Post by CEZAR on Jan 14, 2014 17:38:50 GMT -6
I reached out to Jim Goranson who is Oakton Community College's - Head Softball Coach in IL. and who is also the Illinois Bash Softball Association - Founder/President, Jim has been around a long time and does a great job with his program, and now with Oakton Community college. I ask him a few questions and he was humbled to answer for us @ilsoftball.com thx JIM good job!
I want to start out by thanking you for asking me these questions I am humbled that anyone would want to hear what I think.
1)ILSOFTBALL.COM• Tell us about your background, grew up, school, etc. programs your story!
Jim Goranson- I am very blessed to have a wonderful wife Wendy who raised our 5 kids. The saying that behind every successful man is a great wife is so true in my case. She was instrumental in keeping our house on a routine that led to the academic and athletic success our family has enjoyed. Our oldest son graduated early from Elk Grove high School and attended the University of Illinois to play football. He was on the team that won the Big 10 and went to the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. After that great experience and feeling satisfied he could play with the best in the game he looked to his future and decided to transfer to Georgetown University to play football and get the best education he could get. They didn’t have football scholarships but they found the money to provide him with a free Georgetown education. Our other son was a great wrestler and was going to pursue a college career and wrestle. He instead choose to serve our country and joined the Marines. He was shot and wounded in Ramadi, Iraq and is 80% permanently disabled. When he was discharged he went to college on the GI bill and graduated from UIC. Our oldest daughter went to Western Illinois on a track scholarship. After a year and a half she announced to our family she wanted to pursue a career in professional wrestling. She travels the country performing shows as a female wrestler. Our next daughter was All-State, Super 60 Senior and was the captain of the Daily Herald All area team. She choose to go to Kankakee Community College and the team came in 2nd and 3rd in the country while she was there. She then transferred to Robert Morris and has a degree in Culinary Arts. Softball has paid for all of her education. She currently coaches with me at Oakton and with the 14U team in the Bash program. Our youngest daughter went downstate twice for softball while in High school and ended up being a NFCA All-American along with earning various other accolades. She choose to attend Michigan State University on a Full scholarship for 5 years to play softball.
2)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What made you decide to go into coaching?
Jim Goranson -I originally became involved in coaching back in 1986 when my boss found out I played football in college. He “asked” me to come help him coach his football team. None of my children were old enough to participate. After a year the program asked me to run for a board position and I was elected vice president. Unbeknownst to me they misled me into thinking I would learn from the President and just help out. Well the day after the election I found out the President had already been informed of a job transfer out of state and I was the new president. That was my introduction to youth sports.
We built the program up and were pretty successful. When my kids started to play football I became active with Elk Grove High School since my kids were going to go there. I was respected enough by the high school coaches to be hired as an assistant varsity coach prior to my sons entering high school. One of the greatest compliments I received while coaching football was from the varsity head coach. One day he pulled me aside and said “if I told a reporter that your son was on the team he wouldn’t be able to tell which kid was yours.” That relationship and respect grew at the HS and I become more involved. I was appointed the first Elk Grove High School Athletic Booster President. I was asked to be the strength and conditioning coach and eventually was asked to run the girls feeder basketball program by the Varsity Girls Basketball Coach. I was President of the Elk Grove Travel Baseball program when we went to full time travel. I also helped start the Elk Grove American Legion baseball team with the Principal at Elk Grove High school.
My first experience with travel softball was when my 9 year old daughter tried out for the Elk Grove Heat 10U travel. We took her 6 yr old sister with and she begged to tryout. We were shocked to receive the call asking if we would allow both girls to play on the 10U team. My 6 yr old daughter never played in house softball she went right to 10U travel. I didn’t start coaching until our youngest daughter reached 12U. I started with the Elk Grove Heat. In an effort to challenge our daughters to be the best they could be we moved to the Schaumburg Sluggers and then the Homer Hawks. I was unexpectedly asked to be the Head Coach of the Homer Hawks 16U by Dave Betcher and he had recruited some of the best players in the area for the team. We had kids who are now playing at Illinois, DePaul, Arkansas, MSU and a host of other schools. I greatly appreciated the opportunity Dave gave me to coach such a great team. We won Metros and played in the Championship game in most of the tournaments we entered. It was a great experience and I was grateful for the trust Dave showed in me.
