Josh Reynolds is entering his first season as Northwestern baseball's associate head coach and pitching coach. He came to Northwestern after serving as an assistant coach at Kansas State since 2011. He helped those Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament twice in that span. Following a stellar career at Division III power Central Missouri, Reynolds was selected in the third round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Mets. He also spent time in the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres organizations before transitioning to become a coach in 2004.

As the Wildcats get set to begin their 2016 campaign, NUSports.com sat down with Reynolds to learn about him and preview the upcoming season.
••••••
When did you fall in love with the game of baseball?
The first time I can remember playing was in the backyard with my dad after he got home from work. We would go outside to play catch and that's when I knew.

How would you scout yourself as a pitcher?
Overrated. Good command with the fastball and I could mix in off-speed pitches for strikes. Also, I was very competitive during the games.

Did you have any pregame routines or were you superstitious?
No. Nothing I can think of off the top of my head, which I guess is strange for a baseball player.

When did you know that you wanted to coach?
When I was done playing professionally I thought I was ready to be done with the game of baseball. My college pitching coach, who recruited me to Central Missouri, brought me on as a volunteer coach at Kansas State. I tried it for a year and fell in love with it. I get to be around the game of baseball and it's something that I really enjoy.

What drew you to Northwestern?
I think what drew me to Northwestern was the people. I work for a great guy in Spencer Allen and then with [assistant coaches] Dusty [Napoleon] and Tad [Skelley] on staff, it's been wonderful. I wake up everyday and look forward to coming to the office.

When you first got to Northwestern what were your goals?
We know what we want to do as a program, we know where we want to be and we know what it will take to get there, but in order for all that to take place we had to figure out what kind of team we had. After we did that, then we could start to map out the goals that are best suited for the team that we are coaching this year and then start to put the pieces together for future years.

How were your first interactions with the team?
Learning who the guys were and their skill sets were my priorities in the fall. You can look at stats from the years before, but I tried not to do that. I glanced at them one time and that was it. That way I had an open mind so when I saw them in action I could learn first-hand who they are, as both a baseball player and as a person. That way I could figure out, for myself, how they will eventually be down the road. A stat sheet couldn't tell you that.

What has stood out to you about this team?
So far, everybody, from pitcher one to pitcher fifteen has listened and tried to do what we have asked them. It's been great from that standpoint. The pitching depth has been better than what I thought it was going to be and we have had guys start to make jumps. They are real coachable and that's been the most exciting thing for me. They are fun to be around.

As the pitching coach, what gets you excited about your staff?
We have six guys who can pitch on the weekend, and as a coach, that's exciting. I think we have a few guys that can be that Friday night starter and really compete against other team's Friday night guy. Then on Saturday and Sunday, we are in that competition mode right now to see who is going to win those spots.

What should we look for when we watch Northwestern baseball this year?
We are going to be up-tempo with our offense. From a pitching staff, you'll see our guys attack the zone, and so far that's what they have shown they want to do. It'll be a fun brand of baseball.

Are you excited about the new Rocky and Berenice Miller Park?
Of course I am excited about it, but I am more excited for our guys. These guys put the time and effort in from an academic and an athletic standpoint, and now they get rewarded with this beautiful new facility that they get to call home. It's awesome for them.

••••••

Be the first to know what's going on with the 'Cats -- Follow @NU_Sports on Twitter, become a fan of Northwestern Athletics on Facebook, check us out on Instagram, visit our Social Media page and download our mobile app from the Apple Store and Google Play! To get involved with the #B1GCats, become a season-ticket holder or join the Wildcat Fund!

Northwestern University Athletics

Northwestern University Athletics

Coaches Corner: Josh Reynolds

••••••

Related News

Related Videos