Category: Coaching
Type: Philosophy
GARY ADAMS' TIP OF THE MONTH MAY 2000
I wanted to give eteamz member coaches and players my overall philosophy before moving on. I call it "The Bruin Way," and it is has been my strategy for over 25 years at UCLA.
The Bruin Way
After 30 years as a head baseball coach, (25 at UCLA), it is my opinion that college baseball players enter a university with three primary goals: to graduate, to improve their baseball skills to the extent that they can perform in the major leagues and to win national championships. My job as the head coach at UCLA is to help them achieve all three goals. This is how we strive to reach these goals at UCLA.
Goal No. 1: To graduate. Of the players who have competed for four seasons, around 80% have graduated. Obviously, the 129 players who signed professional contracts prior to completing their education lower that rate, but many of them have come back in the off-season to earn their degrees. I wish I could say 100% of our players have graduated, as then I would be totally satisfied. At UCLA, we do everything possible to assist the student-athletes in the pursuit of their degrees. My players know I take their education seriously, as I insist that they attend classes, require every new player to attend study hall and make sure that they see their tutors and counselors. In recent years, I have encouraged my former players who have signed professional contracts prior to graduation to take advantage of UCLA's "Final Score Program", a special program initiated by the UCLA Athletic Department that encourages our former athletes to return to school and earn a UCLA degree. Tim Leary, Don Slaught and Eric Karros are three of the many players who returned to school and graduated because of this outstanding program. Every player who has ever played for me knows that I am dedicated to helping them graduate.
Goal No. 2: To improve their baseball skills to the extent that they can perform in the major leagues. The facts speak for themselves. During this decade, no school in America has had more players in the major leagues. In 1998, 14 of my former players competed in the major leagues. In 1991, 20 former Bruins were on major league rosters. Of those 20, only six were drafted out of high school. Fifteen of our former players have been selected in the first round (including secondary phase) of the draft. I am proud of these facts. It is a tribute to our system and to all of the outstanding assistant coaches who have tutored players at UCLA.
I am not just satisfied with getting my players signed professionally. I want them to fulfill their dreams of playing in the major leagues. Our philosophy of coaching at UCLA develops players for the majors. A coach must not be so concerned with winning that he forgets about the development of his players; yet, he also cannot be so concerned with development that he forgets about winning. I feel we accomplish both of these goals at UCLA. Our coaches teach our players to be aggressive. Our players learn to play and to think on their own. We do not play a "robot" style where every move a player makes must be initiated and/or approved by a coach. Our catchers call all the pitches. Our hitters swing aggressively and are taught to use the aluminum bat exactly the same way the pros use the wooden bat. Our runners have the "green light," and our defenders and our pitchers execute in a style befitting their own individual abilities (they are not "cloned" into doing it my way). Integrate this philosophy with an emphasis on TEAM PLAY, HUSTLE, and a GOOD WORK ETHIC, and you have the formula for developing players into major leaguers.
Goal No. 3: To win national championships. After winning two national championships as UC Irvine's head coach, my only disappointment at UCLA is that we have yet to win a national championship. We have come close, as we have qualified for the NCAA Regionals eight of the last 14 seasons. In 1997, we reached the College World Series. We have reached championship day in the regionals five times, including 1996 when we advanced further in the postseason than any other team on the west coast. A paradox exists in collegiate baseball, as you try to develop players who can perform in the major leagues at the same time you are trying to win the NCAA title. These days, because the professional teams are signing our players before they get a chance to play their senior year, we lose them just when they have reached their best level of play. Sixty-nine players have inked contracts prior to their senior years. It would have been nice to have had those "seniors" on our teams and to ensure the level of success. Nevertheless, our goal will always be the same each year - to win the national championship - even if we have to do it with fewer seniors than anybody else.
This is our coaching philosophy and the "Bruin Way." The majority of the time it has produced winning seasons, but more importantly, I hope it has contributed to the success of our players in all walks of life. Whether they become professional baseball players, teachers, lawyers, doctors, engineers or businessmen, I am proud of them all.
Submitted by: UCLA Head Coach Gary Adams
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