For Greg Gilbertson, coaching baseball is about much more than wins, losses, and what happens between the lines. It is about family, patience, having fun, and creating memories that will last long after the final out.

For the past five years, Greg has had the privilege of coaching his son’s baseball team. What started as an opportunity to be involved in a sport he loves has become a meaningful part of his life. Season after season, Greg has watched his son and his teammates develop not only as baseball players, but also as young people.

One lesson Greg has learned along the way is that patience is one of the most important qualities a coach can have.

“Every player learns, thinks, and plays differently,” Greg says. “A coach must have patience to build confidence in every player.”

That philosophy shapes the way Greg approaches practices and his players. He encourages athletes to step outside their comfort zones and try positions they may not have played before. He also believes team-building activities can help players become more comfortable with one another and create a stronger team culture.

Most importantly, Greg makes sure there is still room for something that can sometimes get overlooked during a competitive season: fun.

Baseball is already a difficult game. There are strikeouts, errors, tough losses, and plenty of challenges along the way. Greg believes coaches should occasionally dedicate part of a practice—or even an entire practice—to simply letting the players have fun and enjoy being together.



And when the season gets long and the players need a little extra motivation, Greg has another coaching strategy up his sleeve: Double Bubble gum.

Sometimes, the simplest things work best.

Greg continues to develop as a coach by learning from resources such as USA Baseball’s mobile platform, where he can stay current on baseball techniques, ideas, and coaching practices. But regardless of how much the game changes, his core philosophy remains simple.

His advice for a new coach sums it up perfectly:

“Be prepared, be fair, be patient, and have fun.”

Away from the baseball field, Greg enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time outdoors. Above everything else, however, he values time with his family.

Family, baseball, and the outdoors are all important pieces of Greg’s life. Coaching gives him the opportunity to bring several of those things together—to enjoy a game he loves, spend meaningful time with his son, help young players grow in confidence, and create memories with the people who matter most.

After five years of coaching, those memories may ultimately be Greg’s greatest win.