Ep. 36: Willie Bloomquist – ASU Baseball Head Coach & Former MLB Player

Willie: I want to be in those situations. Or I want, you know, as a player, I'm like, give me the bat. I want to be the guy up right now. Um, and a lot of people can have smoke and mirrors and say they want to be that guy up in those situations and then they really don't, um, for me, I genuinely wanted to be that guy where I'm either going to be the hero or the goat. Um, those are fun. Again, those are the competitive parts and I have had exactly what you've described in Mariano punched me out to end a game in Yankee stadium and I still remember it.

Tarek: Welcome to Y'all Street. Today. I speak with former major league baseball player, Willie Bloomquist, the coach of the Arizona state sun devils.

intro: He's a Machine! A machine that smashes! 100% legit. So Chris, you need a cup of coffee. I just want to be the best.

Tarek: Willie, would you like a cup of coffee?

Willie: Absolutely. Sure. Thanks. Cheers.

Tarek: Cheers. I got these baseball mugs, but they kind of came in softball size. So at least we get more coffee out of it.

Willie: Well, when our guys are in a zone, maybe they see the ball that big.

Tarek: There you go. Well, Willie, thank you for inviting me here to Arizona state. We have a beautiful setting behind us. I didn't realize before I came here, just how important Arizona state baseball is to the NCAA. It kind of reminded me a little bit of the history of like Notre Dame football, where, you know, in the 1960s and the 1970s and eighties and nineties and early two thousands, Arizona state baseball was just almost every year in the college world series, um, alumni, Barry Bonds, Reggie Jackson, Dustin Pedroia, you know, some of the biggest names in, in baseball, I was going down the list, 134 all Americans, 117 major league baseball players, including you now 22 college world series appearances, five national championships. Let's start with that. What does Arizona state baseball mean to you? And how do you see it in the overall landscape of, of college baseball?

Willie: Well, I mean, it's, it's college baseball's greatest tradition, right. And that's kind of what it's known for here. And, um, you know, it's, it's a special place. There's been a, as you said, there's been a lot of special teams, a lot of special individuals, a lot of phenomenal alumni, um, that really laid the foundation for this place years ago, um, and made it a blue blood program that it is today. And, and that's, that's never going to go away. Arizona state is synonymous with baseball and baseball tradition in history. Um, you know, and that's, that's a program that you're, you never take for granted, uh, being able to wear the uniform for this program. Um, and you know, with, with the obligation, uh, for lack of better term of, of carrying the torch of, for the people that played here and built this place, um, you know, it's a, it's a phenomenal history tradition, um, you know, that all being said, it is a, it's a new landscape that we're in, uh, versus 40, 50 years ago. Um, it's a different, uh, a different, uh, game today, as opposed to, we have a lot of external factors in our game that we didn't have back then. So it, um, the parody across college baseball has gotten greater, um, that there's been a, you know, a shift in, in certain programs on having success that, that used to not have success and vice versa. Um, so it's a matter of being able to adapt back to the landscape that we're in and, and try to get back to that. Um, you know, that once dominant program and, and that's, it's not easy. It's a challenge certainly. Um, but we are, you know, hopefully moving that right direction to where, uh, we can get this place back to where, you know, it used to be years ago and I'll be able to sustain that that's going to be very difficult in today's landscape with, uh, NIL and transfer and all that type of stuff, that the things we have to navigate, but, um, you know, at the end of the day, Arizona state, the brand and the name will always remain staple is, is one of the great ones.

Tarek: Let's talk about those external factors a little bit. Uh, are you, when you talk about NIL, is that the primary change in, in college baseball at this point, as it is with many other collegiate sports or are there other external factors? I mean, when, when I hear external factors, I think social media and, you know, building your own brand at a young age, I know that that was very different than, you know, it was in the, in the nineties.

Willie: Well, I think when you're building a program or trying to run a program, you know, NIL certainly, um, factors has a major factor in that in today's world. And, um, you know, that's something where, you know, you would ask anybody even five, six years ago, would college players be, you know, paid for essentially playing the game. And, you know, the answer would have been, no, that's ridiculous. It's college baseball. It's purity. It's the amateurism of sports in college baseball or in college sports across the board. Well, now that's, that's changed. Right. So you're looking at, at teams that the haves that have nots and everything in between, um, and you know, kids that are, have the ability to transfer, um, you know, not because they're not playing or may not be not good enough for this level, but also the ones that are very good that get poached by other programs that get paid a lot. So, um, having to build that, uh, culture and brand of, um, you know, with or without finances, it can be awful difficult in today's world. So again, that's, that's the different change between what it used to be, you know, 30, 40, 50 years ago here. Um, and that's a challenge certainly. And, and that's one that we're navigating, um, and trying to continue to bring in the right players where, um, they want to learn the game and learn baseball, hopefully the right way. Um, you know, and, and if we can create some revenue, great. And if we can't, then we just got to deal with it. And understand that we just have to, um, adapt the best that we can without it. What type of culture are you trying to create here? Um, trying to get, uh, create a culture where our first and foremost, our guys are going to play hard, um, and represent the uniform the right way. Um, that always doesn't mean wins and losses. I've, um, shifted my approach a little bit from, you know, do all things necessary to win. Yes, uh, winning is important and winning is ultimately the bottom line thing. But I think if you focus on the result of winning, you lose, you lose sight of the process, which is where, you know, all the wins are, uh, as a result of the process. Um, is that hard for you though? Because you strike me as being a, just a competitor. Um, very, and I hate losing more than I enjoy winning. Um, but I have learned over as I've evolved, I guess, and gotten older. Um, it's about how you go about it. I think that is the most important thing. Um, you're representing again, a program, a university, a tradition, a history, all the things we've talked about, uh, former players, you're representing those guys, you know, when you take the field. So there's an obligation to go out and do it, do it hard, play hard, um, run through the bag, you know, just doing the little things that at the end of the day, you go back and go, Hey, yes, hopefully we win, but if we didn't, man, those guys, they played hard. You know, they went after it and they represented well. So, um, if we can do that on a consistent basis, I'll, I'll take the results as they fall.