We went to tryouts and were anticipating playing on the Gold team for the Hawks but there were some philosophy differences with the Hawks Gold coach and we looked elsewhere for a team. We were going to play under the Berwyn Bash organization but they didn’t have their corporate paperwork in order. I was fortunate to have Courtney Makowski on the first Bash team and her Dad, Ray Makowski was my assistant coach and is a tax attorney who told me he would do the paperwork to start our own program. So the Illinois Bash was born. Ray is the Godfather of the Bash program and we will be forever grateful to him.
3)What is your coaching philosophy? How important is winning?
Jim Goranson- The philosophy we try to focus on is to be the hardest working program out there. We provide tremendous opportunities for the players to accomplish their goals. We want players with passion and love for the game who have a great work ethic.
When it comes to winning we let the scoreboard take care of itself. We are confident that if we have prepared to the best of our ability and play as well as we can on each and every pitch of each at bat we will be successful. Our warehouse is devoid of any trophies except for our Wall of Fame which shows the pictures and names of the 28 players we have helped go on to play softball in college since 2009. That is our barometer of the success of our program.
4)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What type of student-athlete is most difficult for you to work with? How do you overcome this?
Jim Goranson -In every sport I have coached in over 25 years of coaching there have been a small handful of players who were difficult to work with. It’s all about attitude and respect, for the organization, team and the coaches.
5)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what do you believe makes a great softball program, what criteria would you use to determine whether or not you have a good program?
Jim Goranson -I would talk to other people in softball like Bob Landis of the Sparks and pose this question. If your granddaughter who was 9 years old was looking to play softball what program would you tell her to join. We would like to be the program that someone would recommend based on the overall program. We try to have everyone in the program work together and be a part of the organization. We don’t want each team to be a separate entity. We try to practice together and use the same drills at all levels. We want continuity in the program.
We train as hard as anyone and some of the families think were crazy for all the practicing we do. But the players in college come back and always tell us that we introduced them to the rigors and demands expected of them in college. They were prepared for that because of what we put them through.
6)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How important is planning to good coaching?
Jim Goranson- I believe planning is critically important. I have practice plans from my first years of softball coaching and try to continue to adapt and improve the practices we do. I have been fortunate to have access to some of the most respected coaches in softball and they have helped me to improve what and how we teach.
7)ILSOFTBALL.COM • who is your role model?
Jim Goranson -My Mother who was a single Mom raising 4 kids who among other things helped teach me about always trying to help others. She always put other people first in her life. She would always tell me how to think about why someone does something instead of just being angry about what they did or said.
8)ILSOFTBALL.COM •A parent complains about something that has happened in your program/playing time etc. How would you handle that? How do you deal with an upset parent?
Jim Goranson- We try to help players learn how to communicate for themselves with adults. We ask that if there are any concerns that the player go to the coach with her concerns. It’s an opportunity for parents to walk through with their child the correct way to handle something they have a problem with. This is a great way to learn to stand up for yourself and respectfully express yourself. If that doesn’t resolve the issue amicably then I ask the parents to speak to the coach, however only after the player came to the coach first. If that still doesn’t resolve the issue then I become involved and we discuss it and try to work through it. I have had players come up to me and express themselves and I have apologized to them for mistakes I have made. I appreciate their vulnerability talking to an adult and want them to know I respect them.
9)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What motivation techniques work best for you? What do you do with the athlete who is not motivated to achieve?
Jim Goranson- We try to earn the trust of the players and help them understand that what we are asking them to do is in their best interest. We expect players to understand that we are going to push them to be the best they can be. We will provide the coaching and access to resources that will help them achieve their goals. If that isn’t their motivation then they are in the wrong program. We try to impress upon the players that nobody is entitled to anything. You must earn what you want.
