New Coach Expects Excellence for TFC Baseball
"I know that they see me as tough sometimes as far as the standard that I hold them to, but my ultimate desire is that they leave this place – they leave this program – a better man, a better father and husband one day, and a more committed follower of Christ. And I firmly believe in the power that sports has in that development - the tough times, the turmoils, the struggles, the failures,” he shared.
Coach Ronnie Stewart may be the new head coach of Toccoa Falls College’s varsity baseball program, but he is not new to Toccoa Falls College or the classic American game. He is an alumnus of TFC and attended from 2012-2015. As a player, he helped his team win the NCCAA National Championship in 2013. He was named NCCAA All-American in 2014 and 2015 and South Region Player of the Year in 2014. As a student, however, Stewart was eager to grow in his faith and learn how to be better equipped for kingdom service, which he began by graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Ministry Leadership. “When I look back at my college experience, the way my coach pushed me and the standard that he held me to, I can look back and say that was extremely formative in developing me into the man that I am today. So, I hope to provide the same thing....”
Stewart currently holds multiple positions on campus. Besides being a coach, he also serves the TFC community as Assistant Vice President of Admissions and Marketing. He described the decision to coach as “a no-brainer considering how I feel about the program, my love for the game and love for just being around the guys out there.”
Stewart stepped in as the new head coach with more than just a love for the game, but with a vision as well. “Primarily, I wanted to bring excellence back to the program,” he shared. “This wasn’t just on the field, but it was in the classroom [and] it was found in Christian character and community. Those three facets are really the lens by which I view everything.”
Stepping into the role in August was “a little bit of a whirlwind” for Stewart, the staff, and the players. Yet, he believes that the biggest step forward the program has made so far this year is how “the work that they're doing now is setting the foundation for years to come.”
Stewart has been and is hoping to continue implementing his standards. In academics, he stated, “I have a standard for the guys now that if you have something less than a C at any point… you don’t practice, you don’t play, you don’t dress.” Stewart roots this philosophy in care for one’s individual future, understanding parental and individual investments, and taking ownership of one’s education. He likes for his guys “to learn how to take ownership over their life and the things that they’re responsible for.” On the field, he firmly believes that he and the other coaches cannot be responsible for a player’s full development. “The guys that separate themselves are the ones that put in the extra work and take ownership over their own development.”
On the Christian community aspect, Stewart shared that it is “something that we are still developing as a coaching staff.” Stewart credits his coach for spiritual development but found the greatest community growth through leadership within his team. “I challenge the guys to find opportunities for that.” He proudly shared that one of the team’s juniors is currently leading a Barnabas group that includes many of the players.
One of his biggest challenges when stepping into the position in August was having to build relationships with many guys that he did not know or recruit. "I did what I could this fall to get some one-on-one time with each of them… just to be able to hear their story – where they came from, what makes them tick, and ultimately, I just wanted to know them more.” He felt that this experience was not only transformative for himself, but for the guys as well in their relationship with him on and off the field.
Stewart also shared that he’s now learning just how much one discovers about a person through the recruitment process. In recruiting, he said that it is about “finding guys that want to be here not just for baseball. It’s bigger than that.” He is excited to hear the stories of prospective students, build relationships, and implement his standards.
When discussing goals on the field, Stewart said, “The roster has seen a ton of transition in just six months.” Besides excellence, part of his job and his desire is to win games. Stewart’s big short-term goal for this season is “we host the Regional Championships this year at TFC, and I want to win.” The Screaming Eagles have not won a region championship since Stewart played in 2013. “If you break it down into smaller goals, throughout the year we need to learn to win as a team. We have some games against teams that are just literally more talented than us… but the things that we can control would be the passion and the energy and the work that we put into it. We can easily outwork another team all throughout the year just by wanting it more.” He believes that those things could help the team compete and win games that “on paper, we shouldn’t win.” Stewart said, “it starts by looking at it one game at a time… and approaching it in a way that we can get better each day.”
Stewart was excited and nervous for the season’s opening weekend. He said that the team has put in a lot of work over the past six months and believed that “the guys are mentally, physically and emotionally ready to play someone else besides each other.”
The 3-game sweep over Johnson University in the opening weekend, Jan. 29-30, 2021, proved that they were ready to hit the field. Bob Jones University – TFC’s biggest rival in volleyball, basketball, and soccer – will now bring their first-year baseball program to challenge the Screaming Eagles on the diamond. Other top competitors this season include Truett McConnell University, Trinity Baptist University, and higher schools like Georgia-Gwinnett College and Middle Georgia State University. “I’ve never approached the game from this actual seat. I’ve always been a player… I’m excited to fall more in love with the game from this perspective,” Stewart said.
The Screaming Eagles dropped one game to Truett McConnell University on Feb. 2, 2021, and two games to Asbury University on Feb. 5, 2021. Keep up with the Screaming Eagles at: https://tfcathletics.com/sports/baseball.
