TBR Interview Providence's Danny Hignight

Part 1

Normally, I introduce the person that I interview to the board, but you will find Coach Danny Hignight's interview to be open, honest and revealing as a person and as a coach. There is no need for an introduction...just sit back, read and enjoy this personal interview:



- You have coached with some of the best HS coaches in the state at Alexander Central, Watauga and South Meck. What have you learned from Gary Comer, Pete Hardee, and Hal Bagwell ?

* 1st of all I must thank all of them for being a tremendous influence in both my playing and Coaching career. I played for Coach Comer at Alexander Central in 1995. The biggest thing I remember about that team and program was the pride. We felt like we represented that county and I still feel that way today. I remember it was Coach Comers 1st year as the varsity head coach and we had a lot of expectations to meet. I lot of great players and teams have come out of Alexander Central and I take a great amount of pride and saying I am from there.
* Coach Hardee gave me my 1st ever job in 1997 at Watuaga High School. I was 20 years old and in my junior year at ASU. I still remember to this day walking into his office. He made me the hitting instructor and I can remember just watching hours and hours of tape on guys like Gary Ward and Turtle Thomas, just trying to learn how the best in the business went about their work. Coach Hardee made me understand that at Watuaga High School we are going to out work everybody in the state of North Carolina. I can remember hitting outside on the field and cages when there was 8 inches of snow on the ground. His intensity for the game is unmatched by anybody I have ever come across. I got to Watuaga after Coach’s 1st year and got to go along for a very successful 3 year run before leaving. The day I left I felt like I was leaving a big brother, he means more to me than he’ll ever know.
* I met Coach Bagwell in the State Semifinals in 1999. I was at Watuaga and he at South Meck. I remember a lot from that night. We lost, I believe it was 3-1 at home, and that loss has stuck with me ever since. It’s like getting an inch away from your dream and then having it taken away. The next year we met in the 1st round of the state playoffs and we went on to win 10-1. Before the game started Coach Bagwell offered me a job. I am very intense around game time so it was probably good I did not give him an answer that night. I applied for the Head job at Providence about two weeks later when Matt Neville received the job. Coach Bagwell was calling me every morning around 6:30 wanting an answer. Now I was 21 and single so wakeup call for me back then was around 10:00. I decided to accept the opportunity to work with him and it was probably the best decision I have made as a coach. I learned over the next 3 years just how fortunate I was not to receive the Providence job in 2000. Coach Bagwell taught me how to be organized and how to handle a coaching staff. I also learned that all players are different. I went from an environment were I could tell a hitter to do anything and they would , to a player that had not earned my trust and wanted to know why. The 1st year was tuff: 12-12. The next year I believe we went 20-4, but did not make the playoffs. The following year we made it to the playoffs and lost to North Forsyth who went on to the state finals. I still keep up with some of the players off those teams. Shelton Riley our starting rightfielder called me over Christmas to tell me he was getting married. I had a lot of fun with those guys and learned a lot from them too. Coach Bagwell and I talk almost everyday and he is still a big influence. His teams are my favorite to compete against because I know they will always be prepared.

- You have had tremendous success going into your 4th year at Providence. What have you found to be the difficult part of being the HC versus when you were an assistant?

As an assistant you have to concentrate on 1 or 2 things. As the head coach you must be in 100 different places at all times. I am the only on staff coach on my staff, so it gets hard at times. With that said, I have the best assistants in the world. They all have a role and they do it. All but for one of my assistants either played at Providence or had a son that played there. That’s important to me because they know the history and they understand my standards.

 

Part 2

- Historically, the Panther Nation has been known for their lack of patience with their coaches (except Gary Smith) and the players seemed to have a bit of arrogance in their demeanor, but it appears to have changed dramatically. The Panther players are known for their talent...and their humbleness. And almost as shocking, their expressed love for their coach. What do you attribute that to?

