Huntington Times

TRAYLOR: Beals Sees Bright Future With His Herd

 While Marshall baseball coach Greg Beals spoke on Friday afternoon at his introductory press conference, one moment stood out explicitly during his speech.

As Beals spoke of his goals for the program, the sun – which had not been present for three days in Huntington – found its way through the clouds and windows of the Big Green Room.

For Marshall's baseball team, Friday signified the dawn of a new day with a new leader as the team prepares for its first year in the prestigious Sun Belt Conference.

"We've got big dreams," Beals said in the instant the sun shined over him. "We've got dreams of playing for championships. We've got dreams of playing professionally. We've got big dreams and we're going to chase those dreams."

Much of the talk since Beals' appointment has been focused on the future in the long-term. That future includes a new baseball stadium located just two blocks from where his introduction was taking place.

Beals reminded everyone that, for Marshall baseball, the future is now!

"These guys right here – the '23 team – they deserve the best we've got," Beals said, nodding to his group of 15 players that came back from break early for his ceremony. "There's big plans for the future, but my No. 1 responsibility is to have you guys ready for Feb. 17 and to be ready to compete right now. We can do both. We can build the future and be locked, loaded and ready to go this year, too. We're going to do that."

That mindset is exactly what prompted Joe Carbone, special consultant to Director of Athletics Christian Spears, and the Selection Committee, comprised of President Brad Smith, Associate Athletic Director of Facilities Andrew Brown and Marshall football coach Charles Huff, to recommend Beals for the hire, which was approved by the Board of Governors on Thursday during a special session.

"A lot of people talk about going into the Sun Belt Conference for the first time with a baseball program without a field and say, 'How the heck could we do that?'" Spears said. "Others step up and say, 'I know we can do that and I know we will do that.' Coach Beals came in with 'We can. I know. We have it. And we will do it.' That alone put us on the path to announce him as our 29th head baseball coach for Marshall University."

At the center of Beals' core values for success are faith, family and genuine love for baseball. Such was evident throughout his introduction on Friday.

As Beals form-fitted the green Marshall baseball cap handed to him by Spears, he started to speak about those passions while looking to his family situated on the front row. There, his wife, Kathy sat with tears in her eyes as she watched her husband address those in attendance.

Beals' voice quivered as he spoke about his appreciation of their support and how Marshall wasn't just getting him, but his entire family.

"We're here!" Beals said. "I'm here. They are here. We are Marshall!"

The power of that moment resonated on those in attendance.

When Beals walked into the Big Green Room, everyone knew what he was – a baseball coach. In that moment, the Marshall community got to know who Beals was – a caring husband and father of three girls: Kayla, Amber and Morgan – that puts all his energy into what he loves.

As Beals re-composed himself, his eyes filtered back a few rows as he directed his next words to his new family - the players who donned their Marshall polos to hear their new coach for the first time.

"We have a group of young men who chose to come to Huntington, West Virginia, and to Marshall University so we have commonalities," Beals said. "We've made this decision to be here and we're going to attack it together with a family mindset. The Herd is a group and I love the idea of that…

"In the game, in your education, in your social lives, in anything professionally that you do, you don't get there by yourself. We are the Herd and we're going to be that together, and it's going to put us in a great spot. I love that concept and the word - the Herd. I might be using that more than team. I love the idea of being a Herd."

Beals' plan for success comes from an old-school mentality that combines elite preparation with a mental toughness that stares issues in the face and attacks them.

It is a formula that has bred success. Beals' 589 wins are currently 10th among active NCAA head coaches with 20 or fewer seasons.

When Beals' team starts individual workouts next week, they will do so in the Chris Cline Indoor Athletic Complex as work continues across the road on the program's new stadium.

Beals said the unique struggles facing the Herd – practicing and playing games off-campus and having most home conference weekends in Charleston – will galvanize the team because of the mutual respect players build for what their brothers endure to play the game they love.

"We all decided to be here and we're going to take ownership in that," Beals said. "We have to prepare ourselves. We all know that we've got this indoor facility, we've got a weight room, we've got the ability to go out to Route 2 and prepare, we're going to go into Charleston and compete and that's it. We have to embrace it and own it.

"We can go take ground balls, we're going to get plenty of swings in, we've got bullpens to throw in. We'll be ready to go. When we play St. Louis on Opening Day, right? There's no excuses on that day."

Shortly after that statement, Beals strolled off the sun-drenched podium, shook Spears' hand and went to greet his newest family members in Kelly green.

As Spears looked on, he couldn't help but smile.

The sun had risen on a new day in Marshall baseball's history, and Beals was heading to lead his Herd.

Original source can be found here