Emerson鈥檚 baseball coach is at the front of its culture change
BOSTON (BVM) — Coaching for a team you used to play for is a dream come true for many athletes; a dream Nicholas Vennochi has come to realize after being a team captain and MVP for Emerson College baseball. While the Emerson Lions haven鈥檛 seen a lot of success since Vennochi played, his coaching approach and team culture are turning in his favor.
Vennochi played three seasons for the Lions including the team’s most successful season in 2010 with a 15-20 record. That may not sound impressive, but since 2010 the Lions have a 61-246 record including a streak that continues today of nine seasons with three or less divisional wins.
Part of Emerson鈥檚 stretch of losing is the opponents they play every year in the New England Women鈥檚 and Men鈥檚 Athletic Conference (NEWMAC). At the top of the division are Wheaton College, Babson College, and MIT who didn鈥檛 compete in 2021. Babson won the 2021 division with a 13-4 overall record, while Wheaton is going to the NCAA Division III World Series.听
Vennochi uses their tough competition as motivation to improve. While the results haven鈥檛 turned into more wins and success, the team is moving in the right direction.
鈥淥ur culture is as good as it has ever been,鈥� Vennochi said. 鈥淭he culture when I got here was not good, and losing breeds that, of course. Losing breeds selfishness, losing breed negativity, losing breeds just guys not really feeling like there’s any trust or buy in.鈥�
Vennochi has been fighting against the culture in Emerson baseball for a long time, but thanks to his coaching style, and a combination of long-time players and new talent could bring newfound success to the Lions.
Emerson College has always seen communication as its most important asset to college students. Regardless of the department, communication is the connective tissue through which all Emerson graduates relate through.听
As an Emerson alumnus, Vennochi uses overall team communication to create a well-rounded team and staff.
听鈥淚 don’t think I’ve ever wanted to be like a dictator in any way,鈥� Vennochi said. 鈥淚 think it’s really important in hiring and putting together the culture of your staff where it’s like, you can be heard because I need it and that鈥檚 why we have you here.鈥�
That collaborative spirit is what makes Vennochi a perfect fit at Emerson. However, a coach needs to communicate with their players just as much as their coaches. Two graduating players are credited with turning the culture around in the dugout.
Andre Padovani and Ryan McCahan have only won 18 games in their collegiate careers. Despite that, they came to every game, practice, and team event with the same positive and competitive energy you need to finally break through.听听
鈥淎s a player, it’s hard to have that perspective,鈥� Vennochi said. 鈥淭hat, 鈥榳e want to leave this place a better place than when we came in,鈥� but I think they both are guys who wanted that so badly. Every single year they came back and they wanted it to be better than it was, and it was because of them.鈥�
Padovani and McCahan are graduates from the Class of 2021, but their impact will be felt for years to come in the Lions鈥� dugout.
As the head coach of a team without much success, Vennochi has his work cut out for him. But he鈥檚 not turning this team around on his own. With the help of his staff, a new culture, and of course his players, Emerson baseball could be on the rise sooner than anyone would imagine.
