junior year
with Arizona, signed out of there, and then went to
rookie ball and high that year and kind of progress.
Ended up having a surgery in college and surgery first
full season in Pro Bowls that kind of delayed a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
But I would say, I mean the minor league.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Game, and I guess professional from the outside looking in
is a little bit different now. I mean, the pay
is a lot different. They provide housing. Now there's more
benefits for the minor league player. I think when we
were going through it, I think I think about four
years in for me, I was playing with the guy
that was about six years in and everybody always talked
about trying to get a comment in their paycheck, and
(05:27):
he was six years into this professional baseball career and
he finally got over a thousand dollars in one check,
which was every two weeks. So it's a little bit
different now with how they're paying and what they're providing.
But at the same time, like I think at that point,
we knew what we were getting into. We knew what
we were signing for the most part, if you had
a decent advisor, agent or something like that. And again
(05:48):
you get to look out your dream. So I think
it's I thought it was fun and no regrets in
that aspect of it. Some bus rides that are sixteen
seventeen hours are a little bit different, But at the
same time, it was some of my best friends were
on that rookie ball team and I'm kind of going
from there. So it's it's been a fun journey.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I'm a baseball dork and growing it up. And this
is dating myself. Back in nineteen ninety one, there was
an old VHS tape called Minor League's Major Dreams and
they follow the Bycelia Oaks around at the time and
kind of fell in love with minor league baseball and
went and saw the stadiums across the country, from the
Mudcats in Carolina to Durham in the course of the Bulls,
(06:28):
and saw every stop of the California League one summer,
just kind of going up and down and seeing and
getting autographs as a young kid. Because at that level,
the fans are right there and it's baseball and it's
pure and you guys are professionals playing the game, and
to see it at that level, I mean, that's why
it's so great for small town not to get out
of Tangent, but it's so great for small towns to
(06:50):
have minor league baseball there because it's professional baseball. It's
elite athletes who's someday going to be on the biggest
stage of all in the major leagues, and you get
to see them at a young age develop and it's
that they're still somewhat purest of the baseball sport.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, and I think any granted I didn't get to
I was able lucky enough to get to the major
league level, but obviously didn't stay there for a long time.
But I still remember, like some of the funner stadiums,
like I said, were I mean my rookie ball year
where we sold out almost like because we were winning,
and we ended up winning that league, and but I
mean it was twenty five hundred three thousand people or whatever,
(07:24):
or Missoula held at that point, and I think those
are the funnest times where even like again, I was
lucky enough to debut at Chicago and Wrigley Field, and
that was like the noise and you just didn't hear anything.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It was loud, and it was like, uh, it was
great in that.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Aspect of it, but like to me, it was a
little bit harder when the minor league stadium and there
was only fifteen people in the stands and you hear
each individual person kind of talking to you as opposed
to the bigger noise. So it's it's definitely an adjustment
period by all means. But at the same time, like
you said, the did the not that the fans aren't
invested at the higher level, but you get to know
the player gets to know that, like you said, the
people at that that level and at lower level, because
(07:59):
they're theresistantly in that small town you mentioned.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
You get to the big leagues with a couple of teams.
There's a saying that I hear constantly from our broadcaster
Rick Monday on the Dodger broadcast, and he says, it
is so hard to get to the major leagues, and
everybody who does it's the biggest accomplishment. And he says,
but even more so, staying in the big leagues for
a long time is a hard thing to do. Why
is that? Why is it so hard so once you
(08:25):
get there to find a foothold and for a lot
of guys not able to stay there.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, And I think at some point the game speeds
up on everybody, right, some lucky people maybe like a
Trout or Mookie Pats or maybe show Hey, Like the
game doesn't speed up on them. It's like a probably
like still playing little league to everybody else.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
And I think being able to control that on the
mental side and slowing that down.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I know, for me my last out in.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Arizona, I'm confident that that game sped up on me
when I was playing against the Dodgers in Arizona and.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So being able to slow that back down and then
I'm kind of going from there. But again, it's a
hard game. Like I don't know what it is now,
but I think there's under what twenty two thousand people
that ever played Major League baseball, So again, let alone
obviously if you get two years, three years, and ten years.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
In that aspect of it. So, I mean, it's a
tough thing.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
But at the same time, I think going up through
the system, right, you're all about development.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And this and that.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Some systems you want to win towards that top, or
they want to win towards that top. But obviously, once
you get to that the league level, it's you got
to produce, and you got to produce now. And if
I think if there's one little hiccup or two, if
you're not one of their main guys, then okay, well
we're going to go try to find somebody else.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Kind of to produce. And then there's a lot of caveats.
Do it all? I think so, But I, like you said, I.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Don't think a lot of people actually think about like
staying for a long time not necessarily beating there, which
I think is the hardest part too.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I want to kind of go down a little bit
of a rabbit hole baseball talk with you. Since you're
a pitching coach, you're a professional baseball player, and looking
at the game right now and looking at the major
league level, and I think it really is starting at
the lower levels. And this is a topic right now
across baseball. Is why there's so many arm injuries. Is
it the pitch clock, Is it throwing year round? Is
(10:09):
it because we're training kids at a young age to
throw too much? Is it too much of an emphasis
on velocity and spin rate? Are we so caught up
and seeing what the radar gun says compared to guys
just being pitchers and the craft of pitching as opposed
to just a guy who's a chucker out there on
the mound. It's getting to a point now, Daniel, or
(10:30):
we're seeing pitching staffs decimated at the big league level,
bullpens getting taxed, and guys constantly with inflammation in the shoulder,
in the arms, and we're seeing the Tommy John surgeries
left and right. It's a problem in baseball. Is this
something that you during your time playing and you've been
out of the game now ten years playing, But did
you see this coming? Was it emphasis back then so
(10:52):
much on spin rate and velocity and just how hard
you can throw and we'll worry about it later.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I would I mean yes, and no. Obviously, I think
the velocity.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
At that point, at least in my career like kind
of got you seen and kind of gave you more opportunities.
