August 8, 2025 • 47 mins
Venus Taylor: From Pro Softball Star to Championship Coach & Mentor
From winning an NJCAA Division I National Championship in her very first year as a college coach to leading programs at the Division I level, Coach Venus Taylor’s coaching journey is as remarkable as her playing career. Now the head coach at North Central College, Venus continues to shape the game through her leadership, mentorship, and ongoing work with the Athletes Unlimited Softball League in partnership with Major League Baseball.
In this episode of the Significant Coaching Podcast, Venus shares how her experiences as a professional athlete, a college coach, and a mom have molded her into the leader she is today. We discuss why JUCO, NCCAA, and D3 softball should never be overlooked, the non-negotiables in her program, and the lessons she passes on to every athlete she coaches.
If you want insight into building a winning culture, leading with purpose, and preparing athletes for life beyond the field, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Don’t forget: If you enjoy this episode, come back Monday for Part 2, where we’ll dive deep into the recruiting process and finding the right fit for your journey.
📍 Learn more about my coaching and recruiting resources, read my weekly blog, and subscribe to the newsletter at coachmattrogers.com
Learn more and connect with Matt Rogers here: https://linktr.ee/coachmattrogers
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
What really stood out to me isjust the ambassadors of the
sport, like your Jenny Finch,Natasha Watley, those type of
players, and there's many morethat are paving the way, but
also MLB has decided to be apartner for the first time ever,
and I think step in the rightdirection.
Yeah.
So just, seeing it on the MLBchannel obviously the coverage
on ESPN everybody's working hardto make sure that this league
(00:24):
sustains and that, we elevateand it's been really fun to be a
part of, Welcome back to TheSignificant Coaching Podcast.
I'm your host, Matt Rogers.
What you just heard was VenusTaylor talking about the new
professional softball leaguethat most of you have probably
seen on an ESPN, the Athlete'sUnlimited Softball League, the A
USL.
And the important work they'redoing in partnership with Major
(00:46):
League Baseball to make surethis league isn't just a flash
in the pan, but a sustainable,thriving opportunity for the
game and its athletes for yearsto come.
Venus doesn't just talk aboutit.
She's living it.
Continue to play a major role inits growth and impact.
If you don't know her story,coach Taylor is one of those
rare people who has seen thegame from every possible angle.
(01:10):
A standout collegiate player, adecorated professional athlete,
a coach at nearly every level ofsport from youth programs to
powerhouse college programs, andnow the head coach at North
Central College, her coachingcareer began with a bang winning
the junior college Division oneNational Championship in her
very first year at Lake CityCommunity College in Florida
(01:32):
before moving on to the NCAAdivision one ranks.
She's been in the circle, in thedugout, in the recruiting
trenches, and in the lives ofyoung women chasing big dreams.
In this conversation, we diveinto her journey, her coaching
philosophy, and the lessonsshe's learned along the way.
We'll also talk about why smallcolleges at the JC and D three
(01:54):
and N AI levels of softballshould be on every high school
recruits radar and how her rolesas coach, mentor, and mom have
shaped the way she leads.
This is a conversation packedwith perspective, passion, and
practical takeaways.
So let's get into it.
Here's my conversation withCoach Venus Taylor.
(02:16):
Coach Taylor, so great to seeyou.
Thanks for being on the show.
Tell me about this role you'vebeen playing with the A USL and
tell people about what thisGreat League is doing.
Yes.
Thank you so much for having me.
It's the Athletes Unlimitedsoftball league.
It's the professional softballleague, and it's just providing
this amazing platform.
It's been so fun.
They've been barnstorming thissummer for trying to figure out
(02:38):
which markets they'll be in nextyear.
I think there'll be six marketsat minimum next year.
But it's just provided thisamazing platform for these.
Uniquely special and talentedwomen who are coming outta
college and wanna play at theprofessional level.
And then also, still training atthe Olympic level.
And it's been just such anamazing experience and so much
fun to watch.
Kim Ing, who's, the commissionerof the league, and then also
(03:00):
some amazing coaches involved,like Stacy Newman, Lisa
Fernandez, Howard Dobson.
Just a lot of people that we hadthe opportunity to work with.
They're just very impressivepeople that have Kirk Walker,
just great minds for the gameand just everybody's really
working hard to, give back tothis amazing sport and provide
that platform, like I said, andjust help the game evolve.
(03:22):
Because we feel like, thesewomen can play, they're ballers,
they're getting after it.
And the viewership on TV hasbeen amazing.
These, high level collegeprograms are getting a lot of
viewership and a lot ofpublicity, and I think people
really fall in love with ourgame.
It's fast.
The, it's what's even better isthe women that play it, when you
get to meet them off the fieldand just see what kind of people
(03:42):
they are and how they relate tothe kids and, the next
generation and just reallypaying it forward, lifting
everybody up, paying it forward.
And it's really fun to be a partof.
And I just think that it'sproviding a first class
experience.
And, there's been a lot ofprevious leagues I played in a
couple professional leagues.
That's actually where, I've metso many of my best friends.
Learned a lot and just beenreally exposed.
(04:04):
So that provides a great networkalong the way and coaching and
just, all over.
But to see it at this level, tosee everything that they're able
to offer, and the way thatthey're taking care of the
athlete in regards to off thefield as well.
The meals and the strength andconditioning coach that's there,
inaccessible and the trainersand, being able to fly instead
of busing everywhere, they'vereally just done an amazing job.
(04:25):
Of going all out and providingthat first class experience, and
it's been a lot of fun.
You were a part of that defunctprofessional league that was
coming right out of all thehighlights of the Olympics and
the momentum of the Olympic whenthe Olympic still was playing
softball.
What are you seeing the biggestchanges are now and 20 some
(04:45):
years later so we can maintainthis and keep this going because
I've been watching the games andthey're just fantastic.
So fun, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think the great thing about itis, you learn from your mistakes
and, I think that we've done agreat job of carrying forward
everybody's voice andeverybody's, knowledge and you
know what will work and whatwon't work or what hasn't worked
(05:06):
in the past.
I think that social media hasbeen a really big fun part of
this, because I think it'sexposed at a different level now
because not only on tv, but youalso, people know there's a
league.
They know you're coming to town.
They can follow you on socialmedia.
And even.
What really stood out to me isjust the ambassadors of the
sport, like your Jenny Finch,Natasha Watley, those type of
(05:26):
players, but you, and there'smany more that are paving the
way, but also MLB has decided tobe a partner for the first time
ever, and I think that's a huge.
Step in the right direction.
Yeah.
So just, seeing it on the MLBchannel obviously the coverage
on ESPN just, just really are,everybody's working hard to make
sure that this league sustainsand that, we elevate and it's
(05:48):
been really fun to be a part of,like I said and I just think
that everybody's invested andeverybody that's come before us
there's been so many, buteverybody's provided feedback
that's helped evolve.
And so it's just great to see.
It's awesome.
And when you have Kim leadingthat league, she got such a raw
deal.
I don't know, for the Marlinsand people don't know.
(06:10):
She was the GM of the MiamiMarlins just was a rockstar down
there.
And to have that type of personleading the league and being the
commissioner and have all thestars here I love where this is
going and it's softball has justblown up in our country.
It's always been big, but withclub volleyball or club softball
now and where that's at.
(06:30):
What the level of softball isfrom that junior college level
all the way up and the talentthere.
It's such good timing.
I really love it.
It's cool.
It is.
They're rock stars.
They're really impressivepeople.
So yeah, anytime that anybodygets a chance to go to a market
and see them and just be around'em, I highly recommend.
Yeah, and it's, there's so muchof that going on.
I live in the Denver area andwe've got a women's rugby
(06:53):
professional league in our town,and we went and watched the
women's rugby, and it was just,there's so much talent on the
field that it's so fast and it'sso physical.
The crowd was so into it, andyou could just tell watching it
on tv, the softball games, the AUSL softball games are just
like, that's a party.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
That's great.
It's a good time.
Yeah.
And they do a great job ofinvolving the crowd and, just
(07:14):
look at what's happening withthe, what is it, the Savannah
Bananas, yeah, exactly.
Just there's marketship in thisand there's, it's just great.
I think the fans are reallyhaving a good time, but the
athletes do a great job too,that personal touch.
Like we've played thechampionship in Tuscaloosa and
Montana Felt is pitching thechampionship game and she just
has.
Fans everywhere and, all thesepeople come out to, to scream
(07:37):
her name and shout her on, butshe did amazing.
But it was more important to meto see, she's very she takes it
very serious about being a greatrole model to the young
athletes.
And she spends all night signingthe autograph because, she knows
somebody wanted, wants to belike her one day.
And it's just I'm just blownaway and in awe of the type of
people that you'll meet in theseathletes just as much as their
(07:59):
talent.
I agree.
I, it's so much fun to see y youand I grew up in an era where
there was no social media.
We went through our collegecareers and our early coaching
careers, and your professionalplaying career.
There really wasn't that avenue.
How do you feel about it now?
How do you want your playersusing it?
Where are you at with that wholeworld?
(08:20):
I love it because, it's reallyexposed.
It's exposed this game to peopleto know that we have this
professional league in town andcoming your way, and it gives
you that insight to them aspeople, off the field and stuff
like that.
Now I believe in using it socialmedia for positivity, and
knowledge and stuff like that.
Of course, when you, when yousee in athletics, there's gonna
be a lot of skeptics.
(08:40):
There's gonna be a lot of peopleout there critiquing every
little thing, that can bedifficult for athletes at times
to hear some of the things fromthe critiquing and things like
that.
But I hope that most people knowthat.
Just take it with a grain ofsalt.
Think about, you're great atwhat you do and just be the best
version of you on and off thefield, and nobody really knows
you better than you.
So a lot of people are gonnahave their opinions.
(09:02):
If you can hold your head uphigh and do great things, then
you should feel good aboutyourself and not worry about
that.
But hopefully people use it as,knowledge and insight and a
positive platform.
And if it's done that way, it'sdone the right way.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
What's it been like for you?
You've been a big time divisionone coach.
You've coached D three, you'vecoached junior college, you've
(09:23):
coached at just about everysingle level.
What are you seeing as thebiggest differences from level
to level?
We'll get into the talent partand how you recruit, but what
are you seeing as the biggestdifference for the experience
for the student athletes?
Oh gosh, that's tough in wherewe're at today, because now we
(09:45):
have the NIL money and all thatstuff getting involved.
I would say that.
All the athletes really do wannacompete and they do love the
game.
They're all playing it for theright reasons.
I think there is a separatingfactor in the level of
commitment at different stagesat times.
Not to say that you can't get adivision three player who's
highly committed and wants topractice all the time, but I
(10:05):
think there's a little bit morebalance in the D three level,
then the high level D one maybe.
The traveling, you're a littlebit closer to home base when you
travel and stuff like that.
But I would say the resources,I'm amazed by, and being
involved with the talents.
This is one thing, just thetechnology that we, that is
accessible now at the highlevel.
If you have the budget for it.
(10:27):
It can really give you a lot of,input and data, analytical data
that maybe the lower levelsdon't have.
And so that can be a separatingfactor.
But but, I think the great thingabout all levels is, you're
building women to be successful,men and women, but we're, we're
really just, we're building upthese people to go out and be
successful and have a voice and,be the best version of
(10:50):
themselves and succeed.
And so to me it's all about nomatter what level you're at, you
can be a positive influence anda make a positive impact for
anyone.
And if your roster's 22 or 30,whatever it is, you are in a
really cool position to impactpeople to go out and, just
basically own their future,which is really neat.
