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ATHLETE 1 PODCAST

ATHLETE 1 PODCAST

Baseball Coaches Unplugged is the go-to podcast for anyone serious about building better ballplayers and better programs. Hosted by Ken Carpenter — a high school coach with 27+ years of experience — this show delivers practical, repeatable baseball coaching methods, short-and-usable baseball tips, full practice plans, and proven approaches for building team culture at the youth, travel, and high school baseball levels.

Each episode breaks down real coaching choices: planning practices, developing pitchers and position players, in-game strategy, recruiting prep, mental performance, and leadership that wins in the regular season and postseason. Expect:

- Tactical drills and practice templates you can use Monday.

- Interviews with championship coaches and successful players.

- Culture and leadership playbooks to build accountable teams.

- Short episodes and longer deep-dive interviews — clear takeaways every time.

Follow Baseball Coaches Unplugged to get new episodes every week, read full show notes and transcripts at baseballcoachesunplugged.com, and help other coaches find the show by leaving a rating or review.

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Why Coaches Play Their ‘Favorites’ — And How to Become One

Recent Episodes

Sept. 10, 2025

Why Coaches Play Their ‘Favorites’ — And How to Become One

Send us a text Ever wonder what separates the starters from the bench in high school baseball? The answer might surprise you—it has less to do with March tryouts and everything to do with what happens in September. The players who earn starting positions understand that the foundation is built months before the season begins. Physical preparation through consistent participation in team weightlifting programs doesn't just build strength—it demonstrates commitment while allowing coaches to ev...

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Sept. 3, 2025

The Secret Sauce to Winning 3 State Championships in 5 Years

Send us a text What separates consistently successful baseball programs from the rest? For Coach Jared Ingersoll of American Fork High School (UT), it's creating what he calls "the AF way" – a distinct approach to baseball marked by exceptional energy, relentless hustle, and players who genuinely compete for each other rather than themselves. After leading his program to three state championships in five years, Ingersoll pulls back the curtain on building championship culture. He reveals how...

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Aug. 27, 2025

5 Accountability Moves Every Championship Team Makes

Send us a text Ever wonder why some baseball programs consistently win championships while others, despite similar talent, fall short? The answer often lies in one word: accountability. But not the kind that's just plastered on team hoodies or chanted in pre-game huddles. True accountability separates the great teams from the mediocre ones, and in this episode, we dive deep into what that really means. When a player boots a ground ball or skips a workout, how the team responds reveals everyt...

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Aug. 20, 2025

What Does “Burn the Boats” Look Like in High School Baseball?

Send us a text Ever wonder what it takes to build a championship baseball team in a place where players sometimes have to shovel snow off the field just to practice? South Dakota State Champion coach Jeremy Van Heel takes us behind the scenes of his Brandon Valley High School program's remarkable journey to victory. When Van Heel recognized his team had championship potential, he focused not on physical skills but on the mental game. "Our biggest downfall was the eight inches between the hea...

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Aug. 13, 2025

How to Prepare for College Baseball: What Coaches Really Look For

Send us a text What happens when college baseball recruits finally arrive on campus? Are coaches getting the players they thought they recruited, or do they discover someone entirely different? Brian Warning, former college recruiting coordinator at Thiel and Lake Erie College, pulls back the curtain on the critical summer period before college baseball and how it separates future contributors from those who'll struggle to make the team. With candid insights gained from years evaluating tale...

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Aug. 6, 2025

The Most Insane Baseball Performance You’ve Never Heard Of

Send us a text Some baseball stories transcend the game itself, becoming legends that remind us why we love this sport. Ryan Heath's April 23, 2007 performance is exactly that kind of story. Imagine a quiet, hardworking kid from a small rural high school who had never hit a grand slam in his life. Then, in one magical doubleheader for Oakland University, he launches three grand slams, adds another home run, and drives in a staggering 14 RBIs. This isn't fiction – it's the incredible true sto...

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July 30, 2025

4 Moments That Defined the Greatest CWS Upset Ever - Gary Gilmore

Send us a text When Gary Gilmore arrived at Coastal Carolina, they had won just 17 games the previous season. Nobody—except perhaps Gilmore himself—believed this program could ever reach college baseball's pinnacle. Yet through a remarkable development-focused philosophy, unwavering faith, and a culture built on love, Gilmore guided the Chanticleers to one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. The 2016 College World Series champions weren't built on blue-chip recruits or lavish...

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July 23, 2025

3 Leadership Lessons That Ignited A State Championship

Send us a text Championship teams aren't born—they're built through transformative moments. When Olentangy High School was run-ruled by their rivals midway through the 2025 season, head coach Ryan Lucas watched something remarkable happen. His players, on their own accord, gathered in the locker room for an honest conversation about identity and commitment. That player-led meeting sparked a stunning turnaround—16 wins in their next 17 games culminating in an Ohio Division I State Championship...

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July 16, 2025

5 Reasons High School Pitchers Are Getting Injured More Than Ever

Send us a text What's destroying young pitchers' arms across America? The answer might be right there on the radar gun. In this eye-opening episode, Coach Ken Carpenter tackles the alarming rise in serious arm injuries among youth and high school pitchers. Drawing from conversations with experts like Dr. Tom House and his own 27 years of coaching experience, Ken explores how the relentless pursuit of velocity—"chasing 90"—combined with year-round pitching schedules and early sport spec...

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July 16, 2025

Is It Still Called ‘Old School’ If It Works? Clint Hurdle

Send us a text Ever wonder what happens when a Major League manager storms the field to argue a call? For Clint Hurdle, former Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies manager, one such confrontation led to an unexpected humbling when an umpire refused to eject him, saying "I've had to watch this horrible baseball for four days. You're going to have to watch it too." It's just one of many candid insights Hurdle shares in this revealing conversation. After spending decades in professional base...

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About the Host

Ken Carpenter Profile Photo

Ken Carpenter

Podcast Host

Originally from Bellaire, Ohio. 27 years of coaching high school baseball. Served 19 years as a head high school baseball (Buckeye Valley and Dublin Scioto - Ohio). Assistant Coach at Dublin Coffman and Dublin Jerome (OH)
Overall record 314-159.

Football Coach at Dublin Coffman and Buckeye Valley (Ohio) - 6 years
Sports Official - Baseball/Football/Basketball

Past President of Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association
Served on the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Board

U.S. Army Paratrooper

Graduated from The Ohio State University

Reviews

Great Podcast hosted by a Great Coach!

"Great episode every week"

Buckeyebymarriage | May 27, 2021

AMAZING PODCAST!!

"Ken does awesome work marked by such intentionality. Keep up the great work!"

Alina | Nov. 23, 2022

Buckeye Way - Bob Todd Interview

"Refreshing reminiscing with Coach Todd about his time as OSU Baseball coach and his philosophies as a coach and parent. Good work Ken."

Jim Dougherty | April 26, 2023

Great Listen

"Athlete1 Podcast offers insightful and inspiring interviews with top athletes, giving listeners an inside look at their journeys and challenges. Great listen for sport enthusiasts!"

Alex | July 24, 2024

Great content for high school baseball coaches and players

"If you are a high school coach or player, do yourself a favor and give Ken's podcast a listen. Ken does a tremendous job in engaging his guests, resulting in a dialog that is not only entertaining, …"

Max Newill | Sept. 12, 2024