329 episodes

Host Jonathan Gelnar and an array of guests from differing backgrounds discuss how to develop the complete baseball player. This will be your source for the most up to date coaching strategies for baseball player and coach development.

Ahead Of The Curve with Jonathan Gelnar Jonathan Gelnar

    • Sports
    • 4.8 • 206 Ratings

Host Jonathan Gelnar and an array of guests from differing backgrounds discuss how to develop the complete baseball player. This will be your source for the most up to date coaching strategies for baseball player and coach development.

    Chris Razo- Head Baseball Coach, Heartland Community College (IL)

    Chris Razo- Head Baseball Coach, Heartland Community College (IL)

    This episode of Ahead of the Curve is brought to you by New Era. New Era is the official headwear provider of the MLB, NFL, and NBA. If you love to rock New Era Caps as much as I do, then you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to wear what the players wear AND get 15% off when you go to NEW ERA CAP DOT COM/AOTC and use code aotc at checkout. That's 15% off your order using promo code aotc.
     
     
    Bio

    Chris is fresh on leading the Heartland Community College baseball team to a national title this past season. Chris Razo also was named the 2023 ABCA NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year.
    Under Razo’s leadership, the Heartland baseball team has made two appearances in the NJCAA DII National Tournament, and won the tournament this past season.
    Razo joined the Heartland staff in 2018, serving as pitching coach, and became Interim Head Coach in the winter of 2020.
    As a player, Razo spent two years as a Heartland Hawk before moving to Illinois State University where he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 24th round in 2013. While at ISU, Razo was selected to the MVC All-Conference first team, and also won Pitcher of the Year in the Missouri Valley Conference.

    On the show we discuss the national championship run from last year, what it was like being named interim head coach at semester, and why the value winning first and development next. Here is Chris Razo!
     
    Time Stamps
    02:00 National Champs
    04:00- Being named interim head coach at semester, and during COVID
    08:30- Past summer agenda
    11:30- Culture over Everything 
    18:30 - Fall Development
    27:30- Pre Season to In Season
    41:00- Post Season
    45:00- Quick Hitters
     
    Contact
    Chris.Razo@heartland.edu

     

    • 50 min
    Scott Steltz- Head Baseball Coach and Athletic Director, Chatham Central HS (N.Y.)

    Scott Steltz- Head Baseball Coach and Athletic Director, Chatham Central HS (N.Y.)

    This episode of Ahead of the Curve is brought to you by New Era. New Era is the official headwear provider of the MLB, NFL, and NBA. If you love to rock New Era Caps as much as I do, then you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to wear what the players wear AND get 15% off when you go to NEW ERA CAP DOT COM/AOTC and use code aotc at checkout. That's 15% off your order using promo code aotc.
     
    Bio
    Scott is coming off back to back state championships in class C in New York State . He is 3X ABCA Regional High School Coach of the Year, a 15+ year member ABCA Selects the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Association) Region 1 High School All-Americans for the Northeastern states.
     
    On the show we discuss how he turned the program from a .500 ball club to competing for state championships, we go over how he adjusts his practice and development for multi sport players and how they contribute to get better as the season goes on. This episode is so good with Scott Steltz!
     
     
    Time stamps
    02:30- state champs
    08:00- offseason development
    17:00- culture and standards
    28:00- pre season structure
    36:00- arm health with multiple sport and multiple position athletes
    41:00- in season practices
    52:00- quick hitters
     
    Contact
    Email- steltzs@chatham.k12.ny.us
    Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/hangingcurve5
     

    • 1 hr 7 min
    Tyler LaTorre- Head Baseball Coach, Westmont College (CA)

    Tyler LaTorre- Head Baseball Coach, Westmont College (CA)

    This episode of Ahead of the Curve is brought to you by New Era. New Era is the official headwear provider of the MLB, NFL, and NBA. If you love to rock New Era Caps as much as I do, then you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to wear what the players wear AND get 15% off when you go to NEW ERA CAP DOT COM/AOTC and use code aotc at checkout. That's 15% off your order using promo code aotc.
     

    Bio
    Tyler, in his first year  leading his team, led them to the first NAIA National Championship in program history. The  Warriors went 48-9 last season, which culminated in a 7-6 victory over Lewis & Clark State in the 66th Avista NAIA World Series.
     
    LaTorre  came to Westmont from Sacramento State where he served as pitching and catching coach. He also previously coached at San Jose State and San Francisco State. While at San Jose State, LaTorre was honored as both the 2018 San Jose Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2019 Fellowship of Christian Athletes Coach of the Year.
     
     
    On the show we discuss last years national championship run, how they are attacking the transition from NAIA to division 2, and we go over lessons learned in his first season that set them up for success. You’re gonna love this episode with Tyler LaTorre.
     

    Time stamps
    01:00- national champs
    07:00- fall development and the transition to d2
    20:00- year 1 reflections
    28:00- fear of failure
    33:00- Pre season
    42:00- in season / post season
    50:00- quick hitters

    Contact
    EMAIL tlatorre@westmont.edu
    PHONE 805-565-7092
    Twitter-@tylerlatorre
     

    • 1 hr 10 min
    Robert Valli- Head Baseball Coach, Rowan College at Gloucester County South Jersey (NJ)

    Robert Valli- Head Baseball Coach, Rowan College at Gloucester County South Jersey (NJ)

    Bio
    Rob Valli has amassed 30 plus years of experience educating students and has worked at every level of baseball from youth to Major League Baseball.
    Coach Valli is entering his 24th season of collegiate baseball with 20 years of experience as head coach That span includes an impressive 650+ wins, averaging 35 wins per season, 12 of 13 trips to the NJCAA World Series, and 1 NJCAA National Championship.
    Regarded among the finest player development experts in college baseball; 28 of his players have been named All American, 72 advanced to professional baseball, including 7 major leaguers. The vast majority Gloucester players are receiving high value baseball scholarships at prominent universities. In 2019; 7 of alumni began professional baseball careers.
    As a Major League Baseball Scout for 9 years; Valli served five with the Colorado Rockies and four with the Miami Marlins. Working primarily in the Northeast; his role was to identify and evaluate top high school and college prospects being considered for the amateur draft. Additional responsibilities included evaluating minor league players in opposing organizations and administering personality evaluations to top prospects.
    Valli and his wife Sara have two children, Sophia and Alex.