Tarek: Well, the culture is really an extension of you and, and your playing style because, you know, I read that in, in 2012, you won the heart and hustle award. And I'm curious why you were, you were picked out. Is it some of the things that you're talking about now?

Willie: Um, you know, I, you'd have to ask my teammates that, I guess. I mean, I, I try to pride myself on, um, effort level and, and playing a specific style to where I'm not going to be the most talented guy out there that, that was, uh, pretty evident at a young, young age, um, especially in pro ball. When I got to that level where, Hey guys are going to be more talented than you, but you got to come ready to play every day to beat them. Um, and that was my brand and my style of play was, um, you know, to, to show up and mentally out compete somebody, um, because I'm not going to be allowed physical and most of the time. So you also had the, the moniker of bitter bill. I did, um, still do from a lot of people. And you know, that was, um, I didn't come to make friends when I played. I came to go play the game and compete and take them to dinner afterwards. And, and yeah, we'll go out to dinner and have a cocktail afterwards. But during we're, we play sports to compete, at least I thought we did. And, and to me, that was that competition level is that, uh, that rush and desire of what we, what we strive for. And that's what we miss. I guess when we're done playing is that level of, you know, me against you. Let's, let's find out who's, who's going to win this thing. Right. That's why we play sports. And, um, you know, that's why in my mind, everybody does not deserve a trophy. You know, everybody, you go out and you play, you play hard and the winner gets a trophy and the loser goes home. And that rush of yes or no, uh, win or lose that that's, um, that's why I'd enjoy the game, I guess, and I, you know, yeah, I got bitter because I, I had to be really focused on meticulous on my, I guess, approach to a game, um, and whatever I did, because I wasn't good enough to just go out and go through the motions and have fun, I guess. Fun for me was out competing somebody. Um, and at the end of the day, yeah, people viewed me as bitter cause I, I took it seriously. I wanted to win. I wanted to do well. Um, and if I didn't, I, I took it personally.

Tarek: You say you weren't good enough. I was looking at the stats. I mean, you, you were in major league baseball for 14 years. You batted 269. I mean, that's a great batting average. Uh, you, you played almost every position on the diamond. Um, you know, you, you competed in the, you know, national league West championship. I mean, you, you played for some great teams. Um, why, why do you feel like you, you know, you weren't good enough or, or you didn't compete as well as some of the top players because you know, the stats say otherwise, well, um, it depends how you look at stats.

Willie: You know, I wasn't a big stat guy. Um, I just, from a standpoint of physically, I guess, gifted, you know, for lack of better term, I could run, you know, I could play a variety of positions, uh, some years I put back the ball pretty well, other years I didn't, it, it was just, uh, the, the competitive part of me just always wanted to be better and better and better. Um, never reached the, my ultimate goals, um, of doing everything I wanted to accomplish in major league baseball. But, um, I don't think many do, I think at the end of the day, uh, everyone's always striving to do more, um, which I guess is part of the reason we got there in the first place, cause you're always trying to get better and better and better. So, um, you know, stats aside, yeah, there was a lot of things that, uh, I achieved well, um, and can reflect on and be, be transparent on. Yeah, there was, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I got to spend, you know, 13, 14 years with the best players in the world for, for that long to be able to do that long. That's an achievement. And I'm not naive to that. Um, but I'm also a perfectionist and I wanted to be better than I was. So, um, you know, both things considered or all things considered. Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm happy. Not satisfied.

Tarek: We were talking earlier about Luke Branquino who's, who's been on this podcast before you mentioned your friends with him. And I asked him this question and I, I'd like to hear it from you as well. Um, when you reach the top of your game and you are a professional athlete and. It's finally taken away from you. You know, you spent your whole entire life from little league baseball all the way to the majors focused on this one sport and then it's, it's over and you're not playing anymore. What was that like for you psychologically? Was that a, was that a tough transition or was it easier, made easier because you just kind of went straight into the front office?