And I think that's now right. I would say it
was a lot more about pitching back then than it
is now. And I'm watching games to where like guys
are trying to throw as hard as they can and
it's just kind of in that little white square and
kind of going from there and it's not like necessarily a.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Location in that aspect.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I think that's what the game is now because with
the with the umpires and how they're getting how they're
getting graded and all that stuff, that wasn't a thing back.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
In my time or when I was playing to orget if.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, I watched the Mattox thing the other day and
it's he was getting i mean two inches three inches
off the plate because he was split in the catcher's body.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Catcher made it look good.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And now you don't get that because the Empire's not
graded on all that stuff. But again, if you if
you pull it across the catcher and it's somewhere in
that zone, the catcher doesn't even make it look good
because it's they missed their spot. It could still be
a strike because that's the way they're graded. So I
think that part's changed in that aspect of it, which
is in not encouraging, but it helps with the growth
of We'll just check it in the box as hard
(12:03):
as you can in that aspect of it. But I
also think it's I mean, unfortunately it's also a business too,
where I think at like the college level, like it
is a business, but it's still more of like a
game and you have to develop and kind of do
that stuff to where again again late eighties, I get
they're getting paid, but they still need to be out
there to play right or to get paid and kind
(12:26):
of do all those things. And now it's okay, well
not saying players are doing this, but if again, now
my shoulder hurts, I can get some service time and
I can still get paid, and I can do all
these things and out some money business and even with
the owners and GMS and stuff too. It's the same thing. Well,
I got to protect my investment as opposed to how
well can I help my team? Can I help my team?
And can I push through that? Or risk versus reward?
(12:48):
And I think technology and a thousand different factors. Obviously,
whatever rabbit hole you want to kind of jump down,
whatever kind of your belief system is, I will say
that I think the in my opinion on from like
where when I was playing, I think every I feel
like an old person saying this, right, like every generation
says this to where I think the baseball like Q
(13:08):
that we're seeing kind of in college athletics is a
little bit less, like like, well, I want to I
just want like whether it's launch angle or I want
to try to get this or I want this spin rate.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It's like, okay, well how do you get that?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I think the lower the development piece of that is
being lost.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
It's the.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
How like again, how do you get that spin rate?
How do you get that velocity or the ride or
this that, and the other is well it sets it
on the screen, so just.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Do that again. But the players like, I don't know
how to do that again.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, that's the inconsistency part that at least I'm seeing,
or we're saying, at kind of the college level.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
In my opinion, how much technology are you guys using
at the collegiate level. I know it's different at the
major league level and even at the minor league level,
but at the collegiate level, what are you guys using?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I mean at you taught tech.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
One of the things that drew me here among the
many things was the technology we do have. I mean,
most stadiums in college are going to have all the
TrackMan stuff that any major league stadium and stuff like
that will have. They'll have more cameras, they'll have more
obviously data points and all that stuff. But I mean,
so you taught tech here, we have all the track
Man data we have. We have our own lab up
in the on campus and stuff like that, and so
(14:16):
we have a markerless camera system so that way we
can jump in and turn everybody the skeletons and see
how the kinetic chain is working and stuff to where
you see that probably at again the Georgia Tech Lab
and kind of those bigger school labs, but obviously we
have that here too as well. So that was one
of the things that kind of drew me to this
place is how much they're investing in that technology piece
(14:38):
to use it again to reassure and to kind of
see what we're doing and making sure it's working and
we're not kind of guessing.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I think that's the other part of it too.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It's I feel, again, if I'm going to try to
make a change to a player in that aspect of
their mechanics, their career, they're this or that, Like, I
want to make sure we have the best educated guests
we're doing it and not just hey.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Try this because I saw it on Twitter today.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
It worked and worked for that guy, so hopefully maybe
it works for you, But like, how does your body move.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Specifically and will it look for you?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So I think technology piece, I think most programs are
obviously with technology getting better and better each day. It's
that's driving the price of technology down, right, So it's
it's getting more affordable across the board, I think. So
I think the technology piece is there, it's just how
you're able to use it and dissect it them.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I'm curious at the collegiate level, is it like at
the professional level right now? And I'm so glad we're
talking to you about this as a guy who was
a reliever in professional baseball at the major leagues, the
evolution of the bullpen and the relievers now in the
game is you can make an argument it's overtaken starting
pitching because of the opener and because starting pitchers are
(15:49):
only going two times through a rotation or throw a lineup,
maybe three times, maybe only allowed to get to the
fifth or sixth inning, and it's turning over to the
bullpen now for half the game. I mean, not to
go back a way back in your day, but even
ten years ago and you're you're in in your career,
bullpens were different then, now, is it kind of do
you look at the game now? I'm my gosh, man,
if I were if I can just go back and
(16:11):
baseball was like this now back then, you know I'd
be pitching forever because of the way bullpens and relievers
are now being used.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Yeah, I mean it was like the old analogy when
I was coming up was again.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
The failed starter obviously jumps in the bullpen and I
think there's a shirt out there and one of the guys.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Out there, I think the Cubs guy was wearing it.
When I saw it last.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But yeah, I mean I think that's like the old analogy.
Now it's again and I get to the bullpen because
they're getting paid now and there's more opportunities, and like
you said, the starter, Like I think the momentum day
to day is built.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
With the starter.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But at the same time, I think you win, in
my opinion even back then, kind of championships and consistently
win with the bullpen because why the momentum is started
each day.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
With the starter. I get it carried over with that bullpen.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Again. If I think if the team continues to blow
leads eight in games, the morale of that team is
kind of down because it's like, Okay, well we had
this lead in the eighth, or had this lead in
the ninth, and now it's kind of gone that we
go to the next day and it's for.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
That same spot.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Do we still have that I looked at it back
when the Yankees teams or the late late nineties early
two thousands, I mean, we can kind of predict if
they had a lead in the sixth seventh inn and
you knew exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Who was coming in. Same thing with that two thousand
was a.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Two right, Angels team and kind of going from there
the one World Series obviously Randy Johnson, Kurtchilling basically taking
everything over. But at the same time, I think more
so you see kind of those bullpens taking over in
those World Series teams with the fifteen Royals, right with
that three headed monster they have, So it's I think
that's the kind of progression they have through that, and
it's kind of just trying to now shorten the game
(17:49):
even more if we can or if they can.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
All right, So you get done playing in twenty fourteen
and you go back. You mentioned it in earlier, Daniel
wasn't necessar Sally in there for the academics and use
the river side. But you go back to college, you
get that degree, and then you you end up at
Concordia through the master's program. First off, why was it
important for you when that playing time was done to
go back and get your degree.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
So in twenty fourteen, when I was with Washington and
the Triple A, I hurt my shoulder, ended up having surgery,
try to play through that and ended up getting surgery
in January at fifteen, So I went back to school.