10)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How do you promote your program to get student-athletes involved in softball?
Jim Goranson- We rely upon word of mouth and the due diligence of parents to look into our program to see if it will allow their daughter to achieve her goals through softball. We hope that is the best recruiting tool we have.
11)ILSOFTBALL.COM •Explain what you envision the off-season portion of your program will entail?
Jim Goranson- Our offseason is very important. It is the time when we can make up for a lack of talent with hard work and discipline. We train as often as possible. I was told by an SEC coach that we are a program they recruit from because they know we are actually training and teaching.
12)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How would a student-athlete describe you a year or two after she has played for you?
Jim Goranson- My inspiration and motivation to continue doing what we do comes directly from the players and parents who have gone on from our program. I get text messages and phone calls from Bash Alumni telling me how much their experience with us prepared them for the next phase of their life. Katie Luetkens and her Mom texted me when she was voted as the captain of her team at Michigan thanking me for what we did for her. It gave me goosebumps when I read it and to know that we were a small part of her path in life. Bailey Patt is another player who went to JC and then on to Alabama state and played her last college game on National TV in the Conference Championship on ESPN. She is now a grad assistant at Alabama State and helps with the Bash program. I could go on about other polayers who I see that come visit and talk to me when they are home. Those are indicators of how the players feel about being a part of the Bash family.
13)ILSOFTBALL.COM •Some people say that a coach should be special, a role model that should be just as concerned about his/her behavior Others would say that the coach’s life should be his/her own after hours. What they do on their own time is their own business. What do you think?
Jim Goranson -I believe sometimes that these young ladies aren’t given enough credit about being mature enough to be able to judge people. Whether now or in the future they will decide for themselves what kind of person you are as a coach. I believe respect and trust is important to being a good coach and if players don’t respect you and trust you are there for them it will be difficult to coach them.
Our program is a little different with all the travel we do to get the players in front of as many college coaches as possible. In order to make the trips affordable many times I drive the players to tournaments. Sometimes we are in a van for 10-20 hours driving and then the whole weekend we are together. I am humbled by the amount of parents who trust and respect me enough to allow their daughters to travel with me to these tournaments. I take that responsibility very seriously.
14)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what role did your parents play in you coaching softball?
Jim Goranson- My parents were not involved in any aspects of my athletic career other than allowing me to do it. I had to learn a lot on my own about how to be an athlete. As the old saying goes if I knew then what I know now….lol…
15)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what do you think about women coaches in IL? Who are some of your favs?
Jim Goranson- There are several coaches who are entering the game after playing it and loving the game so much. Recently I was at a clinic and the speaker said that most of the time a great player is not a good coach because they can’t handle a player who can’t do something like she did. The speaker said that’s because it was natural for the great player and they didn’t have to really think about it they just did it. I see that a lot in all sports. Just because you played the game at a high level doesn’t guarantee success as a coach. You have to learn how to coach it isn’t a byproduct of playing the game. With that all said there are some really good female coaches. I think Jen Tyrell and Erin Gibler are some of my favorites.
16)ILSOFTBALL.COM •how do you see PGF growing on the futures and national level.
Jim Goranson- I think what we are seeing from ASA is similar in other businesses, complacency. I think they became complacent and indignant to their client base. Right now I think PGF is a competitor who has put the best interests of their clients first and it is showing all across the country. I think competition is ultimately good for the customers and we will see if that is the case in youth softball. The leadership of PGF including Bill Conroy and the rest of the PGF board only care about fastpitch and hopefully their vision will help raise the level of interest in the sport and allow the young ladies more opportunities through softball.
17)ILSOFTBALL.COM •what other teams in IL and the Midwest high school or travel do good job at competing and getting girls ready for the next level?
