Coaches Corner-Anthony Carroll: Conway High School baseball has been a part of Anthony Carroll’s life dating back to his playing days. Carroll just concluded his fifth year at the helm of the Tiger program, also his twelfth as a coach in the program. Carroll spent some time with Diamond Prospects when his season ended to help us get to know him better.
DP-How many years have you been in coaching?
AC-I have been coaching for twelve years at Conway. I have been the head coach for the last five seasons.
DP-What is the most rewarding thing about being a baseball coach?
AC-The thing that I enjoy most about coaching is watching these young men grow, not only as players, but as a person in society. I enjoy watching them be successful when they finish up and leave Conway High School.
DP-What does the term “coach” mean to you?
AC-To me the term ‘coach’ means someone who is a leader, disciplinarian and someone that is there to help players when needed.
DP-What is something you wish everyone knew about your profession?
AC-How much time is put into our season.
DP-What is your definition of a “student-athlete?”
AC-A student-athlete is someone who excels not only on the field but in the classroom. Most athletes do not realize that there is a lot more money in academics than baseball.
DP-We always hear how players have superstitions, I know coaches do too. Do you have anything interesting?
AC-I have a bunch of them. If we are winning I always use the same pen to make the line-up and I always stand in the same spot in the dugout each inning.
DP-What is your most memorable experience as a baseball coach?
AC-My most memorable experience as a coach is going to Sumter and being down by four in the top of the seventh and rallying to win the game.
DP-Who has made the greatest impression on you as a baseball coach and why?
AC-I would say Rick Hardwick. I coached with him for six years prior to being named the Head Coach here. He taught me a lot about baseball and about handling players.
DP-Who are the best three players you have ever coached against?
AC-Allen Caldwell (Sumter), JD Melton (Myrtle Beach) and Barrett Kleinknecht (West Florence).
DP-Who do you think are the top three players in your area right now?
AC-It is hard for me to pick three from the area. We have several on our team right now that have a chance to be pretty good and play college baseball.
DP-What does it mean to be a good teammate and is that important?
AC-A good teammate is someone who will be there with you on and off the field. Someone who you can count on. I think it is important because it takes everyone for a team to have success.
DP-What do you see as the biggest difference in high-school aged players today versus ten years ago?
AC-I think the biggest difference is the size of the players. They are bigger so they hit it farther and throw it harder. Not to mention all the changes in technology such as bats.
DP-We often hear about the “politics” that surround high school baseball. What is your philosophy on this subject and on dealing with the parents of your players.
AC-That is something that comes up yearly, but I feel it is my job to put the nine best players on the field to represent Conway High School. I understand that all the parents want their son to play, but as a coach, I have to do what is in the best interest of our team.
DP-What high school rule(s) would you change?
AC-I would change the pitching rule that allows a pitcher ten innings in three calendar days. I think that a lot of people throw kids way too much which tends to lead to arm problems.
DP-Who has made the greatest impression on you as a person and why?
AC-I would have to say my dad. He is the most laid back man I have ever seen. He has taught me to work hard and believe in whatever I’m doing.
DP-What MLB feat in history do you wish you’d been inside the stadium to witness and why?
AC-I wish I could have been there to see Mark McGwire break the homerun record.
DP-Who is your favorite athlete (non-baseball)?
AC-LaDainian Tomlinson
DP-Who is your favorite MLB pitcher and position player to watch and why?
AC-My favorite pitcher is John Smoltz because he takes command of the plate and pounds the strike zone. My favorite position player is Alex Rodriguez because he plays the game hard and doesn’t care what people think.
DP-Who is your favorite MLB team?
AC-Atlanta Braves
DP-What is your favorite sport to play other than baseball?
AC-Golf
DP-What is your favorite sport to watch other than baseball?
AC-College Football
DP-What are some of your hobbies?
AC-I like to fish a little bit and spend time with my two kids and wife.
DP-If you could have dinner with three people in history, who would they be and why?
AC-I would like to have dinner with Cal Ripken, Jr, Steve Spurrier, and Tom Osbourne. They all shared the desire to win and did whatever took to do it.
DP-Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
AC-Coaching baseball at Conway High School
DP-What is your greatest high school thrill?
AC-Hitting two home runs in a game at Marion
DP-Who were the three best players you played against?
AC-Jacob Shumate (Hartsville), Todd Martin (South Florence) and Derrick Urqhart (South Florence).
DP-What are your thoughts on what Diamond Prospects can do, and has done, for kids in South Carolina?
AC-I think that Diamond Prospects has done a good job of helping kids get their names out. I think the more that a player can do to get his name out there, the better off he will be. All of these showcases that Diamond Prospects host can do nothing but benefit these young men.
DP-Give a high school player who is reading this article one piece of advice.
AC-The number one advice I would give is do the job in the classroom because, without it, you cannot play. Like I said earlier, there is a lot more money in academics than in baseball.
DP-Thanks coach and congratulations on a successful spring. .