A Coach’s Journey: Andrew Bartman

A Coach’s Journey: Andrew Bartman

Andrew Bartman
Director of Coaching Development
USA Baseball

Some coaches take a straight path while others zig zag their way into their niche. Andrew Bartman’s coaching history had many jumps and joys before landing at USA Baseball.

Andrew started young – as a high schooler he was already helping out at his old junior high school. By college, he was assisting a Legion team in Lincoln, IL, as well as serving as head coach of the Central Illinois Cannons travel team. After he graduated, he got his first stab at the collegiate level as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at a perennial powerhouse JUCO, Wabash Valley College in Illinois. While there, he worked with dozens of players who went on to play professional ball, with two making it to the big leagues.

After three years at WVC, Andrew headed home to take the job as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Lincoln College, where he had played himself for two years. Working for a former coach allowed him to learn lessons through a different lens as he coached and completed his Master’s degree.

Just as he had done as an undergraduate, Andrew transferred from Lincoln to his other alma mater, MacMurray College in Jacksonville, IL. As head coach, he was faced with a complete disaster, but was able to turn the culture around and in his first season, tripled the team’s win total from the previous year. The AD who hired him left two years later for Bethany College, an NAIA school in Kansas, and offered Andrew the job as Head Coach and Associate Athletics Director. Proudly, the baseball program performed over 5,000 hours of community service each year as well as qualifying for the KCAC tournament three out of four years.

After four years at Bethany, American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) offered him the Youth Division Liaison position. For the first time since starting his career, Andrew wasn’t living by a coach’s schedule which was a big boon for his family. While at ABCA, he worked with USA Baseball which is how he eventually morphed into his current position. As Director of Coaching Development at USA Baseball, Andrew coordinates over 150 free Community Coaching Clinics and has recently launched a Regional Clinic program as well.

Andrew is a big believer in giving back and has incorporated that philosophy into his team cultures throughout the years. He subscribes to the theory that giving back to one’s community is not only humbling, but allows players to gain a greater world view as they grow as people.

Along the way, Andrew has been influenced by Coach John Stoltzenburg, who taught him how to be firm, but available, and Coach Rob Fournier of Wabash Valley College, who made a national powerhouse out of nothing and continues to raise the bar every single year. Tony Thomas who taught him to care about the person and not just the player. And Kevin Vest, who guided him throughout his career in navigating the baseball coaching landscape.

While a coach has to be a good listener, motivator, and learner, Andrew Bartman realizes that being an effective communicator is just as important. If sharing stories, skills, and journeys can help change the life of just one player or coach, then regardless of runs and records, it’s a win.

Baseball Speaker Line-up Released

Baseball Speaker Line-up Released

If you want to become a better baseball coach, Be the Best is the best place to be. With the best of the best sharing their passions, their stories and their formulas for success, it’s a win-win weekend for everyone. Check out the speaker line-up for January 10-12, 2019.

This year Be the Best’s bragging rights include Mike Martin, Head Coach at Florida State, who holds the honor of being the winningest D1 baseball coach ever; Nick Mingione, Head Coach at Kentucky and 2017 SEC Coach of the Year; Andy McKay, Director of Player Development for the Seattle Mariners and Darin Everson, Minor League Hitting and Bunting Coordinator for the Colorado Rockies.

Then there’s Jake Boss, Head Coach at Michigan State; Darren Fenster, Minor League Manager in the Red Sox system; Matt Talarico, Infield, Base Running and Hitting Coach for Wright State; Nick White, Speed Strength and Conditioning coach at Coastal Carolina and Tanner Swanson, MiLB Catching Coordinator for the Minnesota Twins, who is known as one of the top catching instructors in the country.

Justin Su’a, Mental Skills Coach for the Boston Red Sox and Hannah Thurley, Mental Skills Coach for the Philadelphia Phillies put the mind game into perspective; Joel Mangrum, Pitching Coach for the Cleveland Indians and to round out the line-up is Jeremy Sheetinger, College Division Liaison ABCA, the guy who brings it all together with vim and vigor.

Be the Best, founded by coaches for coaches, is the longest running convention of its kind in the country. The speakers bring a wide-range of skills and coaching styles to the plate and offer tools and tips that help create better baseball coaches.

Don’t miss the best line-up ever!

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Be the Best Baseball Coaches’ Convention
Thursday, January 10 – Saturday, January 12

Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill
2349 W. Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002