Following the resignation of long-time baseball head coach Chris May, Gibson Southern formally announced the hiring of successor Bobby Segal on Oct. 24. Segal, originally from Indianapolis, has worked extensively in baseball, serving in a related capacity every year since 2003.
In the past, Segal worked most notably as hitting coach for the Evansville Otters, where he spent seven years and once earned the Frontier League’s Coach of the Year Award. He also has experience in Major League Baseball, working with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007.
While in college at Indiana University, Segal was a catcher for the Hoosiers from 2002 to 2006.
Segal believes his prior experiences will be of great benefit to him when it comes to coaching at the high school level. Being part of successful teams in the past is something that he does not take for granted and looks to continue in the future at Gibson Southern.
“The coaching staffs I have led or been a part of have been extremely informative in my growth as a mentor and leader,” Segal said.
Gibson Southern’s latest baseball coach has taken note of the welcoming and competitive nature of the area. He understands how much the surrounding communities care for and support athletics at Gibson Southern and hopes to coach teams that will live up to lofty expectations.
Segal emphasized the importance of believing in one’s self, knowing your abilities and being in sync with his players. He believes this approach will allow his team to succeed in the biggest moments.
“Compete, be relentless, take pride in your daily routines and preparations so that you can trust them when the lights come on,” Segal said.
As for his actual coaching of the game, Segal values being close with both his players and the rest of his staff. He also believes that there is a place for both older and newer philosophies in baseball.
“I feel that I have a good mix of old school with new school baseball, but numbers do not lie at the end of the day,” Segal said.
The number one priority in looking for a coach to lead the team was making sure that the students would have a good person who would set a good example to follow. Gibson Southern athletic director Nick Hart feels that they got their guy.
“We’re looking for a good person, first of all, that’s going to treat kids well,” Hart said.
Hart understands there is a certain transition period needed for the team to mesh, and that with change comes both good and bad, but he has confidence the team will be able to hit the ground running.
Under Segal, daily growth is the number one expectation for every member of the baseball team. For Hart, it is a matter of seeing consistent improvement as the season progresses and making sure the players have a great experience.
Though he may be new to Gibson Southern, Segal holds a deep respect for those that have come before him in the Titan baseball program.
“Coach Reid and Coach May have built this program from the ground up,” Segal said. “I am extremely honored and humbled to have the opportunity to build off of what they started.”
There is an optimistic outlook on what the future holds for the Titans on the diamond.
“We’re excited about what coach [Segal] brings,” Hart said. “His background is very impressive for a high school coach, and we’re excited to see him bring his knowledge and skill set here to the field in the spring.”
