| |
|
CHALK TALK
with
Baseball Coach
Will Sanborn '86
|
"Chalk
Talk" is a feature that will focus on our outstanding coaches on staff
at St. Joe's.
The Royal Blue faithful will learn more about our coaches as they
are asked various questions about their experiences as a coach as
well as their life away from athletics.
Will Sanborn has built the Saint Joseph’s baseball program into
a consistent winner. In recent years, Sanborn has led the Monks into
the upper echelon of one of the country’s toughest regions,
the Northeast.
Sanborn’s accomplishments at Saint Joseph’s have been
numerous. During his 15 years as Head Coach, the Monks have won 20+
games eleven times. Recent history has been particularly impressive
as the Monks have posted three straight 30 win seasons and back-to-back
trips to the New England Regionals.
Although his teams have enjoyed a high level of success recently,
success is certainly not new to Sanborn; he has more wins than any
baseball coach in school history. He enters the 2008 season with a
15-year record of 377-229-6. (.616)
Sanborn’s drive to win first became evident during his playing
career at Saint Joseph’s from 1984-86 when he was a member of
some of the programs’ finest teams. During that time, the Monks
averaged just over 20 wins per season, including 25-plus wins in 1985
and 1986.
Prior to taking over as head coach at Saint Joseph’s, Sanborn
coached at many levels. He has held coaching positions with Bonny
Eagle High School, Bar Mills American Legion and the Portland Twilight
League. He is also Director of the Saint Joseph’s Baseball Camp,
and currently serves as the Associate Director of Athletics at Saint
Joseph’s College.
Will resides in Standish with his wife, Lynn Brown, and their two
children, Morgan and Lincoln.
Background
information about your playing days:
I played high school baseball at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish,
Maine. I played the outfield and pitched. My senior year Deering defeated
us for the Telegram League Title. We came back and beat them to win
the Western Maine Final – lost in the state championship game
to Brunswick.
At St. Joe’s I was part of some of Jim Graffam’s early
teams 1983-1986. My senior year we went 34-10 and won our first NAIA
District 5 (New England) Championship. In the NAIA Northeast Regional
we won the first game vs. Point Park University – I got the
game winning hit in extra innings. We lost the next two games of the
regional. Interestingly enough – my daughter now attends Point
Park University. I was a very average player who had to work hard
for everything.
When
did you realize that you wanted to be a coach?
Probably in high school when I figured out I wasn’t going to
play in the NBA or MLB! I had grown up very focused on athletics –
particularly basketball and baseball. My Dad was a great athlete.
I grew up on stories about his legendary high school coach at Standish
High – Rupe Johnson. Rupe was and still is a legend in our town.
He was well respected and ahead of his time. I think that had a great
influence on me.
Who
was your biggest influence as a coach?
 Several
people. Like most players I think my Dad was my first coach. He was
always there to play catch, throw batting practice, rebound basketballs
or play one on one. My Dad owned his own business and was very busy
– routinely working 12 hour days. That was how my brother and
I spent time with our Dad – practicing for baseball or basketball
– I think that had a great influence.
Even though I never played for Rupe Johnson and he died when I was
a kid I think he had a great influence on me. My high school baseball
coach Brian Cates was great a breaking down skills. Coach Graffam
was a great motivator and competitor. I think I have taken a little
bit from all of them.
What
is your most memorable moment as a player?
As a player I think it was that game winning hit against Point Park
in the NAIA Northeast Regional in 1986.
As
a coach?
As a coach there have been so many. I think our first win in the NCAA
New England Regional vs. Bowdoin in 2006 was a great win – a
great team come-back.
What
is your funniest or most embarrassing moment as a coach?
There have been so many funny and embarrassing moments. None really
stand out above the others – I think the best moments are those
“dugout moments” that happen in baseball that the fans
don’t see. Our teams always have great personality and the players
have fun playing the game – it creates so many great moments.
Favorites:
Movie:
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Food:
Thanksgiving Dinner
Pro
sports team: Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots,
Boston Celtics
Pro
athlete and why? Charlie Furbush who is currently
in the Detroit Tigers Organization – because he played for us
at SJC and has a great chance to play in the big leagues.
Most
famous person you’ve met:
Cal Ripken
If
you could meet one person, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Abe Lincoln – because he saved the union.
Tell
us something about yourself that most people don’t know:
I began dating my wife when I was in the 8th Grade. She was a sophomore
in High School!
Hobbies
away from your sport:
Bird Dog Training and Hunting
 What
you look for in a player when recruiting:
Baseball Talent – Great Attitude – Work Ethic –
Good Students
What do you do in the off-season?
There is no “off season” when you are a college coach
– it just goes to different phases. My passion other than baseball
is bird dog training and bird hunting. I spend a great deal of time
in the summer training my dogs – and in October I am in the
woods with them almost every day. I don’t play golf!
What
does it mean for you and your team to be in the GNAC?
I think the GNAC will be good for us. Hopefully it will help us push
our program to the next level.
What
expectations do you have of your team every year?
I expect them to work hard and keep a positive attitude. I want them
to play with passion and intelligence. I expect them to be young men
of character. I expect our players to exemplify excellence on and
off the field and keep their academics as a priority. We want to be
the most competitive team on the field every day. If we do all of
these things – the wins and losses will take care of themselves.
Anything
else you feel the web site readers should know about you/your program?
The thing I am most proud of in my coaching career is that I think
I have been able to put a great deal of energy into our baseball program
– but keep my family as the top priority. My family is the thing
I am most proud of. My daughter Morgan and son Lincoln are great kids.
My wife Lynn (our Dean of Students here at SJC) is my best friend
and the best person I know.
Check out the previous "Chalk Talk" Features
|
|
