15U Gold Coach
Jake Smith
- 1st year as Vortex/A’s coach
- 15+ years of coaching experience at youth, high school, and amateur levels.
Philosophies:
- effective communication and teamwork are keys to success
- visualize and set goals to improve every single day
- little things done correctly can lead to big successes and outcomes
- make a positive impact both on and off the field
- in game adjustments are a necessity, no single game plan takes care of every facet of the game
- “it’s a round ball, a round bat, and you gotta hit it square”
- “90% of the game is half mental.”
Playing career:
- 2008 graduate of Orono High School
- All Conference and captain in hockey, baseball, and football.
- Played over 15 years in the North Star League and Crow River Valley Leauge of Minnesota Amateur Baseball
- Fondest sport memories: playing in the Minnesota state high school hockey tournament two years in a row, one with my older brother. Hitting the 450 foot shot off that house in left center to complete the cycle and 9 rbi’s in front of my family, on Mother’s Day, to defeat the Glencoe Brewers. Watching my little sister turn into a beast on the softball field and harvest friendships she’ll maintain throughout her life.
Off the Field:
- Bachelors Degree from Winona State University
- Values family time
- Guitar Player
- Loves traveling & Hiking with the best co-pilot and furry companion, Lola.