Dual Paths, One Purpose – Nick Barese on ‘And That’s The Game’ with Wayne Mazzoni
What happens when a two-sport college athlete, quarterback and left-handed pitcher, decides to step into coaching? If you’re Nick Barese, you don’t just step in. You dive headfirst, grind it out, and build something worth talking about. And that’s exactly what host Wayne Mazzone does in this episode of And That’s the Game podcast.
In this episode, we talk about all of it: the portal, the pressure, the path from scout team to starter. Plus, what it really takes to build something that lasts.
It’s raw. It’s real. And it just might make you think about baseball, and coaching, in a whole new way.
From Braintree to the Dugout
Nick Barese didn’t grow up in a world of private trainers and cross-country travel tournaments. He came up playing town ball in Braintree, Massachusetts, a place where summer meant Legion baseball with your high school buddies and carpooling to neighboring towns. It wasn’t polished, but it was real, and Barese remembers it fondly.
He played both football and baseball through high school and into college at St. Anselm, where he juggled responsibilities as a quarterback and a pitcher. That combo? Not something you see much anymore.
But for Barese, it was less about the accolades and more about the experience. He even stuck around for a fifth year after a shoulder injury, proving grit wasn’t something he was short on.
The Coaching Bug Bites Early
Some people find coaching. For others, it finds them. Barese was hurt during his sophomore year and spent the season next to then-assistant coach Jim Martin. That year turned out to be more than just physical rehab, it was coaching bootcamp. Fast forward a few years, and Martin calls up with an offer: come be the pitching coach at Merrimack. Barese doesn’t blink.
From there, it didn’t take long. By 26, he was running the program.
Thrown Into the Fire
Ready? Probably not. Prepared? As much as anyone could be. Barese credits Martin with giving him more than just drills and lineups, he learned the admin work, the recruiting game, and the not-so-glamorous parts of college coaching. Like scheduling buses. Or trying to find a gym on a road trip.
But it’s clear that Barese leaned in. He’s the kind of coach who still texts former players. The kind who gauges his success by the weddings he’s invited to. Winning matters, but shaping young men into accountable adults? That’s the main event.
Recruiting – It’s More Than a 60-Yard Dash
What does Barese actually look for in a player? Sure, talent. But that’s only step one.
- How does the kid carry himself?
- Does he celebrate teammates?
- What’s his body language after striking out?
Turns at first base tell you more than stats ever will, he says. He’s looking for competitors, guys who bring energy, keep showing up, and want to get better.
The Portal, the Culture, the Catch
Ah yes, the transfer portal. Love it, hate it, tolerate it. For Barese, it’s a tool, but not a cure-all. “It’s about filling unexpected holes,” he explains. Injuries, surprises, the unpredictable stuff that coaching throws your way. But the idea of bailing after one tough season? That’s where it gets murky.
He’s after loyalty. Buy-in. Guys who don’t flinch when they’re told to get better instead of getting out.
Conclusion
When asked what high schoolers should focus on, Barese doesn’t give a fancy answer. He gets real. Sleep more. Eat better. Train harder. Everything else, stats, offers, playing time, follows.
That’s Coach Barese. No fluff, no ego. Just a guy who loves ball, loves his guys, and still gets goosebumps on game day.
And that’s the game.
