VMI didn’t take long
and didn’t have to look far for Ikenberry’s replacement.
Associate head coach Jonathan Hadra, a 2004 VMI graduate,
immediately was named acting head coach, and less than two weeks
later, named head coach.
Hadra played for Tom
Slater and Ikenberry while a player with the Keydets. He then
joined the Keydets as a coach in 2005 before spending three
years at Western Kentucky and a year at Bradley. In 2010, he
returned to coach with Ikenberry.
Hadra took time to
answer questions from CBI about coaching his alma mater.
First Inning –
Coach Ikenberry announced his decision to leave college baseball
for a job in business late in the fall. How surprised were you
by the decision?
I think I was just as
surprised as everyone else. Typically when head coaching changes
are made, it is not the middle of November, so it wasn’t even on
my radar. I know it was a decision that he wrestled with for a
while because he has invested a large part of his life and
energy to this program. The VMI community and family has always
meant so much to Ike, so I know this was a decision that was not
made on a whim but over much time and reflection for what is
best for him and his family.
Second Inning –
What was your feeling when VMI quickly made you the head coach
rather than an interim coach?
Excitement was the
first feeling. Being a head coach has always been a goal of
mine, and the fact that I am able to reach that goal at VMI is
something that I have a lot of pride in.
Third Inning –
You’ve been around Coach Ikenberry for 14 years. What has he
meant to you?
It’s tough to put in
just a few sentences what he has meant to me because he was the
one that took a chance on me in 2005 and hired me as the
volunteer right after I graduated from VMI. I will always be
grateful for that. Ike has always been a guy that worked hard on
the recruiting trail by never leaving a stone unturned and
finding some really good players that flew under the radar. He
was a player’s coach that truly wanted his players to graduate
from VMI.
Fourth Inning –
Describe your experience as a player and student at VMI.
Now that’s a loaded
question! My time at VMI, like everyone else’s, was a time that
challenged me in so many ways beginning with the Rat line, to
the class room and finally to the baseball field. My experience
at VMI was also one of the most rewarding experiences of my life
as well. I played for two head coaches, Tommy Slater and Ike,
who continue to have a positive influence on me and my career.
The friends and connections that are made, simply because of
this experience that we all went through, truly lasts for a
lifetime. The networking of the VMI alumni is second to none and
something I experienced firsthand when a VMI guy, Chris Finwood,
hired me at WKU.
Fifth
Inning – How does going to school at VMI help you as a coach at
VMI?
I think the biggest
advantage is that I can relate to what these guys are thinking
and going through on a daily basis. Knowing what the demands of
their schedule allows us to maximize our time with them from a
development stand point. It also helps on the recruiting trail
because when I am explaining to the parents and athletes what
they are going to be going through, there is instant
credibility. I try to be transparent in the recruiting process.
I want the athlete and family to have a very good grasp about
the challenges during their freshman year but also about how the
benefits and rewards far outweigh the sacrifices made early on.
Sixth Inning –
What are some of the Keydets’ strengths heading into 2015?
I think our biggest
strength for this team is our senior class. We have a ton of
experience and talent in this class from Andrew Woods to Jordan
Tarsovich and Matt Winn. Brandon Angus can be a very exciting
player to watch because he creates offense with his speed but
also saves some runs by his defense in the outfield. We will
have an experienced lineup with some athletic guys that can do
some different things. On the mound we are led by a few older
guys in, Woods Jonathan Kelley and Austin Heenan. These are guys
that have experienced the ups and downs of a long season. We are
also looking forward to TJ Lighton returning to the mound after
missing last season due to an injury.
Seventh Inning –
What does VMI need to do to challenge in the Southern?
Pitching and Defense.
If we can throw strikes and take care of the baseball we will be
in a position to win some baseball games.
Eighth Inning –
Describe the kind of player you try to recruit to VMI.
We try to recruit
tough-minded kids that love to work, are ultra-competitive and
see a challenge as just another bump in the road on their path
to achieve whatever they desire. Position-player wise, we try to
recruit athletes that are multi-dimensional from the standpoint
that they can play multiple positions, handle the bat and create
offense. On the mound, we are still looking for athletic kids
with good arm actions that throw strikes with multiple pitches.
Ninth Inning –
What is Base Co., and what does it mean to you?
Base Co is the VMI
baseball family. These guys are a very close knit group of guys
that look out for each other and want what is best for their
teammates. For many of these guys, VMI came onto their radar
when they began to be recruited, so they have that commonality.
They are tough kids that love to play the game which makes it a
lot of fun to show up at the field and work with these types of
guys.
