The Journey and Evolution of one NSR Scout

Having grown up in the 1970’s and 80’s, rock music was the dominant music genre for most social circles and the band Journey was definitely one of the bands at the forefront.  In 1979 Journey released its album titled Evolution and here it is more than 35 years later and my current life has me thinking of Journey and Evolution.  We all have our own journey and our own evolution and I am obviously no different.  Please indulge me and let me briefly elaborate on my personal journey and evolution from player- to parent- to coach- to scout, with being a parent injected at all times following the birth of my children.

Sports have always been a huge part of me and my family’s life.  In fact, my older brother when asked by his Kindergarten teacher what the seasons of the year were, proudly replied “baseball, football, and basketball.”  More specifically, baseball and softball have been the two constants throughout my lifetime.  Like most boys, I grew up wanting to play Major League Baseball and although I fell short of that goal like most others did as well, I did have the great fortune of playing 4 years of college baseball and 4 years of professional baseball.  The first of my three children was born during my 1^st year in the minor leagues and being a parent has been a factor in every stage of my evolution since.  After being released from baseball and upon receiving my degree in Health & Physical Education, I became a high school coach throughout the next 20 plus years and even had the blessing of being able to coach my son for two years of high school and the last few years of collegiate summer ball.

Last fall my son was going out of state to play his last 2 years of college baseball and since I wasn’t going to be able to go watch him, I decided to try the college softball coaching ranks and was fortunate enough to be a part of the coaching staff at Division I Southeast Missouri State.  Even though that was a wonderful experience that I learned so much from, there was still something missing.  As the Lord works in mysterious ways, my son ended up red-shirting that season and I didn’t miss any of his games after all.  That over-powering desire to be a bigger part of his journey has led me to step away from my Division I coaching position and join NSR as a national college softball and baseball scout.  I believe things happen for a reason and his being red-shirted and the career change with greater flexibility of being a scout with NSR seem to have happened for a reason.

Perhaps the most important revelation of my journey has recently flashed in front of my eyes and that is helping other athletes and their families from me and my family’s experiences. After only a week with NSR, I wish I would have discovered them a few years earlier.  You see just a few years back, I was my son’s high school coach and obviously his Dad as well and I couldn’t get him many opportunities or offers from colleges and I had been around the game forever.  I couldn’t have cared for any player any more than him and I obviously had a very strong vested interest, but I still felt hopeless and somewhat useless for him.  Please don’t take this as a bash towards his JUCO coach and program nor his current coach and program as I absolutely respect both and as I said…things happen for a reason. While both college baseball stops ultimately may turn out to be the best thing that happened for my son, a relationship with NSR at that time would have most definitely opened more doors for him and given him more options to choose from.

Let me close by saying, although I don’t have a crystal ball concerning me and my family’s future journey and evolution, I can only try to be the best version of me moving forward and hopefully I can help as many people as possible along the way in their journey and evolution.