So I knew I wanted to I knew if I
wanted to coach, I knew I had to get hit,
had to get the degree.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
At that point, my wife was working.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
I was going back to school, so I kind of
took academics more seriously because I obviously I felt back
because she was working, kind of supporting us and doing
all that, and if I came home, it was like, hey,
I got an F on this class because I didn't
want to do it. She I mean, she wouldn't probably
be happy in that aspect of it, right, So I
think that was a big encouragement. Right, I'm obviously wanting
to do that for myself, but would do it for
the family and kind of going from there and kind
(18:53):
of progressing in that aspect of it. So Yeah, I
was able to finish at Riverside. I was able to
help that team that year in fifteen year, get the
degree at the end of the year, got off with
the job at St. Catharines in sixteen as the head coach,
and then October of sixteen you got offered the athletic
director position. But I kind of look back on my
academic thing and obviously they're they're like, hey, we want
(19:15):
you to handle this budget, we want you to handle
this and that and obviously the whole programs. And I
was sitting there thinking, obviously I didn't tell them this.
At this point, I'm like, I don't think I've taken
like a math class. It's like my high school year
because it was my degree was in history or I'd
like to refer to as storytime for adults. So it was, okay, well,
I'm going to go back into this master's program and
kind of see what athletics and academic admin and all
(19:38):
that stuff is. And that's kind of why I kind
of jumped in the master's program and then obviously fell
in love with it at Concordia.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It What was the program like for you once you
got into it and you said you kind of fell
in love with it. Did it open your eyes to
the possibilities that you can do then with that master's
once you get done and not only being a coach,
but as you mentioned, you jumped in, you know, feet
first as an athletic writer at Saint Catherine's.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Yeah, I knew at that point, like again, I want
I as a head coach, going from playing to coaching,
I want I was going to drink through a fire hose,
so I figured I'd jump at the same thing.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
When they offered the add position.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It was kind of the same thing, and I wanted
to know as much as I could at this point,
as early as I could to kind of progress in
that aspect of it. I was lucky enough to where
the first couple, that first coaching staff I had, I
had two coaches there. We had a bunch of coaches
with the two main coaches or the other full time
coaches were a guy Tom Arnansky play in the Big
LEAs for fourteen years, and then I coached for the
(20:33):
Twins as they're hitting coach for over five or six years.
And then other guy Don Johnson, who I mean, I
think he has over five hundred million dollars in contracts
that he has with players and private lessons and stuff
like that. And so it was easy for me to,
like if I had to miss practice or be late
one day or whatever the deal was, which I tried
not to, but they were able to take over to
that confidence in them, and I think that was a
big reason why I was able to take that ad
(20:55):
job at that point. But I just wanted at that,
like I said, the Master's program and all that stuff.
I had all these things kind of floating my head
of what I wanted and how I wanted.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
To give back and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And like I said, I wasn't a articulate and talking
and stuff like that. I didn't like to talk. I
didn't like to talk in group settings and stuff like that.
So that kind of brought me out of the show
and I think in that Master's program, but more so
everything that was in my head I was able to
put down on paper and this is how we should
do it in a plan to process that and then
what all that looks like?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I knew for me to serve a teammate and the
servant leadership part was like big in my head, but
how to communicate that to players and people and stuff
like that was a That's where I got that from
was obviously Concordia and stuff like that. So it was
basically the map and the game plan for me kind
of through that came from that program.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Is something is being athletic director more challenging than being
a baseball coach because of the things you have to
juggle and maybe the administrative part of it. Is it
what you thought it would be?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
And no, Like, I think it's just a different challenge, right, Like,
I think the bigger annoyance for me at that point
and the same thing, like the assistant athletic director I
had for most of the time I was the athletic
director at Saint Catharine's was also she wanted to be
a college athletic director, and she was younger and passionate
and was able to kind of obviously do all those
(22:21):
things and kind of step up for me when I
wasn't able to. So I think the assistant part was
obviously there. I think it was just different. You're leading people, right,
and the budget and all that stuff we had on
the baseball program that I had to run at that point,
it was just a bigger setting it.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
When we started, I think it was four or five sports.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
We got it up to thirteen, and we had when
we first got Saint Catherines, I think there was thirty
nine athletes, and when I left there was about two
hundred and fifty. So I think just the growth of that.
The bigger difference I think, which kind of was more
of the frustrating part of the challenge, I guess was
when players showed up late. I'm like Okay, well they're nineteen,
they're twenty, they're trying to figure out a schedule. But
(22:58):
it's like when the when the thirty two year old
showed up late that had a wife and a kids,
and it's like, well, why are you fifteen minutes late
this like to our meeting.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It's that that was the part that kind of is
kind of like what are we doing? You know?
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, so managing adults is a little bit different
rights just on the influence piece.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
But again, my time there and with.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Both roles was I think awesome and again a great
learning experience for me. But again, like I said, but
I didn't have the assistance and the staff and the
support I had both obviously at home and at Saint
Catharines or where I've been at, I don't think I've
been able to have the success that I've had with.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Them as a coach, as a leader, obviously, the EXS
and O is the teaching the fundamentals of baseball. You
have learned and you got to the highest level playing
the game of baseball, so you can then pour back
in to these these young men that you're coaching, pitchers
that you're working with. But the leadership part of it
and being a head coach when you when you first
(23:56):
got that head coaching job, and even as a pitching coach,
do you think back of coaches you had that maybe
you borrow some of their techniques, some of their styles.
The way you communicate with players, everybody's different, the way
you interact with the student athletes. Do you think about
some of those coaches you've had in the past that
maybe poured into you and also maybe you kind of
learn from their ideas and techniques that you've developed now
(24:19):
and used.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, And I mean, I think there's an old saying.
It's like basically everything we're using is kind of recycled anyone, right,
and just a different package and kind of regifting in
that aspect of it. And I think, like I said,
I can't speak highly enough or like how blessed I
was to have again.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
A Domino burnout in that staff.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
With me because they were older, they were experienced, they
were able to challenge me of like, hey, I want
to try to do this and try to lead and
try to do that, and they would be like, no,
don't do that, or kind of guide me or hey
try this, but you might have this issue coming out,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So they were like I think in some.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
They were amazing obviously with kind of that support staff
and that aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But again, like I think the.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Corny saying right of that, we I've always told recruits
and kind of the players, again, if we get as
a coaching staff or as myself or I get invited
to your wedding, that means we were impactful, right of,
because that's who you invite to your wedding is those
impactful people. And I think that all the coaches that
I had throughout my career, obviously all of those were
(25:24):
invited to my wedding and that I knew at that
point and kind of going from there.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
So I think it's yeah, I mean, just recycled those.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
And the old old saying of how you can I
can have all of the knowledge that and know exactly
how to teach and how to fix everybody. But if
I don't have a relationship and you don't trust me,
and I can't gain the trust of the of those players,
and it's not matter because it doesn't it's not going
to go anywhere. The player is going to kind of
shut down in that aspect of it. So I think
developing the relationship and teaching and kind of going from there,
(25:51):
that's the first and first and foremost thing that we
have to do. And I think that comes with, like
you said, developing that relationship and kind of you get
to know them. So that way, all the stuff I can,
the knowledge I do haven't been lucky enough to earn
or gain over those years, I can now provide back.
