Indiana University Athletics
Around the Horn with Ty Neal
11/2/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Nov. 2, 2005
Assistant coach Ty Neal, who helped develop three all-league selections in 2005 at Miami (Ohio) University, just completed his first fall as the Hoosiers' pitching coach.
Serving as the RedHawks' pitching coach in 2005, Neal guided Miami's staff to a 3.33 ERA, the 16th-best mark in the nation, as the team earned a trip to the NCAA tournament, matching a school record with 45 victories (45-18 overall). The team's top three starters compiled a 26-3 mark, including a sparkling 2.77 ERA with Keith Weiser earning a spot on the Mid-American Conference's (MAC) first team, while John Ely and Graham Taylor secured second team selections.
Neal recently sat down with IUHOOSIERS.com to discuss how the fall season went, how he is adjusting to Bloomington, his coaching philosophy and more.
On Bloomington:
"Bloomington is great. Something coach Smith mentioned when he took this job and told me about it was Bloomington is a small town with a Big Ten atmosphere. I think the first couple of months here, especially with football and coach Hoeppner getting the community involved and the students involved, have been very good. I've been trying to get settled with my personal life at home and at the same time with recruiting and our team, but so far it has been great."
On the athletics department:
"Everyone has been very supportive. It has been really good and made the transition a whole lot easier with the support everyone has given us."
On the team:
"Obviously, we didn't know what to expect coming in. As a whole, we need the guys to understand there is more to it than just showing up everyday. The guys are coming around, and they are understanding it is a commitment. It is going to take a little bit extra on their part to win at this level."
On the pitching staff:
"The pitching staff had a few injuries in the fall, but it is coming around. I'm asking these guys to dig a little deeper mentally and preparation-wise. I think they all have a little more to them and a little more in them. As a whole, they have responded pretty well."
On expectations for the season:
"We said from day one we will be very disappointed if we don't make the conference tournament this season. Once you make the tournament, anything can happen. I'd be very disappointed if we aren't in the top six in the conference this season."
On his pitching philosophy:
"I try and keep it as simple as possible. I think you can make the game a little tougher, so we try and slow the game down a little bit. We try and control the things we can control. As simple as I can put it, our philosophy is on or out in three. What that means is the hitter is on base or out within three pitches. It is going to keep the pitch count down. It is going to keep everyone in the game, from the defense to the umpires, and it is going to move the game along. We're going to be aggressive, force guys to put the ball in play and force hitters to get themselves out."
On the coaching staff:
"They have been great and have made the transition easier. I had ties with coach Smith as a former player and an assistant with him. He runs everything first class and has very high expectations for everyone around him, and I think that brings a lot out of me.
"I know coach Nori from back home and he and I were assistant coaches together. He is very knowledgeable and has a great baseball background. He is just a lot of fun to be around.
"Coach Tom just works his butt off, enough said. He is a great guy to have around."
