Coach Logan Mann looking to get back to winning roots at Lakeland University
SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (BVM) — Logan Mann jumped into the coaching world without any experience with coaching, just as a baseball player. Building leadership and a foundation can be difficult sometimes, but Mann figured out a way to complete this quickly.
At the age of 24, Mann was hired as the head baseball coach at Southern Virginia University (Buena Vista, Virginia). Without the coaching experience, Mann led his team to their first winning record in school history and an appearance at the World Series followed by an appearance in the National Championship game the next year.
This is when he knew coaching was for him.
The transition to the Midwest had been in the works prior to accepting the job at Lakeland University (Sheboygan, Wis.). His wife, Rebecca, was from the Midwest and she was wanting to get back closer to family. When the Lakeland job came up, he applied, and now, “loves where [he] is at being a part of the Muskie family.”
Working through a pandemic has been a different animal for Mann.
“We are practicing more patience with our guys,” Mann said, “we are trying to not push them too hard or too fast.”
Through Mann’s young coaching career, he has learned that he needs to get to know each athlete and, “connect personally with each player.” This has come out more through the pandemic as every individual student-athlete is in a different position.
Mann to this day is still a sponge with the game and is always learning. That is his advice for anyone looking to enter the coaching world.
“Listening ears and keeping things in your back pocket,” said Mann, “coaching is ever changing and [always] keep asking questions.”
Mann states he “loves being a part of the Muskie family” and this is what will drive the small Division III baseball team back to winning roots over the next 5 years.
Mann is hoping in the next 5 years that the Muskies are, “consistent participants in the conference tournament.” With his history and success, this turnaround is possible for the Muskies who went 9-28 during his first season. But improvements were seen through that season as well.
COVID shortened the spring 2020 season, now they are just looking forward to the spring.
“The goal is not today or tomorrow, but it is for March,” Mann said