Willie: Um, you know, for me it was, uh, if I'm being transparent, it was kind of a relief, um, when, when I got shown the door and it was time to go home. Um, simply because I had endured a lot of, uh, you know, injuries in my career, um, that were unnoticed, you know, my body hurt and I was sore. Um, you know, those types of things, but I, I guess above and beyond everything else, I, again, I, I spoke to about it already, but I had to be so mentally sharp every single day in order to compete at that level. Uh, just because again, the physical tools, you know, I wasn't the, the all-star tools guy, but, but mentally I had to be so sharp every day. And so after 17 years of professional baseball and 14 major league years of coming to the field every day, knowing I got to turn my switch on mentally, um, that last year that I had, it was a very difficult year to be able to turn that switch on mentally. And so, um, I knew I was kind of getting toward the end of the rope when I just, I couldn't, I couldn't trick my mind at the stadium anymore and I couldn't turn that switch on of bitter bill and angry because that's how I played the best. Um, or I played my best when I was kind of a little bit, had the edge, had the bitterness toward me. And I had a hard time doing that toward the end. And so, um, and I was coming off a major knee injury and, um, just wasn't playing a whole lot that year. So it was more just survival than going out and competing. And that wasn't, that wasn't me. And so, uh, when I got, I got shown the door on July one of 15, um, I wasn't mad and I was almost relieved just like, okay, I, I, I can, I can let my brain rest for a while now. So, um, uh, the hardest transition, I guess, was trying to find a purpose again, uh, you know, when I got home and obviously being a dad and a husband and those things were, were great. But after a few years of being home every day and like, whoa, I'm, I'm. I'm more than an Uber driver right now. I should be doing more, um, having more of an influence on things that I can have an influence on. Um, you know, so I was coaching volleyball with my daughter and that was awesome, probably, you know, one of the greatest three or four year stretches of my life, just doing that and learning a new sport. And, um, you know, but finding out. Did that give you the coaching bug or did you have that beforehand? You know, I think, um, that definitely gave me some competitiveness on it, on something new, you know, um, to where I didn't, uh, I was perfectly, uh, content and I was almost kind of sick of baseball. I didn't want to be around it. I was, I had done that and for so long I was tired of it. Um, and so to take one of my daughters and go learn a different sport and, um, you know, teach them a different way of something and me learning something new at the same time was actually kind of fun, um, really enjoyed that and, um, this is full transparency. I would have never, I don't think I had any desire to want to be a coach in baseball, um, just cause I was really burnt out on the, on it, you know, and I had lived it and done everything possible that I could ever want to do. Um, and then I got a call from this place, you know, and it, uh, it struck a nerve, it, it, like, it got me nervous. It got me scared. It got me excited all in one. Um, then it kind of lit a fire back inside me that I had been missing, I guess, for, you know, five or six years of being off the field and, um, I'm like, man, that's probably the only place I would ever really dive two feet back into baseball would be back at my alma mater. And then here we are.

Tarek: Let's start with that journey. So you grew up in Washington. How did you end up at Arizona state? Why did you pick here? I mean, you're talking about a very different geographical location, you know, probably had you ever left Washington prior to then, was that a big shift for you as a young man?

Willie: Um, you know, it was, um, yeah, long, long story, I guess. Uh, my sister, my, first of all, my, my father grew up, uh, um, spent eight years at the university of Washington, uh, medical school and undergrad. And so he bled purple and gold and I grew up having no choice. I was a huge Husky fan growing up. Uh, my brother was playing football at UW at that time. Uh, but prior to that, my oldest sister, um, did not get in, did not get accepted into UW and went to Washington state, uh, to start with and, um, you know, much to my dad's, you know, shaking his head. Disapproval, you know, had a cougar in the family was not a, not a good thing. And my sister went over to Pullman, hated it, didn't like it. Um, wanted to transfer schools. And my dad said, you can go anywhere you want as long as you're not a cougar. And so she transferred to Arizona state. Um, I was in about fourth grade at that time and she sent me all this baseball gear cause baseball was my love. Um, and so I started following Arizona state at a young age and just kind of dialed into watching them in Omaha and the college world series and all these great players that were coming out of there. And, um, so kind of in the back of my mind that had always been a place where I thought was really cool to go play baseball. Um, and, uh, my dad was in a dental convention down here in Tempe and decided to take me with him and I pestered him to take me to an ASU baseball game when I was, you know, 10 or 11 and he did and ASU beat UCLA eight to four. And I remember just going, I want to play here one day. And that just kind of always in the back of my mind was the place I wanted to play college baseball. Um, time went on, I got, you know, better and better and happened to have the tournament of my life and Carson city, Nevada, and ASU happened to be there scouting that and Doug Schreiber found me there and, uh, gave me his card and said, would you have any interest in playing in the sunshine? And I'm like, hell yeah. You know, um, cause we played in the rain up in Seattle. And I remember just going, God, this sucks to have to play with cold, wet fingers all the time and throwing baseballs and, uh, long story short. Um, they brought me on a recruiting trip down here and I committed on the spot.

Tarek: So those memories run really deep.

Willie: Oh gosh. I have, I remember him like there yesterday.

Tarek: Yeah. Incredible. And so your career at ASU was phenomenal as well. I mean, you were winning all kinds of awards. You were a standout athlete. You played in the college world series. What from that personal experience, being a young man, 18, 19, 20, um, have you been able to draw from as you coach these young men again, I know it's a different time, but you know, you go through a lot in that period in your life as you're developing into a young man and talk about the mental challenges of the game, which I'm going to get into in a little bit, but what, what do you draw upon from those experiences?

