Check out the latest installment of Conversations with College Coaches. This week Woody Wingfield sat down with Assistant Coach Josh Jordan of Appalachian State  to talk abou this schools program.

1. How long have you been coaching? How long at Appalachian State?
I’m entering my 10th season overall and my 6th here at Appalachian State.

2. Who are some of your mentors or coaches that you look up to?
I have many friends in coaching I try to learn and take advice from, but the title of “mentor” for me would have to be the guy I played for: Jim Gantt at Catawba College. Regarding anything, I always know he will do and know what it the right thing to do.

3. What is the first thing about your school and program that you’d want a recruit to know about?
That it is a quality overall college experience here at Appalachian. We have over 17,000 students so you get that large school college experience but our average class size is 24 students and our student to faculty ratio is 19:1. The students here at Appalachian are provided the personal attention that enables them to be successful. I also think our students are fortunate to live four years of their lives in one of the most beautiful areas of the country. There is a reason that Boone was voted in 2008 as the #1 outdoor vacation spot in North America by Outdoor Magazine. Last but definitely not least we strive each day to run a top notch Division I program.

4. What do you look for in a prospective recruit on the field? Off the field?
Energy; you are either an energy giver or an energy taker. That applies both in the classroom and on the field.

5. Do you recruit from Junior Colleges?
YES!

6. Can you break down your fall practice schedule? What do you try to accomplish?
That is a tough question to answer because each fall is different for us because each team is different. However regardless of the team I think it goes back to a consistent approach day to day. This in turn makes for great preparation. Regardless of what aspect of baseball we talk about (pitching/hitting) baseball is a game of repetition, those reps you take as a player must be disciplined and consistent. If we have done a good job as a staff in doing this, once that first pitch is thrown each player should allow their athleticism to take over and trust their preparation will help them be successful.

7. Do you have a strength and conditioning coach?
Yes, we are very blessed that our athletic department provides us with a full time strength and conditioning coach and a full time athletic trainer. Both are exclusive to our baseball program.

8. What can you tell us about your facilities?
I would encourage all to take a look online at our stadium. We opened up a brand new baseball facility four years ago which is one of the finest in the country. We have a state-of-the-art FieldTurf playing surface, which allows for the field to play the same no matter the conditions and for games to be played following weather that would leave most natural surfaces unplayable. Below is some detailed information specific to our stadium:
• Lights that introduced night baseball to ASU's campus for the first time beginning in 2007.
• An indoor hitting and pitching facility which features two full batting cages and indoor pitching mound, as well as multiple individual hitting and pitching skills stations.
• A first-rate Daktronics scoreboard and message center located beyond the right-center field wall.
• A press box, concessions and souvenirs building that doubles as a red-brick style grand entrance to the stadium complex from the parking level.
• One of college baseball's top clubhouse facilities, with amenities that include:
-A roomy player lockers/lounge area with lockers and showers for 35 players, two flat-screen televisions and state-of-the art surround sound system.
-Coaches’ offices and locker room, each of which include flat-screen televisions.
-A full-service training room, complete with hydro-therapy station and flat-screen television.
A reception area for guests with leather furniture and a flat-screen television.

9. What part of the 2012 schedule/year are you looking forward to the most?
Day one of fall practice, we have a saying in our program “win today!” We never try to look ahead to a particular date or team. Once we win that first practice then we can move on. It sounds very simplistic to some but that how we approach it.

10. What do you think of the new BBCOR bats?
I think they have made runs more valuable and put an emphasis on each pitch of the game which is the way baseball is meant to be played. Pitching and defense has always been a main focus for our program so we welcome it.

11. Is there anything you would like to add about your assistant coaches, recruits, parents, or program that we have not asked you about?
I’d like to make sure to mention the fact that I think I am blessed to work for the most diligent person I know, our head coach Chris Pollard. There is a trickle down effect; we strive to pay close attention to detail as a staff. I think this helps us stay consistent with our approach and work to make the college baseball experience the best it can possibly be for every player that comes through the program, whatever their goals both on and off the field.

Check out more "Conversations with College Coaches"