Former pitching coach and associate head coach at Mississippi State College
Coach Thompson has turned 31 pitchers who went undrafted out of high school into MLB draft picks, including the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, Casey Mize.
2006 Fellowship of Christian Athletes SEC Coach of the Year
2014 Baseball America and American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year
serves as the large-school representative for the Alabama Baseball Coaches Association, and is the All-American committee member representing the South region for the ABCA.
Servant leader who is a mentor to many.
Just an incredible person
Show Notes
Pitchers pitch 2 out 3 phases, big rest on the 3rd phase
Start on yourself before helping others (put your mask on first when they fall)
Ethos (their character) to build up
Bring in speakers to help build guys up
3 new words after listening to the speakers
Confidence -
Committed -
Unified -
Book studies
Attack, Legacy, Vision
Attack - offensive, be our default
Legacy -
Vision -
Legacy by James Kerr
Change while you are on top to avoid decline and extend growth
Evaluate yourself as a coach when your player no longer needs you after they leave you!
Ask why, so the players own it and empower the players.
Experience has taught me that I did not give them enough skills to be their best coach
This has taught us balance, and perspective on what really matters. Good time to pause and reflect
Do as good a job with a balance and perspective as possible
Went to see Chad Bradford to learn about submarine pitching
Peacock feathers of a pitching staff (all different arm angles)
Same ratio between arm and shoulder/elbow, it is just a bend at the waist (hinge)
Do a ton or core and stability because you go to weaker position (bent over)
Stay down and stay in it
Body organizes itself
Back spike in the ground, no weight in the toe
Have a plan to get the opposite hitter out!
Not always mechanical, but sometimes just pitch sequence (change up after a slider)
Autograph a piece of paper 50 times and you can’t sign your name the same twice
Repeatable mechanics are not obtainable
I’ve had success in a certain flaw so I will pair and look for that.
The mind is the most important tool
Overboard on mechanics and takes away from developing the mind (BALANCE)
Mechanics improve by working your guts out
You take a big step when you pitch who you are! (IDENTITY)
Your working to get to auto pilot (no thought)
It is important but if it dominates your thought you can never get to that autopilot moment
Know where you are trying to get to. Where the AHA land is!
My focus is on taking off yourself, and focusing on taking away from the hitter
Video behind them to show what really matters. Let’s go find your game!