Willie: Um, you know, I, I grew up with a, with a very tough love father, um, who cared about us and did was an unbelievable dad, but was, he was tough on us. Right. And, and, um, I saw a meme the other day on, on Instagram that said, you can't hurt my feelings. I had to ride home with my dad from my little league games. And that just, that was my, you know, my dad was my coach in little league. And I'm like, man, um, I've heard everything in the book. You can't hurt my feelings. Right. And that's how I grew up. Um, followed it up with my high school coaches that were phenomenal in football and in baseball. Um, you know, two guys that I admired, uh, tremendously with Ed Fisher and Elton Goodwin. Um, so those guys prepared my dad and those two other coaches and my travel coaches were all very old school, salty, borderline mean, you know, people today's world would probably call them abusive verbally, but I, that's just how I, that's what I knew was a different era and, um, I played better under those type of people. And, uh, Pat Murphy was no different here at ASU when I got here. And a lot of people had said a lot of negative things about him. And I'm like, dude, I love him. He's tough and awesome. Um, so for me, what I take away was the best three years of my life. Um, you know, at this campus, at this university playing for ASU, um, you know, so many things other than baseball, uh, baseball obviously was paramount. Uh, playing, getting a chance to play for a national title, going and experiencing Omaha, um, playing for the USA team because of what ASU allowed me to do, um, met my wife first day of class is a freshman, uh, and you know, did you tell her you were on the baseball team? Was that, no, she did not know that for several months. Um, I just didn't start dating her till, you know, late sophomore year. Um, but you know, 25 years later and, and four kids were going strong and it's, uh, just the overall experience at ASU with the sunshine and the campus life and the football and the different sporting events, and then, you know, cap it off with baseball and having that experience. I'm like, man, I didn't want to leave after three years I got drafted. And, um, there was a big part of me. It just did not want to leave this place already.

Tarek: Well you came back to finish your degree. I did. Yes.

Willie: Um, that was something that was very important to me and my family that I go back and finish my degree that was before the internet and, um, dating myself here a little bit, but we didn't have, we didn't have online stuff. So I had to drive from spring training all the way back in here to Tempe, take classes, go back out several times. Um, had to do that for two years, uh, and to finish my degree, but that was important for me to do. Um, and, uh, you know, again, ASU was very accommodating and allowing and making that happen. So, uh, again, just so many things that were, uh, experiences of a lifetime here that I, um, loved so much that again, for me to have the opportunity to come back and do a second tour here. Um, this time as the head coach, I'm like, man, if being a coach is anything like being a player, this is going to be a lot of fun again. And, um, you know, the, the intensity, the excitement of it, the expectations, all those things that are still the same that haven't changed a lot, but it makes it the experience, just an unbelievable experience.

Tarek: So I want to get back to the mental side of the game a little bit. And this is a little bit of a two-part question. Um, this is something I've always wanted to know. I grew up a baseball fan. Um, I'm from Massachusetts. I love the Red Sox. Um, and I'll give you a scenario. It's bottom of the ninth. You're down by a run. You got runners on second and third. There are two outs and you're up at the plate. All you got to do is drive in a run. If you get a base hit, you might have a walk-off base hit and win the game and you strike out game over. What was it like dealing with situations like that, especially in a sport where it's all eyes on you? You have 35,000 people in the stadium. You have millions of people watching on television and you failed and you failed publicly in that moment. How, how did you handle situations like that, especially for a guy who was, you know, admittedly kind of on the bubble at various points in your major league career, and maybe not as, you know, as, as talented as some of the others. How did you deal with that?

Willie: Um, difficult. Uh, you know, is, is you, the first thing is I want to be in those situations or I want, you know, as a player, I'm like, give me the bat. I want to be the guy up right now. Um, and a lot of people can have smoke and mirrors and say they want to be that guy up in those situations, and then. They really don't. Um, for me, I genuinely wanted to be that guy where I'm either going to be the hero or the goat. Um, those are fun that again, those are the competitive parts. And I have had exactly what you've described in Mariano punched me out to end a game in Yankee stadium. And I still remember it. Um, and yeah, that sucked, man. You go home and you just beat yourself up and replay it over and over and over in your head on what you could have done different and, um, how you could have come through in that situation. And what if you did, what if, you know, all the, what ifs, um, that it's tough to deal with, you know, and you can probably ask my wife that same question. And she would have been like, man. Yeah. He was a pain in the ass when he got home up on, when it, on the days that didn't, didn't have success.

Tarek: Um, was your wife a help and, and being a sounding board for you?

Willie: Um, my wife was sent from above. Yeah. For her to deal with me over the years on, on the bad days, I think, um, yeah, she, she was a big help and, and a lot of it was, you know, just support. But, uh, at the same time, a lot of it was, uh, you know, she wasn't afraid to kick me in the ass when I needed it to, you know, and, and say, dude, you got to get your mojo back and, and go compete. You're better than these guys, you know? I didn't need that very often, but occasionally I did. And she wasn't afraid to, to be able to tell me that.

Tarek: Um, by the time that you got kind of later in your career, is the way that you processed those situations different than how you did earlier in your career? Did you see a development process mentally in terms of how to handle that? Um, did you help some of the younger guys that were coming up? I'm just curious how, how that changed.

