COLLEGE BASEBALL: Watt focused on consistency

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 1, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Rob Watt stayed grounded during his 14-year tenure as assistant baseball coach at the University of Mount Olive.

The Vancouver native learned the realities of the business and the struggles from one of the best -- Carl Lancaster, who ushered the program into the Division II era in the mid-1990s and retired after 30-plus seasons as the Trojans' dugout general.

Lancaster left his footprint.

And his legendary status is a ghost Watt doesn't want to chase.

"He has one of the most impressive resumes in college baseball and I can't look at it as a sense of I'm stepping into his shoes," said Watt, who was named head coach in May.

"I think it's important that we understand there is a tradition that has been set forth here and it's our job to protect it, add to it and allow each player to have his piece of the legacy."

Consistency helps strengthen a tradition.

Watt is a prime example.

When he arrived in the fall of 2004, Lancaster gave a young and fiery coach the freedom to work in several capacities that most established coaches don't experience during their entire career. Watt handled the hitting and pitching chores, and his diligent work helped UMO steadily raise the standard of excellence among its Conference Carolinas peers.

During the past 14 years, the Trojans have claimed nine conference titles, appeared in 11 NCAA Division II regionals, secured a pair of regional crowns and brought home the coup de grace -- the national championship -- in 2008.

On the collegiate scene, there is a constant revolving door among coaches.

That's not the case at UMO.

A former All-American and Major League Draft pick, Jason Sherrer returns for his 10th season.

Jesse Lancaster, who played on the Trojans' national title squad, is back for a 6th campaign.

"I think that [coaching] consistency is going to contribute to the winning consistency that we've had," Watt said.

And Watt has brought another former Trojan on board, Casey Hodges, who -- to no one's surprise -- is in charge of the pitching staff.

Hodges emerged as the winning pitcher in the 2008 national final against Ouachita (AK) Baptist. He was drafted in the 23rd round by the Atlanta Braves and spent three seasons with teams in the Appalachian, South Atlantic and Carolina leagues.

The Virginia native, whose dad played for the New York Mets, has worked with teams in the JUCO and Division II ranks since he left the minors in 2009.

"Pedigree goes a long way in baseball. It always has. It always will," Watt said. "That holds a lot of clout when you're bringing in some guys who have aspirations to succeed not only at the collegiate level, but want to play at the next level.

"When you have somebody who has achieved the dream that you're after...been drafted, had the opportunity to show his stuff at the next level, that not only helps with recruiting, but I feel like he's learned quite a few things along the way."

Hodges provides another set of eyes on the Trojans' pitchers and gives Sherrer -- a gifted offensive player and catcher -- the chance to spend additional time with the guys behind the dish.

Watt has blazed the recruiting trail this summer.

He's encountered little backlash from commits since Lancaster's retirement. Some conference opponents have tried to use that to sway recruits from UMO, but Watt reminds them that he, Sherrer and Jesse are still there.

The Trojans are projected to return most of their position players next spring.

The bullpen needs some shoring up.

Watt hasn't pulled all of his recruits into the boat, yet.

"We like the guys who have committed," Watt said. "If we get the ones we're after, I feel pretty good about what we've got going on."

One of the winningest teams in college baseball, UMO is a perennial fixture in the regional. However, the Trojans missed the regional last year for the first time since 2009, which snapped a string of eight consecutive postseason trips.

That absence bothers Watt.

And, he like his predecessor, expects to return.

"I don't think I wouldn't be doing this program any justice if I didn't believe that," Watt said. "That's the goal...not only to get there, but to win it. That's why I coach. Develop the kids so they can get to that level and see if our recipe is better than theirs."