* Number 1 these are not only my players they are part of family. My players know I will do whatever I can to help them out whenever they need it. The humbleness comes from my mother. My mother is the hardest working woman I know. She has a competitive fire about her that you don’t normally see and when you do see it you wished you wouldn’t have. When I came to Providence 4 years ago all I heard was about how bad the kids and parents were. It was all lies. The players needed structure and leadership. The biggest leader on any team is the coach, and I believe the players are a direct reflection of the coach. We have great parents and administration at Providence. Listen I understand everybody wants to start and play, but if you have players that will buy into their role and achieve it, you won’t lose many games. I meet with our players about 4 times a season to discuss their roles. I talked to my players everyday in practice to see if everything is all right. On a side note I would like to thank Mr. Mathews and Mr. Grogan for giving me the opportunity to live my dream.

- Coach, you and I have talked about some things you do with your seniors and ex-players outside of baseball that I find unique. Would you mind explaining what they are?

* I stay in contact with all my former players about once a month. I make it a habit of calling all of them and seeing how things are going at school and with their families. It’s important to me to stay a part in their lives. I get calls from about all of them to let me know about their game or maybe a problem they are having. We have had 21 players sign in the last 3 years and it is a joy to check in and see how things are going on the field, and I am just as proud of those they have not gone on to play college baseball, but to further their education or get a job in the real world. We also get together at least once, most years twice, to sit down and eat together. This keeps them in contact with each other. Maybe next summer we will bring them all down to the field and cook something up. We almost have too many now to go out to a restaurant.

- I have admitted, publicly, that your father is my wife's "American Idol". He is a very special man and I know he is very special to you. I know this is personal, but he is a "hero" and deserves the attention. How has he influenced you?

* My father is the greatest man in the world! He was raised in southern Illinois and was in 5 foster homes, I believe. He dropped out of High School in the 9th grade, and when the Vietnam War broke out he joined the Marine Corps. He was a scout with the 3/5 Marines, where he was awarded the Sliver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts. He later became a drill instructor at Parris Island. He retired in 1977 and was basically the face I came home to everyday. He was hard on my sister and me and at times, too hard. He taught me the greatest lessons in life.
1- he taught me to be hungry and willing to out work everybody else
2- respect is not something that is given, it is earned
3- family is number 1, always number 1.
My father would give the shirt off his back for a stranger and never ask for anything in return. He reads about 2 books a week and still tells me how to run my life every time we talk. He once told me that your goal in life is to give your children greater opportunities then you were given. I hope I can be as great of father to my children as he has been to me.

- You have been involved with the State Games as an assistant and as the head coach. What has that experience been like?

* Great: you sit back and let kids play and don’t worry about anything. I have had a great opportunity to coach some great players in Region 6 and make some great friends.

- There is a lot of building going on around your field. What have you done and what are you planning in the future?

* 1st of all one of my seniors promised me a dome 4 years ago and I am still holding him to it. Since I was hired we put in a new sprinkler system, drainage system, foul poles, 2 new cages, 5 new bullpens, and re-soded our infield. This off-season we put up a 100ft. long by 26 ft. batters eye in centerfield. It is all wood and sounds great when it gets hit. We also put in a 26 ft. 9 inning scoreboard, concreted our bleacher area, rebuilt our backstop and put in 30 foot high poles, and we are now building a new brick concession stand. It is important to me to give my players a great place to play and practice. The future is up to my senior player: I want a dome.

- It looks like the Panthers are reloading again this year. What are your thoughts of this year's team? Who are some of the new faces we should be watching?

* I think it is unfair to think we just have these great baseball players come in here every year and just beat people off talent. People have forgotten that before 2004 Providence had not finished in the top 3 in the conference since 2000. Our players are talented but they work their tails off. We practice long and hard. We start with 8 man on Sept. 1st and don’t stop. Everyday they are in the weight-room, taking extra hacks and groundballs. I come out here on the weekend and there will be 5 or 6 guys out here working. They love the game and love getting after it. As for this years club I will give you the standard answer I give every year: we will be all right. We have our goals and plan on attaining them. I wouldn’t trade my players for any body else’s.

- What are your thoughts about this year in the SW4A?

* You better come to play every night. Butler, Weddington, Myers Park, Independence, South Meck, AK, East Meck: they have all got somebody who can beat you. You know I have heard how some teams are going to be down; if you take that approach in this conference then you will lose. We have won the last 2 conference titles outright and I can tell you every year it seems like everybody is dangerous, and don’t listen to Bagwell sandbag over there at AK.

