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Questions About College Baseball Recruiting
Coach Damon Towe
Davidson College
Assistant Baseball Coach
At the time this interview was done Coach Towe was the recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Davidson College
Damon Towe has been named Athletic Director and Head
Baseball Coach at Blue Ridge Community College. Most recently, Towe was the top
assistant since 2000 at Davidson College. In his first season, he lead the
Wildcats to their most wins and highest seed in eight years in the Southern
Conference. Towe handled administrative responsibilities off the field while
also serving as the recruiting coordinator, hitting, catching, and infield
instructor on the field.
Towe began his coaching career at Western Carolina
University in 1997. During his two-year span as assistant coach, WCU won 81
games and was ranked in the NCAA Division I Top 25 both seasons. Off the field,
Towe was responsible for scheduling, NCAA Compliance, camps, budget, and fund
raising while serving as assistant recruiting coordinator, pitching and catching
instructor.
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Question: :How important is it for a player to attend a college
team's summer camp? (Assuming that he is interested in a particular school)
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Answer: Very important. It gives us a chance to cross check
or see kids for the second time. I evaluate a player two times before I sign them.
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Question: When should a player write a letter of introduction
to a college coach? (9th grade, 10th grade, etc.)
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Answer: As soon as he s a legal NCAA prospect (beginning of classes
in his ninth grade year) Although we can not write to him until September
1st of his junior year.
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Question: Is it better to have the high school coach write /
send the first letter? |
Answer: Either way, as long as all of the players academic
and personal info is available. (Phone #, address, SAT/ACT, grade
point average, primary position, speed, strengths, weaknesses,
velocity, etc.)
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Question: Do sending copies of high school / summer team
statistics help? Are they of value to you, when included with an
introductory letter? |
Answer: Yes .... B.A., SB, HR, B, OB%, BB, .... K, BB,
IP, E.R.A., etc.
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Question: Should a player or coach send copies of clippings
from local newspapers that include highlights about the player?
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Answer: NO!
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Question: Are the "online" internet recruiting services
taken seriously by college coaches? Would you recommend them to a
high school player and his family? |
Answer: Yes and No .... Some are not quality and schools range
in many ways and needs. Both athletically and academically
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Question: Should a player send a video tape of himself in
baseball situations and games? How important is the editing of the tape?
Should it be professionally done? |
Answer: Yes, a player should send a video. Editing is
only important to see his swing, throw run and field. 5 - 6
minutes worth. Some game film is good to evaluate instincts,
speed and concepts.
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Question: If a tape is beneficial to you what suggestions would
you make? What should be included? |
Answer: Pitching angles, sides & behind plate. Pitchers
in game situations. Batting practice, running times, some game
situations. A good mix of both, but get all tools in the video.
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Question: :What items would you suggest to "leave out" of a tape?
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Answer: Music .... Father or Mother speaking
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Question: Assuming that a player has received and completed /
returned a "baseball questionnaire" from a college, is it a good idea
to contact the coach by telephone? |
Answer:
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Question: When, in your opinion, would be the right time period
for a player to contact a coach? Two part question .... What grade? What
time of year? |
Answer: Junior year 11th grade (Spring and Fall)Senior
year 12th grade (Fall)
We prefer seniors and juniors to let us know when and where
he is playing and how interested he is.
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Question: 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? |
Answer: I believe this is the best way to see kids play,
plus at our camps. Limited time and budgets restrict us from seeing
just a few kids at a time. Showcases let us evaluate 100 - 300
players on one weekend.
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Question: Does the fact that a player has attended an "invitation only"
type Showcase, such as Team One, Area Code or Top Gun help a player when he
expresses an interest in a particular college? |
Answer: Yes ... Because the best players are usually selected !? But many
of the players at these events do not fit our needs athletically because the pool
is drained by the many showcases. If he can play he will be seen by a good recruiter.
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Question: How important is a player's physical appearance? I do not mean
is he 6'-1" tall and weigh 200 pounds. What I am referring to is tattoos, body
piercing, dress, odd hair styles, etc. Are any or all of these items a "negative"
to a college coach? |
Answer: They are very negative to me personally, but I believe in a
controlled & disciplined environment. It can be effective. But this
also means a lack of discipline to start with, conversations and meetings
with players are the best way.
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Question: 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
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Answer: Answer: A good coach can see and recognize tools
so a bad day is not a huge concern. That is why we look for tools.
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Question: How important is a player's "attitude appearance" when in
a game or at a practice? |
Answer: If he can handle himself, coaches with composure,
it is great. Instincts tell a lot about a player for myself and
other coaches.
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Question: I know that the academic requirements at Davidson
and similar small private colleges is much different than a larger
state funded school. How do you and your staff compensate for that
and still recruit quality student-athletes? |
Answer: We send out a lot of letters, hitting the road
and seeing players, calling coaches and responding to every
letter written to us. The biggest thing is being on the road
every weekend June - November and seeing players.
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Question: :How does the cost of a quality education (that Davidson offers)
impact your ability to recruit? Do you have to expand the geographic
area in which you look for players? |
Answer: We really expand to the entire country. We are fortunate
to have one of the best, if not the best educations in the country
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Question: Do you feel that a southern school like Davidson has
an advantage when trying to recruit a player from the northeastern
United States? Over a school in the north that has similar academic
and tuition requirements? |
Answer: Yes. Because of the reputation of Davidson, plus
the year round baseball weather.
Coach Damon Towe
Head Baseball Coach / Athletic Director
Blue Ridge Community College
College Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
828-694-1778
email: damont@blueridge.edu
Blue Ridge Community College
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