Coaches/Field Manager Relations: Jon and Willie from Arizona State University Baseball
Jon Larson and Willie Bloomquist are the team behind Arizona State University's Baseball team but their roles are very different. Jon is the head groundskeeper that manages the field while Willie is the head coach who manages the players. For two jobs that are naturally at odds with one another, how do the two ensure they share the same vision and goals for the program?
Here's what you'll hear in this week's Groundskeeper Chat:
- How to establish a trusting relationship from day one
- The logistics of how ASU baseball runs their program
- Who is responsible for player education?
- Lastly, how to find common ground and respect in a working environment and much much more.
A little bit more about our guest:
Jon and Willie share the common goal of winning a national championship, which requires communication, trust and respect to play a major role in their game plan. The duo have been working together for over a year as head groundskeeper and head coach but their relationship started back when Willie was a player for ASU and Jon worked on the fields. Both share the belief that "every day is a fun day at the ball park".
You can also listen to the conversation on:
- Natural Turf (13)
- Synthetic Turf (9)
- Synthetic Turf Maintenance (6)
- Baseball/Softball Maintenance (8)
- From the Lab (2)
- Health and Safety (1)
- Turf Tips (28)
- Facility Maintenance (2)
- Inside Pioneer Athletics (2)
- Pioneers in the Field 2020 (6)
- Career Insights (4)
- Industry News (11)
- STEM Activities for Kids (6)
- Groundskeeper Chats (120)
- Pioneers in the Field 2021 (4)
- Fast 5 Questions (8)
- Pioneers in the Field 2022 (10)
- Pioneers in the Field 2023 (6)
- Soccer Maintenance (3)
- Pioneers in the Field 2024 (6)
- Day in the Life (3)
- Game Day Prep (2)
- Pioneers in the Field 2025 (1)