That is awesome.
(11:11):
And it's such a, it's the greatperspective for what we get to
do is getting these kids tolearn how to be the best version
of themselves, how to be adults,how to be healthy, how to have a
self-worth and you've been sogreat at that over your career.
I'm interested from a personalperspective.
(11:31):
Because you were such a greatathlete, because you were such a
great pro and a Division oneathlete, you coached division
one level.
Is it hard for you whensometimes, and it was hard for
me, so I'm putting this incontext.
Is it hard for you whensometimes you have athletes and
maybe you don't, maybe you do,that aren't as committed to the
game like you were.
(11:52):
Do you find yourself strugglingwith that?
Yeah, for sure.
I think we can all admit that, Imean there's finding out, but
it's also important for coachesto understand that.
Everybody's different.
And a lot of times you don'twanna prejudge, like people go
through different things.
And some players may not show itin the same way, but they really
do care, but they maybe justdon't show it in the same way.
(12:13):
You know what I mean?
So as I've gotten older and moreexperienced in coaching, I think
it's.
I've really taken more time torelate to the players, to know
them on a personal level, andnot to say I didn't do that
before, but you really wannatake that deeper dive into
knowing the person and whatmakes'em tick and how are they
really feeling.
And if you don't have those,that open door communication and
allow them to be heard, you'llnever really know.
(12:35):
And you can misunderstandathletes a lot, I think that's
really important.
But yeah, I think that if you'resomebody that likes to be like
that top 1%, or a perfectionistI should say, or something like
that, it can be easy sometimesto catch yourself being like
they, they don't do it like Idid it.
Or, why is that person not morecommitted?
Or why did they not take it moreserious?
But again, I, like I said, Ilike to take a deeper dive into
(12:57):
the situation and find out wasit just that day?
How does this person tick?
How do they operate?
What are they really feeling?
Because a lot of times I thinkit is easy to misunderstand
people.
I think that personal touch andputting the person over the
athlete is really important forall coaches and I think we just
get better in time, right?
I think, when we're younger,we're really about winning.
(13:18):
X's and o's and as we get olderyou really do a better job of
really assessing things with abetter lens, because when you're
younger, just like they're youngnow, they don't see the big
picture the way we see it at ourage.
So it's our job to convey thatto them and be relatable for'em
and make'em understand the whys.
But but that takes a lot ofcommunication, a lot of time
(13:38):
and, that's to me, the fun partof it, yeah, it is.
It very much is.
I'm gonna put you in a timemachine.
It's been almost 25 years.
You won the nationalchampionship as a head coach,
your first year as a head coachat the junior college level.
Yeah.
And then immediately jump to theD one level for three years.
(14:00):
When you look back at that coachthat version of you, what's
changed the most?
Oh, I've gotten softer for sure.
That's always the answer.
Always.
Yeah.
I think I've gotten softer andevery, all my former players
will say it.
They'll be like, coach, theydon't As tough as we had it, but
I think it's really just comesdown to a better understanding
of athletes and the generationand the way things have changed.
(14:23):
And also, I'm a mom.
So I have a son and I got to seehis journey and see how he, that
was a good thing for me becauseI can look at it and go okay,
this is what he's thinking atthis age.
That wouldn't be what I'mthinking at this age, but this
is what he's thinking.
And to me, I look at it like,you're like that.
That mother figure or that aunt,I like to call it an aunt for
(14:45):
these young athletes.
But you're just a very pivotalperson in their life.
Somebody that they trust andsomebody that can help them,
advise them and give'emdirection and things like that.
But I would definitely say.
I'm more aware, I'm just moreaware.
I'm a little bit softer.
But yeah, but I still believein, you gotta work hard, you
gotta be gritty, you gottacompete, you gotta be where your
(15:07):
feet are.
You gotta hold yourself to.
A high standard every single dayand just give the best that you
have to give.
Because sometimes that bestlooks different on different
days.
Like some days you're a hundredpercent, sometimes you're 90
'cause you have an injury oryou're coming back from an
injury or you're not feelingwell, or something's gone on in
your life that's personal.
That maybe affects that a littlebit.
And as much as we always say,get between the lines and let it
(15:29):
go, and stuff like that, I meanthere is real life that goes
along with.
What they're doing.
They're very overwhelmed for thefirst time with, being on their
own.
And then obviously managingclasses and managing their time
a little bit better.
And but as a, as professionalswhen we're older, we're like
what's the problem?
We've done that, we know how todo it, so let us help you.
And yeah, I think just you gottaa better lens as you get a
(15:51):
little bit older.
All right.
Help me with this coach.
'cause this I still strugglewith this and I struggle with
this.
More than I'd like to admit youI grew up with some really hard
coaches.
Really probably to the extreme,definitely to the extreme,
probably would've been fired ina heartbeat 30 years ago with
(16:13):
how they treated the kids andhow we went about how they went
about their business.
I'm still a big believer that weneed to teach young people how
to overcome conflict, how toovercome.
It didn't work out the way Iwanted to.
I'm a freshman and I'm notstarting like I was for two
years at high school.
How do we push them, challengethem, teach them how to get to
(16:38):
their potential and still love'em, and still make sure they're
nurtured and still make surethey get the love they deserve?
How do we do that today?
Yeah, I think it's all aboutaccountability.
You have to have structure, youhave to have boundaries, you
have to have accountability.
It's just like good parenting,you know what I mean?
Here comes the dog.
It's like good parenting.
I think that, when you have adisciplinarian that loves you
(17:01):
and can show you, Hey, I gottahold you accountable, but I
still love you and I'm stillhere for you.
I think that, that mattersbecause you gotta be able to
show'em.
You care about'em.
And once you do that, theyunderstand when things come up
that they're like, okay.
I have to be held accountablefor this, and I'm running into a
consequence, and they will makemistakes.
They're young people, but wedon't need to hold them to the
fire when they make a mistake.
(17:22):
I look at it like, we all, we'veall made mistakes, so let's talk
about it from that perspectiveas well.
But on the other hand, we don'tjust let things slide.
You know what I mean?
There's not a first place trophyfor everybody.
It's not, there's thisparticipation thing.
There really is only one winner.
When it comes down to it,there's one champion at the end.
Okay?
And how you get there depends ona lot of factors.
It depends on how you practice.
(17:42):
It depends on the kind of peopleyou are.
It depends on the chemistry youhave.
It depends on, how you performin that day and that moment, how
you master failure recovery.
Many several factors come intoplay on this, when building up
to a championship and thingslike that.
But, at the end of the day,there has to be discipline,
there has to be structure, therehas to be consequences, there
has to be stability, there hasto be coaches showing people
that they care and, making surethat they're there for them and
(18:04):
serve their purpose well aswell.
Yeah it's, we wanna win thatchampionship.
That's the whole purpose of whatwe're doing and why we play the
game.
But how do we not lose ourself-worth with it when we don't
win that championship, or we gosix and 29 and have a bad year?
How do we get the kids tounderstand?
(18:24):
You're not a lesser person, butnow you gotta start thinking
about what you gotta do better.
How do you reframe the offseason for yourself so we're not
back in that same position?
How do you go about that whenyou're doing those exit
interviews at the end of theyear and, you guys had a really
good year, but how do we getthem thinking that way instead
(18:45):
of, oh I'm terrible, this is abad program.
How do we get them thinking?
I have the ability to make somechanges here.
It's all in the communication.
We try to learn from everything,everything that, whether you win
or lose, it's a learningexperience, it doesn't make you
any less, I do think that youhave to ask yourself why did
they win?
Why did they win over us?
(19:05):
Was it.
They stayed in the momentbetter, they practiced harder.
They, were more mentally toughto handle adversity.
They just had better players,better athletes.
What was it?
Their co the coaching strategy.
We really, it's a process, likeeverything's a process.
So then you review the processand say, okay.
Where were we strong?
Where were we weak?
And we learned from it, and thenwe explain that to them.
Here's the areas you did well,here's the areas that we did not
(19:28):
do well.
Here's what we're gonna have todo different to get to that
point.
And I just think honesty is thebest policy, and we're not gonna
always say what everybody wantsto hear, because there's times
where you have to tell'em like,Hey.
This is why I have somebody elsein the lineup over you.
And that's a hard conversation,but it's a conversation that
comes from most coaches.
It's honest with good intent,because you wanna see everybody.
(19:49):
I think it's really importantjust to evaluate the process and
what got us to that point, sowhenever there's.
Something that didn't go well.
We're gonna learn from it andwe're gonna talk about it and
we're gonna go out and try to bebetter.
And that's really what it comesdown to.
I think accountability's a bigpart of everything, and that
goes for coaches included.
Sometimes I have to look atmyself and okay, did I plan this
week the way I needed to planthis week for us to succeed
(20:10):
against, the opponent that weplayed?
What could we have done better?
What could our staff have donebetter?
But then also how do we relate,that to the athletes and
communicate with them about whatthey could have done better.
And, that ownership oneverybody's part and just being
able to have that open dialogueand open communication creates
that buy-in.
And I think that given playersthe voice and the autonomy come
into your office and, obviouslythe player's not gonna tell the
(20:32):
coach.
Way it is.
But we want their feedback, thathelps us understand them better,
and it helps us set up a systemto where we can really go
forward and make sure that eit's relatable to both sides,
yeah, I love that.
I'm gonna ask you to be asspecific as you can, but where
does the weight room.
Fit into all this now maybedifferent than it did 25 years
(20:56):
ago.
How important is the weight roomand what does that weight
training look like in yourprogram?
Yeah, that's a great question.
I'm a big believer that is soimportant from your ultimate
strength, ultimate speed, beingable to stay well balanced and
to avoid injury and things likethat.
That is probably a majorseparator.
If I look at the high level Done or even the mid-major D D
(21:18):
one.
Then look at the D three.
We don't have those resources toprovide that.
So like for us, we outsourcethat.
And then we have our playersduring our main season go into a
strength and conditioning coach.
However, we don't have thatin-house, but I believe in it,
and I always have, and I thinkit's very important.
The way athletes move.
(21:39):
The way they're trained.
All of that comes down to a veryfast twitch sport, which is what
we play.
Movements and being educatedabout your movements and things
like that in your body and beingable to function at that high
level, I think it's veryimportant to incorporate
strength and conditioningcoaches and have them help.
Outside of, the softball aspect,just the game talent level alone
(22:00):
because there's the Batten ballaspect and the fielding, and
then there's, how does thisathlete move?
Where can they get better?
Are they flexible enough?
Can they jump high enough?
Can they run fast enough?
How can we, just get them thatmuch better and how can we avoid
injury?
Because everybody's builtdifferent, especially in this
sport.
I think having strength andconditioning coaches who are
(22:21):
really clued in on their bodiesand in ways to train them, I
think is very important.
What does that look like duringthe season?
How many days a week are youlifting and what type of lifts
are they doing?
Are you benching and squatting?
Are you doing more ball work?
Are you doing more twitch work?
What's that look like just inthe middle of the season?
(22:42):
Yeah, I think in the middle ofseason it's different, you're
not gonna lift heavy, obviously.
You're not trying to max out,you're gonna use more ball,
work, more, more twitch work andthings like that.
More free movement.
But I would say that, you don'twanna lose everything that you
worked hard to get in the offseason, right?
So for us, it's two days a week.
During the season, because weplay probably three to four days
a week because our whole seasonis condensed in a very small
(23:02):
timeline.
So for us it's two times a week.
That's really what we can getin.
And then possibly three,depending on if there's a
cancellation or something in theweek.
