Wingate University Coach Allen Osborne Interview

When Allen Osborne played baseball at Marshall University, the football team had a motto, “We play for championships.” Osborne is taking that mentality with him to Wingate University. “We want to play for the South Atlantic Conference championship every year. We want to play for championships every year”

“The beauty of the school is one of the first things that caught my eye,” Osborne said. “The support of the administration is very evident. North Carolina is a great baseball state. We will have the ability to grow as a baseball program.”

A four-year letter winner at Marshall University from 1992-95, Osborne earned Southern Conference Freshman of the Year honors.

Coach “Oz” has a deep college coaching background serving at Chipola, Georgia, Memphis and ECU. While at ECU, Osborne's offense set or broke six offensive records, including hitting 103 home runs and 153 doubles in 2004. He helped guide the 2004 Pirates to a nation-best 47-9 mark, including a 25-5 finish in C-USA play. ECU advanced to the Super Regional series after claiming the Kinston Regional championship. The Pirates finished the year ranked as high as fourth nationally by Collegiate Baseball and USA Today.

Oz is a unique coach. I call him the Joe Namath of the coaching fraternity because he commands respect from the dad’s, while making the mom’s swoon with his movie star good looks. But it only takes a minute to understand that he is all about baseball. He lives it…breathes it..and dreams about it. I asked Coach Osborne if he would take some time to answer a few questions for us. Before I get started I’d like to caution you about one thing: If your wife gets an opportunity to meet Oz---forget it, the recruiting process is over. She will be ready to sign anything he asks.

 

Coach Osborne, how did you get started in college coaching?

I was preparing for law school, believe it or not, and a coach I had in college asked me to help coach with him in the summer of ‘96. I just had come back from playing in Europe had some time to kill so I went to the New England League for summer ball and I am hooked!

Who has been your biggest influence in your career?

That same coach who asked me to go to summer ball with him, Coach David Perno from the University of Georgia. He gave me a chance and taught me how to work. Of course, I owe everything to my mother, because she has been my biggest influence in my life, but Coach is the guy I look up to in baseball.


This is your 3rd year at Wingate; how is everything going for you?

It is going great! We are just finishing our 3rd fall together and I couldn’t be more pleased with our progress. Of course, I would have liked to have won more games our 1st two seasons, but this is a process. We have recruited high school guys which can take a little longer for the wins to happen, but these guys are great people, and not to mention good players.

I know one of your goals is to win the National Championship; how close are you in competing for that?

That is a tough one. If you really think about it, only one team wins their last game. If we can get to World Series it will be a goal met, but to win it all…that would be amazing for the school, the program, the area, and of course the players. Wingate has a huge tradition of being a powerhouse and we are working hard to become that again.

What effect has the new “transfer rule” played in college baseball?

I think the transfer will help D2 schools and will hurt them also. For example, our talent level will keep getting better and better because of having players transfer and play immediately at our level. But, it is going to make our job harder because of the waiting game with recruits will take longer. D1 coaches cannot mass-recruit or miss, so they may take longer to evaluate a player or string kids along longer. This, of course is not good for us. I have found at this level, most players believe they are D1 capable, which makes them not as interested in us. This makes our job a little tougher, or time-consuming, if I may.

Explain to a HS player what it’s like to be a college baseball player?

The easiest way to say it is, “it is a job.” You have to get up, shower, hit the cafeteria, go to class, hit the cafeteria, practice, weight room, study hall, study and then hit the pillow. That is a typical day. It is so structured. If you fall out of whack with your schedule, just like taking a day off of work, you get behind. But, the great part about it is your life is so structured that is so easy to succeed. You know your daily routine and nothing should be too unexpected. But, what a great job to have!

 

What’s the biggest challenge, on and off the field, in dealing with young men 18-23?

On the field it is cake. Most, if not all, have one common goal! Becoming a champion! We strive daily for this. Off the field, can be a different story. We are their parents away from home. We deal with sickness, girlfriends, grades, home life, study habits (or lack of), professors, parents. Basically everything you have to deal with as a parent we have to also. (The biggest difference, if the player does not do well, we get fired!)

How important is it for a player to attend a college team's summer or fall camp? (Assuming that he is interested in a particular school)?


Attending a summer or winter camp is the easiest way to become recruited and see a school firsthand. What better way to meet the coaches, learn their style, and make an early decision about that institution, not to mention learn a ton of baseball. Also, it is important for the coaches to see the players interaction with the coaches and their team.

With the continuous increase in the number of "Showcases", in recent years; how important is it for a player to attend this type of event?


Showcases are double-edged sword. Some just want your money, some are recruiting tools. I think you must really identify why you are going, who will be there and is this going to benefit my family. I know at our showcase camp, we will have almost 20 different coaches, MLB clubs, and summer coaches in attendance. Just make sure it will “showcase” your talent!

If a player has a bad game, when a college coach is in the stands watching him for the first time, does that mean it is "over" as far as that school is concerned?


Not at all. We, as coaches, are trained to see certain things. If a guy has an 0-4 day, it is not over for him in the recruiting process. He may have good bat speed, a good setup, and an idea offensively. Baseball is tough game and I think one day does not make or break a player.

Outside of talent, are there certain qualities that you look for in a player?

Every coach says it…grades.
Leadership
Temperment
Savvy
How he deals with his coaches
And I watch this one closely, how he interacts with his parents. That is huge to me!​

What advice would you give a HS player wanting to play at the next level?


You can. There is a place somewhere that wants you. It is all about fit! Do your homework, identify some schools, make a list of possible degree interests and begin to recruit them! Visit as many schools as possible! Be persistent!


If you had to choose 3 words to best describe yourself, what would they be?

Passionate, Loyal, Human

 

Passionate, Loyal, Human---Wow, I could not have thought of three better words to describe Coach Osborne.

Very few people know all the things Coach Oz does with and for the young men behind the scene. On the field he pushes them and challenges them to ensure they get the most out of their abilities. He will not allow a player to cheat himself. Off the field there are very, very few things that goes on in his player's lives that he doesn't know about. He eats with them morning, noon and night--he's in their lives more than their parents. And he serves that role as a parent very well. How do I know this?---because he's been the surrogate father to my son for two years; and some say he does a better job.

 

Coach Osborne,
I have an unsigned senior who played on a showcase team this summer and has attended numerous showcase events. What are the steps that he needs to take now to get an offer from a college? After showcase camps, should a player contact a coach in attendance or should he wait for the coach to contact him?
Thanks!

 

Coach Osborne's reply

He needs to contact the coaches that were in attendance and try to get a visit, a tryout or just some sort of feedback from the coach. Do not wait on coaches. We like to be pursued.