 

Part 3

- I know you have very little free time, but what are some of the things you enjoy away from baseball?

* spending as much time with my family as possible. I started dating my wife in 1992. She completes me and is so special to me. Any woman who will allow their husband to work 60-70 hours a week and not get paid well is special. She supports what I do and loves me for who I am. I also have a 2-year-old daughter that keeps me in trouble when I get home. You never know how much you love until you see your children. It is like Christmas for me every time I walk in the door at the house.

- You are expecting to expand your family in May. How has being a father changed you?

* It takes your mind off work and puts it where it should be. I never watched cartoons as a kid and now I am an expert. She will crawl up on my lap and let me know that I am her world, what she doesn’t understand is that she is mine. We will be having daughter number 2 in May and I am ready. We 1st said that we wanted 5 children, but after the terrible twos I think the number might go down. I am glad my 1st will have a sister in her life.

-Is there anything that you haven't mentioned that you want to convey to the players, parents and coaches of TBR?

* You can do all things through Christ! Treat people as you would want to be treated and don’t set your goals in life too short. That person that you say hello too or tell them to have a good day could change their lives, and remember somebody always has it worse.

Reflection: I hope everybody appreciates the fact that Coach Hignight did not speak the usual baseballeze. He took the time to explain what he believes to be the success at Providence HS. But what I found equally as refreshing is that he spoke from his heart and shared a little of his personal life to allow us to get to know him as a coach and as a man.

There is something else that I want to share with you guys/gals that is very personal in nature. As some of you know, my wife is suffering from a terminal disease that is rare and the future shows very little hope in helping, yet, when Coach Hignight learned of my wife's disease, he didn't ask why or bat an eye; he said, "Braves, let me be a donor"... Now you know why his dad is so special... he continues to raise a special young man that goes way beyond coaching baseball.

I will always reserve a special place in my heart for Danny...and for his family.

 

Coach,

Thanks for the interview....I really enjoyed reading it!!!

I'm not sure if I can picture you as a "Sponge Bob" fan though....LOL

 

Can you imagine what it will be like for the boy that comes to his house to take his daughter on a date?....poor kid!

 

Outstanding coach and person; thought it was time to re-post

 

"Outstanding coach and person" is right! I enjoyed revisiting Coach Hignight's interview.

A couple of observations from it:

(1) The best coaches in every sport seem to create a subsequent lineage of superior coaches who were mentored by them. Certainly, part of the reason for this is that the assistants are given the opportunity to observe and learn from the the master coach.

However, I have to believe that it also stems from the fact that the best coaches are pretty good at identifying and attracting high quality assistants; ones who are more likely than most to have the aptitude to not only learn from their mentor, but also apply what they've learned effectively once they're given the opportunity to head up their own coaching staff.

(2) Every player is different. Ever notice how the best coaches seem to get to know their players exceptionally well? Once they do, they tend to use that knowledge to affect the way they coach each player.

Some players need to be hit between the eyes with a 2-by-4; while others respond best to a velvet touch. The best coaches figure out what motivates the individuals on their team and apply it accordingly.


A major tip of the cap to Coach Hignight and the coaches he credits for his own development. The players they've touched and will touch in the future are much better for it; both on and off the field.

 

As an umpire, I think the world of Higgy. I've worked with him strictly in showcase baseball environment and he is a class guy. I've never been on the field in one of those AK/Providence games but I'm sure he carries that class over to those types of games. His father is a legend up here in Alexander County...I've heard so many "Chief" stories and love everyone of them. Best of luck to Higgy and his family in the future. He's one of the great ones

 

Coach Hignight selected to USA National 14U Staff

Coach Hignight was recently selected to the coaching staff for the USA National 14U Team which will travel to Venzuela in a couple of weeks to represent the United States of America in the IBFA World Championships.
The 14U final team trials are currently underway at the USA National Training Complex in Cary, North Carolina and the team will travel from there to Venzuela for the IBFA 14U event in August.

Congratulations to Coach Hignight from your SCP family.

 

Fantastic!! His sincerity and love for baseball and people really come across. There's no doubt he is a good one and does things the right way.