Spring Break
All Access with assistant baseball coach Sean Lyons
Richard Morse/Staff Reporter
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Sports
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First off, how do you feel about being selected for the Hall of Fame?
It's a really good honor. I'm extremely excited about the fact that there are lots of great athletes that have come through EIU, and to be selected to be in the Hall of Fame is quite humbling and exciting at the same time.
At what point did you decide that you wanted to come back to coach at EIU?
After I had graduated I went out into the workforce and got into teaching, and I coached at the high school level. I did some summer work with college league coaching. I had always kept in touch with coach (Jim) Schmitz. I followed the program very closely and had many EIU players go out and play for me in the summers. I just kept in touch with coach and said, 'Hey if you ever get the opportunity, that spot comes open, I would be interested.' And the in the summer of 2004 he gave me the call and I jumped at the chance.
What do you think the time spent as a player here has done to benefit your coaching career?
What it does is it really brings a pride to the program I hope, to show that to the players here. As being a player here, and now coaching, I really feel a part of EIU, and I want our guys to understand the pride that goes into being a Panther.
You've been spearheading the recruitment here over the past couple years, who do you think have been some of your best recruits?
You never want to single guys out as to who you've been recruiting. This senior class is the first class that I had a hand in truly recruiting. It's really been fun to see them develop over the last four years. We've brought in many talented players that have all played key roles. But these seniors have really taken it upon them to really get it turned around and that's really fun to see as a coach.
After seeing your guys perform what are your thoughts on watching them continue the surge for another OVC title?
The season is a long haul, you go through ups and downs throughout the year. And the main thing we tell our guys is that we've got to show up and go to work every day. They've done a very good job of doing that throughout the long haul, when it comes time to make the push, your ready to do that. There's no turning it on and turning it off, if you've done it day in and day out, you're ready all the time.
How many similarities do you see between this team, and the team when you played here?
I think the biggest thing… I graduated in 1999 and that team went to the regional, the biggest similarity is the senior and veteran leadership that this team possesses as to what we had in '99. We had a lot of seniors back from a quality '98 team. The same thing, we have a lot of seniors back from the team that went to the regional last year. As you get on an individual position basis, you've got guys that get it done both offensively and defensively. And we've got some really strong performances on the mound as well.
What do you think the biggest moment was for you as a collegiate baseball player?
The biggest moment for me was without a doubt was in '99 when we made the final out to win the tournament down at (Southeast Missouri). It was the one goal that the team had possessed all year, and it was such an exciting feeling to make the final and celebrate with all those guys you had worked with all year. That was without a doubt the highlight of my playing career.
As far as coaching goes, what has been your most rewarding moment?
Rewarding moment, obviously was last year winning the OVC Tournament and going to the Regional, it was very exciting. If you want to pinpoint one thing, that would be it. But it really is for me as I mentioned early, seeing the guys that you had a hand in recruiting develop and really take a sense of pride in EIU baseball and show what EIU baseball can be about and have the success that they are having right now. That's really fun.
What are your top three moments as a player?
1. Winning the OVC tournament in 1999
2. In 1998 I was not a part of it, but watching members of my team hit five home runs in a row, which is tied as an NCAA record
3. My first at bat as a freshman back in 1996. That was the 'Here it is moment, here you are, welcome to college baseball.'
When speaking with a potential recruit, what do you tell them about the transition from high school to college baseball, and what do you say to get them to come to Eastern and become a Panther?
I think there's a lot of things to sell about EIU. Not only the quality of education you're going to get here, I think it's the small town atmosphere that we really try to sell, the strong sense of community. When you become an athlete here, you get embraced by the town and the university. Athletically, I think there's a lot of things to offer from our program. And just to come in, and were going to develop you not only as a player, but try to develop you into the best young man that you can be so that when your four years or five years and done here, you're going to be ready. Some are going to have a chance to go on to play professional baseball, but there's a lot of guys that are going to go on to be professionals in there careers. We want them to be ready in all facets.
Next year you're going to be inducted into the hall of fame next year, how does it feel to be recognized in the ranks of Tony Romo and others?
It's a complete honor. You never think that individually you're going to be recognized with those kind of guys, those names. You walk down the hall and see those names, and I never would have thought that I would be recognized with those names.
What are your top three moments as a coach?
1. Last year winning the OVC tournament and advancing on
2. The way we performed at the regional. we were a team that didn't come in with high expectations from anyone, and our players gritted it out and had really strong performances there. I think that really launched us into the success were having this year.
3. The season back in '06, we had a group of guys who really just battled. Maybe not the most talented group of guys, but really battled to a strong year in '06. and that's really fun to see, when your guys buy in and really have a strong showing.
Quick Hits
Favorite sports team: Cubs
Breakfast cereal: Honey Bunches of Oats with peaches
TV Show: Lost
Favorite movie: Shawshank Redemption
Richard Morse can be reached at 581-7944 or at rjmorse@eiu.edu.
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