The Dad Coach: How to Lead Kids to Succeed On and Off the Baseball Field

by Mike Matheny, Jerry B. Jenkins

New York Times bestselling author Mike Matheny offers the definitive guide to coaching youth baseball and instilling positive values on and off the field.

Before he became manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Matheny penned a strongly worded letter urging parents and coaches to view youth baseball not as a stepping stone to the Major Leagues, but as a guide to teaching children discipline, the value of hard work, and the virtue of humility. That letter quickly went viral and became the basis of the New York Times bestseller The Matheny Manifesto . Now, in The Dad Coach , Matheny puts his philosophy into action and provides a step-by-step template for coaches and parents to develop solid fundamentals and a strong sense of character in their players,


Combining Matheny’s coaching expertise with the storytelling abilities of bestselling author Jerry B. Jenkins, The Dad Coach is an engaging and essential resource for anyone, regardless of experience, who wants to coach their teams to success in baseball and life.

Genres: Sports

240 pages, Hardcover

Published March 25, 2025

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently half way through the book, so here's my opinion so far:

I've not found much to relate to personally, though my family member was involved in baseball.
I wanted to learn more about the sport and the coaches mindset. The book says, “The key is to approach these with the right mindset, never assuming you already know it all.” However, this book is not just for anyone with a passing interest. It is for those who most closely resemble coaches, as the author's perspective appears to focus on people who are actively involved in the sport.

Perhaps this would be the perfect read for those with preexisting knowledge of the sports history, and may be particularly interesting to those curious about the author's life.

I do appreciate that the book is tailored to a specific, somewhat niche audience, and now I know exactly who I can recommend it to.

[Robert Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, could do without the Christianity-based stuff but its mostly benign. The QR codes to drills/ideas are neat but I wonder how that will hold up over the long-haul. Overall highly recommend for those getting into coaching, not just baseball but anything.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A valuable and thought provoking resource for any coach, parent or player involved in youth sports. Though designed for baseball, the insights provided throughout this book may be readily applied to other sports and life experiences. {A}

[Javierthearcnovice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a copy but Received an arc two weeks before the book is actually on shelves…. This made me not want to read the book. There was no mention of an arc in the giveaway post.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute wonderfully written book about being an all-around, good coach for kids. Really applies to any sport.

[Muhammad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Madrasah was a placed near of the office. There is no God, but Allah SWT. Peace be upon him. Ahlussunnah wal jama'ah.