But if I sat in a corner and got pissed
and didn't build that relationship or however you want to
(26:13):
say it, then it's gonna be a lot harder.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
You've You've been a head coach and athletic director, pitching coach.
Now what's next? Is this something you want to continue
to do? Is stay at the collegiate level? Do you
do you want to make the jump to professional level?
You want to stay away from that? What do you
see yourself in a few years.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I mean I always joke that, I say I haven't
had a real job yet, So I want to continue
with that, obviously playing and then now.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Coaching and going from there. I like the college level.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
I mean, obviously I haven't coached at the professional level
and what that all is and how that what all
that entails.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I had some couple offers the last couple of years
that I.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Just didn't think I can again as far as the
time away from family and stuff like that, and not
that college is not time away from family, but I
think coming home for the most part every day and
kind of building that piece is more value.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
In what I want to do now. In that aspect
of it.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
I think the college age kid I can have more
of an impact on because of my career and all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
So I think I would like to stay in college.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
But at the same time, if I knew what tomorrow
held or tonight held, I would know where my wife
wants to go to dinner, and I never do. So
I'm joking around, obviously, but so yeah, I mean, I
think whatever kind of kind of puts in front of
us and kind of go from there, we'll kind of
decide that.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Well, Daniel, I appreciate the time, love talking baseball with you,
Love talking about what you're doing at Utah Tech and
what you continue to do as a coach and a
leader on and off the field for these young men,
and your journey from a professional player to coaching to
getting that master's degree at Concordia and using it as
I like director coach and you know, doing great things.
(27:49):
We certainly appreciate your time and sharing your story with
those here on the Masters and Coaching podcast and continue success.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Thank you so much, Thank you, sir. I appreciate it
and thank you for your time.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Well there he goes Daniels, Stage, pitching coach at Utah Tech.
Love talking baseball at pitching with a guy who did
it at the major league level. We appreciate his time.
Great hearing about what he's doing now at Utah Tech
as a pitching coach. You heard him when he got
done playing and he was hurt and he wanted to
find out what he was going to do next. He
got his degree from UC Riverside, make sure he got
(28:19):
that education, and then he wanted to be an athletic
director and head coach. He knew he needed his masters,
so he went to Concordia University, Irvine and he got
his master's in coaching at athletics administration degree. Loved the program,
taught him a lot of stuff that he didn't already
know and really opened him up to being an administrator
and not just a baseball coach. So we appreciate Daniel's time.
Hope you enjoyed the baseball talk and his journey as
(28:42):
a pitcher through the minor leagues, the major leagues, and
now helping young men as a pitching coach. If you
want to find out more about the Masters in Coaching
and Athletics Administration Program, go to CUI dot edu slash coaching.
That's CUI dot edu slash coaching. They got a one
thousand dollars scholarship for you new students if you're looking
to pursue that master's degree. If you want to take
(29:02):
that next step and get that master's degree to help
you out as an administrator or coach, Concordia University Irvine's
Masters and Coaching Athletics Administration Program can help you out
there so flexible. They got remote learning as well, so
no matter if you're in Southern California or where you're at,
you can pursue that masters. Thanks to Daniel, Thanks to
you for listening and watching Wow episode seventy three already
(29:27):
in the books. Thanks for being a part of it.
Tim Kate saying so long, everybody
From a major league pitcher to an athletic director and
head baseball coach to now pitching coach at Utah Tech.
He is Daniel Stage and he joins us to talk
about his professional journey through baseball next on episode seventy
three of the Masters in Coaching Podcast. Let's go well,
(00:28):
Welcome into episode seventy three of the Masters in Coaching
Podcast here on iHeartRadio YouTube. Wherever you happen to be
watching or listening, we appreciate it. So excited to talk
to this week's guests as we are already at episode
seventy three of this Masters in Coaching podcast. He was
a professional baseball player, he then got into coaching. He
was a head coach, athletic director, now pitching coach at
(00:50):
Utah Tech. And he's Daniel Stage and he joins us, now, Daniel,
how you doing.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
I'm doing good, sir, doing well well.
Speaker 1 (00:56):
First off, here we sit in September. It's not necessarily
college baseball. See while baseball season and Major League baseball
is winding down. But what's happening right now for you
guys at you taught tech. I know baseball is a
year round sporting out the collegiate level. What are you
guys doing right now in September?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Yeah, so right now, obviously for us, we just started
our skill work session and stuff like that, going into
our first bullpens this week with our pitchers and kind
of going into all that stuff just on the field
with this team and kind of building all that stuff already,
and then obviously the recruiting aspect and doing all that
as well too. So it's a kind of never ending
(01:32):
game kind of cycle, which is good.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
What is that recruiting process like for a college coach,
as a head coach and a pitching coach at the
different levels that you have been at, Is it all
the same? Is it different at every step of the levels.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Yeah, I mean I think it's a little different. I
think timing's a little different. When I was at St. Catherine's,
the A and AI level obviously where we were in
that program, especially initially when we started till even when
we left, timeline was different.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Right. The high school kid had so many options.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
They wanted to go to Vision One, they wanted to
go to junior college, they had all of these different
options in that and so our recruiting cycle was a
little bit more towards the summer as opposed to now.
Right now for us, it's more geart out putting offers
out now if we haven't already, So it's just a
little bit earlier. I think the message we're providing and
the stuff we're able to provide, as far as the
(02:24):
development piece and all that stuff is pretty much the
same in that aspect of it, because obviously the kids
for the most part, not necessarily the same, but still
teaching the same thing. Baseball is the same, right, and
how you treat people as all the same and kind
of going from there. So I think it's just the
timeline is a little different. Different facilities, different this, different that.
But I think the big ballpark picture is pretty similar.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Here we are ten years after you stopped playing professional baseball.
