Interview with Coach Austin Alexander

What gets a player into YOUR school?

Austin:Our academic standards are very solid, we cannot get a bare minimum qualifier in (2.5 GPA, 820 SAT). Most of our players have at least a 3.0 core GPA and 1050 on the SAT. Academic money does not start until 3.5 and 1150.

 

How and when do YOU prioritize your short list?

Austin:My short list for 2004 graduates, while always growing, has been organized since November and I am presently trying to identify junior college freshmen. I do so by attending as many games and showcases as possible and when I feel I have enough info to sit down and sift through it, I put together my hit list.

 

What is your over-all coaching philosophy?

Austin:While it sounds cliché, I hope anyone who knows me agrees that I put the kid first, his life, his development and our relationship. Secondly, WIN! I want to win championships with people I care about, what could be better!!

 

What is your advice to players that are HS Sophomores this year?

Austin:Work hard (heard that before?), seek quality instruction to understand the fundamentals of the game, play the game with the respect it deserves and play at the highest level made available to you.

 

Should a high school sophomore know what schools he should be looking at?

Austin:He doesn’t, he’s still too young to be concerned with that. As mentioned earlier, follow college baseball but do not worry about it, just keep playing the game and honing your skills.

 

Do you do more scouting at American Legion games or weekend "showcases?"

Austin:The summer showcases and large tournaments are now the way to go for me. I hate saying it because I love American Legion baseball and in some areas of North Carolina it is still a big deal, but for my time and money, one game in a night down a lonely two-lane road doesn’t make much sense anymore. I know that is not a popular answer to many but it’s our reality now. If I do my homework correctly, I can see hundreds of players perform several times each in a weekend without having to leave the grandstand. Sometimes it’s more productive to work smarter and cheaper!

 

What is the normal class load for a player during the spring semester?

Austin:All of our underclassman take the minimum twelve hour class load in the spring. Some seniors may take more credits to stay on track to graduate in May but generally guys take the heavier course load in the fall.

 

Summer Ball versus Summer School?

Do players attend college summer sessions to keep up grades and credit hours, or are they encouraged to play in a summer league instead?

Austin:We certainly encourage our players to play summer ball unless it is a pitcher who has logged a pile of innings for us in the spring, we don’t want to risk his overuse. In fact, we place them ourselves into wooden-bat leagues that may be close to their homes and will be challenging for them. Some of our guys plan to take summer courses at schools close to the team they play for in the mornings during the week. The only reason a player should have to take summer classes is if he is not doing what he’s supposed to academically during the school year; if he falls behind in school, he may lose valuable time on the diamond.

 

Is there a minimum college GPA for a player to remain eligible for sports?

Austin:The NCAA does have guidelines for eligibility from year to year but many institutions hold their athletes to tougher standards by enforcing more stringent guidelines from year to year and/or even one semester to the next. Each athlete should understand what the policies are where he/she goes to school.

 

Practice Load question?

During the Fall and Spring semesters, how many hours per week are required by the coaches for conditioning, practice, games, etc?

Austin:The NCAA requires at least one day off per week from any activity or instruction with players and only allows 20 hours on the field in the remaining six days. It’s my belief that 20 hours a week is enough, I feel if coaches are exceeding that time frame they are either working with inferior talent or have no practice organization skills. It should not be difficult to map out a week’s practice and execute it in less than 20 hours, all the while preparing a successful product.