(Photo Credit: SUNY Ulster)
One of the aspects of baseball that makes it great is that it’s the ultimate form of meritocracy.
It doesn’t matter where you were born, who your parents are or where you’ve been.
That’s why there are players from all over the globe in the MLB and front offices are filled with individuals from their late 20s to mid 80s. The one common denominator is that those who are in positions of power, are the ones that were the most resilient and refused to let rejection deter them.
Commack-grad Steven Morse is one of those grinders, and that’s a huge reason he was offered the Head Coaching job of SUNY Ulster at the age of 25.
He was tasked with turning around a program and there is every reason to believe he is on the right path.
He spoke with Vinny Messana, and here’s what he had to say.
Tell us a bit about your upbringing and what you enjoyed most about growing up in Commack…
I come from a great upbringing and I’m very fortunate for that. The support my entire family provides me in life is irreplaceable. The process that this profession demands is sometimes difficult for people outside of college athletics to understand. Their support toward chasing my passion and dream is an inspiration and I will always thank them for that.
Growing up in Commack was as good as it can get. I had immediate family close by and the education, athletic teams and people in the area made it a terrific town to grow up in.
Baseball always seems to be a hotbed in Commack, do you feel that competitive spirit brought out the best in you?
Commack has been a baseball hotbed for longer than I can even remember. It has to be more than 20 years now that Commack’s baseball program has been one of the top in the state. From the numerous draft picks to high-level collegiate players, the product they put on the field every year is truly special.
It’s funny when you move around to different areas of the state through recruiting and connect with people; you begin to see the differences in talent throughout school districts. I see some guys that are school’s best players that wouldn’t have a roster spot at Commack High School or many other Long Island powerhouses for that matter.
With that being said, it absolutely brought out the competitive spirit in me. Going to tryouts every year was the most stressful part of my family’s year. Although I played all year round and was confident in my craft, the talent around the area was so good that you just never knew, you never knew what could happen. This competitive nature that the school presented humbled me and taught me how to deal with adversity at a young age.
Who are some athletes you looked up to in your youth?
My youth was the prime years of the New York Yankees, so like most kids in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I looked up to Derek Jeter. Growing up a shortstop myself I admired every part of his game and the winning that followed him made him a lifetime favorite. The pressure situations he thrived in and leadership he provided makes him even more special than I knew back then.
What types of athletic lines does your family come from?
I come from a baseball family more so than an athletic family. We’re all big sports fans but as athletes both of my grandfather’s played baseball at a very high level and my brother Bobby currently attends Div. II St. Thomas Aquinas where he plays baseball as well.
What do you miss most about your playing days?
This is a no-brainer for me. I miss the preparation for the season the most of all. I miss the grind. The workouts and individual cage work can’t be replaced. I know for some people that’s the part of the game that gets repetitive and tiresome but for me I loved every second of it and miss it everyday. I miss it because it can never be done over. It’s a lifestyle that you only get a short window to work with, and when your times up, it’s over.
I was fortunate enough to stay involved in the game as a coach and I feel this drive and mentality I had as a player can be a contribution toward our team’s success.
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What as your proudest achievement on the field?
I’m unsure if you’d consider it a moment or an achievement, but the proudest I have ever been on a baseball field was actually when I was an assistant at SUNY Brockport. We had a transfer my first year there, Eli Carrera. Eli wasn’t a big name recruit; just a guy that our Head Coach thought could help us and give us some depth in the outfield.
Now, as a first year coach at this level I was trying to do anything I could to help the team. Whether it was recruiting or working with infielders or outfielders before and after practice, I was trying to tackle it all. Eli quickly became one of my favorite guys, and a big reason was because I saw a lot of Eli in my self, and that’s in regard to his work ethic. We quickly grew very close and put in many hours before and after practice and even late at night working one-on-one.
Eli was having an okay season this first year, platooning with another guy in LF. In our final series against New Paltz, Eli had an opportunity to win the game and this game would clinch our SUNYAC playoff birth. He had a 15-pitch at-bat, battling as I would expect from him and delivered with the game-winning hit.
It’s my proudest moment on a field because this hit displayed everything I stand for. After preaching all year to continue working hard, and the countless hours we spent outside of practice time, it finally paid off.
“Good things happen to good people”
How did you wind up as a Head Coach at only 25 years old?
During my previous job at SUNY Brockport I handled a large part of the JUCO recruiting, a big part of it being the downstate part of NY (Long Island, NYC, Hudson Valley). I recruited Ulster CC a few times in the two years so I knew a little bit about the program going in. Then over the summer my former coach and a mentor of mine, Matt Righter gave me a call asking if I had any interest in the position because he heard it opened up and would be a reference. I immediately was intrigued because being a Head Coach at that age is rare and could be a great opportunity for me to develop as a coach. I spoke with the Athletic Director shortly after and got set up with an interview for the next week.
