View Full Version : App Coaching situation?
Anyone know the status of the coaching staff? Heard today that there might be changes.
The word on the street is that Coach Huestess has resigned but will stay on until a replacement is selected. I think it is fair to say that Boone's mountain weather became a major obstacle in turning the program around. It also sounds like ASU is getting swamped with applicants.
44Magnum
05-23-04, 02:37 PM
Word I have gotten is it was a forced resignation. I don't agree with weather being a factor in having a bad program. With the type of football program they have, and with it getting their name out to people, they should have a much better program than they do. I think they don't recruit like they should which has led to subpar teams.
The "O"
05-23-04, 02:44 PM
I agree recruiting is crucial vital toyour programs success at the college level! Too bad for the players.....
maybe? :huh:
When your team does not practice outside and the rest of the conference does, weather is a factor. When you schedule your first 17 games away so you can get outside, weather is a factor. When recruits learn that Boone's weather is more like New England than the south and go elsewhere, weather is a factor.
I know of one SW4A all county player who was soundly turned down by this coach. All during the summer, he was told he could walk on with no problem even though he had not been recruited. This young man had his heart set on App for academic reasons, did not want to go any of the places he was recruited, AND he had a nearly full academic ride, so athletic money was not needed not asked for. He said the first day of practice, he was told within one hour of taking the field that he would not make the team. The spin from the App parents I know is the coach only recruits players whose parents donate big money to the baseball program. That statement is GOSSIP, but I was always told where there is smoke, there is at least some smoldering going on.
law1ng2b2
05-24-04, 12:15 PM
I played at ASU in the late 80's/early 90's...so maybe i can add a little from my perspective.
Some Background: Jim Morris built the program into a perennial Southern Conference contender in the mid 80's. They made the NCAA regionals twice, once as an at-large. However, he managed to upset several pro scouts along the way and several guys that i played with that should have gotten opportunities to play at the next level. Once HS players, coaches, and parents got wind of this fewer good ball players made the decision to go to Boone. In addition, a couple of players that he was banking on did not work out and the number of solid walk-ons that he had been able to count on started to dry up as well. That started the downspiral at ASU that they have not really been able to recover from.
The Weather: As a former player there, it is a challenge. The amount of field time can be impacted. Taking ground balls off of the gym floor...well...that sucks. But, Western Carolina has pretty much the same weather and they are able to overcome it. But i saw some pretty wacky stuff happen, and many times we would have to drive down the mountain to Lenoir just to get in an Intra-Squad game. Not sure if they are still doing that.
The current situation: Don't know it very well. I have not lived in the area in almost 10 years. I have heard that the current coach upset some alumni a couple of years ago with how he organized the Alumni game. Many of them had become financial supporters of the program. I will say that it is more difficult to recruit up there right now. Their reputation has taken a turn south and that is difficult to rebuild. There are other options available in the state and i guess players are making decisions to go elsewhere. If i had to make the decision again, based completely on baseball, i would have gone to another school.
bbfan123@hotmail.com
05-24-04, 12:43 PM
Sounds interesting. Who are the early favorites to replace Heustress? Any big names? How about the coach at Surry. Seems like he has built a powerhouse program from the ground up in only a few years. I know there weather is probably not a lot different from Boone's although probably not as bad. I would think he would have to be a top candidate if he was interested. He may not be interested because of his situation at Surry. Anyone else?
I believe that a good coach, one that is well rounded in all aspects of being a HC, can win ANYWHERE!!! If he is passionate about his program, compassionate to his players and is able to have his players reach their potential...then he will be successful at App State...UNCC....Western Carolina...Surrey County... USC...etc. etc.
There really is not a hill of beans difference in baseball knowledge between coaches...it is their ability to relate to the players and be able to pass on their knowledge to a point that the players can execute that make a big difference...oh, and their ability to recruit great athletes:D:D
In college or pros I have seen some great coaches and poor ones...but neither the schools or the organization made any difference in terms of coachiong ability
The "O"
05-24-04, 05:43 PM
couldn't have said it any better Braves throw in "respect" there as well! :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:
44Magnum
05-24-04, 06:39 PM
It may be a factor in practicing in the cold, but other programs deal with it all the time as well. I just believe that Heustress didn't listen to advice when he was given it on several players. I know of a player that wants to attend there and they told him he could come try out but they didn't have any money left. If they don't have money left then they should have signed some pretty good prospects by now. About the coach at Surry, I know he has ties to the App program so that would be a great fit I think. Does anyone know if he has applied? If so, he needs to apply and if he gets it he needs to carry the whole staff from Surry with him and they could build a good if not great program in Boone. They have done an excellent job at Surry, especially the last two years as they seem to have taken that program to the top with weather comparable to Boone. But I noticed on their web page that one of their assistants isn't there anymore. Does anyone know what happened and if he's coaching anywhere now?
