Groton School head coach Kevin Barnaby

Dan Guttenplan interviews Kevin Barnaby, Groton School head baseball coach and Nor’easters Tewksbury program director. Barnaby explains that tryouts are less about results and more about earning coaches’ trust through controllables like showing up early, hustling, being coachable, communicating, asking appropriate questions, and dressing in neutral or school colors rather than other travel gear. He describes Groton’s fast, chaotic evaluation drills to test reactions to adversity, and outlines the team’s optional five-day Vero Beach trip featuring multiple practices, scrimmages and workouts. Barnaby discusses his public-school playing background, Groton’s academic draw and global student body, minimal overlap between Groton and Nor’easters, his shift toward administrative duties, and a college-placement approach prioritizing academic, financial and social fit amid transfer-portal dynamics.

Topics

01:17 Tryout Tips: Trust Intangibles

02:56 Dress the Part at Tryouts

03:42 Earning Coaches' Trust

04:22 Chaotic Tryout Evaluations

06:31 Vero Beach Spring Trip

08:28 In-Season Development Plan

09:29 Coach Barnaby Background

10:21 Why Choose Groton?

11:38 Groton vs. Nor’easters Balance

12:51 Running Nor’easters Program

14:01 College Recruiting Guidance

16:00 When Recruiting Happens

17:34 Success Stories: Stewart Allen

18:41 Staying Connected After Graduation

20:28 ISL Pitching Depth and Rivalries

22:26 Keeping Underclassmen Engaged

24:25 Sponsor Break: Netting Pros

25:15 "Three Up, Three Down"

25:38 Ted Talk Coaching Philosophy

28:40 Who to Watch in MLB 2026

30:37 Weirdest Things Seen in Baseball

34:09 Podcast Wrap and Thanks