Willie: Yeah, it did. Um, you know, early in my career, I didn't, I still don't have a very good grasp on how to deal with failure, you know, other than I have taken the, the understanding that that's how you learn. That's how you get better. You don't learn from your, your success. You learn from when you fail because that's real, right? You feel it, you hurt from it. You, um, you struggle with it. So now you're ready to learn, right? When you have success and, but you, uh, maybe didn't do things the right way, but you have success, you don't really sharpen the areas you need to work on because you won or you, you had success. So the failures are where, if you can really, uh, take a step back and learn from it, that's how you ultimately get better in the long run, um, which I've learned later in my career. And early and early on, um, I didn't as a player, I just, I would just beat myself up and then it would snowball and get worse and worse and worse. Um, I played with some very good veteran guys, uh, that helped me along the way. And then as I kind of evolved and became the older guy, I tried to pass that down to the younger guys that were just like me. It seemed like yesterday and, um, getting upset and, and allowing things to spiral where, you know, the good ones can stop it and move on. Um, I think that's probably the biggest thing that I learned later in my career.

Tarek: I've heard you say to some of the guys on the team that your position is not owned, it's rented. It's something that they have to continually earn day in and day out. And as these younger men are dealing with professional like challenges of NIL, where their performance will impact income, where, uh, you know, the opportunities to get to the next level are, um, predicated on playing time and, and a whole host of other things and knowing that they're constantly competing with all these other guys that the, the, the mental challenge of being 18 and dealing with that, um, seems to me like, you know, from a coaching standpoint, you're coaching as much the mental aspect of the game as you are the physical aspect of the game, particularly when they get into moments in games that are, you know, high pressure moments. So, um, Have you, can you think of any specific instances this year, just as the, the year has started where you've had to, you know, had some of those talks with, with some key guys?

Willie: Um, for me, it's, uh, just the general, um, approach to things I think is, is what's, uh, what's key. And we, we we're going to talk about this. Ironically today, um, is, uh, is a team, um, you know, that we've, we started off again, we had eight wins in a row to start the season, a lot of mistakes in those eight wins, but they weren't really ready to listen to those, um, until now they've been punched in the mouth with some good teams that we played here this last weekend. Um, now I think they're ready to listen, like these things that we're preaching upon reared their heads that we've been telling you, we have to do better at this, this, this, and this. Um, but again, does that mean our season's over and we've failed? No, we're, we're 12 games into this thing. Uh, we're just starting. Um, but we have to address it. We have to get better. We have to sharpen, sharpen the pencil so we can rewrite the script again. Learn from the failures. So, um, again, easy to speak upon difficult to do. Um, and then the hard part is, is getting guys to buy into that, right? Where everyone just wants to live. What about me? What about mine? Um, I want to play, I want this, I want that. Well, it's not what you want. It's what we want. Um, that's the hard part that we have to get through to, you know, a bunch of kids that have always been the best player in high school and junior high, and now they're here and they're not, not, maybe not the ones that are playing every day. The first time little Johnny is sitting on the bench and, you know, you got parents that are chirping, why is he not playing? Well, my job is to win baseball games. I'm not dumb. Um, I'm going to play the guys that I think can help us win games today. Um, you know, but on the same token, keeping all those guys bought into what we're doing and continuing to improve. That's a, that's a challenge of coaching.

Tarek: How do you foster that team atmosphere in a sport that is sometimes very individual, you know, particularly, you know, guys as they get up to bat or pitchers, it's kind of like a one-on-one. Um, scenario. And yet you have a team, you have, you know, a lot of guys that need to get bought in. So how do you, what, what is the glue that brings all these guys together?

Willie: I think just the overall culture and what you stand for, I think was what brings them together. And you're right. There is a lot of, for such a team, quote unquote, team sport. There is a lot of individual standoffs, I guess, if you will, in baseball, um, that ultimately affect our team. Right. So I can, and I always tell our guys, you're playing for the guy next to you. Right. You're not playing for yourself. You're playing for the guy next to you. And if you're, if you're not living by quote unquote, the code of what we, and the standards that we've established, then you're, then you're cheating him. Right. Or you're cheating your teammates and cheating this program, which is not allowable. Um, and you do that by the things that, um, you would call them our TNTs, right? The, the, the things that don't take any takes no talent is what TNT stands for. So all the things that don't take talent that you can control, you better be really good at, right? Meaning the effort level, uh, the mentality, the attitude, um, body language, all those things, you better be good at it. Otherwise, you know, the physical mistakes are going to happen. You're going to, you're going to screw up. That's baseball. It's a game of failure. Um, but all the stuff that you can control, you better be good at it. Otherwise you're cheating the guy next to you.

Tarek: Are you recruiting for those qualities specifically when, when you're analyzing options for, for players coming into the program?

Willie: It's a big, big thing that we do. Yeah. Um, it's part of it. Uh, there's the guys that are very good physically that mentally just probably you're not going to do well here because of, you know, we're demanding on that stuff. Um, and it's more and more challenging to find those right type of players and you're not always going to be right. There, there are, I'm not saying we got to have a bunch of dudes that want to go out to the woodshed and throw hands with each other, but we just, we do need the guys that know how to compete when the lights come on and we're going to lose some guys, guys, aren't going to be able to rise up in those moments and they might be really good in the fall and be fall Americans, but then once the lights come on in the spring, they're not very good. Um, that happens. It happens frequently. Um, but it's in the recruiting process, you're trying to find the competitive kids that are obviously pretty good, uh, but really know how to compete.