Jim Goranson- I have been fortunate to be a high school coach and I have had the privilege of talking to and observing some outstanding dedicated HS softball coaches. I can only comment on the coaches I have knowledge of and have personally seen. The list starts with the only Softball Coach in the 35 plus year history of the Elk Grove softball program and Hall of Fame member Mr. Ken Grams. Especially having daughters who played for him. I observed him through the years and he still takes time to learn at coaching clinics. Just last week he took time out of his personal life to our training facility to come watch players we have in our program at their pitching and hitting lessons. He really shows the players he cares about them and that it isn’t about him.
Some other High School Coaches I really respect include Dwain Nance from Marengo, Perry Petterson from Barrington, Jim Weaver from Fremd, Richie Costante of Montini. I respect these coaches for the effort above and beyond they make for their players. It isn’t about the job for them.
My observation of travel coaches locally is somewhat limited by the fact that our team plays out of the area quite a bit. However my criteria for a good travel coach includes longevity and doing it for others beyond your own daughter. That doesn’t mean there aren’t great coaches out there who also happen to coach their daughter, most of us started that way.
Travel ball coaches I respect and admire include Jim Abbott of the New Lenox Lightning, Joe Tholl of the Sparks and Brad Dennison of the Bartlett SilverHawks as well as Gerry Quinn of the Chill.
We all know the Cream of the Crop in our area is Bill Conroy and the Bandits but Bill is really focused on a National program against National Competition and we are all trying to compete against the Bandits right now. We aspire to have the success on and off the field the Bandits enjoy.
I wanted to mention someone else who has had a profound impact on assisting our program prepare our players to perform better and display the skills necessary to get to the next level. We are fortunate to have hitting Coach Mark Doran travel from Mokena to our training center every couple of weeks. I have seen Mark take players who were decent and make them great, I have seen him take players who were terrible and give them the training necessary to become better. However the thing that I am most impressed with is the passion he has to help players and coaches as well as the game. I have seen the passion Mark has for the game in private discussions he has had with some of the best players and coaches in the USA. I listened to Mark and 4-time Olympian and current Oregon coach Laura Berg have a passionate discussion on outfield play. I was in awe of the humbleness Laura displayed and the respect she had for what Mark was talking about. We are very fortunate to have access to him.
18)ILSOFTBALL.COM • What are your thoughts vs PGF, ASA, USSSA NSA?
Jim Goranson- As I mentioned earlier I believe competition is great for the customer. Each organization has its own niche and it’s up to the customers to choose what they feel is best for them after doing their own due diligence.
19)ILSOFTBALL.COM • How do you pick your Coaches for your teams?
Jim Goranson- In a perfect scenario we want to pair a parent or adult with an alumni from our program. We feel that an alumni will be able to understand the way we want to play and be able to demonstrate the skills we practice and play. However we are not blind to the inherent problems that exist in having a young adult run a team. They don’t always understand things from the perspective of a parent and the responsibility they need to have to the parents. We understand that we don’t always have that perfect scenario but we try.
20)ILSOFTBALL.COM • How do you find Balance with your family and softball?
Jim Goranson- Balance is important in life. Our family is very close and we have enjoyed so many cherished memories throughout our kid’s participation in sports. So many family trips were through athletics. Our program would not be at the place it is without the support of family.
21)ILSOFTBALL.COM • Is there any thing else you would like to add and speak about?
Jim Goranson- I would like to announce for those that aren’t aware that I am the new head coach at Oakton Community college. I believe it is an under promoted program and can provide great opportunities for many players. There are a lot of times when a Junior college is the right answer for a player. If anyone wants to explore the JC route please reach out to me. We can offer softball scholarships to athletes. We are going to Tampa for spring Break and the softball complex is going to be totally rebuilt.
The other thing I would like to mention is that I am not naiveté. Our program would not exist without the effort, support and sacrifice of so many dedicated people. Our program has grown so fast in such a short time. Just like other programs we have had players leave our program and we get players from other programs. However at the end of the day our goal is to try to do what is in the best interests of the players and the future of the program. Many will not agree with our philosophy or our way of doing things and that’s ok.