I went into the interview confident. I worked very hard during my two years at Brockport and the program there is ran first class. Coach Beach does a terrific job with his program and truly develops his assistant coaches. He allowed me to recruit my type of players, connect with coaches of other schools, coach to my knowledge and make mistakes and learn from them. Because of his and Matt Righter’s guidance I was confident going into my interview.
I could sense during the interview that my Athletic Director and I had the same vision for the program. He was a former Division 1 player at Wake Forest and previously coached with a few different Division 1 programs. He understands what it takes to build a program. He wanted someone that was going to be a diligent recruiter, and someone that was going to do whatever it takes to bring in some of the top talent in the state. Like me, he has always been an advocate for the talent throughout Long Island as well.
The interview went well and about a week later I heard back that I got the position. I was very fortunate to hear the good news and was excited to get to work.
What does SUNY Ulster offer student-athletes that should entice them?
SUNY Ulster has much to offer students and that’s evident by the amount of out of area student’s we brought in just for our baseball program alone this year. Our team this year will feature guys from our area as well 11 out of area players from Long Island and the Bronx. Last year we featured an international student from Australia as well.
One thing I learned quickly and that has made me a better coach is that at the JUCO level you possess more jobs or roles than you may anticipate. You assist with housing, financial aid, fundraising, budgeting, field maintenance, scheduling and advising as well. I would say about 80 percent of my job is done off the field.
I’m telling you now, if you’re looking for a fifth year of high school like some junior colleges may offer, this program is not for you. You’re going to be demanded and treated athletically and academically as if you’re headed to a 4-year school. I believe that by doing so you will leave Ulster a better person and more prepared for the next opportunity life throws your way.
With that being said, I believe we put together a terrific package for our incoming recruits.
At Ulster we don’t offer on-campus housing. What I do for our guys is go into a neighboring town, New Paltz and assist them with apartment style living with other guys on our team.
We offer various scholarships, including athletic scholarships and have financial aid packages that make our tuition and living very affordable for students of all backgrounds.
Essentially, these students have the potential to be offered athletic scholarship packages to a school with low tuition and live in one of the best college towns in the state. They’re getting to experience the life of being at a 4-year school before ever becoming part of one.
For Long Island student-athletes the distance is great as well. Sitting right around two hours is a nice distance because it allows students to be away from home, but close enough at times they need to head back.
In regard to baseball, you’re coming to a program that plays in a very competitive Division II JUCO region. Your going to play in front of coaches from 4 year schools throughout the season and even have the chance to play in front of some professional scouts.
I keep in contact with 4-year programs throughout the year and understand that this is a step for you in the right direction. I don’t recruit guys that want Ulster to be the end of their college career. I want guys to use Ulster to help better themselves and move on to a program of their choice after their time here.
What separates Ulster from other junior colleges is the extra effort myself and our coaching staff provides you with finding your next school. We sit down and have multiple individual meetings throughout the fall to discuss schools you’re interested in, and one’s that we feel may be a good fit. After going back and fourth with our lists together we come up with a concrete list of schools for each student and begin reaching out. These lists are created based on your academic standing, talent level and financial situation.
For some guys, Ulster is a second chance. Some student’s struggled at their first school they attended and needed a fresh start. Other’s found Ulster as an opportunity to grow and develop to help keep their options open for 4-year programs. Whatever the case may be, I’ve never been part of such a diverse group of quality young men. Each student has their own story and is using Ulster toward a greater purpose.
Are you confident in the direction of the program?
. Yes, I am extremely confident in the direction of this program and furthermore, the direction of the athletic department at SUNY Ulster as a whole. Our athletic director brought in a number of new, young and hungry coaches over the past few years that are fully invested in improving their programs.
Our baseball program for sure is trending upward. We returned a number of impact players from last year while bringing in improved pieces to help culminate the roster.
The addition of transfers from some of the top programs in NJCAA & NCAA (Herkimer, Nassau CC, Clarkson, Oswego St, Old Westbury, Philadelphia U, & High Point) and incoming freshman from local talented schools and PSAL State Champions James Monroe HS are going to be driving forces toward our success and really show the direction the program is heading.
I’ve always been told that a positive culture is needed in order to attain success. I speak in confidence when I say that this group of young men has bought into this philosophy.
The emphasis placed on athletics and academics is driving this school in the right direction and providing current and future students with a terrific option to continue their educational and athletic careers.