Was this the plan for you that when hey, my
day is done playing the game, I want to get
back into the game and coaching. Was that sort of
what you have thought you'd do.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
I mean, if you asked me twenty years ago, or
if you asked like my family and friends twenty years ago,
if I would be in college athletics or just any
type of academic setting in general, they would have probably
laughed at you. Just for the simple fact when I
was going through college the first time, I wasn't baseball
was my focus, for a lack of better term, in
that aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
So I've enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I've I always said, kind of growing up, I wanted,
obviously do the professional side, and I didn't really want
to have a real job. And what I didn't realize
is there's very few that got to play or get
to play professionally.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
That don't really have to have a real job afterwards.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So obviously, and I also knew at that point I
wanted to kind of give back to the game that
kind of gave me so much, from the people that
gave me so much.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
So I wouldn't. I wasn't.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
I'm not surprised that I'm in kind of giving back
to baseball and that whole side of it. Like I said,
the academic part twenty years ago, probably a little bit
different story.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
But yeah, talk a little bit about your journey from
playing high school to going to college at UC Riverside.
You get drafted, you got six early on in a
ball and rise up through the minor leagues and you
get to the major league level of a couple of
teams what was that like that that rise through the
minor leagues? First off, because it's not a glorious time.
(04:16):
I guess in the minor leagues it's a fun time.
Is you wake your way up, but talk to those
who aren't familiar with the minor leagues of baseball and
making those stops as you make your way to the top.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
So I was lucky enough to, like I said, or
like you said, got draft out of high school, turned
that down, went to UC Riverside at that point when
I signed with Riverside was my only kind of offer.
Andrew Checkets kind of saw me one game. He's now
the head coach at Santa Barbara and has had enormous
success in the college game and all that kind of
(04:46):
like like you said, I got drafted my junior year
with Arizona, signed out of there, and then went to
rookie ball and high that year and kind of progress.
Ended up having a surgery in college and surgery first
full season in Pro Bowls that kind of delayed a
little bit.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
But I would say, I mean the minor league.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Game, and I guess professional from the outside looking in
is a little bit different now. I mean, the pay
is a lot different. They provide housing. Now there's more
benefits for the minor league player. I think when we
were going through it, I think I think about four
years in for me, I was playing with the guy
that was about six years in and everybody always talked
about trying to get a comment in their paycheck, and
(05:27):
he was six years into this professional baseball career and
he finally got over a thousand dollars in one check,
which was every two weeks. So it's a little bit
different now with how they're paying and what they're providing.
But at the same time, like I think at that point,
we knew what we were getting into. We knew what
we were signing for the most part, if you had
a decent advisor, agent or something like that. And again
(05:48):
you get to look out your dream. So I think
it's I thought it was fun and no regrets in
that aspect of it. Some bus rides that are sixteen
seventeen hours are a little bit different, But at the
same time, it was some of my best friends were
on that rookie ball team and I'm kind of going
from there. So it's it's been a fun journey.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I'm a baseball dork and growing it up. And this
is dating myself. Back in nineteen ninety one, there was
an old VHS tape called Minor League's Major Dreams and
they follow the Bycelia Oaks around at the time and
kind of fell in love with minor league baseball and
went and saw the stadiums across the country, from the
Mudcats in Carolina to Durham in the course of the Bulls,
(06:28):
and saw every stop of the California League one summer,
just kind of going up and down and seeing and
getting autographs as a young kid. Because at that level,
the fans are right there and it's baseball and it's
pure and you guys are professionals playing the game, and
to see it at that level, I mean, that's why
it's so great for small town not to get out
of Tangent, but it's so great for small towns to
(06:50):
have minor league baseball there because it's professional baseball. It's
elite athletes who's someday going to be on the biggest
stage of all in the major leagues, and you get
to see them at a young age develop and it's
that they're still somewhat purest of the baseball sport.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
No, and I think any granted I didn't get to
I was able lucky enough to get to the major
league level, but obviously didn't stay there for a long time.
But I still remember, like some of the funner stadiums,
like I said, were I mean my rookie ball year
where we sold out almost like because we were winning,
and we ended up winning that league, and but I
mean it was twenty five hundred three thousand people or whatever,
(07:24):
or Missoula held at that point, and I think those
are the funnest times where even like again, I was
lucky enough to debut at Chicago and Wrigley Field, and
that was like the noise and you just didn't hear anything.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
It was loud, and it was like, uh, it was
great in that.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Aspect of it, but like to me, it was a
little bit harder when the minor league stadium and there
was only fifteen people in the stands and you hear
each individual person kind of talking to you as opposed
to the bigger noise. So it's it's definitely an adjustment
period by all means. But at the same time, like
you said, the did the not that the fans aren't
invested at the higher level, but you get to know
the player gets to know that, like you said, the
people at that that level and at lower level, because
(07:59):
they're theresistantly in that small town you mentioned.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
You get to the big leagues with a couple of teams.
There's a saying that I hear constantly from our broadcaster
Rick Monday on the Dodger broadcast, and he says, it
is so hard to get to the major leagues, and
everybody who does it's the biggest accomplishment. And he says,
but even more so, staying in the big leagues for
a long time is a hard thing to do. Why
is that? Why is it so hard so once you
(08:25):
get there to find a foothold and for a lot
of guys not able to stay there.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, And I think at some point the game speeds
up on everybody, right, some lucky people maybe like a
Trout or Mookie Pats or maybe show Hey, Like the
game doesn't speed up on them. It's like a probably
like still playing little league to everybody else.
Speaker 3 (08:43):
And I think being able to control that on the
mental side and slowing that down.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
I know, for me my last out in.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
Arizona, I'm confident that that game sped up on me
when I was playing against the Dodgers in Arizona and.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
So being able to slow that back down and then
I'm kind of going from there. But again, it's a
hard game. Like I don't know what it is now,
but I think there's under what twenty two thousand people
that ever played Major League baseball, So again, let alone
obviously if you get two years, three years, and ten years.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
In that aspect of it. So, I mean, it's a
tough thing.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
But at the same time, I think going up through
the system, right, you're all about development.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
And this and that.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Some systems you want to win towards that top, or
they want to win towards that top. But obviously, once
you get to that the league level, it's you got
to produce, and you got to produce now. And if
I think if there's one little hiccup or two, if
you're not one of their main guys, then okay, well
we're going to go try to find somebody else.
Speaker 2 (09:32):
Kind of to produce. And then there's a lot of caveats.
