10 Questions with UW Baseball Coach Lindsay Meggs

300

The legendary skipper shares his history and magical moments during his 300 wins in purple and gold and over 900 as an NCAA coach

BY BOB SHERWIN FOR GO HUSKIES MAGAZINE

1t took 11 innings — and 12-plus years — but on March 27 Lindsay Meggs captured his 300th victory as the longtime University of Washington baseball coach.

The Huskies scored two runs in the top of the 11th to beat Arizona State, 6-4, and give Meggs his milestone achievement. Meggs, who previously coached at Chico State, Indiana State and began his UW tenure in 2010, has surpassed 900 career wins as a head Division I coach. He also won two NCAA Division II national championships at Chico.

Under Meggs, the Huskies have advanced to the NCAA postseason three times, including 2018 when UW had its first and only appearance in the College World Series in Omaha. In 2014, the Huskies had its best record under Meggs, 41-17-1 (21-9 in Pac-12 play), just the fifth time the school reached at least 40 victories.

Meggs also has had more than 40 players drafted by Major League Baseball — including a school record eight in 2014. Among the players who played for him were his two sons, Joe and Jack. Currently, Joe is the director of UW baseball operations. His daughter Kelly played basketball at UC-Irvine and one year of softball at Washington.

His UW teams also have had success in the classroom, as the 2016 team posted a 3.29 GPA in fall quarter, the highest for a baseball team in school history. The program had a stretch, starting in 2012, in which the team’s student-athletes maintained a 3.00 GPA or higher in 21 of 23 quarters.

Your UW teams helped you win 300-plus games now, one-third of your career wins. What does that say about your success and consistency?

“I’ve had some great players over the years here, and some great teams. But the rewarding thing for me when you talk about wins is the fact that it’s a total team effort any time you win a game. And to be able to experience that here more than 300 times has been really rewarding.’’

Was your 2018 College World Series team your greatest accomplishment in the game? Where does that rank?

“Getting to Omaha was a great accomplishment and a well-deserved reward for everyone who supports our program. Because so many people on and off the field played a part in reaching that goal, it is one of the greatest moments I’ve had in coaching.’’

What are the strongest memories you have from that 2018 season?

“We overcame a lot during the 2018 season. We suffered some key injuries early and really did not get healthy until the last five weeks of the season. So, my memories of 2018 are more about how we just continued to hang in there and fight until we got everyone back. And once we did, we just took off.’’

Who, or what, has been your biggest help or inspiration as you advanced through your coaching career?

“As a coach who has asked his family to make many sacrifices over the years, without a doubt my wife Teresa and my three kids have been my inspiration. The coaching profession can be tough on a family if everyone is not committed to making that lifestyle work, and my family has never blinked. They have always been my inspiration and they continue to be.’’

To be a successful coach, what are the most important traits that you feel a coach must have to be a leader of men?

“I think honesty and tough love have been the backbone of my approach as a coach from day one. We love our players, but it is tough love. We want our players to be prepared for life after baseball, so we demand excellence and accountability from them both on and off the field. And because our success is built on our relationships, we are going to be honest with our players to a fault. I think our guy’s respect and appreciate that.’’

What was your biggest thrill, as a player, in this game?

“My biggest thrill as a player was hearing my name called as a collegiate player during the MLB draft. I experienced that twice and I will never forget it.’’

When did you know that you had the aptitude to become a college coach?

“I was lucky as a player to be around some hall of fame coaches. When you’re around people like that and you’re paying attention, you can’t help but start to think like a coach. Before you know it, you’re directing traffic on the field like a coach, and by the time you’re playing career ends you feel like you can make a difference. And once it gets in your blood, well then you become a lifer.’’

What is the most difficult task, for a college coach, in assembling a successful baseball program?

“The most difficult thing for me as a coach when working to assemble a championship program is to be patient. You need balance, both between the lines and off the field. You want your program to be built to last so you have to make smart choices. You have to be willing to develop young players and coaches in order to sustain a championship level mindset year in and year out. Long term, this is about building a championship culture, and that takes time and a consistent approach.’’

Can the Washington baseball program win the NCAA title and achieve sustained success with teams composed primarily of Northwest talent?

“There is a lot of baseball talent in the Northwest, and we realize our best chance to be successful is to recruit the heck out of the state of Washington and the entire Northwest and then to build around that core from outside the area. That’s our goal every year and we think it gives us the best chance to win.’’

How cool is it to have your family members being such a vital part of your coaching career?

“I am truly blessed to have been able to coach both of my sons and then watch them play professional baseball. Those are memories I will never forget. And then to watch them work their way into the coaching profession, I could not be prouder. We are truly blessed.’’