My name is Lennon Richards, I am a Canadian baseball coach and a former Ontario University Athletics (OUA) player. I started coaching

two years ago at the tail end of my playing career. I am

passionate about player-development and love helping the

next generation of players find their potential. 

 

Up until 12 years old I liked baseball - but did not love it. 

 

This all changed when I stumbled across a video from Texas Christian University Baseball entitled Quiet Confidence. 

 

As the words: "How far an athlete can push the limits when no one is watching - that's the essence of a champion", spoken by Coach Schlossnagle washed over me, I knew at that moment, I wanted to play College baseball. 

 

And thus began a pursuit of excellence and development. Going from getting cut year in and year out from my local travel teams to finally making it onto a Collegiate baseball roster.

 

Along the way, I dabbled in Coaching - running local clinics and accepting a position as an assistant coach with a 13u team. Suddenly, I began to enjoy coaching as much as playing - if not more.

 

Once at College, it was not a happily ever after. 

 

Realizing my talents behind the plate as a Catcher would not amount to a long or fruitful collegiate career - I took a leap of faith - and transitioned into becoming a Pitcher.

 

I dropped out of school, sat out a semester, transferred schools and just barely made it back onto a collegiate roster as a pitcher.

 

A few weeks after the fall season started, I got sick. At first, it seemed minor -  nothing to be concerned with. But with the stress of dreading school and my baseball career hanging on by a thread, it was getting much worst. It got out of hand fast. To the point where I had to sit out the rest of the fall season. 

 

Upset and confused that my health was seemingly letting me down, I started to think about the way school and baseball were making me feel. How much on edge I was - how much I dreaded waking up and going into class. How it felt like I was pounding the same rock over and over expecting different results. 

 

I knew that I was only at school to play baseball, not because I was passionate about the subject matter I was learning. I knew that in order to play what amounted to an 8-week season, I had to sit through an entire year worth of that.

 

With that, I also was not very good - and would have to commit more than I ever had (which was pretty impossible) just for an off chance of making myself a valuable addition to the roster. 

 

So, with a helpful push from my health, I decided to let it go - I decided to quit a collegiate baseball career.

 

Since that decision, I am now happy and healthy, doing what inspires me the most - coaching, instructing, mentoring - guys like myself. These are guys who want to give it everything they have and then some; guys who believe irrationally in their own ability to accomplish their dreams. It's my passion to help them do it.

 

As a coach, I love player development more than I will ever love winning. Nothing satisfies me more than helping guys progress themselves not only as athletes but as young men. 

 

Through a continuous process of learning, questioning, and evolving - I hope to become the type of coach I wish I had as a player.

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To learn more about me and my story - check out these blog posts.