But I always, I would never goless than two just simply
because we don't wanna loseeverything that we worked hard
to get.
What do you tell a high schoolathlete who's probably playing
79 90 games a year if she'sdoing high school and club?
(23:25):
What should she be doing to getherself ready to play in
college?
What maybe she's just hasn't puta lot of time in the weight
room.
Maybe her high school doesn't doit.
What?
What should be her mindset at 16in terms of how to start
building that relationship withthe weight room?
Again, this is where socialmedia comes into play.
(23:45):
You know what I mean?
Not everybody can afford to goout and get a strength and
conditioning coach, or noteverybody has the time, but now
you can Google or look upworkouts that are sports
specific for your position, andyou can do that, and I think
that really the main thing isutilizing your resources.
If you can go into somebody, Iknow a lot of people go to a
hitting coach.
I'd love to see high schoolersreally pay attention to their
(24:06):
defense and their athleticism aswell.
It just seems like everybody's,pitching coach, hitting coach,
pitching coach, hitting coach.
Let's talk about, where are weworking on our athleticism?
Because I've seen camps whereyou go out to camp and you're
like.
Wow.
That person can hit, but theyreally don't move well.
You know what I mean?
And those type of things whenyou're getting evaluated,
you're, it's all encompassing.
It's do you respect the peoplearound you?
(24:28):
Do you respect the game?
Are you a great teammate?
Do you hustle?
Are you gritty?
Are you able to master failurerecovery?
Do you move well in this, whenwe're watching and things like
that.
Because, softball's a toughthing when you're recruiting
softball, baseball, you mightnot get a ball.
The whole time that we'reevaluating you, so we have to
watch other things, and theseare the type of things that we
all watch, is like, how do youtreat people?
(24:49):
How do you treat your teammates?
Do you hustle?
When you don't do well, how doyou handle that?
Are you able to come back yournext at bat and be able to do
well and just move on from it?
Or do you hold on it to thewhole game?
And I just think that, if youhave the means to go out and
make sure that you'rewell-rounded.
Then you should do it.
But if you don't, like I said,utilize your resources and do
the best you can.
(25:10):
Yeah.
I tell kids all the time, you,you don't need a gym membership
or a$60 an hour trainer.
Get your butt up and do 20pushups, get your butt up and do
10 minutes of yoga.
Do you know, do 20 pullups aday, do yes, do some up downs
every single day or every otherday.
It's amazing what, how your bodycan change if you're committed
(25:31):
to just 10 minutes, 15 minutesevery other day, every day,
pushing yourself a little bitand keeping that athleticism up.
Yeah, I love that.
And that's the thing too I lovethat you tell him that, but it's
also about consistency anddiscipline.
That's right.
I just think that it's reallyeasy to say that we want to do
something or we wanna be great,but do you have the discipline
to do it every day?
Do you have the discipline?
(25:51):
And not to say that youshouldn't have a day off in the
week.
Yeah.
But the point is we can, it is,if you're gonna talk about it,
can you be about it?
That was always one of my bigthings.
If you're gonna talk about it,be about it.
So if you say something, youhave to mean it, and if you say
you wanna be great, thatrequires work and you gotta put
the work in for that.
Yeah.
And I don't wanna.
You can't scroll on your socialmedia for six hours a day and
not get up so I think foryounger athletes, making sure
(26:15):
that they have a schedule,making sure that they're
committed to it and that they'redisciplined and then, yeah, of
course you're gonna have freetime and balance, but you can't
skip your workouts and you can'tskip the, what makes you great.
You wanna sit and scroll for sixhours, yeah.
And that's, I think that's thehardest thing about social media
and about, cell phones andthings like that is, it's really
(26:36):
easy for anybody to get caughtup just sitting there looking on
their phone.
But the goal is to make sure iswhat kind of content are you
looking at and is it helpingbetter you, true.
And I think that's importanttoo, to ask yourself like, how
many hours of my day, how many,I look at.
Kobe Bryant, he always talksabout how much he strategized,
how much he trained, and hewanted to train three times more
(26:58):
than the average.
And that's what made him great.
That's your top 1% mentality.
That's the mama mentality.
With these young athletes, it'slike you gotta remind him Hey,
you have to separate yourself.
You have to go out on that fieldand do something that catches
our eye different than everybodyelse.
And.
We can see the makings of awinner.
It's pretty, it stands out, Idon't think everybody looks the
(27:18):
same on the field.
There are things that stand out.
So yeah, you have to be able toself evaluate and ask yourself,
what am I doing to stand out?
And, if I'm not doing that, whatcan I do better going forward?
I love that.
Yeah.
It's, we use the phraseexecutive function skills.
And the executive functionskills aren't a 60 hour work
(27:39):
week, it's.
It's that organization on mycalendar.
I have an alarm that goes offthat says every other day I
gotta get up and I've gotta do10 minutes of work.
If you're doing that, if you'reputting 10 minutes of work in
every day or every other day,your body's gonna change.
You're gonna be healthier.
That's, I'm healthier at 50 thanI was in my thirties because.
I'm so more consistent now.
(28:00):
I'm so much more routine nowthan I, I used to be, and not
just with working out with mydiet and, my sleep schedule and
my work schedule.
And I think if we can, if kidscan understand that, I just
gotta, I can scroll a littlebit.
I can be a mess around, but didI make my bet?
Did I get up and do my 20pushups?
Did it, did I do a do I did do afive minute sprint routine.
(28:23):
Did I get.
50 swings on a tee in my garage.
You know what I mean?
So I, those are all things Ilove that you, that's the, your
focus and what you're thinkingabout, it's just such a big part
of getting better.
Yeah, for sure.
A quality routine and just,really taking a look at, instead
of just going through your days,you have to look at it and go,
(28:44):
okay.
My days are valuable, and whatdo I wanna do with them?
And, I wanna have quality timein these areas, and things that
are really important to me.
And I think one of the thingsthat my college coach did a
great job of when we becamefreshmen is we had colored
markers.
We had a calendar hour by hour.
We had color in.
What it was that we were doing.
So we could see, okay, we're inclass at this time, we're at
(29:05):
practice at this time, and thenwe could see where our free time
was, and I thought it was justgreat way for time management
and it helped us learn like realquick Hey, okay, here's the days
we have a little free time and.
Here's the days we don't, and sothen we could manage our time a
little bit better.
And but I just think it's reallyimportant to be where your feet
are.
And if you wanna be great atsomething, have a routine, have
(29:27):
some discipline, and stayconsistent.
And it's, if you're those thingsand you're driven, you know
you're gonna be bound to succeedat whatever it is you're
shooting for.
Absolutely.
Coach, you've done so well at somany levels and you continue to
build programs and buildingprograms at the division three
level, especially when you don'thave all the resources, there's
(29:48):
gonna be fluctuation.
From year to year because youdon't have the money to go get
six great players every year.
Sometimes you get the playersyou get.
Are there non-negotiables foryou no matter what?
Are there two or three standardsthat you absolutely won't
compromise in your program?
(30:08):
Yeah, like for me, I saidattitude and effort.
You gotta give the effort.
You're not gonna come topractice and lower our
standards.
So you gotta give the efforthere and you have to have the
right attitude about it, and Iwant you to be a good person
because we all have to be aroundeach other every day, so same
thing with.
All the coaches, I demand thesame from them, is like you
gotta bring your best self togive them in a good mood, to be
(30:31):
upbeat, to give your best energyand stuff like that.
'cause we're asking them to giveus that.
So we have to be able to givethat to them as well, but
attitude and effort are anon-negotiable.
I love to see passion and energyand things like that, but I
think.
Competitive excellence.
I want'em to, I want'em tocompete.
I want'em, I look for playerswho have an edge, that when I
look at'em, like some people mayshy away some from players and
(30:53):
be like, oh, they look like theyhave an attitude.
I'm gonna run to that player.
Because sometimes I feel likethat player maybe hasn't had the
conversation to how they appearwith their body language or,
maybe they haven't heard fromsomebody.
'cause somebody's been afraid totell'em because they're such a
great athlete that they're justlike.
That's a great athlete with abad attitude.
Maybe that's not the case.
Maybe they just haven't had thatconversation.
(31:14):
Maybe they haven't been taughtthat yet, and maybe they care so
much, but they don't know how todisplay it.
Because a lot, I want theathletes that care about what
they're doing, and.
If you really do care aboutbeing great, you might show a
little attitude sometimes andthat's okay, right?
Yeah.
But you can't take it out onother people.
You can't, hold onto it thewhole game.
You may, you get your ten secondrule.
(31:35):
That's what we call it, is likeyou can be upset because you
just struck out and you wantedto do better for the team.
Sure.
That's natural and we're okaywith that, but.
You gotta hold composure, andyou have to still be able to be
about everybody else and thingslike that.
And you're only one part, likein a game, there's so many
sequences, right?
(31:55):
And.
We're building on the sequencesas the whole game goes on.
And so what we can't have issomebody has a bad sequence and
all of a sudden it tankseverybody else for two innings
because everybody's payingattention to them.
But if we teach them thosethings and we get them to
understand about being a teamplayer, but understanding that
we are okay with them beingpassionate nowadays, everybody's
(32:16):
oh, they flipped the bat.
That's unacceptable.
And things like that.
So people will have theiropinions and that's okay.
For me, I like to see a littlepassion and fire.
I love it.
Me too.
I wanna see it.
And if I see passion, I'mprobably gravitating towards it,
yeah.
As long as it's handled theright way.
Yeah.
We often end up recruitingourself too, right?
Yeah.
(32:37):
We know what we like and Yeah.
You mentioned your staff andwhat you expect from your staff.
How are you using your staffdifferently today than you did
maybe 20 years ago?
I think change.
I think, again, I mean for me,the turnover rate at division
three, we don't have anyfull-time assistants.
I only have a grad assistant andthen a stipend coach.
(32:59):
I think that a lot of otherteams are in that same.
Predicament when you're at the Dthree level, however given'em
ownership of what they're greatat, I think that's really
important because a lot of timesas a head coach you can find
yourself being too controllingover everything.
And I think when you go out andyou hire people to be on your
staff or you choose people to beon your staff, they're, they
(33:20):
have their strengths, right?
And so we wanna utilize thosestrengths in the big picture of
what we're doing.
And, for everybody that'sdifferent, like somebody might
be.
Really personable and a greathitting coach.
The other person may be not aspersonal, but really organized
and does really good onone-on-one conversation or does
really good with creating drillsor whatever.
So really just utilizing thestrengths of everybody on staff
(33:42):
I think that's really important.
And then identifying roles andresponsibilities is also very
important.
But, I try to choose people thatare still going to challenge me
and then that are gonna berelatable to the players and
that can make the players thebest.
Because, the other thing thathappens as you get older as a
head coach, there's a little bitof separation, from the time
(34:03):
that you played and how theyview you.
Although I do love it'cause Iget to stay young because I'm
around young people all thetime.
Yes.
So me too.
Yeah.
I love that.
I have a lot of fun with it.
I enjoy being around people ofall ages, but I notice there can
be a gap the older you get.
Making sure that you havesomebody that's just relatable
to them and able to communicateand loyalty's a big deal.
I think when you're a head coachand on a coaching staff, you
(34:26):
want people who are loyal, butyou also want people in the room
who can challenge you and say,Hey, coach, I, this is a great
idea.
However, I think that maybe thisis what the players need right
now, and they speak up for them,and you can't be in a position
where you can't hear it.
You know what I mean?
So I think as you evolve, you'relike, no, I want all this
feedback, and then I get to makethe best executive decision
based on all the feedback that'sin front of me, so again, I
(34:49):
think everybody's voice matters.
