Head Coach Patrick McGaha of Harding University shared a look into his recruiting process and some valuable advice for players who want to play college baseball. The Bisons are an NCAA Division II school that competes in the Great American Conference, and have put together an impressive streak of winning seasons in recent years.
“I would suggest that in addition to playing on their travel teams, players identify their top 3 college choices and attend their camps.”
– Coach McGaha, Harding University
Quick Facts
| School: | Harding University |
| Division: | NCAA Division II |
| Conference: | Great American Conference |
| Location: | Searcy, AR |
| Student Population: | 4,800 |
| Website: | hardingsports.com |
| Twitter: | @Harding_Base |
| Questionnaire: | Recruit Questionnaire |
Recruiting Q&A – with Head Coach Patrick McGaha
What are your typical scouting methods?
Watching showcases and tournaments in the fall and summer but we especially use our own camps for recruiting our future players.
How do you recommend players contact you if they are interested in your program?
Email and complete our questionnaire.
If a player contacts you, what are you most interested in?
Video, accolades, stats, and schedule (in that order).
Any general advice for players that want to play college baseball?
I would suggest that in addition to playing on their travel teams, players identify their top 3 college choices and attend their camps. As coaches, most times we don’t have a chance to talk to you at big showcases or tournaments but if you come to our camps we get to know you and you get a chance to know us also.
Any other comments about your program that you’d like to share?
We are interested in recruiting high character, high academic players that are blue collar and want to work hard to achieve their highest level of development.
>> Read more: Recruiting Q&As from college coaches <<
Program Overview – Bison Baseball
The Harding University baseball program has been led by Head Coach Patrick McGaha since 2006. During his tenure, Coach McGaha has guided the Bisons to over 10 conference tournament appearances, an NCAA tournament berth, and has coached several All-American student-athletes.
Coach McGaha ranks in the Top 50 for career wins among all active NCAA DII coaches.
Harding University features some beautiful facilities including Jerry Moore Field, a recipient of the ABCA College Field Maintenance Award for NCAA Division II. The brick grandstand is the heart of the stadium but the surrounding features are equally impressive.
Student-athletes that are interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to follow the resources linked above and consider attending one of Bison’s baseball camps. More information about upcoming camps can be found at hardingbaseballcamps.com.
School Overview – Harding University
Harding University is a private, coeducational university located in Searcy, Arkansas, United States. Established in 1924, it is named after James A. Harding, a prominent Christian church leader and educator of the early 20th century. The university has a strong commitment to Christian values and provides a liberal arts education in a faith-based environment.
As of 2023, Harding University has an enrollment of over 6,500 students, including those in undergraduate and graduate programs. The student body is diverse, representing all 50 states and over 50 countries. The university offers more than 100 academic programs in areas such as business, education, health sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.
The campus of Harding University is spread across 200 acres and includes state-of-the-art facilities such as a well-equipped library, modern classrooms, student housing, dining facilities, recreational and athletic facilities, and more. The university has a strong commitment to sustainability and has implemented various initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and promote environmental conservation.
Harding University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has received numerous awards and recognitions for its commitment to academic excellence and student success. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, which allows for personalized attention and support from faculty members. Additionally, the university has a strong commitment to service and provides numerous opportunities for students to get involved in community service projects both locally and globally.
Harding University is committed to providing affordable education and offers a range of financial aid options, including scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs, to help students finance their education. The university also has a strong commitment to student success and provides numerous resources and support services to help students achieve their academic and personal goals.
In conclusion, Harding University is a vibrant and dynamic university that provides a faith-based education in a supportive and engaging environment. With its commitment to academic excellence, student success, and community service, it is a great choice for anyone looking for a quality education and a supportive community of students, faculty, and staff.
For more information on admission, academic programs, and other information, prospective students can visit harding.edu.
Closing Remarks
The Harding University baseball program has developed a winning culture under veteran coach, Coach McGaha. It is always great to see coaches that clearly exhibit a sense of pride and loyalty to their school. Coach McGaha shared some valuable advice to players, especially surrounding an approach for deciding whether to attend camps or showcases and how many.
As players progress throughout the recruiting process, it’s important to begin narrowing down potential schools that would fit both athletically and academically. By doing this, players can focus their attention on attending camps, going on campus visits, and learning more about those schools overall. It’s understandable that players will want to cast a wide net early in the process but it’s important to keep shortening the list throughout. It’s not feasible logistically or even financially to attending dozens of prospect camps and showcases, so focuses on the ones with a small group of specific schools of interest is a good approach.
We would like to thank Coach McGaha for taking the time to provide some insight to players. We agree completely with the advice Coach McGaha gave, and appreciate his detailed responses. We also wish the Bison the best of luck in their upcoming season.
