By NATE MATHIS
nate@newsroom.byu.edu
When asked to describe himself as a person and a coach in one word, first-year BYU baseball coach, Vance Law says, 'Example.'
He has tried to be an example to others his whole life, a life that has been filled with baseball from day one.
Law, who was appointed the head coach position at BYU in fall 1999, will use his example to lead BYU baseball back to the championship program that it once was.
'I have a goal of winning the conference this year and every year. We should be surprised if we lose a conference game -- we should always expect to win,' Law said. 'My ultimate goal is to get to Omaha and give ourselves a opportunity to win a national championship. On top of that, I want to develop players that will be solid citizens. I want to make a difference in a young man's life.'
Law got a late start on his coaching career due to a professional baseball career of his own. He played in the big leagues for 10 years with five different teams and also spent a year playing on a professional team in Japan. He was an all-star third baseman in 1988 as a member of the Chicago Cubs.
'It was a honor for me to be considered one of the top 50 baseball players in the world at that time,' Law said.
Law started his athletic endeavors as a young boy watching his father, Vernon, who was also a Major League Baseball player and a Cy Young Award winning pitcher. Vance remembers his family traveling a lot while his father played ball. He finally ended up in Provo, where he attended high school, and he didn't have far to travel for college as he attended BYU and was a member of both the baseball and basketball teams.
After a solid baseball career, Law felt he had what it took to be a successful coach. He was an assistant at Utah Valley State College for one year before he took a job at Provo High School as head baseball coach five years ago. His experience and knowledge of the game led him to BYU this year.
'I feel like I have a very good working knowledge of teaching certain facets of the game, especially hitting,' he said.
David Eldredge, who was appointed as Law's first assistant coach this year, feels like Law has good balance in his life to be an example and a role model to everyone he comes in contact with.
'I appreciate him for who he is outside of the baseball world. His priorities to his family and the church are outstanding,' Eldredge said. 'I knew that it was possible to be a part of a program where there was balance in baseball and life and you could still win. I am glad to be with a coach that supports that.'
Law still has the drive to compete on the field. He has been known to teach his players the skills to work on by showing them by example. He regularly will take ground balls and get into the batting cage to show the players how to do things correctly.
'We aren't surprised when we see coach Law hit a towering homerun during batting practice,' said Nick Day, 22, a senior left fielder, from Las Vegas, majoring in Economics. 'He is also fun to watch in the field because his fundamentals are still solid, it helps us learn the proper way to do things.'
Law said that one of the biggest differences in coaching at the college level compared to high school is that all the college players are good, whereas there might only be a handful of good high school players on a team. Thus, the time spent on recruiting good players to play college baseball has been another adjustment that Law had to make upon his coaching change.
In the few months Law has been at the helm, he has enjoyed the opportunity of working with the student athletes at BYU.
'It has been fun for me to observe the quality of young men I am working with,' Law said. 'It makes it easier for a coaching staff when you don't have to worry about guys off the field.'
Law is excited to get started with the baseball season that will host such powerhouse teams as Arizona State, Arizona and Alabama. His Cougar baseball team will open up the season in Tempe, Arizona, this Thursday.
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