And taking that time with yourstaff just as much as you take
time with your players is reallyimportant.
Being able to kind of functionon the same page because the
leadership, whoever's at thetop, it trickles down.
And I look at it like everybodyon staff is leading the charge,
so we have to be inclusive andreally just let people do the
(35:12):
parts that they're great at andgive them ownership.
Yeah, I think that gets lostsometimes that.
Loyalty and having anindependent voice can work
together.
They can be hand in hand.
You can be loyal and stillchallenge your head coach and
still say, Hey, I really feelthis loyal.
The loyalty part is when coachsays, no, we're gonna go in a
(35:33):
different direction, or, this iswhy I, we're gonna do something
different.
You're still loyal and you'restill, yeah.
Okay, coach.
There's, you have to be able tospeak up and we have a lot of
young assistants.
We have a lot of high schoolcoaches that listen to this.
So I love that perspectivebecause it's so important.
You're not just building a team,you're building a program, and
that starts with assistantcoaches, even if it's a
(35:54):
22-year-old GA and a, and anassistant coach that comes in
and works with your catchers orworks with your pitchers.
Like we often get at thedivision three level.
That needs to be there.
You need to be able tochallenge, you need to be able
to speak up, but loyalty's apart of that as well.
For sure.
And you're right.
They can go hand in hand.
We don't always have to agree.
Sometimes we can agree todisagree.
(36:15):
It's always about.
Not what you say, but how yousay it.
And I think creating that mutualrespect between, yourself and
the assistant coaches so thatthey feel comfortable in saying
things so that you can get thefull scope of the information is
really important.
You know that mutual respect, ifit's there and the
relationship's there and youprovide that comfortability, it
can happen.
And I do think that's important.
(36:36):
It's also the humility of thatyou get as you grow to be the
head coach, and that was that.
It's a great transition to, mylast question for you is, when
you look back at your22-year-old self, what advice
would you give her?
As I know you had yourprofessional career after that
for a few years.
What advice would you give youryounger self when you, before
(36:58):
you started that journey, ifyou'd go back and talk to her?
Oh, wow.
That's a tough one.
But I really just, it reallyjust comes down to I was really
hard on myself.
So given the best that you haveon any given day is all that
anybody can ask for you, and ifyou're given your best, then
you've done your job.
(37:18):
And I think now looking back,handling failure, recovery
would've been a big thing forme.
I would get very upset if Iwasn't good at something or,
didn't play the best.
And I have to realize now thatthere's quality of bats.
There's seeing extra pitches andmaking the pitcher work hard and
there's give, passing the bat toyour teammate because it's their
moment now.
(37:39):
You know what I mean?
And sometimes it's gonna be yourmoment, sometimes it's gonna be
their moment.
But the biggest thing I would dois just have a better
understanding that, you know,hey, if you're working hard and
you're giving your best, thenyou're doing everything that you
can.
Then, you can feel good aboutyourself and you can lay your
head down and be like, Hey, Igave everything I had today.
Maybe today wasn't my day, butI'm gonna wake up tomorrow
morning and I'm gonna get afterit again.
(37:59):
I think that handling failureand adversity, we're gonna have
it in life.
Nobody's running from that.
Nobody's getting out of that.
But it's how you're able tobounce back.
And, I always say that the flooris no place for a champion.
And, with all this, I also wannasay that, a lot of people say
that moms don't take coachingjobs because they have to be
(38:19):
moms.
I've always been a mom and.
Always made it work.
And it was the best thing tobring my son up around athletes
and in an athletic environmentat the collegiate level.
It was a great space.
And so I just wanna say, do notshy away from that if you are a
mom or somebody that has afamily, because that's what can
(38:40):
make you great too, is just,like I said, I, being around my
son, seeing how he operated,he's a tremendous athlete, and
I'm very proud of him.
But.
When you're, when you care forpeople and you have that
instinct and that empathy andthings like that, it can also
help you evolve as a coach.
So don't shy away from it ifyou're a female or a mom,
because we need people like you.
(39:01):
Yeah.
And you've done it.
And I think that's what theother thing I would say is, we
are a culmination of all of ourexperiences, and.
I look at it and go, wow.
How blessed am I to have so manycool experiences and things like
that, but there's really nothingwhen I coach now that.
I haven't ran into, or thathasn't happened to me.
It makes you very relatable,which is great for the athletes
(39:22):
today.
And that's what they want.
They wanna be relatable, theywanna know you care, but they
also want the knowledge.
They're driven, they want thatavenue of Hey, you know what,
how can I be the best version ofmyself, but also be this great
athlete and do the best thingsbecause they're putting time in,
and they wanna be great.
And so I think it's cool ifwe're prepared, organized.
(39:43):
We're able to guide them andjust be a part of it all.
I love it.
I love it.
And I'm a big proponent of ittoo.
You can go back and I got awhole slew of podcasts with a
bunch of moms that are Hall ofFame coaches like you and Great,
we're great athletes.
Continue to coach and I was incorporate America for a little
bit and I always talked to thebosses.
I was like, we need to hire moremoms.
They're relatable.
(40:04):
They know how to juggle 16things at a time.
They know how to adapt.
We don't have any of that.
We have a bunch of 24 year oldsthat, when something doesn't go
right or more work's put ontheir plate, they give up and
they quit.
I'm all for you.
I think parenting changed me asa coach.
Having my own kids and I was ahead coach for 12 years before
we had a child.
And I, these last 15 years, I'vejust been a different coach.
(40:27):
I've been a different personbecause of the humility that
comes with being a parent.
For sure.
Yeah.
It makes you better all the wayaround, I always say it's the
greatest gift you could ever askfor is being a parent, and, then
we also get to be like that stepin person for everybody
transforming their lives whenthey're, that transition from
leaving home.
(40:48):
And it's an honor, it's an honorto be in that position.
So do all coaches, I knowthey're doing a great job with
great intentions and I alwayshold myself to that standard
too, of like.
How would you want your ownchild treated in this situation?
You know what I mean?
So if you can do that, and youcan look at everybody like, Hey,
this is somebody that you knowis somebody's kid.
(41:09):
And we're parents, so we knowwe'd want our kid handled a
certain way.
But also there is tough loveinvolved.
Sometimes there's adversity,there's things they gotta get
through.
But you know what, that's whatmakes'em better.
Everything's not going to beeasy all the time.
Yep.
Yep.
I agree.
And that's a part of that makescollege athletics so great.
As a coach we get to be a partof that journey and for sure
(41:32):
help'em get through a lot ofthose things that are really
hard.
So that's great.
Coach.
I wanna do some rapid fire withyou.
Just some fun stuff.
Okay.
Get to know you a little bitbetter.
You ready for some funquestions?
I think so.
I don't know.
I don't know about rapid fire,but we'll go for it.
You'll be great at these.
All right.
Morning practice or afternoonpractice.
Afternoon.
(41:53):
Favorite drill that your playerslove to hate?
Do you have a drill that theyhate, but you love it?
21.
21.
All right.
Tell real quick, what's 21?
I think I know what it is, but Iwanna hear it from you.
Yeah.
We have to get 21 out perfectlyon defense.
Okay.
If you don't, you start over atzero.
Yeah.
So the reason why they hate thatis I'm a serious critic when it
comes to you have to be in yourbackup.
(42:14):
The throw has to be perfect.
Everything has to be.
I love it.
All right.
I did the same thing we had.
There's 21 out in the game, sowe're trying to get'em all as
quick as we can.
Yeah, that's right.
We called it the Warrior drill.
I love it.
Best softball stadium you'veever played or coached in?
I have to say Oklahoma.
Oklahoma?
Yeah.
It's a pretty good one.
If you weren't coachingsoftball, what would you be
(42:34):
doing?
I'd probably be a sportspsychologist.
Or a life coach, I could seethat you'd be really good at
both of those.
Thanks.
Pre-game, playlist, hip hop,country, or rock?
Ooh, I'd have to go for acombination.
All of'em.
Okay.
All right.
You gotta see I'm been diversein my selection.
I like a little bit ofeverything.
I do too.
Yeah.
Is there a favorite in there?
(42:54):
You got a favorite group?
Band, singer, artist.
I like everybody, honestly.
You can go to one concert forthe rest of your life, who are
you going to?
I'm going to Beyonce.
Okay.
All right.
All right.
The B, you can't beat the B.
All right.
Favorite?
As of right now, if you asked me10 years ago, I probably
would've gave you a differentanswer.
(43:14):
You know what I mean?
What was 10 years ago?
I'm interested.
Right now you're looking atBeyonce and I'm like, that's a
concert I really want to go to.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
But I've loved so many.
I love Whitney Houston,obviously, yeah.
Any country artist, gosh, Idon't even know which one would
be my favorite one.
'cause I do like country music alot.
Yeah.
I don't even know who would bemy favorite, but okay, we gotta
(43:36):
move on that.
That's my wife too, city girl.
She's Asian, she's a city girland she loves country music.
Something's not right.
But yeah, she loves it.
No, I do love country.
I'm in a suburb.
Everybody, even though we're aChicago suburb.
Yeah.
I love country.
I grew up in the country, soYeah.
Country music is very relaxingto me.
Yeah.
You grew up in the quad citiessurrounded by corn and cows and
(43:57):
That's right.
Yes.
Yeah.
Favorite post-game meal?
Post game.
I would say chicken alfredo ortacos like it.
One word your players would useto describe you.
Passionate of course.
Or competitive.
(44:18):
I don't know.
It could be competitive too.
'cause everybody knows I'm,everything's a competition.
I could see that.
Yeah.
Sliding head first or feet?
First.
Head first.
Yeah.
There's nothing better grabbingthe bag at third head first.
It's a smaller target, yeah.
That hand in there.
Yeah.
I feel like you have, you canadapt better too.
(44:39):
Wherever the throw may be.
If you're going head first, youcan adjust your body.
You can switch hands.
Yeah.
True.
However, I will say a nice popupslide looks really cool.
Sometimes it does.
And there's some people likeTrey Turner that do it like
they've been, like they're onglass.
Yes, I know.
I saw that on Instagram orsomething, I believe, and I was
like, wow, smooth.
(45:00):
I got two more.
I said last one.
I'm gonna do two more for you.
Walk off hit or game savingdefensive play.
Walk off home run, you mean?
Sure.
Yeah.
If it's a walk off home run.
Okay, we'll take that.
Otherwise, I like the defensiveplay.
And final one, dream vacationspot.
'cause you know I'm going onvacation next week, so I want to
hear yours.
Earth and Caicos.
(45:21):
You and my kids.
My kids love Turks and Caicos.
They would go every year if thatwas, if we left.
I've never been, I really wantto, oh, you gotta go and do the
love buggy tour when you go.
Okay.
They've got these little carsthat two people fit in and it's
a tour and they take you all theway around the island and it's
so much fun.
Coach.
Thanks for doing this.
(45:41):
It was awesome.
I can't wait to talk recruitingwith you, but you were
fantastic.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
That's a wrap on another greatconversation with another great
coach.
Coach.
Venus Taylor's journey is amasterclass in leadership and
longevity from winning a juniorcollege division one national
championship in her very firstyear at Lake City Community
(46:03):
College to leading programs atthe division one level to her
ongoing work with AthletesUnlimited softball league and
Major League baseball.
She's not just building teams.
She's helping shape the futureof softball.
What stood out to me is how sheblends her experiences as a
professional athlete, a collegecoach, and a mom into a
(46:23):
leadership style that demandsexcellence, but also invests
deeply into her players aspeople.
