062. Building a Competitive and Growth Mindset Athlete with Matt Swope
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On this episode, Matt Swope (Assistant Baseball Coach at University of Maryland) and I dive deep into mental toughness, growth mindset, being competitive, meditation, and overcoming fear. Matt Swope is probably the most authentic coach I’ve had yet on the podcast. His ability to be vulnerable about the adversity he’s been through in life and how it’s built him into the person he is today is translated into the way he approaches coaching and life in general. It was great having him on and I’m excited for you to dive in.
Matt Swope is in his third season as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator. Swope is entering his eighth season overall on staff at Maryland after serving as the Terps' director of operations for five seasons from 2013-2017.
During Swope’s time in College Park, Maryland has boasted nine All-Americans, two academic All-Americans and 32 Major League Baseball draft picks. The Terrapins advanced to their only two Super Regionals in school history (2014, 2015) and advanced to two conference tournament championship games.
Swope was a four-year starter and had an illustrious career in College Park from 1999-2002. Playing in the outfield for the Terps, Swope finished his career with .331 batting average, 16 home runs and 135 RBI. He is Maryland's career leader in runs (181), ranks second in hits (253) and walks (106), third in total bases (360), fifth in RBI and at bats (764), and eighth in stolen bases (44).
The New Carrollton, Md., native was taken in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Montreal Expos where he spent the season with their Class A affiliate Clinton Lumber Kings and their Class A Short-Season affiliate Vermont Expos.
In 2005, Swope spent the season with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League. Swope and the Wild Things enjoyed a successful season. The Wild Things set a Frontier League record with 63 wins, while Swope hit .309 with ten home runs. Swope had a 28-game hitting streak during the 2005 season.
Swope was nominated as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Societies Man of The Year in 2010 and has raised over $100,000 for the LLS and Kids Vs. Cancer Foundation.
Pazik’s BIG 3 Questions:
Can you build a competitive athlete?
How do you enhance mental toughness in your athletes?
What is a specific drill you have at the end of practice to induce competitiveness?
