Lady Shocks SB at Aggie Classic

[Quick Pitch]

How many times have we seen softball programs hire very young female assistants because they had a good college career and they thought that they could relate to the young players? Then they turn out to be a bust?
Players don't need a coach to relate to them, they need discipline and development.

[luvthoseshox]

I wonder if they are looking at Syndee Eck out at Andale. She had enough of the Mustang crap and quit and I don't believe is playing any summer ball anywhere. She is a pretty good pitcher and since she isn't affiliated with the Mustangs anymore (that I know of) may be a possibility?

[flyingMoose]

I wonder if they are looking at Sydnee Eck out at Andale.

I saw her once last year and was reasonably impressed. That day, she was hitting hit her spots until the cows came home - frankly, not a strong point of the current staff. Does she has enough pace or ball movement? No real idea. And again, I am working off a sample of one. Oh, and I think this is her junior year?

[Quick Pitch]

Oops, poops, whips and dips, the only stat that means anything is wins/losses. Some do it ugly and keep you on the edge of your seat, but they find a way to get it done. Somebody on our staff better figure out a way pretty soon because conference play is just around the corner.

Some people are math majors - some people are English/arts majors ("Nothing to see here; move along.") So it goes. (And you probably know the American novel that phrase is from.)

FM, I thought you were quoting one of the Naked Gun movies

[flyingMoose]

Oops, poops, whips and dips, the only stat that means anything is wins/losses. Some do it ugly and keep you on the edge of your seat, but they find a way to get it done. Somebody on our staff better figure out a way pretty soon because conference play is just around the corner.

Some people are math majors - some people are English/arts majors ("Nothing to see here; move along.") So it goes. (And you probably know the American novel that phrase is from.)

FM, I thought you were quoting one of the Naked Gun movies

I was. The "so it goes" is from the novel. My punctuation needs work probably.

[1B29]

Program needs experienced coaches with years of recruiting knowledge. Experienced coaches with possible College World Series and winning tradition or background. Possible professional playing and coaching experience. A teaching coach that can get the girls better. A top notch assistant possibly out of the Big 12, Pac 10, or SEC that knows what it takes to win.

[1972Shocker]

Program needs experienced coaches with years of recruiting knowledge. ... A teaching coach that can get the girls better. A top notch assistant possibly out of the Big 12, Pac 10, or SEC that knows what it takes to win.

Tim Walton was an OU assitant for 3 or 4 years at OU.

That formula did work well with our Volleyball program also. Lambo absolutely loves the teaching aspect of his job. He once said that the biggets problem with matches is that they get in the way of his teaching and training his players.

Of course, Volleyball is a much more team-oriented sport than softball. The #1 need for a softball program is pitching. The #2 need is also pitching.

[flyingMoose]

Program needs experienced coaches with years of recruiting knowledge. ... A teaching coach that can get the girls better. A top notch assistant possibly out of the Big 12, Pac 10, or SEC that knows what it takes to win.

Tim Walton was an OU assistant for 3 or 4 years at OU.

That formula did work well with our Volleyball program also. Lambo absolutely loves the teaching aspect of his job. He once said that the biggest problem with matches is that they get in the way of his teaching and training his players.

Of course, Volleyball is a much more team-oriented sport than softball. The #1 need for a softball program is pitching. The #2 need is also pitching.

You forgot the #3 need .. pitching. :)

Cindy Bristow coached here a few years and met many of the 1B's criteria. She recruited the pitcher (Patty Bautista - she is in the mural inside Koch) that eventually pitched the team to a conference tournament championship in '89(?), the only other Wichita State team other than one of Tim Walton's to make the NCAA tournament.

But other than those two, I am not aware of *any* coach of *any* Valley program that met many of 1B's criteria (though there possibly are some). The types that he suggests would be exactly like Tim Walton who was going to coach here four or five years maximum and if he did not get an opportunity to move to a major program was going to hang it up and pursue some other career. He had no intention of being Brent Vigness of Creighton who has been there eighteen years, took the job at Wisconsin, and then gave it back the next day.

[Quick Pitch]

There is a lot of season left and an opportunity for Pooch to turn this thing around. Lets hope he does.
I think that one reason he has his back to the wall right now is that from the time he first came to WSU, he has always hired very young and inexpierenced assistants.

[WuDrWu]

There is a lot of season left and an opportunity for Pooch to turn this thing around. Lets hope he does.
I think that one reason he has his back to the wall right now is that from the time he first came to WSU, he has always hired very young and inexpierenced assistants.

I don't know.....I don't think anyone could coach their way out of this mess.

[flyingMoose]

I think that one reason he has his back to the wall right now is that from the time he first came to WSU, he has always hired very young and inexperienced assistants.

I agree early on, but I think the assistants he has now, Coaches Amber and Margo, are good additions to the staff.

[1B29]

Moose, there are ones out there that meet the criteria. Regardless of what happens the rest of the season it will have to be a major turnaround. Even at that it is a three year deal to compete here. It is like the old Zenith commercial: Quality will have to go in before the WSU name will come out. A thought for you Moose. Some head coaches are scared to hire quality assistants. If you know what I mean.

[flyingMoose]

Moose, there are ones out there that meet the criteria.

Oh, I absolutely agree. It just seems the Valley does not have a great track record attracting them. And then if they are any good, (I think) they will be gone shortly. I know we can cite Lambo staying here, but I think he is clearly an aberration in this regard.

... it will have to be a major turnaround. Even at that it is a three year deal to compete here.

Tim Walton: 3rd, 5th, 2nd in his three years here. Sound about right. And gone shortly.

Some head coaches are scared to hire quality assistants. If you know what I mean.

Yes I do, but I do not think this is the case here. No, the current assistants did not come from the kinds of programs you have mentioned, but each of them (in my opinion) has been an improvement over those they replaced. To me, the unknown factor is how attractive (career path, pay, others) is being an assistant in the Valley.

[whatevershock]

I do believe that you aren't going to get high quality assistant coaches to come coach in the Valley. If you are an asst. in the Big 12, Pac 10, etc., you are going to be looking for a head job in the Valley, not an assistant job. Or, if you are in those big conferences, you are going to look to stay in those big conferences. You get what you pay for. If you aren't going to pay big bucks for quality asst. coaches, then you are going to get assistants from the smaller conferences or within the Valley. This program has NEVER been at the top consistantly. Even Walton didn't keep it there for long. He went to one NCAA Tournament and we are comparing Pooch to him. Why? No one has really gotten this program to the top. And, if someone does...they will be gone quickly.

[Quick Pitch]

I think it depends on the age of the coach as to how long they would stay. Someone young would certainly want to use this as a stepping stone. Everyone knew that Walton was not here for the long haul.