Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Photo by: Matt Posey/MT Athletic Communications
9/1/2022 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Earlier this week, Director of Athletics Chris Massaro promoted associate head baseball coach Jerry Meyers to interim head baseball coach.
Meyers, entering his second year with the Blue Raider baseball program, has a reputation that precedes itself for developing top class collegiate pitching. Meyers helped South Carolina to the 2011 College World Series title as the Gamecocks' pitching coach, while also reaching the CWS championship game in 2002 and 2012. He developed 17 All-American hurlers while in Columbia.
GoBlueRaiders.com recently sat down with Meyers to discuss his expectations of this year's team entering fall camp, as well as his transition into his new role.
How excited are you about the opportunity to lead the Blue Raiders?
I am very appreciative and excited for this opportunity. I'm thankful our administration has trusted me with the responsibility of guiding the young men in our program.
What should Blue Raider fans know about Jerry Meyers?
This will be my 29th year coaching Division 1 baseball with six years as a Head Coach. I have great respect for the Blue Raider program and its history. There have been many outstanding players and coaches that have built this program and its proud tradition over many years. It will be our mission to compete every day to make Blue Raider Nation proud.
How beneficial has it been to get to know your returning players during the last year, as well as new signees during the recruiting process?
Having been on the coaching staff this past year has definitely been beneficial in making this transition. Creating relationships with the returners, newcomers, and committed recruits will continue to be very important in moving the program forward.
How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
I think it is vital that the players know you care about them as people first. To maximize development there needs to be trust and accountability. We have to be able to teach, develop, create a competitive environment, and hold each other to a high standard as we become a true team.
The Blue Raiders enjoyed their first winning season since 2015 last spring. How can this year's team carry the momentum forward?
We certainly want to build on the things we did well last year. Winning seven out of 10 C-USA series and carrying a Top 50 RPI for a large part of the season has helped our returners gain some confidence and has also helped in recruiting. However, we have a long way to go to be where we want to be, and we all know we have to focus on today and become a little bit better every day.
What excites you about the pitching that you have coming back this season, as well as the arms you have brought in via recruiting?
A large number of our innings from last year came from a few older guys that have graduated. We really like some of the returning pitchers that logged impact innings for us and have improved. We are going to rely on them to set the tone for several newcomers that are young and talented as they gain valuable experience.
What are some of the traits you like about the position players in your program this fall?
Overall, our position players have a lot of experience with several older guys returning in our lineup. It is a talented group that has a great work ethic. Many of them went out in the summer and played in competitive summer leagues and got better.
What is an area you want to see the team improve on that will be a point of emphasis during fall camp?
We have a lot of new players that haven't played together before. We are going to keep our focus on player development in all aspect of the game and spend a lot of time emphasizing coming together as a team.
What are some reasonable goals for this Middle Tennessee baseball team?
When we get toward the end of the fall, we should have a better idea of what this team may be capable of achieving. Our goal will always be to play harder, play smarter and work together to out-compete people. We want to have a total program on and off the field that will make those that have played and coached here and those that support us, tremendously proud of Blue Raider Baseball.
Meyers, entering his second year with the Blue Raider baseball program, has a reputation that precedes itself for developing top class collegiate pitching. Meyers helped South Carolina to the 2011 College World Series title as the Gamecocks' pitching coach, while also reaching the CWS championship game in 2002 and 2012. He developed 17 All-American hurlers while in Columbia.
GoBlueRaiders.com recently sat down with Meyers to discuss his expectations of this year's team entering fall camp, as well as his transition into his new role.
How excited are you about the opportunity to lead the Blue Raiders?
I am very appreciative and excited for this opportunity. I'm thankful our administration has trusted me with the responsibility of guiding the young men in our program.
What should Blue Raider fans know about Jerry Meyers?
This will be my 29th year coaching Division 1 baseball with six years as a Head Coach. I have great respect for the Blue Raider program and its history. There have been many outstanding players and coaches that have built this program and its proud tradition over many years. It will be our mission to compete every day to make Blue Raider Nation proud.
How beneficial has it been to get to know your returning players during the last year, as well as new signees during the recruiting process?
Having been on the coaching staff this past year has definitely been beneficial in making this transition. Creating relationships with the returners, newcomers, and committed recruits will continue to be very important in moving the program forward.
How would you describe your coaching philosophy?
I think it is vital that the players know you care about them as people first. To maximize development there needs to be trust and accountability. We have to be able to teach, develop, create a competitive environment, and hold each other to a high standard as we become a true team.
The Blue Raiders enjoyed their first winning season since 2015 last spring. How can this year's team carry the momentum forward?
We certainly want to build on the things we did well last year. Winning seven out of 10 C-USA series and carrying a Top 50 RPI for a large part of the season has helped our returners gain some confidence and has also helped in recruiting. However, we have a long way to go to be where we want to be, and we all know we have to focus on today and become a little bit better every day.
What excites you about the pitching that you have coming back this season, as well as the arms you have brought in via recruiting?
A large number of our innings from last year came from a few older guys that have graduated. We really like some of the returning pitchers that logged impact innings for us and have improved. We are going to rely on them to set the tone for several newcomers that are young and talented as they gain valuable experience.
What are some of the traits you like about the position players in your program this fall?
Overall, our position players have a lot of experience with several older guys returning in our lineup. It is a talented group that has a great work ethic. Many of them went out in the summer and played in competitive summer leagues and got better.
What is an area you want to see the team improve on that will be a point of emphasis during fall camp?
We have a lot of new players that haven't played together before. We are going to keep our focus on player development in all aspect of the game and spend a lot of time emphasizing coming together as a team.
What are some reasonable goals for this Middle Tennessee baseball team?
When we get toward the end of the fall, we should have a better idea of what this team may be capable of achieving. Our goal will always be to play harder, play smarter and work together to out-compete people. We want to have a total program on and off the field that will make those that have played and coached here and those that support us, tremendously proud of Blue Raider Baseball.
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