Contact Chad

More Coaching Bios

Shaun Goodsell
Justin Johnson
Brady Greco
 

Chad Drexler, our newest member to the Mental Edge staff brings with him a life story filled with twists and turns that have finally landed him in a position to do what he is has a true passion for. Making a difference in as many people lives as possible has always been a goal of Chad’s. After reaching his lifelong dream of becoming a Gopher and having early success in his playing career, Drexler was faced with a life changing event nobody could have seen coming.

Prior to his junior year Chad was diagnosed with a rare heart condition that took him off the mound, and ended his playing career. The coaching staff at the University of Minnesota gave him the opportunity to retain his scholarship and serve as a Student Assistant Coach from 2003-2005. With the support of his family and teammates, a fire started within Chad to look at the game of baseball and the game of life through a different lens. During the remainder of his time at the U he sat on the bench near coaches and soaked up baseball knowledge from the likes of John Anderson and Rob Fornasiere and his favorite pitching coach Todd Oakes. In 2003 Chad was co-recipient of the team's David Chelesnik Scholarship, which is given to "the athlete(s) who best demonstrate the special qualities of courage, determination and perseverance." He didn't play baseball, however.

After leaving the University in 2005, Drexler turned his passion for baseball and teaching towards umpiring and coaching. As a member of Northwest Umpires Association, Chad has umpired over 1,000 games at the high school and collegiate level. He claims that he learned far more about the game as an umpire than as a player, and notes if far more difficult to earn friends as an umpire. Drexler has also given hundreds of individual and group Pitching Lessons in the winter months, working with the likes of Gene Larkin and Tom Nevers. In the summer months Chad has spent h the past decade working with former and current Gophers as a lead instructor for the Minnesota Baseball Instructional School. Chad is currently working with Pitch 2 Pitch out of the Minnetonka Dome.

Drexler is excited to help bring the Mental Edge in to the baseball world, seeing a perfect fit for a game that is filled with failure. He will be the first to tell you of the struggles that he had with the mental game as a player. “I even got to a point in my career at the University that I was afraid to play catch. And needless to say I didn’t pitch well on those days. Only after it was all taken away, did I see what was really important. I was lucky to have coaches and teammates to help show me the way. I hope to shorten the learning process so young athletes do not feel they have to go through the process alone.”