TBR Interview- Don Hutchins, South Charlotte Panthers

Don Hutchins is a unique man. In an environment known for highly visible people that use their visibility to attract attention of the high caliber baseball players; Don, by choice, intentionally flies under the radar. All of the people I know that are associated with Showcase baseball share one thing in common: They love the game and they love the relationships built with their players. But Coach Hutchins is separated by one distinct difference—this is not a business for him.

While many successful businessmen will treat themselves to toys (fancy cars, boats, palatial palaces), Coach Hutchins sole hobby is the South Charlotte Panthers. This is his passion. He sets a standard with his players that combine athletic talent, while insisting on being ambassadors to the game and the team they represent.

Don, in typical fashion, was reluctant to do this interview. He wanted to continue to “fly under the radar” and to not attract attention to himself. But I felt with the visibility of his program and the success they have obtained, he should give future players, parents and members a taste of who he is and what he is about. I know, after reading this interview, people will understand how fortunate we are to have him influence our kids.

 

TELL US YOUR BACKGROUND

HIGH SCHOOL
Hooper Academy; Montgomery, Alabama
Football, Basketball, Baseball and Track.

COLLEGE
Lurleen Wallace Junior College; Andalusia, AL (1YR) In those days freshman could not play varsity so colleges farmed you out to jucos.
Auburn University; Auburn, AL (3YR) SEC Champions; College World Series.
Auburn University; Auburn, AL (1YR) Graduate Assistant

WHEN DID THE PANTHERS START
2000 – Started as the Pineville Panthers as an 11U AAU travel team
2002 – Changed name to the South Charlotte Panthers; I took over from the founding coaches.
2004 – 15U AAU North Carolina State Champions and National AAU Runner Up.
2005 – Transitioned from AAU/USSA travel to Showcase and National Tourney travel.
Placed third in the Perfect Game World Wood Bat 16U
2007 – Initiated a second team; 2009 grads/16U
Perfect Game World Wood Bat 16U – Third Place
USA Junior Olympics 16U – Third Place
Perfect Game World Wood Bat 18U – Runner Up
2008 – Two teams. 2009/17U and 2010/16U

From our initial 2007 team there are 14 players currently playing in college and 1 playing professionally.


BIGGEST CHANGES IN SHOWCASE SINCE INCEPTION


I define Showcase in three forms.

1. Team events held primarily at college venues; usually over a weekend period. Teams play 3 to 4 games with no end result. Competition is solid. Teams will be from 16U to 18U. Light to good attendance by college coaches and scouts.
2. National and regional team events with an end result (Tournament Winner). Large number of national teams in attendance. Events are a specific age and or grade level with a few teams playing up. There will be large numbers of colleges and scouts in attendance. The top teams and players are in attendance.
3. Individual showcase events where an individual player attends and generally goes through a pro style workout followed by games. College camps are similar with the exception there is generally instruction included.

Some of the changes I have seen.

1. Increasing number of each type of event each year.
2. More team’s participating – In the Carolinas it is a gradual increase. Nationally we are seeing a good many more teams especially from the Northeast and Midwest. Interestingly teams are decreasing in Florida in their efforts to get more competitive.
3. Teams and players from across the USA are catching up with the historically strong areas Florida, California, Texas and Georgia. Carolina teams and players are even ahead of this dynamic and are being considered by many to have risen to the top status already.
4. There have always been a few teams made up of high profile national players such as the Braves Scout Team, Midland Indians and East Cobb Astros. There are starting to be more of these national based teams participating in the major national events, many initiated by the MLB clubs.
5. Needless to say it is getting more expensive to attend and travel to these events.
6. The greatest change is in the number of individual events. A family can spend themselves under the poor house attending all of the individual showcases and camps available. I believe selected attendance is prudent based on an individual player’s goals and objectives but that there be a specific end result to attending any individual events.

 

HOW DO THE PANTHERS SELECT PLAYERS

Our initial 2007 team was a continuation of the original team formed in 2000 with some player additions through the years.

With our new teams we have held invited try outs in the late fall to select players. We have sourced players through coaches recommendations, attending a ton of high school games and players referred to us.

We generally have stayed within a 100 mile radius of Charlotte due to the fact we practice aggressively when not playing.

Once a team is selected we do not conduct try outs again unless to fill specific openings in subsequent years.

WHAT DO I ATTRIBUTE TO THE PANTHERS SUCCESS

We have been able to identify young men who are talented and build on that talent through practice, competing at the top levels nationally and setting specific individual and team goals.

I have been lucky to have as a resource an extremely talented group of coaches and instructors who have put in many man hours to help raise our individual player’s skill levels.

Our goal is to run our program along the lines of a college level program in relation to focus on academics (minimum standards to play); health and nutrition; weight and speed training; objective based practices; travel; character and discipline as well as results oriented competition.

EVOLUTION OF SHOWCASE

First and foremost I believe all opportunities to play baseball are good whether it be Showcase; Legion; high school summer league; rec league or sandlot. Each has its place and it is the individual player’s and family’s decision on what is best for them.

I believe Legion is and should remain a viable option for high school age players. I personally would like to see Legion teams have the flexibility to enter a few showcase events and schedule more individual games with travel teams. The SC Panthers scheduled games with a NC Legion team last summer and while in Puerto Rico played the Legion representative to the Regionals; both good competition.

We support our players participating in multiple sports in school and have found that the Rob Morris (Ryan) model of Legion in summer and showcase in fall also gives us a strong pool of talent to fill any fall attrition.

In relation to Showcase, I believe there will be a slight increase in the number of travel teams and a subsequent increase in the number of events. Cost to participate and travel will continue to escalate.

