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Federico Shares Vision & Road Map to Rebuild ULM Baseball Program

Federico Shares Vision & Road Map to Rebuild ULM Baseball Program

Baseball Feb 12
By Paul Letlow, ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist
 
Although new head coach Michael Federico represents the future of ULM baseball, he's interested in connecting to its past too.

The same day that ULM introduced Federico as its new coach, friends of the program welcomed him with a fish fry at Warhawk Field. A number of former baseball players gathered for the meet and greet and several even pledged to give money to the program before leaving campus that night. 

"He truly wants what is best for his players on and off the field," former ULM first baseman Ben Jones said. "He wants them to ultimately succeed at life. This is shown by the incredible staff that he has put together. I feel that he is going to place honor and integrity in the program, which are the grassroots for building a successful product on the field."

Added former ULM pitcher Michael Durham: "They are out there doing their part in the community and hustling – not sitting back waiting for a free lunch. They have rolled up their sleeves and jumped in with both feet."

The former pitching coach at Southern Miss immediately attacked all aspects of the job when he landed at ULM last July.

"I've heard the words that we're behind, but I don't believe that," Federico said upon his arrival. "People keep saying that, but I'm excited with how people have been open armed to me – from some of the former players to regular alumni as well and the administration and on campus."

Federico learned the importance of community involvement at prior stops like Southern Miss and Memphis. He wants former players like Jones and Durham to remain invested in the program. 

"He'll recapture the history I think," Memphis baseball coach Daron Schoenrock said. "They've had some good years in Monroe the last 15 years. Put the wins and losses aside, the kids that play under him will develop a pride in the university. He's going to make them embrace the history.

"Every place is a little different, but I think it's a great opportunity for Michael, and it's a home run hire for Monroe, in my opinion."

Michael Shields, a former ULM equipment manager who later served as director of baseball operations with Southern Miss, wasn't surprised to hear about Federico's early efforts to engage ex-players.
 
"He's one that is going to get the community back involved and the alumni back involved," Shields said. "That was one of his main things along with the other coaches at Southern Miss, to get alumni involved and former players. They are the backbone of the program and it means so much more to them because they have worked hard to put the effort in. He knows that and wants them back involved."

Federico said he sees similarities in the ULM program and the one he left at Southern Miss, where he enjoyed great success working for Coach Scott Berry.

"Coach Berry had a great way of keeping the community involved and keeping former players involved," Federico said. "That helps you thrive. Money generates everything. It doesn't matter if you're a baseball coach or trying to sell cars. That was always helpful that we had community support.

"We had a product on the field that people wanted to go out and watch. That's my number one goal is to have guys who will run through that brick wall. We want fans to come out here and think, 'Win or lose, they played hard and they're fun to watch.'"

Baseball, Shields noted, is a collegiate sport particularly dependent on grassroots support.

"It relies on private donations," he said. "There is so much on the want list that you can't get from the university. To have those extra funds to add stuff you need just helps so much."

Schoenrock said current players will know where they stand with the ULM's new baseball boss.

"He will be tough when he needs to be," Schoenrock said. "There are moments when he'll make his point and his players will know exactly what he expects from them. Every kid that goes through there, he'll push them toward their degree and graduation will be a huge thing. He understands that these kids are going to be doing a lot of things other than playing baseball the rest of their life. He gets that too."

Shields observed Federico working with student-athletes at Southern Miss.

"He knows what it takes, and he'll have those guys in the locker room buying in," Shields said. "Chemistry is a big deal and he understands that. He'll make sure those guys have the chemistry they need to win. That's what a lot of it is. You can have all the talent in the world, but if that locker room doesn't click, it doesn't matter."

Durham also noticed Federico's positive approach with players.

"Fed treats the guys with respect and they feed off that," Durham said. "He smiles a lot and brings a much-needed, feel-good attitude back to ULM, in and out of the locker room."

Roster construction never really stops, and it was a high priority for Federico the moment he accepted the job at ULM.

"We're trying to get the best baseball player that we can get, and of course get arms," Federico said. "But the future side of it, I know what I want to do. We've got a lot of seniors coming back. It's not just me turning it over. The roster is going to turn itself over. JUCO is a way you can get immediate fixes, but at some point, you have to build up with freshmen. You don't want to have constant turnover. But the JUCO route is the easiest thing to get going.

"They're easier to evaluate. They've got 100 innings as a pitcher or 200 at-bats. With a freshman, it's difficult in a league like this to come right in.

"There's an expectation. We need to win here. That's the fastest way to do it."

Between Federico and his assistants, the staff has recruited players all over the country and can blend their varied regional networks to stockpile talent at ULM.

"You've got something to sell here," Federico said. "You can go into the Midwest and you have the South to sell, the Sun Belt, the facility to sell. We've got things to sell."

The recruiting base should start close to home.

"There's so much great high school baseball right in the area," Federico said. "We've got to get the right kids."

Although he's been a head coach before at the junior college level, Federico acknowledges the challenges of guiding his own program in a strong conference like the Sun Belt.

He is also confident that he can succeed at ULM. 

"I've told this to a lot of people. I feel like I have a road map. I know where I want to get to," Federico said. "But I might have to take some one-lane roads. I might have to take some dirt roads. I might have to take the highway. But I'm going to get there. I know I and my coaching staff will work to relate that to the players. Hopefully, they'll get on board. But if not, they'll be left on the side of the road without the road map." 
 
 
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