Randy Huth stands alone among Little League coaches
Trending
Randy Huth stands alone among Little League Baseball Coaches. His achievement is unlike any other and, good luck besting it.
Huth has coached Nolensville, Tennessee to three straight Little League World Series, becoming the first American manager to ever do so. Lock Haven is the only other team in U.S history which has competed at three straight Series (1947-49), but those teams had different managers.
Huth has become the ultimate winner the last three years. How ironic then that his Little League coaching career started with a lot of losses. When this 21-year journey began Huth's teams absorbed more losses than victories, but from defeat came knowledge, improvement, perspective and has produced something remarkable.
"If you don't appreciate losing, it's very hard to know what it should feel like to win," Huth said. "I would love to say that I thought this would happen and you want it to happen but fact that it happened is incredible. I have no words."
Huth's late father Jim was a coaching legend around the Nolensville area. Randy learned first-hand what it takes to teach kids, help them reach their potential and help bring out his team's best.
Huth took all that knowledge and started making his mark as he gained more Little League coaching experience. He and his dad helped coach Nolensville to a 2018 state championship and then history started happening in 2021 when Nolensville captured the Southeast championship and reached the Series.
It happened again last year and Nolensville not only reached the Series, but finished as the U.S. runners-up, its best showing in five appearances at South Williamsport. With seemingly everyone in Tennessee and the Southeast aiming to knock it from its perch, Nolensville left an indelible mark on Little League history becoming the first three-time defending regional champion when it downed undefeated Florida in the Southeast final two weeks ago before winning its Series opener again.
"The way Randy teaches and coaches, the kids feel like they have a shot every year," Nolensville Little League president Dave Jones said. "We knew it was going to be tough, but if you ask Randy, from the day we started initiating the selection process, he thought we would be here. That's way the coaches and that's his goal every year. It's huge to have that confidence."
Winning three straight championships at any level is a tremendous achievement. What makes this one especially stand out, however, is that it is three completely different teams.
This is not high school, college or the pros where the core of teams can stay together for four or more years. No current Nolensville player was on the 2021 team. Only two players from that 2021 squad played last year, and Grayson May and Nash Carter are the lone players from back from last year's U.S. runners-up. Each team has its own identity and that makes this achievement both astounding as well as three times the fun for Huth.
"I will tell you it's just like the very first time every time because it's with a whole new group of kids. So, you get to see it through their eyes," Huth said. "It's really exciting to see them get excited about it and for me to be able to help give them that opportunity."
Huth is a baseball encyclopedia just like his father was. But his coaching success goes beyond teaching the game, filling out the lineup and making strategic decision. Especially at this age level, so much is about all the intangibles: staying calm, exuding confidence and setting a positive tone.
It is in all three areas which Huth excels like a coaching Hall of Famer. And when one puts the whole package together, one has a resume which rivals any Little League coaches out there.
"Having Randy is a blessing. You want the best people you can representing the program and you want someone who has experience, especially at district and state regional because that experience gives teams an advantage when they have someone who has been there before," Jones said. "Randy is good at keeping the kids calm, too. He tells the kids to live in the moment and not to live outside the moment."
Huth talks the talk and walks the walk. Watch him during a game and his demeanor never changes. Huth is a rock and his attitude permeates the dugout.
"This is my third year to be back at the World Series. I have that experience to calm these guys. You don't see me get worked up very often, especially when I go to the mound," Huth said. "I think if they see I'm frazzled or getting nervous, that's going to translate to them. But if they see I'm calm and not worried because I know what they can do, I think that it calms them as well and that's something that we talked about all week.
"We're going to stay calm. We're going to stay focused. We're not going to get rowdy when we're on the field,," Huth said. "We're going to have good attitudes. On the field, we're going to be professional and we're always, always going to stay positive."
Huth and his players will continue living in the moment, too. Still, Huth can look ahead and think about what his league will have next year. Three straight Series appearances seemed impossible before this year, so there may not be a word which accurately describes how improbable four would be.
Whether that happens or not, Huth will be having fun. He has been at the Little League summit three consecutive years, but that is not why he coaches. Coaching literally in his blood and he sees himself continuing to guide young players long into the future.
"I can't ever quit this," Huth said. "My dad did it for 45 years, so I feel like I'm just getting started."
Huth coaches because he loves helping young baseball players grow on and off the field. The wins are a happy bonus. And reaching the World Series three straight years is like Huth experiencing Christmas, his birthday and winning the lottery all at once.
The amazing feeling he experiences now is one which is not taken for granted and which long will be savored.
"It's still like the first time to me. The cool thing with it is I'm familiar with the surroundings and all the things that go along with it, but it doesn't take away from the magic of this place," Huth said. "This place is truly magical and for anyone that tells you different they just don't know. It's something else. To be here it's the pinnacle of all of youth sports.
"To get here is the hardest thing to do in all of youth sports, and to be here is the most fun you can ever have."