Episode 4: Coach Ray Birmingham On Fighting The Biggest Bully On The Block

n this episode of the No Doubt About It Podcast we have the honor of interviewing Ray Birmingham, one of the best coaches in Lobo history. Ray is a legendary baseball coach known for his coaching career at the University of New Mexico (UNM). In this episode, we dive into Ray's background and coaching journey.

Coach Birmingham shares that he began his coaching career as a JV baseball coach at Mayfield High School. From there, he coached various sports, including varsity football and baseball. He even coached basketball, and he even coached Avery Johnson, a legendary player for the San Antonio Spurs.

We discuss Coach Birmingham's coaching philosophy and how he often emphasizes life lessons rather than solely focusing on baseball. Ray's ability to inspire and relate to his players on a deeper level is second to none.

We dive into Coach Birmingham's background and how he transitioned to become the head baseball coach at UNM. He explains that he started coaching at College of the Southwest (CSW), a small private school, and later returned to New Mexico Junior College (NMJC). During his time at NMJC, Coach faced numerous challenges but managed to build a successful program over a span of ten years.

Coach Birmingham elaborates on the process of transforming NMJC's baseball program and the importance of improving the facilities to attract talented players. With determination and community support, they turned a field with a huge ditch running down thew middle of it into an impressive facility.

Coach Birmingham's final re-build was at UNM and it was his biggest yet. Ray reflects on his mindset and the challenges he faced when starting afresh at UNM. He emphasizes the importance of playing tough opponents and instilling a winning mentality in his players.

Ray's coaching philosophy extends beyond the field. He believes in the power of resilience and teaches his players to approach each game with a fresh perspective. He emphasizes that the scoreboard resets to zero every day, allowing for new opportunities and growth.

The conversation delves into Ray's expertise in coaching hitters and the mental aspect of the game. Ray emphasizes the importance of instilling confidence in his players and helping them realize their potential. He compares the game to a chess match where each day brings a fresh start.

We conclude the episode by commending the coach for his inspirational approach and ability to motivate his players both on and off the field.