Jim Goranson
Mobile - 847-489-9131
Oakton Community College - Head Softball Coach
Illinois Bash Softball Association - Founder/President
I want to start out by thanking you for asking me these questions I am humbled that anyone would want to hear what I think.
1)ILSOFTBALL.COM• Tell us about your background, grew up, school, etc. programs your story!
Jim Goranson- I am very blessed to have a wonderful wife Wendy who raised our 5 kids. The saying that behind every successful man is a great wife is so true in my case. She was instrumental in keeping our house on a routine that led to the academic and athletic success our family has enjoyed. Our oldest son graduated early from Elk Grove high School and attended the University of Illinois to play football. He was on the team that won the Big 10 and went to the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. After that great experience and feeling satisfied he could play with the best in the game he looked to his future and decided to transfer to Georgetown University to play football and get the best education he could get. They didn’t have football scholarships but they found the money to provide him with a free Georgetown education. Our other son was a great wrestler and was going to pursue a college career and wrestle. He instead choose to serve our country and joined the Marines. He was shot and wounded in Ramadi, Iraq and is 80% permanently disabled. When he was discharged he went to college on the GI bill and graduated from UIC. Our oldest daughter went to Western Illinois on a track scholarship. After a year and a half she announced to our family she wanted to pursue a career in professional wrestling. She travels the country performing shows as a female wrestler. Our next daughter was All-State, Super 60 Senior and was the captain of the Daily Herald All area team. She choose to go to Kankakee Community College and the team came in 2nd and 3rd in the country while she was there. She then transferred to Robert Morris and has a degree in Culinary Arts. Softball has paid for all of her education. She currently coaches with me at Oakton and with the 14U team in the Bash program. Our youngest daughter went downstate twice for softball while in High school and ended up being a NFCA All-American along with earning various other accolades. She choose to attend Michigan State University on a Full scholarship for 5 years to play softball.
2)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What made you decide to go into coaching?
Jim Goranson -I originally became involved in coaching back in 1986 when my boss found out I played football in college. He “asked” me to come help him coach his football team. None of my children were old enough to participate. After a year the program asked me to run for a board position and I was elected vice president. Unbeknownst to me they misled me into thinking I would learn from the President and just help out. Well the day after the election I found out the President had already been informed of a job transfer out of state and I was the new president. That was my introduction to youth sports.
We built the program up and were pretty successful. When my kids started to play football I became active with Elk Grove High School since my kids were going to go there. I was respected enough by the high school coaches to be hired as an assistant varsity coach prior to my sons entering high school. One of the greatest compliments I received while coaching football was from the varsity head coach. One day he pulled me aside and said “if I told a reporter that your son was on the team he wouldn’t be able to tell which kid was yours.” That relationship and respect grew at the HS and I become more involved. I was appointed the first Elk Grove High School Athletic Booster President. I was asked to be the strength and conditioning coach and eventually was asked to run the girls feeder basketball program by the Varsity Girls Basketball Coach. I was President of the Elk Grove Travel Baseball program when we went to full time travel. I also helped start the Elk Grove American Legion baseball team with the Principal at Elk Grove High school.
My first experience with travel softball was when my 9 year old daughter tried out for the Elk Grove Heat 10U travel. We took her 6 yr old sister with and she begged to tryout. We were shocked to receive the call asking if we would allow both girls to play on the 10U team. My 6 yr old daughter never played in house softball she went right to 10U travel. I didn’t start coaching until our youngest daughter reached 12U. I started with the Elk Grove Heat. In an effort to challenge our daughters to be the best they could be we moved to the Schaumburg Sluggers and then the Homer Hawks. I was unexpectedly asked to be the Head Coach of the Homer Hawks 16U by Dave Betcher and he had recruited some of the best players in the area for the team. We had kids who are now playing at Illinois, DePaul, Arkansas, MSU and a host of other schools. I greatly appreciated the opportunity Dave gave me to coach such a great team. We won Metros and played in the Championship game in most of the tournaments we entered. It was a great experience and I was grateful for the trust Dave showed in me.
