Q&A: Frank Maldonado

Frank Maldonado, former Barstow Community College coach and resident, is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach at a NCAA Division II at the University of Tampa. Maldonado has been a key contributor towards guiding his team to two consecutive NCAA Division II National Championships as a hitting coach and has helped boost his team to be among the top five nationally in every offensive category for the past two seasons.

Maldonado has worked with four Spartans hitters who were named All-Americans. This season was the first time the team didn’t win the championship in two seasons, losing two games to Ashland and Ouachita in Sauget, Ill. in the championship round. Maldonado, who was at a recent batting camp in Las Vegas, talks about his past, present, and future.

Q: How much have you learned about coaching by being in a championship environment like you’ve been in with Tampa?
A: I would say the biggest thing I’ve learned about being on a championship team is how to manage your players. I’ve witnessed how our players really embraced (University of Tampa coach) Joe Urso, and that gave me the idea of what I want to create when I get my own program.

Q: What is the most valuable thing about your experience at Tampa that you are going to take with you as a head coach?
A: I would say the most valuable thing I’ve taken away is game management. You have to pay attention to the Xs and Os, and my head coach is very, very, good at it. He is always one or two innings ahead when making decisions and personel moves. I realized the game management part of being able to make the right moves at the right times is part of being successful.

Q: What level do you aspire to reach when you become a head coach?
A: My dream always has been to be an NCAA Division I head coach. Part of being a successful head coach is waiting for the right opportunity to get a good head coaching job in our conference. I recently interviewed for a position at St. Leo University.
I know, sooner or later, Division I athletic directors will be knocking down the head coach's door, and I wouldn’t be opposed to moving up the ladder with him when he moves to Division I.

Q: Who has inspired you to be a head coach?
A: There were a lot of people that inspiration comes from. My family has always encouraged me to make the right choices in whatever profession, and baseball has always been my passion. Their support and their sacrafice encouraged me to get through my college coaching grind.

Q: Could you talk about some of the championship runs in Tampa?
A: We had a very, very, extremely talented team in 2006. The majority of the season, we were beating teams consistantly, and by a lot of runs. The championship game was probably my best memory. I remember being down by 1 in the top of the ninth, and tying the game to go into extra innings. We had three two-strike hits to tie the game, and knocked in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning to win the national championship. I’ve been on that side of defeat as a player.
When there is a chance that you aren’t going to win, you start thinking about all of those times, and start to wonder if I am going to get back there again. Our players found a way to not give up and achieve their goal.

Q: What have you learned as a batting coach?
A: Working with the hitters the last 10 years, it’s a lot different than the pro aspect. There are always different philosophies with hitting. There is a saying in our business that the only thing the hitters can agree on is where to go to lunch. I always try to listen what their ideas are. Down the road, you can never learn enough about hitting.

Q: Who is a better hitter, you or your sister Alyssa Maldonado?
A: Hands down, I am the better hitter!

Q: What is your favorite baseball movie?
A: I would have to say “Bull Durham,” I guess the satire of the movie, and all of the superstitions that are involved with it. I like the story with the older, mature guy, Crash Davis, being brought down to develop their younger talented player. It’s a story of teacher and the student.

This interview was conducted by Staff Writer Jason Blasco. For more questions and answers check out the Desert Dispatch Sports Blog at http://.barstowsports.freedomblogging.com. Look every Tuesday for more Desert Dispatch Q&As.