Q & A with Volunteer Assistant Coach Jeff Mercer
12/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 23, 2010
Earlier this month, MGoBlue.com talked to new Michigan pitching coach Matt White for a Q & A. Now, before the Holiday season, new volunteer assistant coach Jeff Mercer is on the hot seat. Mercer came to Ann Arbor from Ohio Northern University, where he was a graduate assistant coach. Mercer was an All-American at Wright State and the Horizon League's Player of the Year in 2009. Mercer talks to MGoBlue.com about what he's learned after a semester with the Maize and Blue, when he knew he wanted to be a coach and what his holiday schedule will be this December.
Q: You have now coached one semester at the University of Michigan. How have the first couple of months been and what were a couple of the highlights?
A: "It went well. It was about what I expected with my dad coaching at Indiana University (he was the hitting coach there). I had an idea what to expect. I don't think you can fully prepare for coaching at this level, but I've learned an incredible amount, especially the organization, day-to-day process and how to stay on top of all of your tasks because you can make the best plans in the world and come in the office with all of your stuff ready to go and without a doubt, there are going to be four or five things that spring on you that you have to take care of. Coach Maloney is very good about delegating and working through your tasks with you and explaining them. It's been good, very good. I'm definitely looking forward to some games."
Q: Were there any big adjustment that you had to make in the transition from Ohio Northern to Michigan?
A:"Playing at this level really helped me. I was fortunate at Ohio Northern to where Coach Bergman really allowed me to run a large portion of it, which was great. He let me run the offense and let me do the recruiting and he let me do a lot of the office work. He really prepared me for what it was going to be like coming here. Now did it get ramped up? Yes, there's no doubt about that. There was just the adjustment period of the newness of everything, the newness of the new job and new responsibilities. How you do the task and how you go about them. Everything's obviously on a much, much larger scale. The one thing that was a big adjustment for me was that I played at this level but you don't realize all the rules and time constraints as you're playing. As a coach, trying to fit that schedule into the NCAA time constraints and regulations was the biggest adjustment for me."
Q: What did you learn at Ohio Northern that helped you in this position?
A:"It was being comfortable being uncomfortable. You're always going to have more to do than you can get done. At ONU, there were two of us to run a program with 40-45 guys. Coach Bergman taught 4 or 5 classes. I taught 2-3 classes. That's a lot for two people to handle. Being OK with being very busy and having more to do than you're going to get done and just not being overwhelmed. You have to chip away at it and get as much done as you can and at the end of the day really enjoy what you're doing. It's a profession where you can very easily get swallowed up. You can start to sink in a little bit if you don't step back and say "I'm still coaching baseball." I'm still doing something I've always wanted to do. That's was the biggest lesson I learned. Just enjoy what you're doing and not take yourself too seriously."
Q: You had success in your playing days at Wright State. How does that help in coaching guys that you know what they are going through?
A:"I'll tell you this. That is the one thing that I feel I relate well with the guys. I was not a great natural athlete by any means. When I originally went to the University of Dayton I had a very small scholarship. I actually pitched in college before I hit and I blew my shoulder out so I turned solely to hitting. So I understand what it's like to be the low man on the totem pole. I was told I wouldn't play and I said the heck with that and ended up starting half of my freshman year and started from there on out. I knew what it was like to be a nobody, to earn everything you have, to work and refuse to let your constraints hold you down. I came into college running a 7.9 60 yard dash which is like walking backwards. I got myself down to a 7.1 just by sheer determination. When I talk to guys, it's not like I haven't been there. I feel like I can relate to anyone on the roster at any time because I've been the 40 out of 40 and I've been the All-American. There's not anything that, besides being a first-round draft pick like Coach White, that guys can do or say that I haven't been or seen So that's very helpful."
Q: You have some coaching in your genes, but were there ever a specific time where you knew you wanted to get into the profession?
A:"As every kid does, I wanted to play professional baseball and play as long as I could. It became very evident to me when I was probably a junior or senior in high school that being paid a significant amount of money to play was not really an option. I figured I could play professionally, but not to make a living out of it. At that point and time, I just couldn't imagine myself doing anything else. I sure as heck couldn't wear a suit and tie to the office every day. I can't punch a clock like that. I couldn't be away from the game. It's who you are and it's in your soul. I knew that. I knew that it didn't take any physical talent to coach. I knew I wasn't going to be very talented athletically but I really overachieved. I knew work ethic and my ability to be prepared would carry me in coaching. That's when I thought I could be a good coach. It takes time and effort. That's when I decided I would make a run at it. Growing up in a household with my dad, who's working out with Scott Rolen and is buddies with Dusty Baker and all of these first round draft picks. I'm getting to meet Barry Bonds. It was crazy and I was inundated with that and it bit me and never let go. I was extremely fortunate."
Q: What has been your favorite part about coaching college baseball?
A:"If you ask a player why they play, I'm a firm believer that it's a natural high. You can't replicate the feeling of success and the feeling of your entire life building up for one thing and then you're successful. You can't replicate that anywhere else. In coaching I can get very close to that. That's what I feel like I do it for because it gives me a satisfaction. I can't play anymore but I feel like I can get very close to that in coaching.
"Also, just the satisfaction of helping or seeing someone who is struggling and helping someone grow. The big reason I wanted to get into coaching also is that you really get to help someone transition from being a young man into an adult. You get to help people grow and you see them have success and be satisfied. That's a tremendous feeling to know you did something worthwhile and help others."
Q: How excited are you to get the season going?
A:"It's only been snowing for two weeks and I'm ready to get down South and get out on the field to play some games. I'm very excited to go and compete against unbelievable competition. That's what I'm looking forward to. You put all of this time and effort into it and you feel like you're making the right moves. At the end of the day, are you as smart and prepared as the next guy. We're going to find out. Baseball is more like chess than any other sport. It's move-counter-move, adjust, they adjust. Very few sports allow you to adjust on the fly like baseball does. Unless you're Peyton Manning and you change the play at the line of scrimmage, you're pretty much set in football that you're going to run this play. In baseball, once the ball is thrown, there is an entire adjustment. That's the exciting part as a coach as now you're in the chess match. Before you're preparing your team and now is when you get to go out there and match wits with some of the brightest minds in college baseball. It will be fun."
Q: Talk about working with the staff that you have in Coach Maloney, Coach Husted and Coach White?
A:"It keeps you on your toes. It is a lot of fun. I enjoy my time here. We are always very focused and working hard, but we still have a good time with it. It is nice especially with Coach Husted and Coach White that they keep me where I'm supposed to be. If I don't understand something and I'm confused, they are always there to be that guiding figure. And Coach Maloney is on top of everything. It is a great experience. I learn so much every day."
Q: Lastly, what are your holiday plans?
A:"I plan on eating way too much. It will be fun. It's always quite an experience. I grew up in a very small town, one stop light, much slower pace of life. I can't wait to get back. I'm very family oriented and it's going to be a lot of fun."
