Dec 4, 2018 | Coach Profiles, Softball, The Best Stories
John Kidwell
Head Softball Coach
Archbishop Ryan High School
Philadelphia
As a coach, we all take chances. We move our slumping clean-up hitter to seventh and she knocks it out of the park. We switch our short stop to second and she turns an incredible double play. We trust a player to steal home and we win the game. We take chances that make our players shine, propel us to victories and make us, as coaches, look good.
Or, we take a chance in the semifinals, by starting a freshman pitcher over the sophomore who beat the same team during the regular season. And, we lose the game, remembering it as one of our all-time coaching disasters.
2014 PCL Champions
But, coaching has incredible highs. Like winning the Catholic League Championship in 2014 for the first time since 1995, in the same season that we lost a long-time, beloved coach. What a tremendous feeling it was to win that title, not just for the team, but for the coach we lost. And, the pride of knowing that winning four out of five league championships has just as much to do with chemistry and ego-checking than talent.
Growing up I had two younger sisters who played softball. I spent a lot of time watching them play and figuring out the game. By the time I got to college, I knew for sure I wanted to be a coach.
I landed the head junior varsity coaching position at Archbishop Ryan in 1992. In 1997, I was promoted to varsity as an assistant coach and in 2014 was named softball’s head coach after Andy Hafele passed away.
Patches worn during the 2014 season in remembrance of Andy Hafele
Andy and I coached together for 22 years. He was not only my mentor, but a huge influence on the coach I’ve become. He taught me how to run a program and how to establish a winning culture. Andy’s presence on the field is felt to this day and I can’t help but feel he is a big reason for our recent success.
I think about Andy when I consider the impact I have on my players and work hard on building the same respect and trust that he did. Our players are only with us for four years, but the physical and emotional transformations we witness from freshman to senior year is absolutely awesome. By the time they graduate from Archbishop Ryan and head off to college, they are ready for the world. It gives me great joy to know that I, through the game of softball, was able to help shape these players into the incredible young women they’ve become.
Andy Hafele Memorial Softball Field, Archbishop Ryan High School, Philadelphia, PA
In keeping with the tradition that Be the Best is a convention created for coaches by coaches, we’ve asked for inspirations and stories from your contemporaries. Click here to share something about your coaching journey. Don’t worry about making it sound good — you coach the kids, we‘ll work the words.
Nov 20, 2018 | Baseball, Softball
Coaches coach for many different reasons. Some want to give back. To the game, to the community, to the people who helped them along the way. Others are motivated by the thrill of competition, the emotion of the game and the camaraderie of the team. And some want to propel their players to the next level, watch them succeed and have a positive impact on their lives.
But the bottom line is, coaches coach because it’s fun.
And that’s why Be the Best adds FUN to the line-up.
Ask anyone who’s ever been to the convention. It’s not about listening to lectures from top college and professional coaches. It’s not about one-sided dialogues and technical presentations. What makes Be the Best so great is the natural interaction, the candid discussions and the back-and-forth sharing of skills, ideas and stories.
You may find yourself exchanging emails with one of the most celebrated coaches in college softball, drinking a beer with an MLB coach or chatting over coffee with a professional player. Be the Best speakers remember when they, too, were making their way in the baseball and softball worlds and genuinely want to do what they can to enhance your personal journey.
Don’t miss the ball on this one. We promise that Be the Best is more than instructive. More than informative. It’s down-right fun!
Registration is open NOW!
Baseball Coaches’ Convention
Thursday, January 10 – Saturday, January 12
Make your hotel reservations NOW!
Softball Coaches’ Convention
Thursday, January 17 – Saturday, January 19
Make your hotel reservations NOW!
Nov 6, 2018 | Baseball, Coach Profiles, The Best Stories
Phil Forbes III
Head Baseball Coach
Menchville High School
Newport News, Virginia
USA TODAY’s Coach of the Year, 2009
In 2009, all nine starters went on to play college baseball.
Ever since I was a high school athlete I knew I wanted to become a coach. Luckily, my teachers and coaches saw something in that teenage kid and put me on the right path. I went to college to become a teacher so my dream could come true. I had so much respect for my coaches back then that their seal of approval was all I needed. In particular, I was inspired by my baseball coach, John Jones. He was tough, but he cared. I wanted to be a John Jones.
But, I wanted to be more than a baseball coach. I wanted to coach it all. And, so I did.
Over the course of 43 years, I have coached baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, track, volleyball and tennis at the high school and / or club level, winning championships at the district, regional and state levels.
As a baseball coach, my teams have won states, regions, districts and the national championship as NUMBER ONE in the country. Menchville High School breeds both great players and coaches. I have had some amazing assistant coaches who are extremely dedicated and together we have created a culture that reflects the game of life, not just the game of baseball.
We are so proud of the many collegiate ball players and MLB draftees that Menchville has turned out. But, we are equally as proud of those who applied the lessons they learned on the field to their chosen professions, making them huge successes in the working world.
Whatever sport I coach, I believe in the same basic philosophy. If you are disciplined on and off the field, adopt a great work ethic, be a family, be true to your parents and be a good student you will be successful, not just in your sport, but beyond.
As a coach, I try always to be fair and honest. I respect the game and want to bring out the best in each and every kid. I want to know I’ve been heard and know I’ve made an impact when a player comes back later and says, “Coach, you were right. If only I had listened.”
Today, I’m living the dream. A coach’s dream, a husband’s dream, a father’s dream and a grandfather’s dream. I’m the head baseball coach of Menchville High School. My high school sweetheart and wife, Lynn, is my biggest supporter. We critique every game together, giving me an invaluable spectator’s perspective. My son, Philip IV, is our hitting coach. And, my grandson, Philip V, plays on the team and has committed to James Madison University.
What could be better than that?
In keeping with the tradition that Be the Best is a convention created for coaches by coaches, we’ve asked for inspirations and stories from your contemporaries. Click here to share something about your coaching journey. Don’t worry about making it sound good — you coach the kids, we‘ll work the words.
Jul 27, 2018 | Baseball
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
Jul 2, 2018 | Other, Softball
If you want to be the best, you want to learn from the best.
This year, Be the Best brings you the best of the best in an unparalleled roster of softball speakers who hail from all fields of the game.
On deck is Lonni Alameda, Head Coach at Florida State, who comes bearing the school’s first-ever NCAA Championship crown and Heather Tarr of Washington who battled Alameda in the WCWS. John Rittman, who is developing Clemson’s first-ever softball program and Missy Lombardi who has recently been named Head Coach at Oregon after helping lead Oklahoma to more titles than there’s room to mention. There’s USA Softball professional player, Monica Abbott and Division III’s master of the game, John Tschida. Scott Whitlock, former head coach at Kennesaw State, wields his wit and wisdom, Larissa Anderson shares her journey from Hofstra to Mizzou and Lisa Navas of South Carolina brings two decades of coaching success to the plate. The inimitable Marty Tyson of the Corona Angels tells it like it is and everyone’s favorite husband and wife co-coaching team, Karen and Ralph Weekly round out the line-up..
Be the Best, founded by coaches for coaches, is the longest running convention of its kind in the country. The speakers’ accolades run deep and their passion deeper. They interweave their stories and skills in a way that hits home, leaving everyone in attendance with something that will help them become a better coach.
Don’t miss the best line-up ever!
Be the Best Softball Coaches’ Convention
Thursday, January 17 – Saturday, January 19
Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill
2349 W. Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
