108 - Cliff Godwin: East Carolina University (ECU)

Bio

• Current HC at East Carolina University
• 13 NCAA Regionals 
• 2 College World Series appearances 
• four-time American Athletic Conference Coach-of-the-Year
• 6 NCAA Regional berths (2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 Greenville Regional host)
• 4 Super Regional appearances (2022 Greenville Super Regional)
• 3 American Athletic Conference Regular season championships
• 3 AAC Tournament crowns
• 304-151-1 (.668) overall record
• 20 players have earned All-America status, while 23 were NCAA All-Regional selections, 33 were named all-conference (26 first teamers) and 14 were drafted by Major League Baseball teams.
• 64 players who have gone on to the professional ranks during his time as a coach at the Division I level
• 2 time USA Baseball National Team Staff member
• Strong man of faith
• One of the top respected people in college baseball

 

Notes

• Those rings represent relationships
• I believe I am at ECU for these moments not the championships
• I am more of coach to help people in tough times
• There is no textbook handed to your coach when dealing with a death or tragic incident
• SPORTWORKS company to do devotionals 2x week
• Each kid stands up and recites the mission, vision and pirate code before we play
• You will fall back on your preparation. 
• Culture is more important than any mechanic
• I don’t need to go to Omaha for my ego. I want it for the other people more than me
• The more you give, the more you recieve.
• PIRATES has stayed consistent
• Vision has stayed pretty consistent
• There has to be a unbelievable amount of trust between coaches and players and it has to be 2 way street
• You have to be there everyday in terms of taking advice from pitching/hitting coach
• Unlimited trust on both sides
• Motto - triangle
  • Trust
  • Selfless
  • Communication
• Goals
• We don’t talk about them everyday, we focus on getting 1% everyday
• Those things are more important to me when we can get people ready for life
• Its not just me on a podcast, people know exactly what they need to do here
• Look in the mirror and ask myself what I can do better??!!
• I try to speak to all of the players everyday
• Schedule meetings with individual players during the week
• When body language is off you schedule a meeting and talk
• The cell phone does not go out with me to practice 
• I didn’t want to bring anyone external to our program because the foundation as already been set
• Hiring the right people!!
• If you hire young people who are hardworking and loyal, it will work out!!
• I need your loyalty!
• Write gratitude letters before thanksgiving 
• None of us would be where we are without the help of someone else
• Best players have in common
  • Comfortable in your own skin, be who you are
  • Ultra competitive, hated losing
• Players advice
  • Where you invest your time that is where you will get your best results
  • You become the average of the 5 people you hang out with. Its all about who you hang out with
  • Don’t play the comparison game
  • Be the best version of yourself
  • If you are going to do it, do it your best
  • Do things that you don’t like to do 
• Coach advice
  • Keep blinders on and not worry about what someone else is doing
  • Don’t spread yourself too thin
  • You can get the players to do anything but you can’t get them to do everything
  • Work hard, work your tail off, be loyal to who you work for
• Just keep showing up! It just won’t happen tomorrow.