Tarek: In your career. I find it interesting that, you know, you started in Washington, then you came down to Arizona state and then you get drafted by the Seattle Mariners. So you go back home with, with Seattle, your hometown team, the team that you rooted for growing up. What was that like for you, um, walking onto a major league baseball field for the very first time in front of all of those fans, knowing that you're, you achieved your childhood dream. What was that like?

Willie: Um, you know, the, the, the first moment that I locked out, uh, in the dugout and Safeco field, you know, when I had gotten called up to the big leagues, it just was like, wow, this is, uh, it kind of hit me pretty hard. Obviously like it hits everybody. I think that first time you put on a big league uniform for real and you know, we're about to play it. It's like, wow, no one can ever take this away from me. Uh, was your dad there? Um, my dad was there. Yes. Um, and you know, a lot of, obviously a lot of family, friends and people that were there and that part of it, the positives definitely outweighed the negatives, but there was a lot of, uh, probably unnecessary pressure that I put on myself, uh, playing up there in front of everybody that I know. It's not like I'm going to Florida or somewhere that like, nobody knows me here. If I, if I screw up or whatnot, I can get away from it where there, I can't get away from it. You know, I got calling my accountant to do my taxes and he's telling me my batting average. I'm like, well, gee, Jim, thanks for letting me know what I'm hitting, you know, typical accountant. Um, you know, but it's like, you can never avoid, everyone's watching your every move and you're under the microscope. And there was, you know, a little bit of added pressure with that. And, um, some would say, oh yeah, you get to play in front of your family and friends. Yeah. That part of it's cool. Uh, but they're kind of being in the hometown that you grew up in. It's like, man, you better be on point or everyone's going to know about it. And that, uh, carrying a little bit of that added pressure kind of, um, was another element I had to deal with.

Tarek: Was there a sort of a celebrity component to being a major league baseball player? Would you go out and get recognized in town? Would people come up and ask for autographs? What was, was there, was there a component to that as well?

Willie: Um, yeah. Uh, but, but I, I didn't ever really consider myself like a celebrity dude walking around town with my chest perched out. I just, I kind of was always surprised when someone recognized me, you know, I'm like, shoot, you want my autograph? Sweet. I'll, I'll sign something for you. Um, you know, but it's not like I was, uh, you know, Ken Griffey Jr. Edgar Martinez walking around Seattle where everybody knew who they were. But, um, you know, in that town, it's a very good sports town. Yeah. Go out to dinner, you get recognized quite a bit. And, um, I always consider it flattering. I never really got annoyed with it too often. I mean, there, there were certain times that I'm getting ready to take a bite of steak and someone, you know, it's like, come on, man, I'm a little feel. Um, but, uh, I'm not going to sit here and say I had paparazzi following me around. I was never, never that good. Um, but on occasion, yeah, you get recognized a little bit here and there.

Tarek: Um, towards the end of your career, you came back to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks had one of your best years batted 302. You were the first Arizona state alum to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Um, and again, it's, it's kind of this, this cycle, it seems like in, in your career, back and forth between Washington and Arizona, um, when, when you finally retired and you got the call to come back and coach here and your, your whole entire journey is essentially culminated back at this university. Um, knowing the great coaches that came before you, did it, did it cause you to stop and, and pause and think, and like, am I ready for this? Is this the right move for me? Is this something I want? This is a big burden. Um, what, what was going on in your mind when you got that call?

Willie: Um, all the things that you just said, and I'm jumping back into something that a, I don't know much about. Um, I, all I know is I love Arizona state and I know baseball. Um, I don't know the recruiting game. I don't know the rules of the NCA, all the, these different intricate details. And the other part of the, that I don't want it to go notice. I know pro ball. I've been in pro ball for so long. College game is way different than the pro game. Um, and, and how you teach and how you run a practice and how you do things. Um, and that's something I continue to evolve as a coach and don't have it figured out by any means. But, um, you just want to take and jump two feet in right away. And you don't really know, especially in my situation, I didn't know what I was really getting into. I wanted to be into it, but I didn't know all the ins and outs of it. Um, and I still, you know, I'm learning as I'm, as I'm going, but all those things kind of, you know, enter your mind on, you know, I have a retired life. Essentially. I'm home with my kids every day. I'm with my wife every day. I get, uh, I get every day, Saturday for me, I get to do whatever I want to do. I can go anytime I want to go on a hunting trip. I can do that. If I want to go on a fishing trip, I can do that. I want to go to the beach. I can do that. I don't need this. Um, but damn it, I want to do it. And it just is, is, uh, one of those things that I, I would regret probably the rest of my life if I didn't do it. And, um, all the things you said. Yeah, it's, it's a, it's not, Oh, I can nine to five it and have my weekends off. It's a 24, seven grind. Um, and I think that's what you don't really know unless you're in this industry and you're, you're one of the. You know, coaches in this industry that you really truly understand that this is a 24, seven gig. And if you're going to do it, you better do it with two feet in, um, because it consumes your entire life. And these, these kids, you know, whether they know it or not, like I, I think about them almost as much as my own kids at home, right. And I'm spending more time with, with these, uh, young men down in the locker room than I am with my own kids at home and for me to give that up. And. At times I feel guilty because it's like my, my kids deserve me home more, but on the same token, they also understand that this is, this is their dad. This is what makes me tick. This is why I am. The field.

