Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Baseball Coaches Unplugged, Coach Ken Carpenter sits down with Buck Workman, longtime head baseball coach at Northmor High School and a Central District Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame inductee. Buck reflects on 27 years leading a rural program, building a culture that minimizes parent conflict, and adapting his coaching style for today’s athletes. The conversation digs into the value of pitching, defense, bunting, baserunning pressure, managing pitch counts, and making game-time decisions when every run matters. Buck also shares advice for new head coaches and a few memorable stories from his years competing against Ken.

Timeline

• 0:00 – Episode preview: long-term coaching, small ball, defense, and winning against dominant pitching
• 1:48 – Meet Buck Workman and celebrate his Hall of Fame induction
• 2:21 – Staying passionate after 27 years and navigating parent expectations
• 3:29 – Turning the Northmor program around through offseason work and travel ball
• 4:34 – How Buck’s coaching approach has changed over the years
• 5:40 – Non-negotiables: throwing strikes, strong defense, and small ball
• 6:55 – What a turf infield has done for player confidence and defense
• 7:29 – Pitch counts, recovery, and knowing each pitcher’s limits
• 9:04 – Bullpen workload and individual pregame routines
• 10:25 – Teaching bunting early and getting players to buy in
• 11:38 – Why bunting still creates pressure, with pro-baseball examples
• 13:25 – Choosing when to sacrifice, squeeze, or let hitters swing
• 14:30 – A regional-championship small-ball sequence that sparked a big inning
• 16:09 – Taking smart baserunning risks against dominant pitchers
• 17:19 – Inviting player input and developing on-field leaders
• 17:56 – The realities and rewards of coaching in a rural school district
• 20:17 – Late-game defense: when to play the infield in or back
• 22:25 – Managing first-and-third situations
• 23:39 – Why Buck hates losing—and what a loss can teach a team
• 24:16 – Coaching perspective through a Michigan football quarterback discussion
• 27:10 – Buck’s advice for first-time head coaches: patience, involvement, and persistence
• 28:15 – Memorable Northmor-versus-Ken Carpenter stories
• 30:36 – Closing thanks and sign-off

If you coach high school baseball, travel baseball, or just love smart strategy, hit play, share this with another coach, and leave a review so more people find the show. What part of your program is truly nonnegotiable?

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

• Follow: X | @BCUPod / IG @baseballcoachesunplugged
• Website - https://www.athlete1.net
• Sponsor: The Netting Professionals
• https://www.nettingpros.com