    Contact

    Phone:
    856 468 5000 Ext. 2213
    Email:
    rvalli@rcsj.edu

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Brook Cupps- Head Basketball Coach, Centerville HS (OH)

    Brook Cupps- Head Basketball Coach, Centerville HS (OH)

    Referral link: https://www.neweracap.com/aotc
     
    This episode of Ahead of the Curve is brought to you by New Era. New Era is the official headwear provider of the MLB, NFL, and NBA. If you love to rock New Era Caps as much as I do, then you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to wear what the players wear AND get 15% off when you go to NEW ERA CAP DOT COM/AOTC and use code aotc at checkout. That's 15% off your order using promo code aotc.

    Bio
    Brook Cupps is the Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Centerville High School in Ohio.  Brook graduated from Graham High School in St. Paris, Ohio near Springfield in 1995, and following a 4-year playing career at Capital University in Columbus, he returned to Graham.  He became the head coach in 2000 and spent 12 seasons at Graham.  In 2012, following his time with the Falcons, including a trip to the state semifinals, Coach Cupps left his alma mater to become the head coach at Centerville High School where he has earned several coach of the year honors while guiding the Elks to multiple sweet 16 and elite 8 appearances. His 2021 team recorded a school record 26 wins on the way to the Division I State Championship in Ohio, the first in school history.  His 2022 team was the state runner-up.
    Brook is the author of the book “Surrender the Outcome”, teaches two leadership courses at Centerville and also writes a weekly blog on bluecollargrit.com
     
    On the show we discuss installing culture, how to live out and establish core values, and we take a dive into application of roles and parent advice! You’re gonna love this episode with Brook Cupps!
     
    Time stamps
    01:00- intro
    02:30- off season personal growth
    10:30- installing culture
    21:20- core values
    43:00- application of roles
    49:10- parent advice
    53:00- Quick hitters
     
    Contact
    Twitter
    Blog

    • 59 min
    Kevin Brooks- Head Baseball Coach, Angelo State University (TX)

    Kevin Brooks- Head Baseball Coach, Angelo State University (TX)

    Referral link: https://www.neweracap.com/aotc
     
    This episode of Ahead of the Curve is brought to you by New Era. New Era is the official headwear provider of the MLB, NFL, and NBA. If you love to rock New Era Caps as much as I do, then you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to wear what the players wear AND get 15% off when you go to NEW ERA CAP DOT COM/AOTC and use code aotc at checkout. That's 15% off your order using promo code aotc.
     
    Bio
    Kevin Brooks has guided the Angelo State baseball program to six NCAA Division II College World Series appearances with six South Central Championships and has compiled an impressive 742-333 overall record since starting the ASU program in 2005. In 2023, the Rams claimed the Division II National Championship for the first time in program history.
     
    The only coach in ASU baseball history, he has recorded 10 trips to the NCAA postseason. The Rams are the only Lone Star Conference team to ever make the College World Series and Brooks has taken them there six times in 19 seasons at the helm, including back-to-back appearances in 2015-2016 and three consecutive seasons in 2021, 2022 and 2023. The Rams have also won the Lone Star Conference tournament championship six times, including sweep­ing the competition in 2015, 2021, 2022, and while also winning in 2007 and 2012. The Rams have never had a losing season under Brooks and have compiled 40-plus wins in 10 seasons. He has coached 125 All-Lone Star Conference selections, 55 All-Region picks and 28 All-American selections. Brooks has also prepared his players for the next level as 51 former Rams have played or are currently playing professional baseball.
     
    On the show we discuss his messaging to his team after coming off of a National Championship, what they are doing this fall, and his advice on how to win in the post season. Here is Kevin Brooks!
     
    Time Stamps
    01:00- national champs
    11:00- Fall Development
    27:00- pre season
    34:00- in season advice
    45:00- developing coaches
    48:00- Post Season Advice
    52:00- Quick Hitters
     
    Contact
    EMAIL: kevin.brooks@angelo.edu
     

    • 1 hr 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
206 Ratings

206 Ratings

Stizzle the Shizzle ,

Fantastic

What a great listen. The show asks great questions, and gives good insight into the baseball coaching profession. He finds top-notch guests who are willing to share their styles, tips, and strategies to grow the game of baseball. Highly recommend.

Sup fart two ,

Changed my views

Ahead of the curve has changed my life in many ways. I wake up and listen to ahead of the curve while I have my coffee. I listen during my workout and when I eat lunch. I also watch it when I am at my job. My wife says I watch it to much but I think she is just being stingy (I’m sorry if I want to listen to this while I eat dinner Karol) I usually drift to sleep while listening to this. Overall it is high quality and entertaining.

@#$&*&$#@ ,

I like it

I don’t like that there is not a lot of information that I would want for a podcast like this.over all it is amazing.

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