Do it all? I think so, But I, like you said, I.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
Don't think a lot of people actually think about like
staying for a long time not necessarily beating there, which
I think is the hardest part too.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I want to kind of go down a little bit
of a rabbit hole baseball talk with you. Since you're
a pitching coach, you're a professional baseball player, and looking
at the game right now and looking at the major
league level, and I think it really is starting at
the lower levels. And this is a topic right now
across baseball. Is why there's so many arm injuries. Is
it the pitch clock, Is it throwing year round? Is
(10:09):
it because we're training kids at a young age to
throw too much? Is it too much of an emphasis
on velocity and spin rate? Are we so caught up
and seeing what the radar gun says compared to guys
just being pitchers and the craft of pitching as opposed
to just a guy who's a chucker out there on
the mound. It's getting to a point now, Daniel, or
(10:30):
we're seeing pitching staffs decimated at the big league level,
bullpens getting taxed, and guys constantly with inflammation in the shoulder,
in the arms, and we're seeing the Tommy John surgeries
left and right. It's a problem in baseball. Is this
something that you during your time playing and you've been
out of the game now ten years playing, But did
you see this coming? Was it emphasis back then so
(10:52):
much on spin rate and velocity and just how hard
you can throw and we'll worry about it later.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
I would I mean yes, and no. Obviously, I think
the velocity.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
At that point, at least in my career like kind
of got you seen and kind of gave you more opportunities.
And I think that's now right. I would say it
was a lot more about pitching back then than it
is now. And I'm watching games to where like guys
are trying to throw as hard as they can and
it's just kind of in that little white square and
kind of going from there and it's not like necessarily a.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Location in that aspect.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
I think that's what the game is now because with
the with the umpires and how they're getting how they're
getting graded and all that stuff, that wasn't a thing back.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
In my time or when I was playing to orget if.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, I watched the Mattox thing the other day and
it's he was getting i mean two inches three inches
off the plate because he was split in the catcher's body.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
Catcher made it look good.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
And now you don't get that because the Empire's not
graded on all that stuff. But again, if you if
you pull it across the catcher and it's somewhere in
that zone, the catcher doesn't even make it look good
because it's they missed their spot. It could still be
a strike because that's the way they're graded. So I
think that part's changed in that aspect of it, which
is in not encouraging, but it helps with the growth
of We'll just check it in the box as hard
(12:03):
as you can in that aspect of it. But I
also think it's I mean, unfortunately it's also a business too,
where I think at like the college level, like it
is a business, but it's still more of like a
game and you have to develop and kind of do
that stuff to where again again late eighties, I get
they're getting paid, but they still need to be out
there to play right or to get paid and kind
(12:26):
of do all those things. And now it's okay, well
not saying players are doing this, but if again, now
my shoulder hurts, I can get some service time and
I can still get paid, and I can do all
these things and out some money business and even with
the owners and GMS and stuff too. It's the same thing. Well,
I got to protect my investment as opposed to how
well can I help my team? Can I help my team?
And can I push through that? Or risk versus reward?
(12:48):
And I think technology and a thousand different factors. Obviously,
whatever rabbit hole you want to kind of jump down,
whatever kind of your belief system is, I will say
that I think the in my opinion on from like
where when I was playing, I think every I feel
like an old person saying this, right, like every generation
says this to where I think the baseball like Q
(13:08):
that we're seeing kind of in college athletics is a
little bit less, like like, well, I want to I
just want like whether it's launch angle or I want
to try to get this or I want this spin rate.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It's like, okay, well how do you get that?
Speaker 3 (13:18):
I think the lower the development piece of that is
being lost.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
It's the.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
How like again, how do you get that spin rate?
How do you get that velocity or the ride or
this that, and the other is well it sets it
on the screen, so just.
Speaker 2 (13:33):
Do that again. But the players like, I don't know
how to do that again.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, that's the inconsistency part that at least I'm seeing,
or we're saying, at kind of the college level.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
In my opinion, how much technology are you guys using
at the collegiate level. I know it's different at the
major league level and even at the minor league level,
but at the collegiate level, what are you guys using?
Speaker 2 (13:53):
Yeah, I mean at you taught tech.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
One of the things that drew me here among the
many things was the technology we do have. I mean,
most stadiums in college are going to have all the
TrackMan stuff that any major league stadium and stuff like
that will have. They'll have more cameras, they'll have more
obviously data points and all that stuff. But I mean,
so you taught tech here, we have all the track
Man data we have. We have our own lab up
in the on campus and stuff like that, and so
(14:16):
we have a markerless camera system so that way we
can jump in and turn everybody the skeletons and see
how the kinetic chain is working and stuff to where
you see that probably at again the Georgia Tech Lab
and kind of those bigger school labs, but obviously we
have that here too as well. So that was one
of the things that kind of drew me to this
place is how much they're investing in that technology piece
(14:38):
to use it again to reassure and to kind of
see what we're doing and making sure it's working and
we're not kind of guessing.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
I think that's the other part of it too.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
It's I feel, again, if I'm going to try to
make a change to a player in that aspect of
their mechanics, their career, they're this or that, Like, I
want to make sure we have the best educated guests
we're doing it and not just hey.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Try this because I saw it on Twitter today.
Speaker 3 (15:00):
It worked and worked for that guy, so hopefully maybe
it works for you, But like, how does your body move.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Specifically and will it look for you?
Speaker 3 (15:06):
So I think technology piece, I think most programs are
obviously with technology getting better and better each day. It's
that's driving the price of technology down, right, So it's
it's getting more affordable across the board, I think. So
I think the technology piece is there, it's just how
you're able to use it and dissect it them.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I'm curious at the collegiate level, is it like at
the professional level right now? And I'm so glad we're
talking to you about this as a guy who was
a reliever in professional baseball at the major leagues, the
evolution of the bullpen and the relievers now in the
game is you can make an argument it's overtaken starting
pitching because of the opener and because starting pitchers are
(15:49):
only going two times through a rotation or throw a lineup,
maybe three times, maybe only allowed to get to the
fifth or sixth inning, and it's turning over to the
bullpen now for half the game. I mean, not to
go back a way back in your day, but even
ten years ago and you're you're in in your career,
bullpens were different then, now, is it kind of do
you look at the game now? I'm my gosh, man,
if I were if I can just go back and
(16:11):
baseball was like this now back then, you know I'd
be pitching forever because of the way bullpens and relievers
are now being used.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
Yeah, I mean it was like the old analogy when
I was coming up was again.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
The failed starter obviously jumps in the bullpen and I
think there's a shirt out there and one of the guys.
Speaker 2 (16:28):
Out there, I think the Cubs guy was wearing it.