She's proof that the bestcoaches don't just prepare their
athletes for the next game.
They prepare them for life.
If you enjoyed today'sconversation with Coach Taylor,
make sure you come back onMonday for part two where we'll
break down college recruitingthe opportunities at every
(46:44):
level, and how to find the rightfit for your journey.
You can find more significantcoaching conversations.
Along with my weekly blog andresources for
leaders@coachmattrogers.com andbe sure to share this episode
with another coach or parent whocould benefit from it.
Until next time, keep working tobe the best version of yourself
while leading with significance.
What really stood out to me isjust the ambassadors of the
sport, like your Jenny Finch,Natasha Watley, those type of
players, and there's many morethat are paving the way, but
also MLB has decided to be apartner for the first time ever,
and I think step in the rightdirection.
Yeah.
So just, seeing it on the MLBchannel obviously the coverage
on ESPN everybody's working hardto make sure that this league
(00:24):
sustains and that, we elevateand it's been really fun to be a
part of, Welcome back to TheSignificant Coaching Podcast.
I'm your host, Matt Rogers.
What you just heard was VenusTaylor talking about the new
professional softball leaguethat most of you have probably
seen on an ESPN, the Athlete'sUnlimited Softball League, the A
USL.
And the important work they'redoing in partnership with Major
(00:46):
League Baseball to make surethis league isn't just a flash
in the pan, but a sustainable,thriving opportunity for the
game and its athletes for yearsto come.
Venus doesn't just talk aboutit.
She's living it.
Continue to play a major role inits growth and impact.
If you don't know her story,coach Taylor is one of those
rare people who has seen thegame from every possible angle.
(01:10):
A standout collegiate player, adecorated professional athlete,
a coach at nearly every level ofsport from youth programs to
powerhouse college programs, andnow the head coach at North
Central College, her coachingcareer began with a bang winning
the junior college Division oneNational Championship in her
very first year at Lake CityCommunity College in Florida
(01:32):
before moving on to the NCAAdivision one ranks.
She's been in the circle, in thedugout, in the recruiting
trenches, and in the lives ofyoung women chasing big dreams.
In this conversation, we diveinto her journey, her coaching
philosophy, and the lessonsshe's learned along the way.
We'll also talk about why smallcolleges at the JC and D three
(01:54):
and N AI levels of softballshould be on every high school
recruits radar and how her rolesas coach, mentor, and mom have
shaped the way she leads.
This is a conversation packedwith perspective, passion, and
practical takeaways.
So let's get into it.
Here's my conversation withCoach Venus Taylor.
(02:16):
Coach Taylor, so great to seeyou.
Thanks for being on the show.
Tell me about this role you'vebeen playing with the A USL and
tell people about what thisGreat League is doing.
Yes.
Thank you so much for having me.
It's the Athletes Unlimitedsoftball league.
It's the professional softballleague, and it's just providing
this amazing platform.
It's been so fun.
They've been barnstorming thissummer for trying to figure out
(02:38):
which markets they'll be in nextyear.
I think there'll be six marketsat minimum next year.
But it's just provided thisamazing platform for these.
Uniquely special and talentedwomen who are coming outta
college and wanna play at theprofessional level.
And then also, still training atthe Olympic level.
And it's been just such anamazing experience and so much
fun to watch.
Kim Ing, who's, the commissionerof the league, and then also
(03:00):
some amazing coaches involved,like Stacy Newman, Lisa
Fernandez, Howard Dobson.
Just a lot of people that we hadthe opportunity to work with.
They're just very impressivepeople that have Kirk Walker,
just great minds for the gameand just everybody's really
working hard to, give back tothis amazing sport and provide
that platform, like I said, andjust help the game evolve.
(03:22):
Because we feel like, thesewomen can play, they're ballers,
they're getting after it.
And the viewership on TV hasbeen amazing.
These, high level collegeprograms are getting a lot of
viewership and a lot ofpublicity, and I think people
really fall in love with ourgame.
It's fast.
The, it's what's even better isthe women that play it, when you
get to meet them off the fieldand just see what kind of people
(03:42):
they are and how they relate tothe kids and, the next
generation and just reallypaying it forward, lifting
everybody up, paying it forward.
And it's really fun to be a partof.
And I just think that it'sproviding a first class
experience.
And, there's been a lot ofprevious leagues I played in a
couple professional leagues.
That's actually where, I've metso many of my best friends.
Learned a lot and just beenreally exposed.
(04:04):
So that provides a great networkalong the way and coaching and
just, all over.
But to see it at this level, tosee everything that they're able
to offer, and the way thatthey're taking care of the
athlete in regards to off thefield as well.
The meals and the strength andconditioning coach that's there,
inaccessible and the trainersand, being able to fly instead
of busing everywhere, they'vereally just done an amazing job.
(04:25):
Of going all out and providingthat first class experience, and
it's been a lot of fun.
You were a part of that defunctprofessional league that was
coming right out of all thehighlights of the Olympics and
the momentum of the Olympic whenthe Olympic still was playing
softball.
What are you seeing the biggestchanges are now and 20 some
(04:45):
years later so we can maintainthis and keep this going because
I've been watching the games andthey're just fantastic.
So fun, right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think the great thing about itis, you learn from your mistakes
and, I think that we've done agreat job of carrying forward
everybody's voice andeverybody's, knowledge and you
know what will work and whatwon't work or what hasn't worked
(05:06):
in the past.
I think that social media hasbeen a really big fun part of
this, because I think it'sexposed at a different level now
because not only on tv, but youalso, people know there's a
league.
They know you're coming to town.
They can follow you on socialmedia.
And even.
What really stood out to me isjust the ambassadors of the
sport, like your Jenny Finch,Natasha Watley, those type of
(05:26):
players, but you, and there'smany more that are paving the
way, but also MLB has decided tobe a partner for the first time
ever, and I think that's a huge.
Step in the right direction.
Yeah.
So just, seeing it on the MLBchannel obviously the coverage
on ESPN just, just really are,everybody's working hard to make
sure that this league sustainsand that, we elevate and it's
(05:48):
been really fun to be a part of,like I said and I just think
that everybody's invested andeverybody that's come before us
there's been so many, buteverybody's provided feedback
that's helped evolve.
And so it's just great to see.
It's awesome.
And when you have Kim leadingthat league, she got such a raw
deal.
I don't know, for the Marlinsand people don't know.
(06:10):
She was the GM of the MiamiMarlins just was a rockstar down
there.
And to have that type of personleading the league and being the
commissioner and have all thestars here I love where this is
going and it's softball has justblown up in our country.
It's always been big, but withclub volleyball or club softball
now and where that's at.
(06:30):
What the level of softball isfrom that junior college level
all the way up and the talentthere.
It's such good timing.
I really love it.
It's cool.
It is.
They're rock stars.
They're really impressivepeople.
So yeah, anytime that anybodygets a chance to go to a market
and see them and just be around'em, I highly recommend.
Yeah, and it's, there's so muchof that going on.
I live in the Denver area andwe've got a women's rugby
(06:53):
professional league in our town,and we went and watched the
women's rugby, and it was just,there's so much talent on the
field that it's so fast and it'sso physical.
The crowd was so into it, andyou could just tell watching it
on tv, the softball games, the AUSL softball games are just
like, that's a party.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah.
That's great.
It's a good time.
Yeah.
And they do a great job ofinvolving the crowd and, just
(07:14):
look at what's happening withthe, what is it, the Savannah
Bananas, yeah, exactly.
Just there's marketship in thisand there's, it's just great.
I think the fans are reallyhaving a good time, but the
athletes do a great job too,that personal touch.
Like we've played thechampionship in Tuscaloosa and
Montana Felt is pitching thechampionship game and she just
has.
Fans everywhere and, all thesepeople come out to, to scream
(07:37):
her name and shout her on, butshe did amazing.
But it was more important to meto see, she's very she takes it
very serious about being a greatrole model to the young
athletes.
And she spends all night signingthe autograph because, she knows
somebody wanted, wants to belike her one day.
And it's just I'm just blownaway and in awe of the type of
people that you'll meet in theseathletes just as much as their
(07:59):
talent.
I agree.
I, it's so much fun to see y youand I grew up in an era where
there was no social media.
We went through our collegecareers and our early coaching
careers, and your professionalplaying career.
There really wasn't that avenue.
How do you feel about it now?
How do you want your playersusing it?
Where are you at with that wholeworld?
(08:20):
I love it because, it's reallyexposed.
It's exposed this game to peopleto know that we have this
professional league in town andcoming your way, and it gives
you that insight to them aspeople, off the field and stuff
like that.
Now I believe in using it socialmedia for positivity, and
knowledge and stuff like that.
Of course, when you, when yousee in athletics, there's gonna
be a lot of skeptics.
(08:40):
There's gonna be a lot of peopleout there critiquing every
little thing, that can bedifficult for athletes at times
to hear some of the things fromthe critiquing and things like
that.
But I hope that most people knowthat.
Just take it with a grain ofsalt.
Think about, you're great atwhat you do and just be the best
version of you on and off thefield, and nobody really knows
you better than you.
So a lot of people are gonnahave their opinions.
(09:02):
If you can hold your head uphigh and do great things, then
you should feel good aboutyourself and not worry about
that.
But hopefully people use it as,knowledge and insight and a
positive platform.
And if it's done that way, it'sdone the right way.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
What's it been like for you?
You've been a big time divisionone coach.
You've coached D three, you'vecoached junior college, you've
(09:23):
coached at just about everysingle level.
What are you seeing as thebiggest differences from level
to level?
We'll get into the talent partand how you recruit, but what
are you seeing as the biggestdifference for the experience
for the student athletes?
Oh gosh, that's tough in wherewe're at today, because now we
(09:45):
have the NIL money and all thatstuff getting involved.
I would say that.
All the athletes really do wannacompete and they do love the
game.
They're all playing it for theright reasons.
I think there is a separatingfactor in the level of
commitment at different stagesat times.
Not to say that you can't get adivision three player who's
highly committed and wants topractice all the time, but I
(10:05):
think there's a little bit morebalance in the D three level,
then the high level D one maybe.
The traveling, you're a littlebit closer to home base when you
travel and stuff like that.
But I would say the resources,I'm amazed by, and being
involved with the talents.
This is one thing, just thetechnology that we, that is
accessible now at the highlevel.
If you have the budget for it.
(10:27):
It can really give you a lot of,input and data, analytical data
that maybe the lower levelsdon't have.
And so that can be a separatingfactor.
But but, I think the great thingabout all levels is, you're
building women to be successful,men and women, but we're, we're
really just, we're building upthese people to go out and be
successful and have a voice and,be the best version of
(10:50):
themselves and succeed.
And so to me it's all about nomatter what level you're at, you
can be a positive influence anda make a positive impact for
anyone.
And if your roster's 22 or 30,whatever it is, you are in a
really cool position to impactpeople to go out and, just
basically own their future,which is really neat.
That is awesome.
(11:11):
And it's such a, it's the greatperspective for what we get to
do is getting these kids tolearn how to be the best version
of themselves, how to be adults,how to be healthy, how to have a
self-worth and you've been sogreat at that over your career.
I'm interested from a personalperspective.
(11:31):
Because you were such a greatathlete, because you were such a
great pro and a Division oneathlete, you coached division
one level.
Is it hard for you whensometimes, and it was hard for
me, so I'm putting this incontext.
Is it hard for you whensometimes you have athletes and
maybe you don't, maybe you do,that aren't as committed to the
game like you were.
