ARLINGTON, Texas – Change is an integral part of college athletics. In a successful program, this change is accelerated. It is the response to this constant change that makes the mark of a great coach, and the ability to use this change to strengthen a team the mark of a great program. In the wake of one of the best starts in program history in 2020, UT Arlington head baseball coach
Darin Thomas was left by himself with both of his hitting and pitching coaches departing the program.
In response, Thomas hired two promising young coaches, as well as a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Hall of Famer. In doing so, the Mavericks became one of the few teams in the Sun Belt Conference to boast three former professional players on their staff.
In late August, Thomas added two coaches with whom he had familiarity – former Maverick
Brady Cox and longtime Seward County Community College Head Coach,
Galen McSpadden. Rounding out the staff in December, Thomas brought in former Alabama Crimson Tide standout
Taylor Dugas to be the new hitting coach.
When the world shut down last March due to the coronavirus, so did Minor League Baseball. There would not be a full 2020 season, and this left professional players such as
Brady Cox wondering what would happen next.
Cox, who had plans of emerging from the Kansas City Royals farm system, continued his training regiment, but soon noticed an opportunity that could open a door for his next career.
"I always knew playing that I wanted to be a coach but wasn't sure when that time would come," said Cox. "When I looked at the bigger picture of the job, being the alma mater that I played at for four years with the head coach that I played for – it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up."
For Thomas, the addition of Cox was an easy call.
"He played every day here for four years," added Thomas. "I knew exactly what I was getting with him and he knew what to expect from me, which is a big plus."
Cox was drafted in the 36th round in 2017 by the Kansas City Royals as a catcher, but he played a little bit of everything. After struggling at the plate, he was switched to pitcher for the 2018 season. This transition to the mound reinvigorated his love for the game.
"That's something I try to bring to the field every day and instill in the guys – that sense of loving what you do and playing with the enjoyment you had when you were a kid" commented Cox. "I want to leave the field every day knowing I gave it my all, had a good attitude and helped someone."
While Cox wants to instill positive attitude and work ethic with his student-athletes, Thomas sees a unique perspective Cox brings to the table as a pitching coach.
"A lot of the best pitching coaches were catchers," stated Thomas. "Not only does he have experience behind the plate, but he added experience from the mound once he got to the pros, which was a natural adjustment for him."
Prior to being drafted, Cox was a standout at UTA, earning a first team All-Sun Belt selection in 2016, as well as being a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award, an annual award given to the nation's top catcher.
Having played four years at UTA, making it to professional ball and now returning home to coach for the Mavericks, Cox hopes that he can be a model of success for current and future Mavericks.
"I wasn't a guy who had all the tools," said Cox. "I wasn't fast nor threw hard. I just came to the field every day with a good attitude and busted my tail, and that's what gave me an opportunity to stay in the game as long as possible. If our guys do those two things right, then when opportunity knocks, they'll be ready."
When Thomas stepped foot on the campus of Seward County Community College as a freshman student-athlete in 1984, he had no idea of the relationship that he was about to enter. Thirty-five years after Thomas played for
Galen McSpadden, he had the opportunity to have him join his own staff.
But the link between Thomas and the man they call "G-Spad" goes beyond just the two of them. Along with Thomas coaching under McSpadden from 1991-2000, the two also sent their sons to play for the other. McSpadden's son, Josh, attended and graduated from UTA while playing for the Mavericks from 2004-05. Thomas' oldest son – and current Maverick, Ryan – attended Seward County and played for McSpadden in 2018.
"We have always had that mutual respect," said McSpadden. "I respect the way [Thomas] runs his program and I see a lot of ways that I used to run my program."
Adding McSpadden to the coaching staff was an easy decision for Thomas, who credits McSpadden for much of his coaching style today.
"I spent 11 years coaching and playing for Galen," said Thomas. "I learned a lot from him and that's one of the people you want to learn from, because he's one of the best out there."
McSpadden spent 37 years at Seward County, amassing over 1,200 wins on his way to an NJCAA Hall of Fame induction. His win total marked the seventh most in NJCAA history at the time of his retirement in 2018. But after two years away from the game, McSpadden wanted back in.
"You miss the game," declared McSpadden. "Internally I wasn't ready to give up the game, and the opportunity to work with Coach Thomas, who really helped me kick-start the Seward County program, was the perfect fit."
Eighty-five players were either selected in the Major League Baseball Draft or signed professional contracts with MLB organizations during McSpadden's 37 years at the helm. He coached 181 all-conference selections (101 first team), 55 NJCAA All-Region VI selections, 12 Jayhawk West Freshman of the Years, seven Jayhawk West Most Valuable Players, three NJCAA batting champions, three NJCAA Central District Big Stick Award Winners, three Region VI Most Valuable Players, four NJCAA Region 6 Gold Glove Award winners and one NJCAA Central District Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite a career full of success, McSpadden often wondered how much different the game at the Division-I level was played compared with the junior-college level.
"I've always wondered if I could handle the Division-I level," McSpadden said. "But after one semester – even a COVID semester – I've realized that baseball is baseball. It's still 90 feet between the bases."
On top of his Hall of Fame coaching career, McSpadden also was a successful professional baseball player. He began his career at Southeast Missouri State, where he remains on several all-time record lists and was added to its hall of fame in 2012, before being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round as a left-handed pitcher in 1974, where he spent four years with the organization.
"Coach McSpadden has been around the block, so I don't think there's anything you can throw at him that he's not ready for," added Cox. "The amount that I've already learned from him – I couldn't put a price on it."
Having a coaching position open in late December isn't ideal, but Thomas had no doubt when the situation arose on his staff who he wanted to fill the spot.
"Everyone I talked to about Taylor had nothing but good things to say and he's lived up to that billing," said Thomas. "He fits everything we needed. He's an experienced recruiter, a hitting coach and has a background as a player. We were very fortunate to get someone of his caliber that late."
Although Thomas didn't have a prior relationship with Dugas, as he did with Cox and McSpadden, the chemistry between the two was immediate.
"I really like how [Coach Thomas] coaches," said Dugas. "He gives me a lot of freedom to coach and work with the guys."
While arriving on campus in January might hinder some, Cox says Dugas has adjusted with no issues.
"Arriving on campus late is always tough, but [Taylor] has taken to it like it was meant to be," Cox stated.
Before getting into coaching, Dugas was a standout student-athlete at Alabama. He played four seasons for the Crimson Tide and would rewrite the record books by the time he left.
Dugas ranks in the top 10 in 14 different statistical categories at Alabama and holds school career records for hits (334), singles (235), doubles (67) and triples (18). His hit total ranks fifth in SEC history.
Following the 2012 season, Dugas was drafted by the New York Yankees in the eighth round. After playing two years in the minor league, Dugas made it to "The Show" in 2015. Having played in the big leagues for an organization as historic as the Yankees, there is plenty that current and future Mavericks can be taught.
"I learned from really good coaches in the Yankees organization," said Dugas. "I want to pass on that knowledge and teach the guys what I learned from pro ball."
Dugas' addition rounded out the staff and made it three former professionals to be on the Mavericks coaching staff – something he believes is a unique opportunity for the players.
"Having a group of coaches with such an extensive background and three coaches that played professional baseball is a great tool for our players," said Dugas.
"All three of our assistant coaches bring something unique, but they all bring that pro-ball experience," Thomas surmised. "They're able to give the perspective of how to be successful in college, but also what you need to do to make it to pro ball."
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