When I saw it last.
Speaker 3 (16:31):
But yeah, I mean I think that's like the old analogy.
Now it's again and I get to the bullpen because
they're getting paid now and there's more opportunities, and like
you said, the starter, Like I think the momentum day
to day is built.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
With the starter.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But at the same time, I think you win, in
my opinion even back then, kind of championships and consistently
win with the bullpen because why the momentum is started
each day.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
With the starter. I get it carried over with that bullpen.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Again. If I think if the team continues to blow
leads eight in games, the morale of that team is
kind of down because it's like, Okay, well we had
this lead in the eighth, or had this lead in
the ninth, and now it's kind of gone that we
go to the next day and it's for.
Speaker 2 (17:09):
That same spot.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Do we still have that I looked at it back
when the Yankees teams or the late late nineties early
two thousands, I mean, we can kind of predict if
they had a lead in the sixth seventh inn and
you knew exactly.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Who was coming in. Same thing with that two thousand
was a.
Speaker 3 (17:27):
Two right, Angels team and kind of going from there
the one World Series obviously Randy Johnson, Kurtchilling basically taking
everything over. But at the same time, I think more
so you see kind of those bullpens taking over in
those World Series teams with the fifteen Royals, right with
that three headed monster they have, So it's I think
that's the kind of progression they have through that, and
it's kind of just trying to now shorten the game
(17:49):
even more if we can or if they can.
Speaker 1 (17:52):
All right, So you get done playing in twenty fourteen
and you go back. You mentioned it in earlier, Daniel
wasn't necessar Sally in there for the academics and use
the river side. But you go back to college, you
get that degree, and then you you end up at
Concordia through the master's program. First off, why was it
important for you when that playing time was done to
go back and get your degree.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
So in twenty fourteen, when I was with Washington and
the Triple A, I hurt my shoulder, ended up having surgery,
try to play through that and ended up getting surgery
in January at fifteen, So I went back to school.
So I knew I wanted to I knew if I
wanted to coach, I knew I had to get hit,
had to get the degree.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
At that point, my wife was working.
Speaker 3 (18:33):
I was going back to school, so I kind of
took academics more seriously because I obviously I felt back
because she was working, kind of supporting us and doing
all that, and if I came home, it was like, hey,
I got an F on this class because I didn't
want to do it. She I mean, she wouldn't probably
be happy in that aspect of it, right, So I
think that was a big encouragement. Right, I'm obviously wanting
to do that for myself, but would do it for
the family and kind of going from there and kind
(18:53):
of progressing in that aspect of it. So Yeah, I
was able to finish at Riverside. I was able to
help that team that year in fifteen year, get the
degree at the end of the year, got off with
the job at St. Catharines in sixteen as the head coach,
and then October of sixteen you got offered the athletic
director position. But I kind of look back on my
academic thing and obviously they're they're like, hey, we want
(19:15):
you to handle this budget, we want you to handle
this and that and obviously the whole programs. And I
was sitting there thinking, obviously I didn't tell them this.
At this point, I'm like, I don't think I've taken
like a math class. It's like my high school year
because it was my degree was in history or I'd
like to refer to as storytime for adults. So it was, okay, well,
I'm going to go back into this master's program and
kind of see what athletics and academic admin and all
(19:38):
that stuff is. And that's kind of why I kind
of jumped in the master's program and then obviously fell
in love with it at Concordia.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
It What was the program like for you once you
got into it and you said you kind of fell
in love with it. Did it open your eyes to
the possibilities that you can do then with that master's
once you get done and not only being a coach,
but as you mentioned, you jumped in, you know, feet
first as an athletic writer at Saint Catherine's.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
Yeah, I knew at that point, like again, I want
I as a head coach, going from playing to coaching,
I want I was going to drink through a fire hose,
so I figured I'd jump at the same thing.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
When they offered the add position.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It was kind of the same thing, and I wanted
to know as much as I could at this point,
as early as I could to kind of progress in
that aspect of it. I was lucky enough to where
the first couple, that first coaching staff I had, I
had two coaches there. We had a bunch of coaches
with the two main coaches or the other full time
coaches were a guy Tom Arnansky play in the Big
LEAs for fourteen years, and then I coached for the
(20:33):
Twins as they're hitting coach for over five or six years.
And then other guy Don Johnson, who I mean, I
think he has over five hundred million dollars in contracts
that he has with players and private lessons and stuff
like that. And so it was easy for me to,
like if I had to miss practice or be late
one day or whatever the deal was, which I tried
not to, but they were able to take over to
that confidence in them, and I think that was a
big reason why I was able to take that ad
(20:55):
job at that point. But I just wanted at that,
like I said, the Master's program and all that stuff.
I had all these things kind of floating my head
of what I wanted and how I wanted.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
To give back and all that stuff.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And like I said, I wasn't a articulate and talking
and stuff like that. I didn't like to talk. I
didn't like to talk in group settings and stuff like that.
So that kind of brought me out of the show
and I think in that Master's program, but more so
everything that was in my head I was able to
put down on paper and this is how we should
do it in a plan to process that and then
what all that looks like?
Speaker 2 (21:26):
Right?
Speaker 3 (21:27):
I knew for me to serve a teammate and the
servant leadership part was like big in my head, but
how to communicate that to players and people and stuff
like that was a That's where I got that from
was obviously Concordia and stuff like that. So it was
basically the map and the game plan for me kind
of through that came from that program.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Is something is being athletic director more challenging than being
a baseball coach because of the things you have to
juggle and maybe the administrative part of it. Is it
what you thought it would be?
Speaker 2 (22:01):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (22:01):
And no, Like, I think it's just a different challenge, right, Like,
I think the bigger annoyance for me at that point
and the same thing, like the assistant athletic director I
had for most of the time I was the athletic
director at Saint Catharine's was also she wanted to be
a college athletic director, and she was younger and passionate
and was able to kind of obviously do all those
(22:21):
things and kind of step up for me when I
wasn't able to. So I think the assistant part was
obviously there. I think it was just different. You're leading people, right,
and the budget and all that stuff we had on
the baseball program that I had to run at that point,
it was just a bigger setting it.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
When we started, I think it was four or five sports.
Speaker 3 (22:38):
We got it up to thirteen, and we had when
we first got Saint Catherines, I think there was thirty
nine athletes, and when I left there was about two
hundred and fifty. So I think just the growth of that.
