- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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In Parts 1 and 2 of our interview with Lansing Athletic Director Ed Redmond he discussed the athletics program, the philosophy behind it, and how the program fits within the district and the community at large.
In this final installment he talks about the school's sports facilities, his family and coaching.
Lansing Star: Are you satisfied with the current facilities?
Ed Redmond: Yes. You know, in the next building project we're looking at some fitness equipment. That's my main goal. We were given a fitness room seven years ago, and in the room we just have older equipment, hand-me-down stuff. So in this building project my goal is to bring in some new equipment. Other than that I'm very pleased.
LS: The field where commencement was is fairly new.
ER: Yes, that came in in the first project, probably seven years ago now, and the lights came in a couple of years after that. That's a nice facility. It's well taken care of. Our grounds people do a great job up there. It's just a really nice setting.
LS: What time of day are games generally played there?
ER: We play our varsity soccer, boys and girls, on that field. And we play our varsity football on that field. generally those games start at seven o'clock, and we use the lights. Now, not all soccer this year will be under the lights. I think we have a couple of games where they are going to play at 4:30. But that's generally a night venue.
LS: I asked because I noticed that the stands face West and when the sun comes down everyone is highlighted.
ER: It certainly makes for a nice spectator-friendly environment at night, there's no question, because of the sun.
LS: How much are you personally involved in individual teams?
ER: Well, I hire all the coaches, and fire coaches, if needed. So from that level I'm involved right away as the person in charge of the coaches. We work hard, especially with our younger coaches to help them become a better coach. I would say evaluate, but sometimes "evaluate" has a negative spin to it. We like to work with our coaches to help them improve. Our veteran coaches, who have been with us for several years, know what I expect. So those programs I don't watch as closely. When we bring in younger coaches it's my job to train, to talk about techniques, to talk about goal setting. So I'm really directly involved at all levels with all teams, but more specifically with our younger coaches.
LS: Do you use student evaluations?
ER: I've never used student evaluations. I've thought about it, but have never used them.
LS: It can be a mixed bag.
ER: Yes, you get what you ask for. Generally I'm in touch with the kids through conversation, I see kids every day and we talk. Generally I can get a sense of what's going on within a team. If there's good chemistry there, or if there's a problm I need to address. I usually do it just from conversation with kids. And kids will walk right into this office and talk to me about problems they are having with a coach or a team mate. My door's always open.
LS: Are the coaches full time?
ER: No, we have no one who is a full time coach. We have coaches that work in our district as teachers, and then we have coaches who work outside the district that come in here at 3 o'clock and coach. So it's a mixed bag. My preference is for people that are in the school with the kids and just an extension of the classroom, because they have educational background, they're teachers. We do have several coaches who are excellent who are outside the district who work their job, and then come in at 3 o'clock and coach.
LS: A few questions about you. You and (your wife) Amy have three children...
ER: Right.
LS: And you've lived in Lansing for...
ER: Since '84, so really 21 years.
LS: What do you like to do when you're not here?
ER: I like to spend time with my family. I like to spend time with my kids and my wife, as much as I can. I like to work out, exercise, keep myself fit. I run. I like to work out in fitness rooms with some light weights. And Amy and I, usually when we get any time alone we just like to converse. So it's not a lot of time, I spend most of my days here. Certainly family is very important to me.
LS: I understand you coach the Legion team and the Collegian team.
ER: I'm the head coach of the Lansing Collegians. It's our first year, and that's basically made up of college age kids. Of those college aged kids, seven of them are Lansing graduates. So that sort of drew me to that. This is our first year, and it took a group of people to put it together, including myself. Steve Colt was involved, there is a group of parents involved who did a lot of fund raising and organizing. It's been a really great first year for us. Not only are we winning games, but the kids are enjoying it. It's been a good thing.
The American Legion situation is that I'm working with Dave Wolfe. Just because of time constraints, 'cause often the Legions and the Collegians play on the same night, so Dave has taken the Legion team, soft of... but I've done that for several years, I've worked with the Legion team, because I'm the head baseball coach here and I like to continue to work with some kids in the summer on some skills, so I'm still involved at the Legion level as an assistant coach or a co-head coach, whatever you want to call it. And that's what I do in the summer at night.
LS: Are these through the Rec program?
ER: The Legion program is. The Collegian is a separate organization which we started this year.
LS: Is it actually a league?
ER: Yes, we're in the Central New york Baseball League (CNYBL). There are three other teams in the league. There are two teams from Syracuse and one team from Rochester, and us. So it's a four team league.
LS: What's the age level in the American Legion teams?
ER: The American Legion (players) could star at any age and go up to 19. The is no bottom age limit.
LS: And this is connected with the American Legion.
ER: Right. Now, we don't actually have a Legion post in Lansing, so we have to apply for a waiver. (The program) is called "American Legion Baseball." It's like Babe Ruth baseball for 13, 14 and 15. This is Legion for 16, 17, 18 and 19.
LS: What do you like best about coaching?
ER: I like the relationship and the rapport you have with the kids. That's number one. It's always been like that. It's always been about the kids and the relationships and the impact you can have on the kids when they're there, no question.
If you missed Part 1 or Part 2 of this interview, search on the word Redmond.
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