Vicky Graff Photo
Nick Mingione started his University of Kentucky career being named national coach of the year and again this season has been named national coach of the year after getting UK to the College World Series for the first time.
Kentucky will play North Carolina State Saturday afternoon in Omaha and at Thursday’s press conference Mingione was asked if this second honor maybe meant a little more to him.
Once again, Mingione’s answer was both priceless and honest and that’s why I wanted to share all he said with you:
Mingione: “I was naive. My first year, win SEC Coach of the Year, National Coach of the Year, I would be lying if I wasn’t, like, ‘Man, that was a little easier than I thought, ‘and boy, was I wrong. I hope you appreciate my transparency because this game in life will humble you in a second, as you know. The thing I’ve learned about these awards are they really are team awards, and I congratulated our staff because that is an award you legitimately could not do by yourself.
“All the time and effort that we’re spending preparing for our next game and our opponents and all the time and effort on the phone recruiting and evaluating and doing all these things, it really is a team award.
“Really the thing that it means to me is I have surrounded myself with amazing people. I really have. You do not win this award unless you are just covered and surrounded by amazing people. It starts with my wife and my son, and it goes all the way down to our coaches and strength coaches and athletic trainers, our student managers, our athletic director, our administration, our fans.
“You cannot do that. There is no way. There is no way that you can ever win one of those awards without having yourself being surrounded with amazing people. I’ve done a lot of things wrong as a head coach, and I make mistakes. And I’m sure I’ll make a mistake in this College World Series, but I have absolutely hit a grand slam or threw a perfect game or whatever you want to say with the people I’ve surrounded myself with.”
After that it got even better when Mingione made a passionate plea for any neutral fans to jump on the BBN bandwagon.
“I do want to say this. If you can put this out, this would mean a lot to me. If the people of Omaha are looking for a team to root for, this is your team. This is your team. We are the first-timers. We want to have a great experience. We want to be lifted up. I’ve seen this city, and I’ve seen the people of this place lift up opposing teams. I’ve watched this thing over and over,” Mingione said.
“If they’re looking for a team that competes at the highest level and has an amazing time doing it, we would love for you to jump on board. There are so many seats on the Kentucky bandwagon.
“If you can hear my voice and see this video, whatever, and you are, like, I wonder who I’m going to root for, let it be the Cats. Thank you. Go, Cats.”
