97 - Mitch Thompson: McLennan CC (TX)

Bio

• Current HC of McLennan CC, and national COY for D1 JUCO
• 2021 D1 JUCO national champions
• In 9 seasons he is 322-125 (.720) record, including a 168-64 (.724) conference mark
•  three conference championships, three regional championships, a second-place finish at the 2015 JUCO World Series, and the 2021 NJCAA Division I Baseball National Championship
• 16 MLB Draft picks including the top NJCAA MLB Draft Pick in America in three of the last four years
• 3 consecutive years being ranked number 1 in NJCAA polls in some point of season
• 108 players went on to play at four- year universities with 87 advancing to play at the NCAA Division 1 level of competition.
• Baylor University (1995-2012) as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator
  • three Big 12 Conference titles, 12 NCAA Regional appearances, three Super Regional appearances and the 2005 College World Series.
• Former Auburn AC under Hal Baird and made a WS appearance (1994)
• Former Mississippi St GA, AC, and director of baseball ops under Ron Polk, making a WS appearance (1990)
• Constant winner 
• Loved by many

Notes

• We really want the kids to know we care about them more than just baseball players
• Its more than just baseball with us
• Surround yourself with great people
• Pour into your players 
• Challenge of juco with only 1 or 2 years
• Culture built every year -you will lose nearly half your team
• Creating the idea we are trying to be excellent and what it means to grow up
• Serving each other is big
• Look for ways to encourage your teammate and encourage their efforts
• Hold each other accountable - get to class, serve the team,
• If we ask the player to serve each other we need to serve our players!!
• No one is more important than the team
• The only way for us to keep them here is that they love it here and we make it a great experience***
• Juco allows for draft eligibility and still get a shot for their dream school
• We expect that kid to make those base running plays but we don’t find ways to practice it often
  • Helps hold kids accountable
• This is my year 32, this is my players year number 1 *****
• I want performance
• Approach is all about swinging at strikes and taking balls, pitch recognition
• Help guys learn what they do well
• Create ways for hitters to feel offensive! Have an approach of how to attack the pitcher
• I don’t want my 9 hole guy to have the same approach as my 4 hole guy
• Group hitters in their BP groups to work on what they need, and who they are
• Get guys to be honest with themselves
• Trust who you are and do what you do! BE YOU!!!
• Get them to do what they do well, and maximize it for the team
• Keep on the players
• Set up situational BP
• Its a mentality 
• Control their emotions or their emotions will control them! I got to keep working on it too!!!
• Breath!! Stick with the process
• Great players - incredibly hardworking, passion to improve, know where they are going, knew who they were, and not concerned with others
• Bring in guys with great competitors with great mentality you are going to win!
• Do they love it or not? I don’t want to kick you to work hard
• Seeing guys that have passion and are good teammates
• Talent is not enough
• Are you shaving everyday? How big are your feet? Catch them before they have a lot room to grow
• Do they have more left in the tank?
• You want to look young in the recruiting world, dream on me that I still have a lot left in the tank!
• I want these players to tell my daughters they loved me!!
• Mthompson@mclennan.edu
• Twitter - @mthompy25