(11:52):
Do you find yourself strugglingwith that?
Yeah, for sure.
I think we can all admit that, Imean there's finding out, but
it's also important for coachesto understand that.
Everybody's different.
And a lot of times you don'twanna prejudge, like people go
through different things.
And some players may not show itin the same way, but they really
do care, but they maybe justdon't show it in the same way.
(12:13):
You know what I mean?
So as I've gotten older and moreexperienced in coaching, I think
it's.
I've really taken more time torelate to the players, to know
them on a personal level, andnot to say I didn't do that
before, but you really wannatake that deeper dive into
knowing the person and whatmakes'em tick and how are they
really feeling.
And if you don't have those,that open door communication and
allow them to be heard, you'llnever really know.
(12:35):
And you can misunderstandathletes a lot, I think that's
really important.
But yeah, I think that if you'resomebody that likes to be like
that top 1%, or a perfectionistI should say, or something like
that, it can be easy sometimesto catch yourself being like
they, they don't do it like Idid it.
Or, why is that person not morecommitted?
Or why did they not take it moreserious?
But again, I, like I said, Ilike to take a deeper dive into
(12:57):
the situation and find out wasit just that day?
How does this person tick?
How do they operate?
What are they really feeling?
Because a lot of times I thinkit is easy to misunderstand
people.
I think that personal touch andputting the person over the
athlete is really important forall coaches and I think we just
get better in time, right?
I think, when we're younger,we're really about winning.
(13:18):
X's and o's and as we get olderyou really do a better job of
really assessing things with abetter lens, because when you're
younger, just like they're youngnow, they don't see the big
picture the way we see it at ourage.
So it's our job to convey thatto them and be relatable for'em
and make'em understand the whys.
But but that takes a lot ofcommunication, a lot of time
(13:38):
and, that's to me, the fun partof it, yeah, it is.
It very much is.
I'm gonna put you in a timemachine.
It's been almost 25 years.
You won the nationalchampionship as a head coach,
your first year as a head coachat the junior college level.
Yeah.
And then immediately jump to theD one level for three years.
(14:00):
When you look back at that coachthat version of you, what's
changed the most?
Oh, I've gotten softer for sure.
That's always the answer.
Always.
Yeah.
I think I've gotten softer andevery, all my former players
will say it.
They'll be like, coach, theydon't As tough as we had it, but
I think it's really just comesdown to a better understanding
of athletes and the generationand the way things have changed.
(14:23):
And also, I'm a mom.
So I have a son and I got to seehis journey and see how he, that
was a good thing for me becauseI can look at it and go okay,
this is what he's thinking atthis age.
That wouldn't be what I'mthinking at this age, but this
is what he's thinking.
And to me, I look at it like,you're like that.
That mother figure or that aunt,I like to call it an aunt for
(14:45):
these young athletes.
But you're just a very pivotalperson in their life.
Somebody that they trust andsomebody that can help them,
advise them and give'emdirection and things like that.
But I would definitely say.
I'm more aware, I'm just moreaware.
I'm a little bit softer.
But yeah, but I still believein, you gotta work hard, you
gotta be gritty, you gottacompete, you gotta be where your
(15:07):
feet are.
You gotta hold yourself to.
A high standard every single dayand just give the best that you
have to give.
Because sometimes that bestlooks different on different
days.
Like some days you're a hundredpercent, sometimes you're 90
'cause you have an injury oryou're coming back from an
injury or you're not feelingwell, or something's gone on in
your life that's personal.
That maybe affects that a littlebit.
And as much as we always say,get between the lines and let it
(15:29):
go, and stuff like that, I meanthere is real life that goes
along with.
What they're doing.
They're very overwhelmed for thefirst time with, being on their
own.
And then obviously managingclasses and managing their time
a little bit better.
And but as a, as professionalswhen we're older, we're like
what's the problem?
We've done that, we know how todo it, so let us help you.
And yeah, I think just you gottaa better lens as you get a
(15:51):
little bit older.
All right.
Help me with this coach.
'cause this I still strugglewith this and I struggle with
this.
More than I'd like to admit youI grew up with some really hard
coaches.
Really probably to the extreme,definitely to the extreme,
probably would've been fired ina heartbeat 30 years ago with
(16:13):
how they treated the kids andhow we went about how they went
about their business.
I'm still a big believer that weneed to teach young people how
to overcome conflict, how toovercome.
It didn't work out the way Iwanted to.
I'm a freshman and I'm notstarting like I was for two
years at high school.
How do we push them, challengethem, teach them how to get to
(16:38):
their potential and still love'em, and still make sure they're
nurtured and still make surethey get the love they deserve?
How do we do that today?
Yeah, I think it's all aboutaccountability.
You have to have structure, youhave to have boundaries, you
have to have accountability.
It's just like good parenting,you know what I mean?
Here comes the dog.
It's like good parenting.
I think that, when you have adisciplinarian that loves you
(17:01):
and can show you, Hey, I gottahold you accountable, but I
still love you and I'm stillhere for you.
I think that, that mattersbecause you gotta be able to
show'em.
You care about'em.
And once you do that, theyunderstand when things come up
that they're like, okay.
I have to be held accountablefor this, and I'm running into a
consequence, and they will makemistakes.
They're young people, but wedon't need to hold them to the
fire when they make a mistake.
(17:22):
I look at it like, we all, we'veall made mistakes, so let's talk
about it from that perspectiveas well.
But on the other hand, we don'tjust let things slide.
You know what I mean?
There's not a first place trophyfor everybody.
It's not, there's thisparticipation thing.
There really is only one winner.
When it comes down to it,there's one champion at the end.
Okay?
And how you get there depends ona lot of factors.
It depends on how you practice.
(17:42):
It depends on the kind of peopleyou are.
It depends on the chemistry youhave.
It depends on, how you performin that day and that moment, how
you master failure recovery.
Many several factors come intoplay on this, when building up
to a championship and thingslike that.
But, at the end of the day,there has to be discipline,
there has to be structure, therehas to be consequences, there
has to be stability, there hasto be coaches showing people
that they care and, making surethat they're there for them and
(18:04):
serve their purpose well aswell.
Yeah it's, we wanna win thatchampionship.
That's the whole purpose of whatwe're doing and why we play the
game.
But how do we not lose ourself-worth with it when we don't
win that championship, or we gosix and 29 and have a bad year?
How do we get the kids tounderstand?
(18:24):
You're not a lesser person, butnow you gotta start thinking
about what you gotta do better.
How do you reframe the offseason for yourself so we're not
back in that same position?
How do you go about that whenyou're doing those exit
interviews at the end of theyear and, you guys had a really
good year, but how do we getthem thinking that way instead
(18:45):
of, oh I'm terrible, this is abad program.
How do we get them thinking?
I have the ability to make somechanges here.
It's all in the communication.
We try to learn from everything,everything that, whether you win
or lose, it's a learningexperience, it doesn't make you
any less, I do think that youhave to ask yourself why did
they win?
Why did they win over us?
(19:05):
Was it.
They stayed in the momentbetter, they practiced harder.
They, were more mentally toughto handle adversity.
They just had better players,better athletes.
What was it?
Their co the coaching strategy.
We really, it's a process, likeeverything's a process.
So then you review the processand say, okay.
Where were we strong?
Where were we weak?
And we learned from it, and thenwe explain that to them.
Here's the areas you did well,here's the areas that we did not
(19:28):
do well.
Here's what we're gonna have todo different to get to that
point.
And I just think honesty is thebest policy, and we're not gonna
always say what everybody wantsto hear, because there's times
where you have to tell'em like,Hey.
This is why I have somebody elsein the lineup over you.
And that's a hard conversation,but it's a conversation that
comes from most coaches.
It's honest with good intent,because you wanna see everybody.
(19:49):
I think it's really importantjust to evaluate the process and
what got us to that point, sowhenever there's.
Something that didn't go well.
We're gonna learn from it andwe're gonna talk about it and
we're gonna go out and try to bebetter.
And that's really what it comesdown to.
I think accountability's a bigpart of everything, and that
goes for coaches included.
Sometimes I have to look atmyself and okay, did I plan this
week the way I needed to planthis week for us to succeed
(20:10):
against, the opponent that weplayed?
What could we have done better?
What could our staff have donebetter?
But then also how do we relate,that to the athletes and
communicate with them about whatthey could have done better.
And, that ownership oneverybody's part and just being
able to have that open dialogueand open communication creates
that buy-in.
And I think that given playersthe voice and the autonomy come
into your office and, obviouslythe player's not gonna tell the
(20:32):
coach.
Way it is.
But we want their feedback, thathelps us understand them better,
and it helps us set up a systemto where we can really go
forward and make sure that eit's relatable to both sides,
yeah, I love that.
I'm gonna ask you to be asspecific as you can, but where
does the weight room.
Fit into all this now maybedifferent than it did 25 years
(20:56):
ago.
How important is the weight roomand what does that weight
training look like in yourprogram?
Yeah, that's a great question.
I'm a big believer that is soimportant from your ultimate
strength, ultimate speed, beingable to stay well balanced and
to avoid injury and things likethat.
That is probably a majorseparator.
If I look at the high level Done or even the mid-major D D
(21:18):
one.
Then look at the D three.
We don't have those resources toprovide that.
So like for us, we outsourcethat.
And then we have our playersduring our main season go into a
strength and conditioning coach.
However, we don't have thatin-house, but I believe in it,
and I always have, and I thinkit's very important.
The way athletes move.
(21:39):
The way they're trained.
All of that comes down to a veryfast twitch sport, which is what
we play.
Movements and being educatedabout your movements and things
like that in your body and beingable to function at that high
level, I think it's veryimportant to incorporate
strength and conditioningcoaches and have them help.
Outside of, the softball aspect,just the game talent level alone
(22:00):
because there's the Batten ballaspect and the fielding, and
then there's, how does thisathlete move?
Where can they get better?
Are they flexible enough?
Can they jump high enough?
Can they run fast enough?
How can we, just get them thatmuch better and how can we avoid
injury?
Because everybody's builtdifferent, especially in this
sport.
I think having strength andconditioning coaches who are
(22:21):
really clued in on their bodiesand in ways to train them, I
think is very important.
What does that look like duringthe season?
How many days a week are youlifting and what type of lifts
are they doing?
Are you benching and squatting?
Are you doing more ball work?
Are you doing more twitch work?
What's that look like just inthe middle of the season?
(22:42):
Yeah, I think in the middle ofseason it's different, you're
not gonna lift heavy, obviously.
You're not trying to max out,you're gonna use more ball,
work, more, more twitch work andthings like that.
More free movement.
But I would say that, you don'twanna lose everything that you
worked hard to get in the offseason, right?
So for us, it's two days a week.
During the season, because weplay probably three to four days
a week because our whole seasonis condensed in a very small
(23:02):
timeline.
So for us it's two times a week.
That's really what we can getin.
And then possibly three,depending on if there's a
cancellation or something in theweek.
But I always, I would never goless than two just simply
because we don't wanna loseeverything that we worked hard
to get.
What do you tell a high schoolathlete who's probably playing
79 90 games a year if she'sdoing high school and club?
(23:25):
What should she be doing to getherself ready to play in
college?
What maybe she's just hasn't puta lot of time in the weight
room.
Maybe her high school doesn't doit.
What?
What should be her mindset at 16in terms of how to start
building that relationship withthe weight room?
Again, this is where socialmedia comes into play.
(23:45):
You know what I mean?
Not everybody can afford to goout and get a strength and
conditioning coach, or noteverybody has the time, but now
you can Google or look upworkouts that are sports
specific for your position, andyou can do that, and I think
that really the main thing isutilizing your resources.
