Finding the right coach can make or break a team’s season, but this year, Liberty’s baseball team found themselves with more say in that decision than expected. 

“I didn’t think players would be involved in the coaching selection as much as they were. I thought it’d be more of a staff decision versus the players choosing,” junior Connor Mayer said.

Throughout the interview process, players had the opportunity to learn more about potential coaches. 

“There were nine or ten people total in the interview. The athletic director, the district athletic director, two parents, two kids, the assistant principal, and the principal were there,” baseball coach Zach Beatty said. 

“It was just going through coaches and learning about what they valued in a program, what their practice plans were, or how they would make teams,” Mayer said. 

Coaches aren’t the only ones with an important role on the team. 

“Captains are the main part of the team, and they’re the people we look to have a safer environment,” Mayer said.

However, it wasn’t completely the captains’ decision who their coach would be. 

“It went to the board, the baseball staff, and the booster club. And once our head coach was decided, he brought in our assistant coaches,” senior Ryan Boehm said.

Even if it wasn’t completely the captains’ decision, they still had influence, and the captains knew what they were looking for in a coach. 

“We were kind of looking for a younger coach, one with good college experience, because the game has kind of been refreshed since the 1980s, and some of those old philosophies don’t really translate into the game now,” Boehm said. 

The new coach  seemed to fit the bill. 

“He played baseball at a D2 college, so he was qualified  and knew the game,” Boehm said. 

“He preaches hustle and celebrating the little things,” Boehm said. 

Beatty’s coaching style is bringing about change within the team. 

“That’s really helped bring a positive mindset into our season and the start of the trials. I think his mindset has changed a lot from the old coach, and it’s become a more well rounded environment where we’re all congratulating each other, and I think that’ll translate into the game,” Boehm said. 

After a thorough process to evaluate their options, the players are now beginning to see their choice pay off. 

“I really like our new coach, and I definitely think we made the right choice,” Mayer said.