University of Houston Athletics
FEATURE: Building a Winning Program - Baseball
3/25/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Building a Winning Program
By: Allison McClain, Houston Athletics Communications
Often times the success of a program is solely defined by its win-loss total or its postseason accomplishments or even its national recognition, but rarely is the success of a program defined by the elements that build and help maintain the measurable success that is seen within the internal units of any college baseball program.
Houston Baseball, undoubtedly, has its tradition, its history of incredible wins and memorable postseason experiences. It has that element of success.
But when head coach Todd Whitting took over the program five years ago, his plan began then. It began by rebuilding this once historic program, but his vision of success went broader than just the makeup of the team.
From the ground up, Whitting hired his staff in recruiting coordinator Trip Couch, and now assistant coaches Frank Anderson and Mike Taylor - both whom have had a measurable amount of success at the highest level in college baseball throughout their coaching careers.
Winning Team vs. Winning Program
A winning team involves players and coaches and on-field success, but a winning program incorporates the details that help make and maintain the success, both on and off the field, while providing the best possible experience for a college baseball student-athlete and the fan.
From strength and conditioning to fundraising to communications and marketing to academics and community service and more, Houston Baseball has developed a winning program that starts in the offseason and never ultimately ends as the next year is always in sight.
"To build a winning program, everyone must have the same vision and be on board from the moment we begin preparing for the next season," Whitting said. "I believe we finally have all the right pieces in place to make Houston Baseball one of the top college baseball programs in the nation."
Houston Baseball ended the 2014 with one of the nation's top resumes, coming off a Baton Rouge Regional Championship and an American Athletic Conference Championship title, while also tying a program-record with 48 wins. The team also ranked among the nation's Top 10 in several pitching categories and swept Rice for the first time since 1991.
Wrapping the 2014 season with a final national ranking as high as No. 11 in the country, the Cougars never broke a stride as preparing for 2015 began immediately following the last pitch of last year's memorable season.
A season recap on UHCougars.com surfaced and memorable moments filtered throughout its social media accounts over the course of the summer, but it was the work off the field that was in progress until the first pitch was thrown in 2015.
A new Houston Athletics Ticket Sales staff was put in place and planning for the 2015 season began as soon as the Cougars returned to campus to begin their next academic year.
Season ticket renewals and new purchases were available and on sale in early September - nearly four months earlier than the previous season - bringing the excitement of college baseball to all fans five months before a first pitch would be thrown.
The hype of buying a season ticket can be a tricky sale at times, but the Cougars' innovative Anytime Tickets plan for just $99 covers all 31 Houston Baseball home games, allowing fans to use their 31 tickets how they choose (1 per game, 31 for one game, or any combination in between).
Single game pricing for tickets took a whole new swing as it created national buzz when Houston offered variable pricing, which allows fans to take advantage of early and online ticket purchases as well as weekend vs. weekday pricing to avoid the walkup lines and chaos that may come at any stadium on gameday.
All these factors played an integral role in the 185% ticket sales increase from one year ago and attendance at Cougar Field thus far has jumped enormously as fans are all about Houston Baseball and watching one of the nation's premier teams in action.
Houston Baseball's program had a vision and the vision included the fans.
When you watch a game at Cougar Field, fans are involved. An atmosphere is created and an experience is remembered. The preparation to build one of the nation's top fan experiences at a ballgame was the support staff's No. 1 goal this past offseason.
"There is simply nothing better than sitting at Cougar Field with your friends and family on a pretty spring night," 21-year long season ticket member Mike Brem said. "It is just a fun place to be. It's baseball at its finest. Unlike other fields, you are right on top of the action. It is the best sidelines of any park, anywhere. You are in the game when you are at Cougar Field."
It began with a more enhanced Fan Appreciation Day that welcomed back former players for a five-inning Alumni Game as well. The day, which saw nearly 2,000 fans in attendance one week prior to Opening Night, featured fan interaction, prizes, autographs, and the chance to meet the Coogs.
To accompany the early excitement all season long, a newly upgraded Kids Zone was put in place and available every weekend series at Cougar Field along the right field berm. Every Sunday is Kids Day at the park, which allows kids to participate in Anthem Buddies, Run the Bases and postgame autographs with the team.
Accompanying Sunday's Kids Day are the highly touted Friday Frenzy ($1 popcorn, $2 hot dogs, $3 sodas, $4 beers) every Friday night and Bingo at the Ballpark every Saturday.
Oh and yes - Cougar Field serves beer - you read that right.
Building the relationships between a program and its fans begins with the elements that make up that measurable success every program is striving for.
You win when you have support. Whether that support is financially or physically.
Houston Baseball is driven by its alumni base, its former players and its donors who have continued to give back to the program each and every year. Efforts and upgrades made to Cougar Field, which include a very popular and eye-catching FiedTurf playing surface as well as new bullpens, renovations to the clubhouse and a new padded outfield wall make the facility one-of-a-kind.
And without a top-notch facility, a winning program isn't complete.
"We have made incredible strides in improving all aspects of our program since Day 1," Whitting said. "It is nice to see the amount of support by both our donors and former players as we continue to build this program back to national prominence on a consistent basis."
Rebuilding a program can take time, but maintaining that success can be even tougher at times.
Houston Baseball entered the 2015 season ranked as high as No. 3 in the nation - the highest preseason ranking in program history. That level of expectation was evident among all elements of the program. To win - the Cougars must win as a program, not just a team.
With 31 homes games on slate at Cougar Field and postseason aspirations back in sight, the Cougars welcomed in a crop of newcomers that have had early success thus far. Six of Houston's nine offensive starters returned from a year ago and its entire weekend rotation is back in tact to lead as the four-month long season is shortly underway.
From improving facilities to hiring the right personnel to implementing community outreach and leadership development into its yearly plan, along with developing its overall vision of fan experience, Houston Baseball can finally say it has built a winning program.