If you can go into somebody, Iknow a lot of people go to a
hitting coach.
I'd love to see high schoolersreally pay attention to their
(24:06):
defense and their athleticism aswell.
It just seems like everybody's,pitching coach, hitting coach,
pitching coach, hitting coach.
Let's talk about, where are weworking on our athleticism?
Because I've seen camps whereyou go out to camp and you're
like.
Wow.
That person can hit, but theyreally don't move well.
You know what I mean?
And those type of things whenyou're getting evaluated,
you're, it's all encompassing.
It's do you respect the peoplearound you?
(24:28):
Do you respect the game?
Are you a great teammate?
Do you hustle?
Are you gritty?
Are you able to master failurerecovery?
Do you move well in this, whenwe're watching and things like
that.
Because, softball's a toughthing when you're recruiting
softball, baseball, you mightnot get a ball.
The whole time that we'reevaluating you, so we have to
watch other things, and theseare the type of things that we
all watch, is like, how do youtreat people?
(24:49):
How do you treat your teammates?
Do you hustle?
When you don't do well, how doyou handle that?
Are you able to come back yournext at bat and be able to do
well and just move on from it?
Or do you hold on it to thewhole game?
And I just think that, if youhave the means to go out and
make sure that you'rewell-rounded.
Then you should do it.
But if you don't, like I said,utilize your resources and do
the best you can.
(25:10):
Yeah.
I tell kids all the time, you,you don't need a gym membership
or a$60 an hour trainer.
Get your butt up and do 20pushups, get your butt up and do
10 minutes of yoga.
Do you know, do 20 pullups aday, do yes, do some up downs
every single day or every otherday.
It's amazing what, how your bodycan change if you're committed
(25:31):
to just 10 minutes, 15 minutesevery other day, every day,
pushing yourself a little bitand keeping that athleticism up.
Yeah, I love that.
And that's the thing too I lovethat you tell him that, but it's
also about consistency anddiscipline.
That's right.
I just think that it's reallyeasy to say that we want to do
something or we wanna be great,but do you have the discipline
to do it every day?
Do you have the discipline?
(25:51):
And not to say that youshouldn't have a day off in the
week.
Yeah.
But the point is we can, it is,if you're gonna talk about it,
can you be about it?
That was always one of my bigthings.
If you're gonna talk about it,be about it.
So if you say something, youhave to mean it, and if you say
you wanna be great, thatrequires work and you gotta put
the work in for that.
Yeah.
And I don't wanna.
You can't scroll on your socialmedia for six hours a day and
not get up so I think foryounger athletes, making sure
(26:15):
that they have a schedule,making sure that they're
committed to it and that they'redisciplined and then, yeah, of
course you're gonna have freetime and balance, but you can't
skip your workouts and you can'tskip the, what makes you great.
You wanna sit and scroll for sixhours, yeah.
And that's, I think that's thehardest thing about social media
and about, cell phones andthings like that is, it's really
(26:36):
easy for anybody to get caughtup just sitting there looking on
their phone.
But the goal is to make sure iswhat kind of content are you
looking at and is it helpingbetter you, true.
And I think that's importanttoo, to ask yourself like, how
many hours of my day, how many,I look at.
Kobe Bryant, he always talksabout how much he strategized,
how much he trained, and hewanted to train three times more
(26:58):
than the average.
And that's what made him great.
That's your top 1% mentality.
That's the mama mentality.
With these young athletes, it'slike you gotta remind him Hey,
you have to separate yourself.
You have to go out on that fieldand do something that catches
our eye different than everybodyelse.
And.
We can see the makings of awinner.
It's pretty, it stands out, Idon't think everybody looks the
(27:18):
same on the field.
There are things that stand out.
So yeah, you have to be able toself evaluate and ask yourself,
what am I doing to stand out?
And, if I'm not doing that, whatcan I do better going forward?
I love that.
Yeah.
It's, we use the phraseexecutive function skills.
And the executive functionskills aren't a 60 hour work
(27:39):
week, it's.
It's that organization on mycalendar.
I have an alarm that goes offthat says every other day I
gotta get up and I've gotta do10 minutes of work.
If you're doing that, if you'reputting 10 minutes of work in
every day or every other day,your body's gonna change.
You're gonna be healthier.
That's, I'm healthier at 50 thanI was in my thirties because.
I'm so more consistent now.
(28:00):
I'm so much more routine nowthan I, I used to be, and not
just with working out with mydiet and, my sleep schedule and
my work schedule.
And I think if we can, if kidscan understand that, I just
gotta, I can scroll a littlebit.
I can be a mess around, but didI make my bet?
Did I get up and do my 20pushups?
Did it, did I do a do I did do afive minute sprint routine.
(28:23):
Did I get.
50 swings on a tee in my garage.
You know what I mean?
So I, those are all things Ilove that you, that's the, your
focus and what you're thinkingabout, it's just such a big part
of getting better.
Yeah, for sure.
A quality routine and just,really taking a look at, instead
of just going through your days,you have to look at it and go,
(28:44):
okay.
My days are valuable, and whatdo I wanna do with them?
And, I wanna have quality timein these areas, and things that
are really important to me.
And I think one of the thingsthat my college coach did a
great job of when we becamefreshmen is we had colored
markers.
We had a calendar hour by hour.
We had color in.
What it was that we were doing.
So we could see, okay, we're inclass at this time, we're at
(29:05):
practice at this time, and thenwe could see where our free time
was, and I thought it was justgreat way for time management
and it helped us learn like realquick Hey, okay, here's the days
we have a little free time and.
Here's the days we don't, and sothen we could manage our time a
little bit better.
And but I just think it's reallyimportant to be where your feet
are.
And if you wanna be great atsomething, have a routine, have
(29:27):
some discipline, and stayconsistent.
And it's, if you're those thingsand you're driven, you know
you're gonna be bound to succeedat whatever it is you're
shooting for.
Absolutely.
Coach, you've done so well at somany levels and you continue to
build programs and buildingprograms at the division three
level, especially when you don'thave all the resources, there's
(29:48):
gonna be fluctuation.
From year to year because youdon't have the money to go get
six great players every year.
Sometimes you get the playersyou get.
Are there non-negotiables foryou no matter what?
Are there two or three standardsthat you absolutely won't
compromise in your program?
(30:08):
Yeah, like for me, I saidattitude and effort.
You gotta give the effort.
You're not gonna come topractice and lower our
standards.
So you gotta give the efforthere and you have to have the
right attitude about it, and Iwant you to be a good person
because we all have to be aroundeach other every day, so same
thing with.
All the coaches, I demand thesame from them, is like you
gotta bring your best self togive them in a good mood, to be
(30:31):
upbeat, to give your best energyand stuff like that.
'cause we're asking them to giveus that.
So we have to be able to givethat to them as well, but
attitude and effort are anon-negotiable.
I love to see passion and energyand things like that, but I
think.
Competitive excellence.
I want'em to, I want'em tocompete.
I want'em, I look for playerswho have an edge, that when I
look at'em, like some people mayshy away some from players and
(30:53):
be like, oh, they look like theyhave an attitude.
I'm gonna run to that player.
Because sometimes I feel likethat player maybe hasn't had the
conversation to how they appearwith their body language or,
maybe they haven't heard fromsomebody.
'cause somebody's been afraid totell'em because they're such a
great athlete that they're justlike.
That's a great athlete with abad attitude.
Maybe that's not the case.
Maybe they just haven't had thatconversation.
(31:14):
Maybe they haven't been taughtthat yet, and maybe they care so
much, but they don't know how todisplay it.
Because a lot, I want theathletes that care about what
they're doing, and.
If you really do care aboutbeing great, you might show a
little attitude sometimes andthat's okay, right?
Yeah.
But you can't take it out onother people.
You can't, hold onto it thewhole game.
You may, you get your ten secondrule.
(31:35):
That's what we call it, is likeyou can be upset because you
just struck out and you wantedto do better for the team.
Sure.
That's natural and we're okaywith that, but.
You gotta hold composure, andyou have to still be able to be
about everybody else and thingslike that.
And you're only one part, likein a game, there's so many
sequences, right?
(31:55):
And.
We're building on the sequencesas the whole game goes on.
And so what we can't have issomebody has a bad sequence and
all of a sudden it tankseverybody else for two innings
because everybody's payingattention to them.
But if we teach them thosethings and we get them to
understand about being a teamplayer, but understanding that
we are okay with them beingpassionate nowadays, everybody's
(32:16):
oh, they flipped the bat.
That's unacceptable.
And things like that.
So people will have theiropinions and that's okay.
For me, I like to see a littlepassion and fire.
I love it.
Me too.
I wanna see it.
And if I see passion, I'mprobably gravitating towards it,
yeah.
As long as it's handled theright way.
Yeah.
We often end up recruitingourself too, right?
Yeah.
(32:37):
We know what we like and Yeah.
You mentioned your staff andwhat you expect from your staff.
How are you using your staffdifferently today than you did
maybe 20 years ago?
I think change.
I think, again, I mean for me,the turnover rate at division
three, we don't have anyfull-time assistants.
I only have a grad assistant andthen a stipend coach.
(32:59):
I think that a lot of otherteams are in that same.
Predicament when you're at the Dthree level, however given'em
ownership of what they're greatat, I think that's really
important because a lot of timesas a head coach you can find
yourself being too controllingover everything.
And I think when you go out andyou hire people to be on your
staff or you choose people to beon your staff, they're, they
(33:20):
have their strengths, right?
And so we wanna utilize thosestrengths in the big picture of
what we're doing.
And, for everybody that'sdifferent, like somebody might
be.
Really personable and a greathitting coach.
The other person may be not aspersonal, but really organized
and does really good onone-on-one conversation or does
really good with creating drillsor whatever.
So really just utilizing thestrengths of everybody on staff
(33:42):
I think that's really important.
And then identifying roles andresponsibilities is also very
important.
But, I try to choose people thatare still going to challenge me
and then that are gonna berelatable to the players and
that can make the players thebest.
Because, the other thing thathappens as you get older as a
head coach, there's a little bitof separation, from the time
(34:03):
that you played and how theyview you.
Although I do love it'cause Iget to stay young because I'm
around young people all thetime.
Yes.
So me too.
Yeah.
I love that.
I have a lot of fun with it.
I enjoy being around people ofall ages, but I notice there can
be a gap the older you get.
Making sure that you havesomebody that's just relatable
to them and able to communicateand loyalty's a big deal.
I think when you're a head coachand on a coaching staff, you
(34:26):
want people who are loyal, butyou also want people in the room
who can challenge you and say,Hey, coach, I, this is a great
idea.
However, I think that maybe thisis what the players need right
now, and they speak up for them,and you can't be in a position
where you can't hear it.
You know what I mean?
So I think as you evolve, you'relike, no, I want all this
feedback, and then I get to makethe best executive decision
based on all the feedback that'sin front of me, so again, I
(34:49):
think everybody's voice matters.
And taking that time with yourstaff just as much as you take
time with your players is reallyimportant.
Being able to kind of functionon the same page because the
leadership, whoever's at thetop, it trickles down.
And I look at it like everybodyon staff is leading the charge,
so we have to be inclusive andreally just let people do the
(35:12):
parts that they're great at andgive them ownership.
Yeah, I think that gets lostsometimes that.
Loyalty and having anindependent voice can work
together.
They can be hand in hand.
You can be loyal and stillchallenge your head coach and
still say, Hey, I really feelthis loyal.