We went to tryouts and were anticipating playing on the Gold team for the Hawks but there were some philosophy differences with the Hawks Gold coach and we looked elsewhere for a team. We were going to play under the Berwyn Bash organization but they didn’t have their corporate paperwork in order. I was fortunate to have Courtney Makowski on the first Bash team and her Dad, Ray Makowski was my assistant coach and is a tax attorney who told me he would do the paperwork to start our own program. So the Illinois Bash was born. Ray is the Godfather of the Bash program and we will be forever grateful to him.
3)What is your coaching philosophy? How important is winning?
Jim Goranson- The philosophy we try to focus on is to be the hardest working program out there. We provide tremendous opportunities for the players to accomplish their goals. We want players with passion and love for the game who have a great work ethic.
When it comes to winning we let the scoreboard take care of itself. We are confident that if we have prepared to the best of our ability and play as well as we can on each and every pitch of each at bat we will be successful. Our warehouse is devoid of any trophies except for our Wall of Fame which shows the pictures and names of the 28 players we have helped go on to play softball in college since 2009. That is our barometer of the success of our program.
4)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What type of student-athlete is most difficult for you to work with? How do you overcome this?
Jim Goranson -In every sport I have coached in over 25 years of coaching there have been a small handful of players who were difficult to work with. It’s all about attitude and respect, for the organization, team and the coaches.
5)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what do you believe makes a great softball program, what criteria would you use to determine whether or not you have a good program?
Jim Goranson -I would talk to other people in softball like Bob Landis of the Sparks and pose this question. If your granddaughter who was 9 years old was looking to play softball what program would you tell her to join. We would like to be the program that someone would recommend based on the overall program. We try to have everyone in the program work together and be a part of the organization. We don’t want each team to be a separate entity. We try to practice together and use the same drills at all levels. We want continuity in the program.
We train as hard as anyone and some of the families think were crazy for all the practicing we do. But the players in college come back and always tell us that we introduced them to the rigors and demands expected of them in college. They were prepared for that because of what we put them through.
6)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How important is planning to good coaching?
Jim Goranson- I believe planning is critically important. I have practice plans from my first years of softball coaching and try to continue to adapt and improve the practices we do. I have been fortunate to have access to some of the most respected coaches in softball and they have helped me to improve what and how we teach.
7)ILSOFTBALL.COM • who is your role model?
Jim Goranson -My Mother who was a single Mom raising 4 kids who among other things helped teach me about always trying to help others. She always put other people first in her life. She would always tell me how to think about why someone does something instead of just being angry about what they did or said.
8)ILSOFTBALL.COM •A parent complains about something that has happened in your program/playing time etc. How would you handle that? How do you deal with an upset parent?
Jim Goranson- We try to help players learn how to communicate for themselves with adults. We ask that if there are any concerns that the player go to the coach with her concerns. It’s an opportunity for parents to walk through with their child the correct way to handle something they have a problem with. This is a great way to learn to stand up for yourself and respectfully express yourself. If that doesn’t resolve the issue amicably then I ask the parents to speak to the coach, however only after the player came to the coach first. If that still doesn’t resolve the issue then I become involved and we discuss it and try to work through it. I have had players come up to me and express themselves and I have apologized to them for mistakes I have made. I appreciate their vulnerability talking to an adult and want them to know I respect them.
9)ILSOFTBALL.COM •What motivation techniques work best for you? What do you do with the athlete who is not motivated to achieve?
Jim Goranson- We try to earn the trust of the players and help them understand that what we are asking them to do is in their best interest. We expect players to understand that we are going to push them to be the best they can be. We will provide the coaching and access to resources that will help them achieve their goals. If that isn’t their motivation then they are in the wrong program. We try to impress upon the players that nobody is entitled to anything. You must earn what you want.
10)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How do you promote your program to get student-athletes involved in softball?