Tarek: And do they, do they come to the games and things?

Willie: No. Yeah. My, when my daughters come, um, you know, I have two kids here at ASU. Um, you know, so that's kind of cool to go over and have lunch with them on campus and, um, have them know my players over there and, um, I'm sure they've crossed paths at a party or two and, you know, who knows, uh, won't get into that whole scenario that there's, they know that my daughter's there and yes, they know that those are off limits. Um, uh, and matter of fact, they probably run from them when they see my daughters, cause they think it's going to get back to me, but, um, you know, and then my little two that come here, they, they think they own the place and they come and they're down in the locker room running around and writing notes on my dry boards and it's like, those are my recruiting notes and they're writing right over the top of it, love you dad or whatever. So that part of it is, you know, very cool. But, um, you know, on the flip side of that, I want my kids to know that. That I work hard. Um, that the stuff that we have at our house isn't, didn't just grow on a tree in the backyard. It's because I have to go to work and, and, um, you know, provide for my family, you know, and, and whether or not I need to do that or not, it's not the point. The point is that they need to see their dad being constructive and being a positive influence on society in some way, shape, or form and yeah, and that hopefully they'll, they'll learn a work ethic and understand that a dad does that. I got to do that too. Um, you know, and, and obviously they see their mom every day and she's, she's again, sent from above with everything she does at home and running them around and making sure everything's running smoothly there and, um, you know, but. Again, when, what's my legacy, what do I leave for my kids? Hopefully they see that work ethic that I have as well.

Tarek: Well, you've had consistent improvement every year that you've been here. 26 wins, 32 wins, 32, 36 wins last year. Um, two part question, I guess the first first is what is the number one thing that you have learned, uh, over the last four years coaching here? Like what's the, the one thing that maybe was a surprise to you that, that, you know, somebody was coming into coaching, you would say, Hey, be, be prepared for this. You're not, you're, you're not aware that you're going to have to deal with this. So that's the, I guess the, the, the first question. And then, you know, the second is, you know, what, what are the prospects look like for this year and, and how have you shaped the team this year?

Willie: Uh, well, well, for me, the, the first part of your question is, is kind of, uh, a catch 22, I guess, because I've had to deal with a major rule change every year that I've had this job first. It was okay. Take the job, learn, learn the ropes, you know? And then the first year we had after my first season year two, we had the transfer portal. And then the following year after the transport, we had NIL was allowable. And then we had a conference realignment. And so I've had to learn something completely new, a new landscape piece to this whole thing, as I'm trying to learn the whole ins and outs of coaching at the same time. Um, that's been, that's been difficult. Right. And, and, um, so I guess to pinpoint it on one thing, be expecting this, I guess if I could go back and understand if I knew then what I know now, I would have come into this with the, okay, have your, have your style, um, and your standards set on what you want to do, um, and stick to them. Um, I, I think that's probably the most important thing, uh, for me is that, but you don't understand really what those are until you go through it for a few years and you see what works and what doesn't work. Um, now that, again, I don't have it figured out by any means, but I have a better idea of, okay, these things, these are the little things that are important that may not be very important in pro ball, but in college, damn, they're really important and you need to learn that and see and fail before you realize, okay, I got to clean that up as a coach. I got to be better at that part of it. Um, that's, I guess, I don't know if that answers the direct question, but those are the things I would probably more diligent at the early part of my career that I hopefully I'm getting better at as I go. Um, prospects for this team, I have big expectations. Um, but again, it's how well that we can, uh, come together, buy into what we're, what we're selling, um, and execute when, when the lights come on, when it matters. Um, you know, and again, we've shown already here in this early part of the season that we can compete with anybody, but I don't want to compete with anybody. I want to, I want to beat teams that we're in these games with. It goes back to the execution. And again, after this weekend, I'm more and more confident every day that what we're preaching is exactly right. We just have to be better at it. Um, throw strikes, block balls, uh, you know, no free 90 feet, you know, free base runners hit the ball with, with, with guys in scoring position, make contact. If we do those things, we probably walk away from that, you know, winning two games down at globe life or at least one. Um, and coming back, feeling really good about ourselves, right? Instead, we're back to the drawing board again, a little bit going, okay, everything that we preached about is exactly where we failed. We have to get better at this. Um, is it time for panic? Absolutely not. It's time for sharpen the pencil, get back on it, keep writing the script. And this will be the best thing that happened to us this year.

Tarek: Between you and someone like Kenny Dillingham, who is the coach of the football team.There's been a huge resurgence in Arizona state athletics. And I know that there's a big push to get support from ASU alums or ASU fans. What are you guys doing to, to try to spread the word or, or try to get support from the, the fan base to help encourage and support the athletic program? What, where is your focus there? And what would you say to people listening who might want to help?