The bigger difference I think, which kind of was more
of the frustrating part of the challenge, I guess was
when players showed up late. I'm like Okay, well they're nineteen,
they're twenty, they're trying to figure out a schedule. But
(22:58):
it's like when the when the thirty two year old
showed up late that had a wife and a kids,
and it's like, well, why are you fifteen minutes late
this like to our meeting.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
It's that that was the part that kind of is
kind of like what are we doing? You know?
Speaker 3 (23:09):
I mean, so managing adults is a little bit different
rights just on the influence piece.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
But again, my time there and with.
Speaker 3 (23:16):
Both roles was I think awesome and again a great
learning experience for me. But again, like I said, but
I didn't have the assistance and the staff and the
support I had both obviously at home and at Saint
Catharines or where I've been at, I don't think I've
been able to have the success that I've had with.
Speaker 1 (23:34):
Them as a coach, as a leader, obviously, the EXS
and O is the teaching the fundamentals of baseball. You
have learned and you got to the highest level playing
the game of baseball, so you can then pour back
in to these these young men that you're coaching, pitchers
that you're working with. But the leadership part of it
and being a head coach when you when you first
(23:56):
got that head coaching job, and even as a pitching coach,
do you think back of coaches you had that maybe
you borrow some of their techniques, some of their styles.
The way you communicate with players, everybody's different, the way
you interact with the student athletes. Do you think about
some of those coaches you've had in the past that
maybe poured into you and also maybe you kind of
learn from their ideas and techniques that you've developed now
(24:19):
and used.
Speaker 3 (24:20):
Yeah, And I mean, I think there's an old saying.
It's like basically everything we're using is kind of recycled anyone, right,
and just a different package and kind of regifting in
that aspect of it. And I think, like I said,
I can't speak highly enough or like how blessed I
was to have again.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
A Domino burnout in that staff.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
With me because they were older, they were experienced, they
were able to challenge me of like, hey, I want
to try to do this and try to lead and
try to do that, and they would be like, no,
don't do that, or kind of guide me or hey
try this, but you might have this issue coming out,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (24:52):
So they were like I think in some.
Speaker 3 (24:56):
They were amazing obviously with kind of that support staff
and that aspect of it.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
But again, like I think the.
Speaker 3 (25:04):
Corny saying right of that, we I've always told recruits
and kind of the players, again, if we get as
a coaching staff or as myself or I get invited
to your wedding, that means we were impactful, right of,
because that's who you invite to your wedding is those
impactful people. And I think that all the coaches that
I had throughout my career, obviously all of those were
(25:24):
invited to my wedding and that I knew at that
point and kind of going from there.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
So I think it's yeah, I mean, just recycled those.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
And the old old saying of how you can I
can have all of the knowledge that and know exactly
how to teach and how to fix everybody. But if
I don't have a relationship and you don't trust me,
and I can't gain the trust of the of those players,
and it's not matter because it doesn't it's not going
to go anywhere. The player is going to kind of
shut down in that aspect of it. So I think
developing the relationship and teaching and kind of going from there,
(25:51):
that's the first and first and foremost thing that we
have to do. And I think that comes with, like
you said, developing that relationship and kind of you get
to know them. So that way, all the stuff I can,
the knowledge I do haven't been lucky enough to earn
or gain over those years, I can now provide back.
But if I sat in a corner and got pissed
and didn't build that relationship or however you want to
(26:13):
say it, then it's gonna be a lot harder.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
You've You've been a head coach and athletic director, pitching coach.
Now what's next? Is this something you want to continue
to do? Is stay at the collegiate level? Do you
do you want to make the jump to professional level?
You want to stay away from that? What do you
see yourself in a few years.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
I mean I always joke that, I say I haven't
had a real job yet, So I want to continue
with that, obviously playing and then now.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
Coaching and going from there. I like the college level.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
I mean, obviously I haven't coached at the professional level
and what that all is and how that what all
that entails.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
I had some couple offers the last couple of years
that I.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Just didn't think I can again as far as the
time away from family and stuff like that, and not
that college is not time away from family, but I
think coming home for the most part every day and
kind of building that piece is more value.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
In what I want to do now. In that aspect
of it.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
I think the college age kid I can have more
of an impact on because of my career and all
that stuff.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
So I think I would like to stay in college.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
But at the same time, if I knew what tomorrow
held or tonight held, I would know where my wife
wants to go to dinner, and I never do. So
I'm joking around, obviously, but so yeah, I mean, I
think whatever kind of kind of puts in front of
us and kind of go from there, we'll kind of
decide that.
Speaker 1 (27:27):
Well, Daniel, I appreciate the time, love talking baseball with you,
Love talking about what you're doing at Utah Tech and
what you continue to do as a coach and a
leader on and off the field for these young men,
and your journey from a professional player to coaching to
getting that master's degree at Concordia and using it as
I like director coach and you know, doing great things.
(27:49):
We certainly appreciate your time and sharing your story with
those here on the Masters and Coaching podcast and continue success.
Speaker 2 (27:55):
Thank you so much, Thank you, sir. I appreciate it
and thank you for your time.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Well there he goes Daniels, Stage, pitching coach at Utah Tech.
Love talking baseball at pitching with a guy who did
it at the major league level. We appreciate his time.
Great hearing about what he's doing now at Utah Tech
as a pitching coach. You heard him when he got
done playing and he was hurt and he wanted to
find out what he was going to do next. He
got his degree from UC Riverside, make sure he got
(28:19):
that education, and then he wanted to be an athletic
director and head coach. He knew he needed his masters,
so he went to Concordia University, Irvine and he got
his master's in coaching at athletics administration degree. Loved the program,
taught him a lot of stuff that he didn't already
know and really opened him up to being an administrator
and not just a baseball coach. So we appreciate Daniel's time.
Hope you enjoyed the baseball talk and his journey as
(28:42):
a pitcher through the minor leagues, the major leagues, and
now helping young men as a pitching coach. If you
want to find out more about the Masters in Coaching
and Athletics Administration Program, go to CUI dot edu slash coaching.
That's CUI dot edu slash coaching. They got a one
thousand dollars scholarship for you new students if you're looking
to pursue that master's degree. If you want to take
(29:02):
that next step and get that master's degree to help
you out as an administrator or coach, Concordia University Irvine's
Masters and Coaching Athletics Administration Program can help you out
there so flexible. They got remote learning as well, so
no matter if you're in Southern California or where you're at,
you can pursue that masters. Thanks to Daniel, Thanks to
you for listening and watching Wow episode seventy three already
(29:27):
in the books. Thanks for being a part of it.
Tim Kate saying so long, everybody
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