Jim Goranson- We rely upon word of mouth and the due diligence of parents to look into our program to see if it will allow their daughter to achieve her goals through softball. We hope that is the best recruiting tool we have.
11)ILSOFTBALL.COM •Explain what you envision the off-season portion of your program will entail?
Jim Goranson- Our offseason is very important. It is the time when we can make up for a lack of talent with hard work and discipline. We train as often as possible. I was told by an SEC coach that we are a program they recruit from because they know we are actually training and teaching.
12)ILSOFTBALL.COM •How would a student-athlete describe you a year or two after she has played for you?
Jim Goranson- My inspiration and motivation to continue doing what we do comes directly from the players and parents who have gone on from our program. I get text messages and phone calls from Bash Alumni telling me how much their experience with us prepared them for the next phase of their life. Katie Luetkens and her Mom texted me when she was voted as the captain of her team at Michigan thanking me for what we did for her. It gave me goosebumps when I read it and to know that we were a small part of her path in life. Bailey Patt is another player who went to JC and then on to Alabama state and played her last college game on National TV in the Conference Championship on ESPN. She is now a grad assistant at Alabama State and helps with the Bash program. I could go on about other polayers who I see that come visit and talk to me when they are home. Those are indicators of how the players feel about being a part of the Bash family.
13)ILSOFTBALL.COM •Some people say that a coach should be special, a role model that should be just as concerned about his/her behavior Others would say that the coach’s life should be his/her own after hours. What they do on their own time is their own business. What do you think?
Jim Goranson -I believe sometimes that these young ladies aren’t given enough credit about being mature enough to be able to judge people. Whether now or in the future they will decide for themselves what kind of person you are as a coach. I believe respect and trust is important to being a good coach and if players don’t respect you and trust you are there for them it will be difficult to coach them.
Our program is a little different with all the travel we do to get the players in front of as many college coaches as possible. In order to make the trips affordable many times I drive the players to tournaments. Sometimes we are in a van for 10-20 hours driving and then the whole weekend we are together. I am humbled by the amount of parents who trust and respect me enough to allow their daughters to travel with me to these tournaments. I take that responsibility very seriously.
14)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what role did your parents play in you coaching softball?
Jim Goranson- My parents were not involved in any aspects of my athletic career other than allowing me to do it. I had to learn a lot on my own about how to be an athlete. As the old saying goes if I knew then what I know now….lol…
15)ILSOFTBALL.COM • what do you think about women coaches in IL? Who are some of your favs?
Jim Goranson- There are several coaches who are entering the game after playing it and loving the game so much. Recently I was at a clinic and the speaker said that most of the time a great player is not a good coach because they can’t handle a player who can’t do something like she did. The speaker said that’s because it was natural for the great player and they didn’t have to really think about it they just did it. I see that a lot in all sports. Just because you played the game at a high level doesn’t guarantee success as a coach. You have to learn how to coach it isn’t a byproduct of playing the game. With that all said there are some really good female coaches. I think Jen Tyrell and Erin Gibler are some of my favorites.
16)ILSOFTBALL.COM •how do you see PGF growing on the futures and national level.
Jim Goranson- I think what we are seeing from ASA is similar in other businesses, complacency. I think they became complacent and indignant to their client base. Right now I think PGF is a competitor who has put the best interests of their clients first and it is showing all across the country. I think competition is ultimately good for the customers and we will see if that is the case in youth softball. The leadership of PGF including Bill Conroy and the rest of the PGF board only care about fastpitch and hopefully their vision will help raise the level of interest in the sport and allow the young ladies more opportunities through softball.
17)ILSOFTBALL.COM •what other teams in IL and the Midwest high school or travel do good job at competing and getting girls ready for the next level?
Jim Goranson- I have been fortunate to be a high school coach and I have had the privilege of talking to and observing some outstanding dedicated HS softball coaches. I can only comment on the coaches I have knowledge of and have personally seen. The list starts with the only Softball Coach in the 35 plus year history of the Elk Grove softball program and Hall of Fame member Mr. Ken Grams. Especially having daughters who played for him. I observed him through the years and he still takes time to learn at coaching clinics. Just last week he took time out of his personal life to our training facility to come watch players we have in our program at their pitching and hitting lessons. He really shows the players he cares about them and that it isn’t about him.
