Baseball “Lifer” Tim Garland Brings Fundamental Approach to WV Black Bears
Entering his first year in charge of the West Virginia Black Bears, Manager Tim Garland has one goal in mind: winning.
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Baseball “Lifer” Tim Garland Brings Fundamental Approach to WV Black Bears
by Cody Burton
Entering his first year in charge of the West Virginia Black Bears, Manager Tim Garland has one goal in mind: winning.
“We’re going to continue the winning tradition here with the Black Bears,” Garland said in an interview on June 1.
Garland was announced as the eighth manager in Black Bears history on March 24, accepting the challenge of his first managerial role after spending four seasons as a bench coach in the Detroit Tigers organization. Garland has been involved with baseball at every level, playing 15 years in the minor leagues as an outfielder, and is now entering his 20th season as a coach.
“I’m going to keep coaching now until they can rip the uniform off my back just like I did as a player,” Garland said. “I consider myself a lifer.”
Garland started his coaching career in 2006 in the Athletics organization and quickly called a good friend, multi-time World Series champion Dusty Baker, for advice.
“I called him at the time when Oakland offered me the coaching position and he said, ‘Well, Timmy, you played 15 years. I can promise you won’t play another 15 years, but you can coach another 15 years,” Garland recalled.
Throughout his time coaching, Garland has helped build up multiple MLB stars early in their careers. Most notably, Detroit Tigers All-Star outfielder Riley Greene and Houston Astros World Series champion George Springer.
“It just teaches me how to know that when a player is out on a baseball field, as long as you got a uniform on, they got a chance to be something special, something great,” Garland said.
Why West Virginia? The Black Bears' gaffer is from Danville, Virginia, five and a half hours away from Kendrick Family Ballpark.
Garland is also a very close friend of former Black Bears Manager Jon Nunnally. The two are from the same town and communication is just a “phone call away.”
“He’s my cousin… so he says he’s my cousin,” Garland said. “I went down a family tree and haven’t found any Nunnally’s yet, but he says he’s my cousin, so he’s my cousin.”
As for the product on the field, fundamental, fast baseball will be at the forefront. As a high-speed player during his career, stealing 388 bags in his professional career, speed will be a primary asset of Black Bears baseball.
“I like to run,” Garland said. “You’ll see a lot of guys running. If they can run, I’ll make sure they’re off and running.
Garland will also ensure that the “correct” baseball play will be made on every pitch, such as bunting runners over and throwing the ball to the correct target in every situation.
“I’m hoping to instill in the young players the same way I played and the same way I was taught to play the game,” Garland said.
West Virginia Black Bear fans will be able to see Garland’s team in action for the first time at Kendrick Family Ballpark in the team’s home opener Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m.
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The West Virginia Black Bears today announced their coaching staff for the 2024 season under second-year manager, David Carpenter. Returning for the Black Bears are hitting coach Ezequiel Carrera and bench coach Antonio Caballero, with newcomer Andy Hurtado rounding out this season’s staff...