Sunday Morning Chat: Mater Academy’s Mike DiRosa

Last season, Mike DiRosa had plans on sitting out a year and not coaching. Then, after a few unfortunate set of circumstances within the program, he was asked to manage the Mater Academy Lions. All DiRosa did in his first year was win a state title with the Lions. Recently, he sat down with HSBN Senior Editor Anthony Uttariello to discuss his first year of managing, a state title, and his team’s prospects for 2015. Enjoy!

Anthony: Alright, let’s start off by giving readers a little background into your baseball career.

Coach DiRosa: I went to Coral Gables High School and graduated in 1998. I was All-Dade in 1997. Drafted in the 21st round by the Cleveland Indians out of high school. Went to University of Miami from 1999-2001. We won national championships in ’99 and ’01. Then I was drafted by the Diamondbacks after that. Played for five years with them, two years in Double A, and then played one year of High A with the Blue Jays.

Anthony: So, you were an assistant at Mater and you were preparing to take the year off last year, but you got the call and were asked to take the team over in the preseason. What went through your head at that time?

Coach DiRosa: Honestly, I had to make sure it was right with my family. First, to make sure it wasn’t going to stress out my wife and my daughter, since we just had her. I gave a phone call to my wife. I asked her if it was OK and if I was able to do this, and she said that I couldn’t let the kids down. That made my mind up right then and there. So I took the job.

Anthony: Then, after taking the job, you were thrown right into the mix of competing for a state championship. Most young coaches have time for a learning curve, but you didn’t really have that. How did you deal with having to learn and also make possibly state title-type decisions at the same time?

Coach DiRosa: I had a lot of help from my coaching staff, Danny Santiesteban and Nick Gallego. I had a lot of help from them. Plus, I was able to rely on the previous coach, Eddie Gorriz. And, my administration coaching me through how to handle all the different situations, especially when going to state. I had never been there as a coach; so being able to rely on them, asking their advice, getting feedback from them. I don’t sit there and say I know everything, so I ask a million questions of all my coaches before all is said and done. So, we kind of make decisions as a whole.

Anthony: At what point last year did it hit you that this could really happen? ‘I could win a State title in my first year.’

Coach DiRosa: When we beat Pines Charter to actually go to states. It hit me that we were playing for it then. That we were actually going to be one of the final four teams. That’s when it hit me. Basically on the drive home from that game. (laughs)

Anthony: Explain the feeling to those out there that have never experienced that pile on the mound, in Ft. Myers.

Coach DiRosa: It’s very hard to explain. You have so many different emotions running through you at one time. And to give an exact emotion, for me, it is too tough. Seeing the kids and all the hard work, what they went through for them to be able to pile on at that one point in time, it was great for them. You could say I was ecstatic for my players, just for them. For me, it’s a job well done. But for the players, they are the ones that actually throw and pitch and catch and hit in the field. For their hard work to come full circle, that’s a great feeling.

Anthony: Last year, Miami had arguably the best championship season of any county, ever, winning four of the eight state titles. What does that say about the talent here in the area?

Coach DiRosa: A lot of people over the years have said that the talent has gone down in Miami. I don’t think it’s gone down. I think, in terms of, you could say it’s thinned out in a way, because there have been a lot more high schools that have popped up. So you have a lot of different talent at a lot of different schools. But, in terms that Miami is down, I don’t think we are down at all. I still think we play baseball differently down here than pretty much anywhere else in the state. And in any district, you could have a team that can beat any team in any district. That goes to show you that the level of baseball hasn’t gone down.

Anthony: This year, you guys came in with a target on your back. Yet, you have already won some big games and started strong. How realistic is it to think that you guys can repeat as champions?

Coach DiRosa: I don’t think about repeating. I don’t let our guys think about repeating. First and foremost, you’ve got to try and win your district, and let the chips fall into place. You got your shot and you have got to be ready to win every district game. We were playing Terra today and they have got a great club. Coach Padron is going to have their guys ready to go. But, in terms of thinking about repeating and getting a chance of repeating, we have a long season to go, a lot of tough teams to play, a lot more games. So, I don’t even think about it. Until we have that chance to win states, I won’t think about it.

Anthony: Alright, we are going to lighten things up a little here. First, tell me the one decision you made out on the field, in the heat of the moment of a game, where you immediately knew that was the wrong decision. I’m not talking about second-guessing yourself afterwards, but immediately, you realized it was the wrong decision.

Coach DiRosa: Let me think here really quick. Alright, stopping Chris Cabrera around third base in spring break against Goleman and blowing out his knee because I stopped him when I should have just sent him home.

Anthony: Tell me something that you do away from the baseball field that your players or fellow coaches would be shocked to hear that you do.

Coach DiRosa: I grow plants. Yeah, I collect Hibiscus, all different types. I have 25-30 different types of Hibiscus in my house. I grow them and I plant them. I like flowers. (Laughs)

Anthony: Flowers? How did that start?

Coach DiRosa: We were trying to do some landscaping around the house and one of my players’ fathers, Mr Reyes, turned me onto looking at Hibiscus. So, I started doing my research and I actually went to Home Depot and I saw a very pretty Hibiscus flower and I bought it and brought it home to my wife. My wife loved it. I started growing it for my wife and I still grow them for my wife. I pick all the flowers off and bring them inside the house. It kind of became my hobby, my thing. It’s time where you can just get away and just work on different things and just let your mind go and relax.

Anthony: What is your biggest vice?

Coach DiRosa: Biggest vice? Oh man, not being late. I hate being late places. I have to be early. If you tell me to be somewhere by 3:00, I will probably be there at 2:15-2:30. Makes it hard with a young one and my wife is always constantly late. Makes it hard and I am always stressing out because I feel like I am going to be late somewhere. ‘Ok, we can leave at this time; it’s perfectly fine.’ But with me, I’m like, ‘OK, the party starts at 3:00, we gotta be there at 2:30.’ She’s like, ‘No, we can be there at 3:30. We’re fine.’ So, pretty much, being late. I can’t stand being late.

Anthony: If you could pinpoint one thing that a player could do that would make you just lose your mind, what would that be and why?

Coach DiRosa: Mental mistakes. As a coaching staff, we try to really teach our kids the game so that the mental part just comes natural to them. It is usually mental mistakes and just doing something stupid in the game.

Anthony: Ok, just a couple more. If you could point out who was your MLB idol growing up and why?

Coach DiRosa: Oh, wow. Actually, when I was really little, my dad started me off with liking Thurman Munson. I had never seen a guy play but my Dad told me that he was a great catcher. So, I did all the research that I could to emulate him even more. I even wore #15 because of him. But, when I got older and understood a little more and everything, it was easy, Pudge Rodriguez. Obviously, like a lot of other young catchers.

Anthony: If you had one game to win to get another state title but only one coach stood in your way on the other side of the field, who would be the coach you would least like to see going against you?

Coach DiRosa: He’s going to kill me for saying this but I am going to tell him. Phil Wisser. Because he studies everybody so damn much that if you have one weakness, he will try to exploit it, whatever the heck that weakness is. It is just the way he prepares for a game.

Anthony: Alright, last question. My biggest joy in stepping out on the field and coaching everyday comes from…

Coach DiRosa: Seeing the kids succeed. Seeing their hard work come full circle. Seeing their hard work pay off for them. That puts a smile on my face. When the kids are working on something and it works for them and they come back and say, ‘Coach, you saw that? It worked!’ It’s like, ‘Yeah, of course it worked!’ Really, them. Nothing personally for me; but when they succeed, it’s great.

Anthony: Alright, thank you! Good luck with the rest of the season.

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