Some other High School Coaches I really respect include Dwain Nance from Marengo, Perry Petterson from Barrington, Jim Weaver from Fremd, Richie Costante of Montini. I respect these coaches for the effort above and beyond they make for their players. It isn’t about the job for them.
My observation of travel coaches locally is somewhat limited by the fact that our team plays out of the area quite a bit. However my criteria for a good travel coach includes longevity and doing it for others beyond your own daughter. That doesn’t mean there aren’t great coaches out there who also happen to coach their daughter, most of us started that way.
Travel ball coaches I respect and admire include Jim Abbott of the New Lenox Lightning, Joe Tholl of the Sparks and Brad Dennison of the Bartlett SilverHawks as well as Gerry Quinn of the Chill.
We all know the Cream of the Crop in our area is Bill Conroy and the Bandits but Bill is really focused on a National program against National Competition and we are all trying to compete against the Bandits right now. We aspire to have the success on and off the field the Bandits enjoy.
I wanted to mention someone else who has had a profound impact on assisting our program prepare our players to perform better and display the skills necessary to get to the next level. We are fortunate to have hitting Coach Mark Doran travel from Mokena to our training center every couple of weeks. I have seen Mark take players who were decent and make them great, I have seen him take players who were terrible and give them the training necessary to become better. However the thing that I am most impressed with is the passion he has to help players and coaches as well as the game. I have seen the passion Mark has for the game in private discussions he has had with some of the best players and coaches in the USA. I listened to Mark and 4-time Olympian and current Oregon coach Laura Berg have a passionate discussion on outfield play. I was in awe of the humbleness Laura displayed and the respect she had for what Mark was talking about. We are very fortunate to have access to him.
18)ILSOFTBALL.COM • What are your thoughts vs PGF, ASA, USSSA NSA?
Jim Goranson- As I mentioned earlier I believe competition is great for the customer. Each organization has its own niche and it’s up to the customers to choose what they feel is best for them after doing their own due diligence.
19)ILSOFTBALL.COM • How do you pick your Coaches for your teams?
Jim Goranson- In a perfect scenario we want to pair a parent or adult with an alumni from our program. We feel that an alumni will be able to understand the way we want to play and be able to demonstrate the skills we practice and play. However we are not blind to the inherent problems that exist in having a young adult run a team. They don’t always understand things from the perspective of a parent and the responsibility they need to have to the parents. We understand that we don’t always have that perfect scenario but we try.
20)ILSOFTBALL.COM • How do you find Balance with your family and softball?
Jim Goranson- Balance is important in life. Our family is very close and we have enjoyed so many cherished memories throughout our kid’s participation in sports. So many family trips were through athletics. Our program would not be at the place it is without the support of family.
21)ILSOFTBALL.COM • Is there any thing else you would like to add and speak about?
Jim Goranson- I would like to announce for those that aren’t aware that I am the new head coach at Oakton Community college. I believe it is an under promoted program and can provide great opportunities for many players. There are a lot of times when a Junior college is the right answer for a player. If anyone wants to explore the JC route please reach out to me. We can offer softball scholarships to athletes. We are going to Tampa for spring Break and the softball complex is going to be totally rebuilt.
The other thing I would like to mention is that I am not naiveté. Our program would not exist without the effort, support and sacrifice of so many dedicated people. Our program has grown so fast in such a short time. Just like other programs we have had players leave our program and we get players from other programs. However at the end of the day our goal is to try to do what is in the best interests of the players and the future of the program. Many will not agree with our philosophy or our way of doing things and that’s ok.
Jim Goranson
Mobile - 847-489-9131
Oakton Community College - Head Softball Coach
Illinois Bash Softball Association - Founder/President