The money doesn't go too far when you are not fully funded. If you going to walk on at ASU, better bring some warm boots.
rams12bb
05-24-04, 10:12 PM
They've actually had some pretty good recruits. There's been a few that I was surprised they actually signed. The biggest problem I've seen is the fact that nobody stays. They had a good recruiting class about 3 or 4 years ago, and almost the entire class transferred to other schools.
Also, along with law1ng2b2's comments about the program, there was one factor I believe had a lot to do with the downward spiral. The 1991 tragedy of the hitting coach had a big affect on that team, and they never recovered. In fact, I personally don't think the program ever recovered from that. That team, if I remember correctly, was having a solid year in 1991 up to that point, and the team went downhill, and the program has struggled ever since. I really hate to bring something like this up, but I feel like it had a big impact on the program.
To revisit the past, take a look at some of the coaches that have went through ASU. Remember that Jim Morris, different coach morris, that is the head coach at Univ. of Miami was once Coach Morris' assistant. There are several others that have learned under Coach Morris that have went on to have solid coaching careers. Hopefully Coach Morris will have some imput towards this decision that will hopefully bring the program back to life.
law1ng2b2
05-24-04, 10:59 PM
Also, along with law1ng2b2's comments about the program, there was one factor I believe had a lot to do with the downward spiral. The 1991 tragedy of the hitting coach had a big affect on that team, and they never recovered. In fact, I personally don't think the program ever recovered from that. That team, if I remember correctly, was having a solid year in 1991 up to that point, and the team went downhill, and the program has struggled ever since. I really hate to bring something like this up, but I feel like it had a big impact on the program.
not so sure that his suicide had a lingering effect. Sure, it was difficult for that team to deal with. i was no longer playing there, but still had several guys i had played with. and although they struggled to finish that season, we had barely played .500 baseball the season before.
coach Morris should be credited with both building the program into prominence and also tearing it down. during his last several years, the game had passed him by and he was no longer able to recruit and motivate players well enough to keep up with many other programs in the area.
It's a recruiting problem there, plain and simple. Used to send them info all the time on kids we had and saw while traveling. Never a return call or any interest in the kids. Some have gone on to all-conference years (see Gardner Webb). Finally gave up. I thinks that has happened a lot the past few years. People just quit calling them. They really need to just turn over the whole staff.
baughn3
06-12-04, 01:12 PM
I figure it's not only a recruiting problem but a general coaching problem there. My brother went to App as a catcher when coach Morris was in his last year. I remember being there on a recruiting trip with the rest of my family and coach Morris telling my brother that he would play 90% of the games that season. He ended up playing in 15-20 games that season. Not only that but coach Huestess, who was the catchers coach at the time, decided it would be a good idea to change the throwing mechanics of a catcher that had a POP time between 1.8 and 1.9. I think that coach Huestess resigning might be the best thing for that program,
HulkaManiaRunninWild
06-15-04, 07:24 PM
the hc at watauga hs will be taking the job.
the hc at watauga hs will be taking the job.
Perhaps...but it ain't a done deal yet...but I hope it does. Pete Hardee will be the best thing to happen to ASU baseball since Coach Morris. The ball is in ASU's court and their commitment to baseball excellence will be the deciding factor.
law1ng2b2
06-16-04, 06:30 PM
Perhaps...but it ain't a done deal yet...but I hope it does. Pete Hardee will be the best thing to happen to ASU baseball since Coach Morris. The ball is in ASU's court and their commitment to baseball excellence will be the deciding factor.
that is pretty much what i heard too. Hardee is looking for some things that will show a committment to rebuilding the program. i hope he gets it...but i would not count on it.
that is pretty much what i heard too. Hardee is looking for some things that will show a committment to rebuilding the program. i hope he gets it...but i would not count on it.
:(...you're probably right law1ng, but I hope you're wrong :)
I was asking this same question this week. I haven't heard a word...but with recruiting already started, you hope they have.
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