As a new chapter begins for Archbishop Riordan’s varsity baseball team, Craig Sargent steps up to the plate as the new head coach. 

With a rich background in baseball and a lifetime surrounded by sports professionals, Coach Sargent brings a lot of experience and a fresh perspective to the team. The Crusader sat down with Coach Sargent to discuss his goals for the season, his inspirations, plans to increase engagement, and the influence of his upbringing on his coaching style.

Sargent’s journey into coaching is deeply rooted in his lifelong love for baseball and the influence of key mentors along the way. One person who specifically has been a huge inspiration to him is longtime Giants coach Bruce Bochy.

“Being around the Giants my whole life and watching a team that wasn’t always the best when they won, but seeing that they loved each other was really inspiring,” he reflected. 

He believes that Coach Bochy was able to bring a locker room together and make great things happen even when there was a lack of certain talents in that room. Being so up close and seeing how these teams won has given him a keen sense of how to run a team the right way. 

As for his goals for the upcoming season, Coach Sargent’s passion for the sport and commitment to the team was immediately evident. 

“At the end of the day, it’s all about changing these young men’s lives and making them better people,” he shared, emphasizing the importance of individual growth and team success. 

With a focus on developing strong fundamentals and fostering a winning mindset, Sargent is dedicated to guiding the team to new heights. He plans to help develop these young men through his three pillars of success: mentor, develop, and win. 

He said, “You can’t win without first mentoring and developing these kids.” 

It has always been thought that to win in sports one has to set a culture around the team before they can start winning, and with Coach Sargent’s experience around professional sports, he is bringing this mentality to the Riordan baseball program.

Engaging the school community and building a strong support system for the team are top priorities for Coach Sargent. 

“I want people to have pride in this program and to come out to games ready to support their peers,” he explained. 

Walking around the field with him, he discussed future plans, and already has several projects to make the field look better and open more seating rooms. As of now, there are about 30 seats set up behind home plate, which makes it difficult to attract people to watch if there is nowhere to sit. Coach Sargent has plans to set up new bleachers behind the track of the field that will give fans an above-home-plate view of the game. 

Some students, in the past, have wanted to attend games but didn’t want to stand around for two hours. With the addition of new seats, it will be much more appealing to watch several of the team’s games. 

In addition, he wants to open up the field snack shack during games, which would also be a huge appeal to people who want to warm up during the games because it can get pretty cold. 

Talking to him, it is clear that he has a vision for the future of this program and it was so important to him that the team has the support of the students. 

Growing up around the San Francisco 49ers and other elite sports franchises has undoubtedly influenced Sargent’s coaching philosophy. 

“I’ve seen great coaches and I’ve seen bad coaches, just being around that and seeing how the relationship between coaches and players impacts winning is something that I have seen upfront,” he noted, discussing how exposure to professional athletes and front office operations has shaped his understanding of teamwork, discipline, and leadership. 

This unique background gives him the tools and knowledge to inspire and motivate his players, preparing them for both on-field success and personal growth.

With his vision, deep-rooted passion for the game of baseball, and commitment to making this team better, Coach Sargent is ready to make a significant impact on the Crusaders’ baseball program. The upcoming season promises to be an exhilarating journey, and the Riordan community eagerly awaits the success that lies ahead.