COLLEGE Q & A

Q & A with Chip Schaffner

Current Assistant Coach at Mars Hill College - NCAA Division II - Mars Hill, North Carolina

• Schaffner spent three seasons as the pitching coach at Radford University, 2004-2006.
• He served as the pitching coach at the University of Virginia from 2000-2003. In 2003, the Cavaliers pitching staff finished second in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 11th in the country in lowest earned run average.
• In 1999-2000, Schaffner was the pitching coach and head recruiter at Georgetown College. 
• Before that, he spent seven seasons at Wright State University. From 1987-90 and 1992-94, Schaffner was an assistant baseball coach for the Raiders.
• During his college coaching career, Schaffner has signed and coached six former and current MLB players.  The list includes Brian Anderson, Keith Gordon, Rick White, Joe Koshansky, Mark Reynolds, and Ryan Zimmerman.  Schaffner has worked with over 30 current and former major league players in summer leagues and instructional camps.

 

Question: How important is it for a player to attend a college team's summer camp? (Assuming an interest in that school)

 

Answer: Not overly important. Money is being spent on a camp to be seen by one coaching staff. A player needs to inform coaches of where they will be playing in context to a tourney or where there will a large number of teams playing.

 

Question: When should a player write an introduction letter to a college coach? (ie. 10th grade?)

 

Answer: 11th

 

Question: Is it better to have the high school coach write and send the first letter?

 

Answer: I feel player first, then coaches (summer and HS, then a scout)

 

Question: Do sending copies of high school and/or summer team statistics help? Are they of value to you, when included with an introductory letter?

 

Answer: Stats mean very little to me.

 

Question: Should a player or coach send copies of clippings from local newspapers that include highlights about the player?

 

Answer: No!

 

Question: Are "online" recruiting services used by college coaches? Would you recommend them to a high school player and his family as a good resume and reference tool?

 

Answer: I do not use them.

 

Question: Should a player send a video tape of himself in game situations? How important is the editing of the tape? Should it be professionally done?

 

Answer: Yes but make them brief and to the point, ala BP, fielding, pitching etc. No game video.

 

Question: Assuming that a player has received, completed, and returned a "baseball questionnaire" from a college, is it a good idea to contact the college coach by telephone?

 

Answer: Yes

 

Question: When would be the right time period for a player to contact a coach? (What grade? What time of year?, etc.)

 

Answer: The end of their Jr Year, leading in to summer season.

 

Question: With the increase in the number of "Showcases", how important is it for a player to attend this type of event?

 

Answer: One or two is plenty. A good coach will ear mark players to see play via a showcase

 

Question: If a player has attended an "invitation only" showcase, does this help a player when he expresses an interest in a particular college?

 

Answer: Yes

 

Question: How important is a player's physical appearance? (ie. tattoos, body piercing, dress, odd hair styles, etc.) Are any or all of these items a "negative" to a college coach?

 

Answer: Huge. I would say all are somewhat a negative depending on where a tattoo is located. The rest are not positive.

 

Question: If a player has a bad game when a college coach is in the stands watching him for the first time, does that hurt a player as far as that school is concerned?

 

Answer: No

 

Question: How important is a player's "attitude” when in a game or at a practice? Is body language important?

 

Answer: Attitude is very important. Yes, body language speaks loudly.

 

Question: In terms of academics, is a player that has a 3.3 GPA and qualifying ACT or SAT score more readily "looked at" than a player that tells you that he is right on the verge of qualifying?

 

Answer: Yes

 

Question: Do the college coaches ever call or talk to professional scouts about a prospective player?

 

Answer: Yes

 

Question: Does a prospective college player benefit by attending a professional "try-out" day?

 

Answer: Yes

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