The loyalty part is when coachsays, no, we're gonna go in a
(35:33):
different direction, or, this iswhy I, we're gonna do something
different.
You're still loyal and you'restill, yeah.
Okay, coach.
There's, you have to be able tospeak up and we have a lot of
young assistants.
We have a lot of high schoolcoaches that listen to this.
So I love that perspectivebecause it's so important.
You're not just building a team,you're building a program, and
that starts with assistantcoaches, even if it's a
(35:54):
22-year-old GA and a, and anassistant coach that comes in
and works with your catchers orworks with your pitchers.
Like we often get at thedivision three level.
That needs to be there.
You need to be able tochallenge, you need to be able
to speak up, but loyalty's apart of that as well.
For sure.
And you're right.
They can go hand in hand.
We don't always have to agree.
Sometimes we can agree todisagree.
(36:15):
It's always about.
Not what you say, but how yousay it.
And I think creating that mutualrespect between, yourself and
the assistant coaches so thatthey feel comfortable in saying
things so that you can get thefull scope of the information is
really important.
You know that mutual respect, ifit's there and the
relationship's there and youprovide that comfortability, it
can happen.
And I do think that's important.
(36:36):
It's also the humility of thatyou get as you grow to be the
head coach, and that was that.
It's a great transition to, mylast question for you is, when
you look back at your22-year-old self, what advice
would you give her?
As I know you had yourprofessional career after that
for a few years.
What advice would you give youryounger self when you, before
(36:58):
you started that journey, ifyou'd go back and talk to her?
Oh, wow.
That's a tough one.
But I really just, it reallyjust comes down to I was really
hard on myself.
So given the best that you haveon any given day is all that
anybody can ask for you, and ifyou're given your best, then
you've done your job.
(37:18):
And I think now looking back,handling failure, recovery
would've been a big thing forme.
I would get very upset if Iwasn't good at something or,
didn't play the best.
And I have to realize now thatthere's quality of bats.
There's seeing extra pitches andmaking the pitcher work hard and
there's give, passing the bat toyour teammate because it's their
moment now.
(37:39):
You know what I mean?
And sometimes it's gonna be yourmoment, sometimes it's gonna be
their moment.
But the biggest thing I would dois just have a better
understanding that, you know,hey, if you're working hard and
you're giving your best, thenyou're doing everything that you
can.
Then, you can feel good aboutyourself and you can lay your
head down and be like, Hey, Igave everything I had today.
Maybe today wasn't my day, butI'm gonna wake up tomorrow
morning and I'm gonna get afterit again.
(37:59):
I think that handling failureand adversity, we're gonna have
it in life.
Nobody's running from that.
Nobody's getting out of that.
But it's how you're able tobounce back.
And, I always say that the flooris no place for a champion.
And, with all this, I also wannasay that, a lot of people say
that moms don't take coachingjobs because they have to be
(38:19):
moms.
I've always been a mom and.
Always made it work.
And it was the best thing tobring my son up around athletes
and in an athletic environmentat the collegiate level.
It was a great space.
And so I just wanna say, do notshy away from that if you are a
mom or somebody that has afamily, because that's what can
(38:40):
make you great too, is just,like I said, I, being around my
son, seeing how he operated,he's a tremendous athlete, and
I'm very proud of him.
But.
When you're, when you care forpeople and you have that
instinct and that empathy andthings like that, it can also
help you evolve as a coach.
So don't shy away from it ifyou're a female or a mom,
because we need people like you.
(39:01):
Yeah.
And you've done it.
And I think that's what theother thing I would say is, we
are a culmination of all of ourexperiences, and.
I look at it and go, wow.
How blessed am I to have so manycool experiences and things like
that, but there's really nothingwhen I coach now that.
I haven't ran into, or thathasn't happened to me.
It makes you very relatable,which is great for the athletes
(39:22):
today.
And that's what they want.
They wanna be relatable, theywanna know you care, but they
also want the knowledge.
They're driven, they want thatavenue of Hey, you know what,
how can I be the best version ofmyself, but also be this great
athlete and do the best thingsbecause they're putting time in,
and they wanna be great.
And so I think it's cool ifwe're prepared, organized.
(39:43):
We're able to guide them andjust be a part of it all.
I love it.
I love it.
And I'm a big proponent of ittoo.
You can go back and I got awhole slew of podcasts with a
bunch of moms that are Hall ofFame coaches like you and Great,
we're great athletes.
Continue to coach and I was incorporate America for a little
bit and I always talked to thebosses.
I was like, we need to hire moremoms.
They're relatable.
(40:04):
They know how to juggle 16things at a time.
They know how to adapt.
We don't have any of that.
We have a bunch of 24 year oldsthat, when something doesn't go
right or more work's put ontheir plate, they give up and
they quit.
I'm all for you.
I think parenting changed me asa coach.
Having my own kids and I was ahead coach for 12 years before
we had a child.
And I, these last 15 years, I'vejust been a different coach.
(40:27):
I've been a different personbecause of the humility that
comes with being a parent.
For sure.
Yeah.
It makes you better all the wayaround, I always say it's the
greatest gift you could ever askfor is being a parent, and, then
we also get to be like that stepin person for everybody
transforming their lives whenthey're, that transition from
leaving home.
(40:48):
And it's an honor, it's an honorto be in that position.
So do all coaches, I knowthey're doing a great job with
great intentions and I alwayshold myself to that standard
too, of like.
How would you want your ownchild treated in this situation?
You know what I mean?
So if you can do that, and youcan look at everybody like, Hey,
this is somebody that you knowis somebody's kid.
(41:09):
And we're parents, so we knowwe'd want our kid handled a
certain way.
But also there is tough loveinvolved.
Sometimes there's adversity,there's things they gotta get
through.
But you know what, that's whatmakes'em better.
Everything's not going to beeasy all the time.
Yep.
Yep.
I agree.
And that's a part of that makescollege athletics so great.
As a coach we get to be a partof that journey and for sure
(41:32):
help'em get through a lot ofthose things that are really
hard.
So that's great.
Coach.
I wanna do some rapid fire withyou.
Just some fun stuff.
Okay.
Get to know you a little bitbetter.
You ready for some funquestions?
I think so.
I don't know.
I don't know about rapid fire,but we'll go for it.
You'll be great at these.
All right.
Morning practice or afternoonpractice.
Afternoon.
(41:53):
Favorite drill that your playerslove to hate?
Do you have a drill that theyhate, but you love it?
21.
21.
All right.
Tell real quick, what's 21?
I think I know what it is, but Iwanna hear it from you.
Yeah.
We have to get 21 out perfectlyon defense.
Okay.
If you don't, you start over atzero.
Yeah.
So the reason why they hate thatis I'm a serious critic when it
comes to you have to be in yourbackup.
(42:14):
The throw has to be perfect.
Everything has to be.
I love it.
All right.
I did the same thing we had.
There's 21 out in the game, sowe're trying to get'em all as
quick as we can.
Yeah, that's right.
We called it the Warrior drill.
I love it.
Best softball stadium you'veever played or coached in?
I have to say Oklahoma.
Oklahoma?
Yeah.
It's a pretty good one.
If you weren't coachingsoftball, what would you be
(42:34):
doing?
I'd probably be a sportspsychologist.
Or a life coach, I could seethat you'd be really good at
both of those.
Thanks.
Pre-game, playlist, hip hop,country, or rock?
Ooh, I'd have to go for acombination.
All of'em.
Okay.
All right.
You gotta see I'm been diversein my selection.
I like a little bit ofeverything.
I do too.
Yeah.
Is there a favorite in there?
(42:54):
You got a favorite group?
Band, singer, artist.
I like everybody, honestly.
You can go to one concert forthe rest of your life, who are
you going to?
I'm going to Beyonce.
Okay.
All right.
All right.
The B, you can't beat the B.
All right.
Favorite?
As of right now, if you asked me10 years ago, I probably
would've gave you a differentanswer.
(43:14):
You know what I mean?
What was 10 years ago?
I'm interested.
Right now you're looking atBeyonce and I'm like, that's a
concert I really want to go to.
You know what I mean?
Yeah.
But I've loved so many.
I love Whitney Houston,obviously, yeah.
Any country artist, gosh, Idon't even know which one would
be my favorite one.
'cause I do like country music alot.
Yeah.
I don't even know who would bemy favorite, but okay, we gotta
(43:36):
move on that.
That's my wife too, city girl.
She's Asian, she's a city girland she loves country music.
Something's not right.
But yeah, she loves it.
No, I do love country.
I'm in a suburb.
Everybody, even though we're aChicago suburb.
Yeah.
I love country.
I grew up in the country, soYeah.
Country music is very relaxingto me.
Yeah.
You grew up in the quad citiessurrounded by corn and cows and
(43:57):
That's right.
Yes.
Yeah.
Favorite post-game meal?
Post game.
I would say chicken alfredo ortacos like it.
One word your players would useto describe you.
Passionate of course.
Or competitive.
(44:18):
I don't know.
It could be competitive too.
'cause everybody knows I'm,everything's a competition.
I could see that.
Yeah.
Sliding head first or feet?
First.
Head first.
Yeah.
There's nothing better grabbingthe bag at third head first.
It's a smaller target, yeah.
That hand in there.
Yeah.
I feel like you have, you canadapt better too.
(44:39):
Wherever the throw may be.
If you're going head first, youcan adjust your body.
You can switch hands.
Yeah.
True.
However, I will say a nice popupslide looks really cool.
Sometimes it does.
And there's some people likeTrey Turner that do it like
they've been, like they're onglass.
Yes, I know.
I saw that on Instagram orsomething, I believe, and I was
like, wow, smooth.
(45:00):
I got two more.
I said last one.
I'm gonna do two more for you.
Walk off hit or game savingdefensive play.
Walk off home run, you mean?
Sure.
Yeah.
If it's a walk off home run.
Okay, we'll take that.
Otherwise, I like the defensiveplay.
And final one, dream vacationspot.
'cause you know I'm going onvacation next week, so I want to
hear yours.
Earth and Caicos.
(45:21):
You and my kids.
My kids love Turks and Caicos.
They would go every year if thatwas, if we left.
I've never been, I really wantto, oh, you gotta go and do the
love buggy tour when you go.
Okay.
They've got these little carsthat two people fit in and it's
a tour and they take you all theway around the island and it's
so much fun.
Coach.
Thanks for doing this.
(45:41):
It was awesome.
I can't wait to talk recruitingwith you, but you were
fantastic.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for having me.
That's a wrap on another greatconversation with another great
coach.
Coach.
Venus Taylor's journey is amasterclass in leadership and
longevity from winning a juniorcollege division one national
championship in her very firstyear at Lake City Community
(46:03):
College to leading programs atthe division one level to her
ongoing work with AthletesUnlimited softball league and
Major League baseball.
She's not just building teams.
She's helping shape the futureof softball.
What stood out to me is how sheblends her experiences as a
professional athlete, a collegecoach, and a mom into a
(46:23):
leadership style that demandsexcellence, but also invests
deeply into her players aspeople.
She's proof that the bestcoaches don't just prepare their
athletes for the next game.
They prepare them for life.
If you enjoyed today'sconversation with Coach Taylor,
make sure you come back onMonday for part two where we'll
break down college recruitingthe opportunities at every
(46:44):
level, and how to find the rightfit for your journey.
You can find more significantcoaching conversations.
Along with my weekly blog andresources for
leaders@coachmattrogers.com andbe sure to share this episode
with another coach or parent whocould benefit from it.
Until next time, keep working tobe the best version of yourself
while leading with significance.
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