Right or wrong I believe there is becoming more of a separation of the stronger travel programs. Many events are becoming invitational only and that will likely increase. It will look initially to be exclusion, but I feel any program/team that proves itself will gain those chances to receive invites. The SC Panthers tried to enter one particular invitation only showcase the past three years and were declined each year. Our attitude was not to get angry but to get better and we would get an invite; this year we did.
One of the driving forces behind my continuing the Panthers beyond the original 2007 team was a realization we had built up a pretty good product and reputation. That status will help be a bridge for subsequent Panther teams to gain access to the top invitational and national events. Each team will still have to stand on it’s own to keep that status in play but without the preceding teams it would be much harder.

I feel that hurdle alone will limit the number of start up travel teams. Right or wrong a coach could put together the best team on paper in the state today and it would take a few years of paying your dues to gain access to some of the premier events. Cost will also keep the number of teams down.

 

QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF NC PLAYERS

Without a question there are an increasing number of advanced level players in the Carolinas today and at an earlier age than five years ago. In my opinion the bar is rising every year: In spite of the push back from administrations, high school programs are raising the bar; travel programs are raising it as well. By the way, in my opinion do not push your son into travel ball before he is 13, play rec near home, save your money; maybe take your all star team to an event to get the juices flowing. If you have to spend money, spend it at one of the many baseball centers to teach fundamentals and proper mechanics.

Back on track; anyone who has followed college baseball in the Carolinas knows that the ratio of Carolina raised players is increasing yearly. Preaching to the choir, but Carolina talent is getting it done at the college level; we are becoming a hot spot for talent and I believe it will get stronger.

SC PANTHERS FUTURE

At this point in time our plan is to continue to field two teams. I believe there is a natural separation (maturity; high school varsity; college identification, showcase versus AAU) from 15U to 16U and we will continue to field a new 16U/sophomore grade level team that will be put together after the fall season and a continuance of the prior year’s team; a 17U/junior grade level.
Our goal is to continue to be on the leading edge of competitive baseball in these age levels on a national level.

PUERTO RICO TRIPS

The trip to Puerto Rico was a fantastic event for our 2007 and 2009 teams. It evolved from a relationship we have developed with the principals of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. The trip was an opportunity for our players to experience a different culture, language and world bridged by baseball. We played in two different areas of the country and also had the opportunity to enjoy and experience some of country’s sites and recreation.

The Puerto Ricans have a passion for the game that we cannot imagine and I felt it was a chance to expose our players to that baseball culture. One team we played on a hot dusty day were disappointed when we packed up to leave after only a triple-header. We hope to expand on the relationship in the future and look forward to continuing to promote a bond between the USA and PR.

Go figure the first team we played last fall in the World Wood Bat in Jupiter was the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. We tied 0-0 in a feature game Thursday night with about 200 scouts in attendance. Does not get much better than that.


Thanks for all you and the administrators of TBR do for baseball in the Carolinas. It is a great source of good positive information on players and teams in our state.

 

Coach Don, most importantly thanks for all you do to set an example for our young men. One cannot imagine how important it is for a parent to know that the organization they have entrusted their son to is like an extension of their own family. Add to that the opportunity provided to be seen in the best places by the right people and its a combination that we have been fortunate to be included in. Thanks for the opportunity and we are looking forward to a great summer!

The Wood Family


P.S. In the picture above you need to have your pants worn "Clemson" style over the cleat!

 

SCP

About a year and a half ago I received a short email advising of a tryout for a team being formed in South Charlotte. I called Coach Hutchins and had about a ten minute conversation about the upcoming tryouts and the team. The benefits were many, without any negatives and I remember thinking "What's the catch?"

Coach Don has taught my son that he is responsible for his actions in school, on the field, and in his personal life. My son's dedication to school, baseball, and his faith have all increased with the mentoring of Coach Hutchins and it has made our job as parents much easier.

We learned after the first season with the Panthers what the "catch" was; a generous, compassionate, genuine man who wants only the best for his players. It is difficult to believe that his passion for the game of baseball is exceeded by anyone, not to mention his knowledge and the countless hours that he devotes to his teams. Thank you, Coach Don, for all that you do.

The Tewells

 

Don, I know I speak for a lot of other people as well when I say we appreciate what you have done for baseball in the Charlotte area and the opportunity and exposure you have provided for so many players. Keep up the good work.

Thanks Coach.......

 

I agree

Coach Don impressed me the first time I met him. He has been to see my son play at least three times this spring and has taken a sincere interest in making my
son the best he can be, (1) as a person, (2) as a student and (3) as an athlete.
I guess my son said it best yesterday, "Dad, Coach Don
teaches baseball so we can understand exactly what it takes to be successfull, he makes it simple".

As a parent, he has helped me to allow my son to stand on his own. To be independent, to be responsible for his own actions. I appreciate Don's committment to the team and to each family.

 

Gentleman

I met Don for the first time at the SC Panthers hosted tournament at Grasshopper Stadium in Greensboro last year and my first impressions were:

He truly makes people welcome with his warm personality.

He has a lot of respect for the game and the kids.

He is a first class guy.

I hope he can continue to do great things for kids for a long long time.

 

My son played for the Carolina Cubs for a fall and summer season. At that time the Cubs were neck and neck with the Dirtbags for the most talented rosters in NC. We played SCP on several occasions during that span and I was truly impressed with how they played the game. While the Cubs won most of these games as I recall, SCP competed in every one. They played as a team. Frankly, SCP appeared to be more of a team as opposed to a collection of great players from all over the state. They were well-coached and the kids appeared to enjoy playing together. No wonder to me that they have carried on and improved from that time.