Jake Larson

I have experience coaching and developing athletes at the NCAA Division I level with the University of Minnesota baseball program, where I currently serve as a Volunteer Student Assistant, while I finish my masters in Business Analytics. After spending four years as a student-athlete at Minnesota, I transitioned directly into coaching and player development. In my current role, I work with college athletes on individual development, baserunning and the running game, scouting, player evaluation, preparation, and overall baseball development. I work closely with our coaching staff to create individualized plans for players while helping athletes understand how to prepare, compete, and develop at a high level.

I also spent time training both in-person and remotely with Driveline Baseball during 2023–2024, which gave me firsthand experience with modern player-development methods and the remote training process. My background allows me to relate especially well to high school, college, and aspiring college baseball players because I have recently gone through that development process myself and now coach athletes at the Division I level. I bring a combination of playing experience, coaching experience, analytics, and an understanding of individualized development. I do not currently hold an industry-specific coaching certification, but my experience within a Big Ten baseball program and exposure to high-level player development have given me a strong foundation for helping athletes improve both physically and mentally.

I competed at the NCAA Division I level for four seasons with the University of Minnesota baseball program, where I totaled 20 extra-base hits during my collegiate career. After my playing career, I transitioned into coaching with Minnesota, and in my first season serving as the team’s first base coach, we led the Big Ten Conference in stolen bases. My experience as both a Division I player and coach has given me a strong understanding of what it takes to develop, prepare, and compete successfully at the highest level of college baseball. I was also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors during my senior year.

My goal in every hitting session is to help each player become comfortable and confident within their own swing. Baseball is unique because there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mechanics, mindset, or hitting philosophy, so I focus on understanding how each athlete naturally moves before making adjustments. A typical session starts with evaluating the player’s swing and identifying one or two areas that can create the biggest improvement. From there, we work through targeted drills focused on things like timing, direction, bat path, balance, and approach, while keeping the session simple and easy to understand. I want players to leave each workout not only feeling better mechanically, but also understanding what they are working on, why it matters, and how they can carry it into games.