Spring Break
Childress sets goal to build on improvements, get to Omaha
By: Brad Cox
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Sports
After completing a stint at Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas, as a two-time all-conference pitcher, Childress was ready to begin his new career. After graduating in 1990, he began immediate work at Texarkana College under Dave Van Horn, head coach of the Arkansas baseball team.
"Two things that he is great at are recruiting and being an extreme motivator," Childress said about Van Horn. "He was an overachiever as a player and he's dealing with players that were more talented than him. If he can instill that same mentality in players more talented than him, he has got a chance to do something special."
After working coaching jobs at other colleges, Childress took a job as a pitching coach under Van Horn at Nebraska in 1998. During his time there, Childress coached New York Yankee Joba Chamberlain.
Chamberlain's father, who was stricken with polio at an early age, was divorced from Chamberlain's mother when Joba was only 3. Chamberlain was raised by his father in a poor home.
"Knowing where he comes from, knowing what he's had to do to get to the position he's in, I'm proud for him and his family," Childress said. "Sometimes people go through adversity for a reason and he went through a lot of it. It's just a tribute to him, his character and his work ethic."
Childress loved being in Nebraska. At the time before his departure, he felt that he could have been there forever. In fact, one of the things he misses most about Nebraska is the pheasant hunting.
"Being an assistant at Nebraska was better than 75 percent of head coaching jobs in the country," Childress said. "I wasn't going to leave except for a job that was close to my family [in Gilmer] and gave me a shot at getting to Omaha every year."
Before Childress began his third season at A&M, Athletic Director Bill Byrne offered him a contract extension and a raise.
Childress, who had originally signed a five-year contract for $225,000 before the 2005 season, received an extension through 2012 for $215,000 annually with a $75,000 signing bonus. He will receive $80,000 supplemental pay for the next three years and $75,000 for the final two.
"I'm excited about it," Childress said about the extension. "This is the place that we all want to be. We're proud here. I appreciate everything Bill Byrne has done for our baseball program and for me personally."
"Two things that he is great at are recruiting and being an extreme motivator," Childress said about Van Horn. "He was an overachiever as a player and he's dealing with players that were more talented than him. If he can instill that same mentality in players more talented than him, he has got a chance to do something special."
After working coaching jobs at other colleges, Childress took a job as a pitching coach under Van Horn at Nebraska in 1998. During his time there, Childress coached New York Yankee Joba Chamberlain.
Chamberlain's father, who was stricken with polio at an early age, was divorced from Chamberlain's mother when Joba was only 3. Chamberlain was raised by his father in a poor home.
"Knowing where he comes from, knowing what he's had to do to get to the position he's in, I'm proud for him and his family," Childress said. "Sometimes people go through adversity for a reason and he went through a lot of it. It's just a tribute to him, his character and his work ethic."
Childress loved being in Nebraska. At the time before his departure, he felt that he could have been there forever. In fact, one of the things he misses most about Nebraska is the pheasant hunting.
"Being an assistant at Nebraska was better than 75 percent of head coaching jobs in the country," Childress said. "I wasn't going to leave except for a job that was close to my family [in Gilmer] and gave me a shot at getting to Omaha every year."
Before Childress began his third season at A&M, Athletic Director Bill Byrne offered him a contract extension and a raise.
Childress, who had originally signed a five-year contract for $225,000 before the 2005 season, received an extension through 2012 for $215,000 annually with a $75,000 signing bonus. He will receive $80,000 supplemental pay for the next three years and $75,000 for the final two.
"I'm excited about it," Childress said about the extension. "This is the place that we all want to be. We're proud here. I appreciate everything Bill Byrne has done for our baseball program and for me personally."
Be sure to include your name, major, and class year. Submissions without this information are subject to deletion.
By submitting a comment, you agree to thebatt.com's Terms of Use.
You may also send a Mail Call to The Battalion at mailcall@thebatt.com