Q—What is your earliest memories about the game of baseball?
I guess my earliest memories would go back to when I played Little League Baseball. In those days things were much different than they are today. When we got out of school for summer break, it was time to go to work on the farm. We had to get our work done before we could go to games or practice. Most of the kids worked on family farms and their parents couldn't take time off to take them to practice so our coach would make a round by the farms to pick us up, take us to practice for a couple hours, and then make the same trip to get us back home safely. He gave so much of his time because he genuinely cared about us and that made such a lasting impression on all our lives.


Q—Who is Doug Collins?
Tough question.
I guess that depends on who you ask. But on a serious note, Im a guy that has been truly blessed. God has blessed me with my wonderful wife of 25 years, Lisa, who supports me in everything I do, and three terrific children that I am very proud of. Like they say, behind every good man is a good woman and that is certainly true in my case.. I love to spend time with my family, coach baseball, and play golf ( if I only had the time). We have spent most of our family time over the years traveling playing baseball, met alot of wonderful people, and made some lifelong friendships along the way.


Q---How did you get started in showcase ball?
I had coached for many years at the AAU and USSSA level and was coaching at Union Pines High School when I was approached at an Easter Tournament by a guy named Jeff Petty about my son going to the 16U AAU Nationals in Orlando, Florida with him. It was a great opportunity for him so we decided to go. I was still coaching a team that had just won the 15U USSSA State Championship and was already trying to figure out a way to get involved in showcase ball. The trip to Florida was such a great week that Jeff approached me about taking some of our guys, some guys that played on Greg Adairs AAU team, along with some of the guys that went to Florida and forming a showcase team. We were fortunate to have a great group of players that 1st year and the rest is history. Things really do have a way of working out for the best.

Q---Who are your favorite MLB baseball players and why?
I like several players, but I would have to say my favorite is Greg Maddux.. I love the way he can dominate a game and doesn't have to throw 90 to do it. Sometimes I think pitching is becoming a lost art in this era of the radar gun. While its no secret that it's a plus if you can throw hard, I think people forget that some of the most successful pitchers in baseball history were not hard throwers, but guys who understood the secret to getting good hitters out and that is change of speed, movement, and location. I also like players like Lenny "Nails" Dykstra. This guy would run through a brick wall if it stood between him and homeplate. I wish more guys today played with that kind of heart and determination instead of jogging to 1st on a ground ball or pop fly.


Q---What is a baseball week in your life like?
I try to attend as many baseball games as possible. I'm usually at a high school or college game 3 or 4 nights a week. Other than that I give private pitching lessons to young kids and try to help them do the right things at a young age so they dont learn things the wrong way and wind up having to change everything later or wind up with arm injuries. Its a good thing my wife loves baseball as much as I do or we wouldn't see much of each other.


Q---What do you enjoy the most about coaching?
I would have to say out of all the things I enjoy about coaching, its the relationships you form with your players that I enjoy the most. Players will come and go but the relationships you form with them will last a lifetime. There is nothing more gratifying than to see players you have coached in the past, whether it be at a college game or the shopping mall and them make a point to come talk to you. As much as I enjoy teaching the game and watching kids have success on the field, seeing them be successful in life is more important in the end.


Q---What do you like or dislike about the showcase world?
I like the fact that you have a lot of talented players playing against each other in one location which makes it much easier for coaches and scouts to see numerous players at one time. There is a tremendous amount of talented players out there and to bring them together at one place is great. I dislike the fact that even with the number of great players in our state and plenty to go around, some feel the need to go after other programs players rather than rebuild their own. With all the ID and Prospect Camps going on everywhere, there is no reason to recruit players on other teams rosters. I dislike the fact that we are all suppose to be doing this for the same reason, which is simply to help kids that have a desire to play at the next level do so, yet it is becoming a cut throat business. I can only imagine how great showcase baseball would be in this state if everyone in this business could have a mutual respect for each other and work together. Its suppose to be all about the kids anyway regardless of what color or name you have on your jersey.


Q---What is the most important thing a player can do to impress scouts?
Play hard. Obviously scouts look at what kind of tools a player has such as arm strength, speed, fielding ability, hitting ability, and power. These things are more easily evaluated than trying to judge what kind of heart a player has. I like to see that a player has a true passion for baseball and plays with alot of energy and enthusiasm. The other thing is this thing called attitude. Baseball is a game in which you fail more times than you succeed and how you handle that failure says alot about what kind of person you are and what kind of player you have the potential to be. Its not hard to be upbeat and positive when everything is going right, but the great players have a way of doing the same thing when something goes wrong because they never lose that confidence in their ability. They try to learn something each time they strikeout or boot a ground ball and are just waiting for the next opportunity to do something positive for their team. Thats the guy I want in my corner.


Q---What influence did you have on your son playing baseball?
Like many dads, I have coached my son since he was old enough to pick a ball up and throw it. I have tried to make sure he was doing things the right way and trying to help him develop along the way. Too many times its all about wins and loses and not about enjoying the game and the time you get to spend together. I wish I could go back to when my boys were 6 yrs old and do it all over again. Wow how time flies by. Although he has been successful in baseball at every level he has played and is getting to live out his dream of playing in college, I am much more proud of the fine young man he has become. I tell him often that at some point all this will come to an end but the memories will last a lifetime.


I want to thank Richard Sarmiento for the opportunity to do this interview. There are alot of wonderful people that I have a ton of respect for who dedicate their time to helping our youth and Richard is certainly one of them. These young men and women are our adults of tomorrow and they need positive influences in their lives now more than ever. Thanks.