“In today’s world, everybody gets a participation trophy, but not many get championship trophies. Those you have to work for,” said Bill Baber, Whitworth University’s head softball coach.
With nearly three decades of collegiate coaching experience, Baber arrived this past fall at Whitworth as a breath of fresh air for the softball program. Entering his 28th coaching season and his first with the Pirates just beginning, Baber brings a vision that blends faith, joy, accountability and fun. “My goals are always to win, win a World Series,” Baber said, “I mean, that’s the ultimate goal in softball.”
In collegiate softball, that goal means going to and winning the national championship tournament. While championships are the ultimate goal, so is mentoring these young players into women who are stronger in their faith, confident in their gifts and prepared for the lives they will lead after their last game
Baber spent the last 22 years at California Baptist University and five years prior at Biola University in California. Before he started coaching at the collegiate level, he taught high school special education, music and sports.
At the heart of Baber’s philosophy is balancing competing at an elite level while enjoying the journey and honoring the Lord.
“In a nutshell, I think you have to work extremely hard to win championships,” Baber said, “But I think you have to have fun along the way.” He hopes his passion for the game is evident to his players on and off the field, and that he inspires them to embrace both challenges and the joy of competing.
Makena Hofford, a third-year on the team, says Coach Baber’s impact is already visible. “He has put together a lot of new team culture, a lot of new different standards and expectations of what he wants for Whitworth softball, and I think that’s been really great for us to really know what it means to play for Buck Ball and just enjoy it while we’re here,” she said.
Beyond performance, Baber emphasizes identity and purpose. “He really, truly wants to change Whitworth softball and the program and get us going to be champions,” Hofford said, “But to also just get our name out for Whitworth and really for people to know about the kind of humans we are.”
Players have also noticed a new emphasis on mental strength. “Coach B is also really focused on the mental game, which has been great for us. We haven’t had that in the past,” said Hofford.
For Coach Baber, success is rooted in faith, team unity, and team discipline. “A culture that wants to win, wants to work hard, wants to work together and play for each other and play for the Lord,” said Baber
As the spring season begins, Baber’s focus remains on the future of the team. “It doesn’t matter what happened last year,” he said, “this year’s a new team. It’s a new group, it’s a new mindset.” And with a new program mindset, there is so much potential and so many possibilities for this young team to go and achieve.
