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COACH PROFILE: COURTNEY BLADES-ROGERS
Courtney Blades-Rogers, a former two-time All-American pitcher at Nicholls State and Southern Miss, has made a name for herself as a coach and scout for travel ball. She really shines as a pitching coach. The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame inductee currently is the director of recruiting for the Hotshots organization.
COACH PROFILE Q&A
Name: Courtney Blades-Rogers
Hometown: Cypress, TX
High School: Belaire High of Baton Rouge, LA
College: Southern Mississippi
Club Team: Hotshots Organization
Nickname: Court
Twitter: @courtneybladesr
Top Coaching Honors/Accomplishments:
Third at PGF Nationals in 2017 and Triple Crown Nationals winners in 2017.
Coaching Highlights:
I have been coaching for about nine years at the competitive level, but giving lessons for almost 20. We have won many games and lost many games. The best memories are just being with the kids and getting them to their college destinations.
How do you approach the game?
One pitch at a time. Playing softball is all about allowing our bodies to compete and let the training take over. I will go out and scout for the kids, but bottom line, focus on us and do our job.
What’s your area of expertise?
Pitching!!!!
What are some of your favorite training methods?
Physical and mental training are both important to me. I really enjoy working on all aspects of the game, but I think my favorite is live work.
What’s your schedule/routine?
I currently give lessons three days a week.
Top players you’ve coached?
A lot of the girls I have coached are all underclassman in college now, but some notable athletes are Britton Rogers (Georgia), Payden Bordeau (Georgia), Lily Agan (Washington), Cali Decker (Florida), Lindsey Hendrix (Syracuse), Cam Wincher (Michigan State), Kaci West (Baylor) and KK Madrey (LSU).
Other sports coached?
No other sports, just softball .
Is coaching and/or softball your full-time or ‘day job’?
Softball is my everything job. I give lessons and handle recruiting for the organization.
Did you have a coach or mentor that helped you get started?
My softball ‘person’ is Lu Harris-Champer. She absolutely was amazing and is the reason why I love softball as much as I do.
What is the best part of your job?
It doesn’t feel like a job. I love what I do. It keeps me around the game, but I also get to teach. Ironically my degree is in Education.
The worst?
Losing… I hate to lose.
Do you think softball is in a better place now than 10 years ago? Why or why not?
Softball definitely gets a lot more attention and recognition than it did 10 years ago. I am so thankful for all the game gave me and I know that the young ladies competing now will feel the same.
What other club and/or high school coaches do you admire and why?
I really love (Firecrackers coach) Tony Rico. He does it the right way and does it for the girls. He also coaches the whole game and the whole player.
— Carlos Arias, Extra Inning Softball (Follow Carlos on Twitter @Los_Stuff)