Willie: Well, I think it, a, it's necessary. Um, you know, we're, we're competing against, uh, you know, schools that have four or five, six, $7 million payrolls. Right. And we don't have it. We don't, we don't have a dime, right. Um, we've, administration has done a phenomenal job of giving us everything that they possibly can. A full allotment of scholarships was approved last year. And, uh, so we have that, which is great. Um, but when you're trying to compete against other programs and everyone loves to poke holes and where we're at as a program and what we don't have, it's like, well, I don't want to say money solves all issues by any means, but without it, man, we're the deck is stacked against us on a daily basis. So we have our work cut out for us. So if you're, if you, if you don't have the Friday night guy that we want to have on the mound, well then help us out and, and, you know, bring something to the table where we can go acquire those type of guys, um, that, that certainly helps. Uh, with that being said, what's I think in my mind, been very impressive with our, with our coaching staff, what we've been able to do is been able to put this product on the field without that help. Does that mean, oh, well they can do it without it. No, we, we need it moving forward. If we want to sustain this, uh, if we want to, if we want to retain our good players and we want to keep acquiring, uh, good players as we move forward, we need, we need the financial help. That's just, uh, something that we need. And in today's college sports, that's the reality. And as much as I have a very hard time asking for help, it's like, we can't do it without it. We can't be the program that we want to be, uh, without some local businesses and people willing to help out, um, our NIO situation just is, you know, Kenny's been very vocal about it. I haven't been as vocal, um, because I, I don't know why, just personality differences, I guess. I have a hard time asking for help, but here I am, I need it. Uh, we as the program need it. And, you know, how are we getting that message out? It's, um, you know, things, uh, you know, docuseries, uh, for lack of better term that's, that's coming out shortly, um, those type of things as to where we're trying to give more of an inside look and make people aware of the challenges that we're facing. Um, but I think people out there know, I mean, it's, they know that, cause I asked about it every time I see him, uh, Hey, what's this NIL stuff. So you know about it. You just don't want to help. Right. Um, everybody knows about it now. So if anyone wants to play the, been living under the rock for the last four years and are able to help, but won't, then, you know, don't, we're, we're going to have a hard time continuing to sustain success moving forward without it.

Tarek: Um, if businesses do want to help and they're interested in a partnership with the program in some form or another, how would they get ahold of you or who, who would they contact?

Willie: Sun angel foundation, Zach Thornton. Um, there you go. Uh, let's put that Brittany Willette, uh, Brittany Willette, Zach Thornton. Uh, those are the guys in our internal department that are, that run the sun angel, uh, collective. And again, we, we just, we need it, you know, to those listening that that can help out businesses that want to get involved with our, you know, a player in particular and, or the whole program in its entirety. There are ways to help. And if it's like, ah, I don't want my money to go to NIL. There's there's other things that we could go toward to stadium upgrades and, uh, things that help in the recruiting process. And we're trying to keep up with the Joneses out there. It's, um, everyone thinks that, oh, we're Arizona state. We shouldn't have a hard time recruiting. Yeah, we do go look at some of the other places that we're competing against to get those type of high end caliber players, right? Um, they're, they're very difficult to land when you're competing against those other, other big schools that do have a lot of stuff. And, you know, if we want to be a really relevant program where we're, um, in that Omaha conversation and are, you know, a highly ranked team or program year in and year out, we got to have the resources to compete with those other schools. Um, and if we don't, then it's going to be a dog fight and uphill battle every year, which right now it is. So, uh, but that being said, I love the team that we have right now.

Tarek: Well, hopefully programs like this can help and we can help spread the message before we, uh, wrap up, you know, as you kind of drive down the highway alone, or you're in the deer blind and, you know, you got some quiet time and you're reflecting and remembering on your professional career, what is one moment that stands out for you that you keep coming back to in your mind? One memorable scene, one memorable story that you can share.

Willie: Um, man, there's been blessed with a lot of them. Um, you know, I think the, the very first, you know, the first of everything kind of always stands out in my mind. Um, you know, probably probably my first base hit that the game that I had, um, had four hits that day. Um, so the first one felt so great. I got three more. Um, but that was, that was a special day, um, you know, just to get that first, first base hit out of the way. And, um, you know, in a big moment, uh, I think, uh, that kind of that whole week where I started playing there at the end of September, um, was, was just really a memorable one, but the first, the first week, um, or I'm sorry, the first base hit off a good buddy of mine, Jared Washburn, um, and hit, hit a double down the right field line and RBI just, man, what a feeling that was, uh, just knowing that, okay, that's the first one. And now we can move forward. Um, pretty special. And again, that was in front of a packed house and Safeco and, um, yeah, pretty neat, uh, first home run, I guess the next year was another big one that I'll kind of look back on, um, you know, those moments are just something you can't, uh, you can never replace and they're etched in my mind forever. So I can, I can remember the smells, the sounds, the smells, the feelings, everything about them, um, you know, and it seems like it was last week, but it's been, it's been 20 something years, which is kind of hard to believe that in itself, but, um, you know, a lot, a lot of very cool memories.

Tarek: Well, congratulations on all your success. Congratulations on the success here at Arizona state. Um, before you leave, we have a little parting gift on y'all street. This is a one, one thousandth of an ounce of gold.

Willie: Oh, nice.

Tarek: That's for you.

Willie: Just as a piece of gold.

Tarek: There you go. Hopefully we can, uh, we can help you start a little stack there.

Willie: Well, let's stack this baby up and get it nice and high.

Tarek: So that's great. Thanks so much.

Willie: Awesome.

Tarek: Really appreciate you.

Willie: Appreciate you.

outro: How do y'all drink this? That's the y'all street right there.