Jeremy Sheetinger—more widely known as “Coach Sheets”—is the Head Men’s Baseball Coach of the Georgia Gwinnett College Grizzlies. Coach Sheets helped his team win the 2021 NAIA College World Series title, their first national championship. That same year, he was named the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year from the Collegiate Baseball Foundation (the first NAIA coach to win this award).
In this episode of Dad’s on Tap, Coach Sheets shares what makes his coaching style different, what it looks like to parent a child in sports, and how to better support your kid’s coaches at any age level. And even if you don’t have kids in sports, Coach Sheets shares many life lessons that apply to everyone. Don’t miss it!
You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...
- Coach Sheets’ core mission: Person, student, player [1:41]
- Coach Sheets shares how his dad shaped him [7:08]
- What coach learned to do differently [13:24]
- The coach that made an impact on Sheets’ life [21:09]
- Coach’s concerns about the role parents are playing [28:24]
- How to partner with your kid’s coaches [40:04]
- Coach Sheets’ advice to every dad [44:35]
Coach Sheets’ core mission: Person, student, player
Coach Sheets’ mindset, mentality, focus, and coaching style and philosophy are centered around personal development. He knows that if he can build a better person, he can build a better baseball player. But he had to learn to shift his focus away from just winning or losing and focus on his people and the process.
It’s about focusing on the process of daily improvement, getting the right people in the room, and committing to helping the best versions of those people show up every day. When you do that, winning takes care of itself. The minute Coach Sheets stopped worrying about winning championships, they started to show up.
But Coach Sheets didn’t always think this way. He’d coached for 11 years, consumed by chasing championships and furthering his career. His players knew what he was there for. He took a break from coaching when he was given a chance to work at the American Baseball Coaches Association, which was built on the premise of servant leadership. As he made that his daily mission, he got to a much better place.
He realized life is about relationships. He knew if he got back into coaching he’d do things differently. Now, he makes every day about building relationships and serving others.
The coach that made an impact on Sheets’ life
Coach Sheets grew up in Kentucky playing basketball. He was a dedicated player who wanted to become a point guard who just happened to play little league baseball as well. One year, he was drafted to a well-coached team that always played for the championship.
The coach placed him on first base and told him he’d teach him how to play. He’d never had a better coach. That summer, baseball became his passion. His coach altered the trajectory of his life. They won the little league championship. Baseball became his passion.
Coach’s concerns about the role parents are playing
Coach states that there are some fantastic sports parents who are ultra-supportive and phenomenal communicators. Others are far too involved. As parents, it’s not easy to sit on the sidelines and hear anyone say something negative about your kids. But you have to trust the judgment of the leaders God has placed in your child’s life.
As a college coach, Sheets holds his players to a standard—but he’s also going to show them that he cares. He wants parents to know that he has their sons’ best interests at heart. He strives to communicate openly, honestly, and consistently.
It’s about educating and informing the parents about who you are, what your mission is, and how their children will be coached. Communication will prevent—and solve—a lot of issues. It puts parents at ease. The more you can break down barriers, the better.
How to partner with your kid’s coaches
Coach Sheets’ emphasizes that you need to make communication with your kid’s coaches a priority. Ask them what you can do to support them (with no strings attached). Show the coach that you’re willing to step up and offer support. It helps knowing someone has your back.
Coach will work camps so he has petty cash on hand to do things for his team. Sometimes coaches dip into their own pockets because the experience matters. Coach Sheets’ had a parent offer to help financially by paying for a meal on the road. There are small things you can do to help that make a huge difference.
Resources & People Mentioned
Connect with Coach Sheets
- Follow Coach on Twitter
- Connect with coach at 502-767-7680
Connect With Scott and Dads on Tap
- The Dads on Tap website
- Follow us on Facebook
- Follow DOT on Instagram: @TheDadsOnTap
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Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK