Eastern Illinois University Assistant Softball Coach - Rachel Huggins
In today’s episode, a newly recruited hitting coach, Rachel Huggins, shares her experiences in coaching at Eastern Illinois University. Rachel shares how she was recruited during her high school years. She also talks about her recruiting process today as a hitting coach and how she helps hitters build their own approach and in individualizing the different pitches and parts of the zone.
She shares her and the team’s philosophy when it comes to hitting. She also talks about how she builds relationships with the team and points out what they need to improve on.
SHOW NOTES:
[2:25] What is your recruiting process as a high school player?
[3:48] Is there anything you would have worked on or focused more on as a player in high school to get ready for college?
[4:46] What other sports did you play?
[5:19] In the recruiting process, do you look for players who have played multiple sports?
[6:01] What are you looking for when you are recruiting players?
[7:08] Do you look for defense first type players or offense first type player? Is there something you look for like they can hit but you have to have someone who can play defense?
[7:49] How many players do you normally try to bring in per class?
[8:12] How many pitchers would you normally recruit in a class?
[8:43] Did you always know that you wanted to get into coaching when you were playing?
[9:56] What were you going to do if you were not a coach?
[10:17] What are some of the things that you learned and realized when you started coaching?
[11:18] What is your favorite part about coaching?
[12:01] What is your hitting philosophy like?
[12:55] What are some of the things that Chris Malveaux introduced to you that made you thing about things differently?
[13:42] How do you help hitters build their own approach?
[14:45] Do you have a team-wide philosophy when it comes to hitting?
[15:17] How are you planning on going about relationships with the team?
[16:00] How do you go about setting up the fall as the hitting coach?
[17:09] What do you like focusing on in the individual work? Is there certain constraints, drills, or machines that you like to use?
[17:52] Do you give the hitters plans on what you want them to improve upon over the summer?
[18:58] What is an example of what you would want the hitters to be specifically doing?
[19:42] What is your take on random versus block practice?
[21:01] From a mechanics standpoint, what do you like to see out of your hitters?
[22:23] What are some of the positions that you want the hitters to be in?
[22:54] Do you utilize technology?
[23:13] Have you used those rapsodo and blast before at Bradley?
[24:51] Is there something that you want to get better at from a coaching standpoint?
[25:37] Is there anything specific right now that you are working on or trying to learn?
[26:57] Are there certain or favorite drills that you do?
[27:13] Working in small groups, are there certain things or constraints that you’ll have the hitters to start in?
[27:42] How do you think a hitting coach should be evaluated?
[29:34] What is your typical practice day be like during fall season?
[30:42] How about during spring season? What would your typical practice day be like?
[31:18] Do you do hitters’ meetings before a series with the team?
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-huggins-8008288a
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