What I See as a College Softball Coach and the Dad of the #1 Prospect in Baseball

Most parents want the roadmap - the blueprint that turns a young athlete into a confident, motivated, successful player. But very few people have lived all sides of the journey. In this episode of The Most Valuable Agent, Matt sits down with someone who has:

Kevin Griffin —
• Head Softball Coach at Belhaven University
• Associate Athletic Director
• Former college & semipro baseball player
• And father of MLB’s top minor league prospect, Connor Griffin

Kevin brings a rare perspective: parent, coach, recruiter, evaluator, and someone who has navigated the pressure, opportunity, and noise of both youth baseball and youth softball. He breaks down the myths families fall for, the traps parents accidentally set, how to handle multi-sport decisions, and how he intentionally slowed down Connor’s journey instead of chasing exposure.

You’ll learn why early recruiting hurt more than it helped, why parents should stop forcing sports onto kids, why the college sports landscape has changed for the worse, and how to protect your child’s love for the game in an era that pushes them to specialize earlier and chase more.

Kevin also shares the real story behind Connor’s reclass, his injuries, draft process, the home visits, and how failure shaped who he is. This episode is packed with insights for both softball and baseball families navigating development, recruiting, and the emotional side of youth sports.

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WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
• Why parents must stop forcing sports — and how to spot true passion
• The biggest myth about Division III softball (and why scholarships aren’t what you think)
• How early specialization hurts athleticism, confidence, and longevity
• Why playing too many games and not enough practice is destroying development
• The difference between good exposure and harmful overexposure
• Why parents must treat each child differently — and why “fair” is not “equal”
• What college softball recruiting really looks like behind the scenes
• How NIL has changed college sports — and not for the better
• Why attitude matters more than talent in the recruiting process
• The real story of Connor Griffin’s reclass, injury, draft pressure, and development
• How home visits work — and why families must set boundaries
• The #1 parenting mistake that damages the parent–athlete relationship
• Why kids play to please their parents — and how that affects behavior, confidence & burnout

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Meet Kevin Griffin: Coach, Athletic Director, and Baseball Dad
3:30 – Why Coaching Isn’t a Job — It’s a Calling
5:17 – The #1 Trait Every Great Coach (and Parent) Must Have
7:02 – How Parents Can Help Kids Love the Game (Without Ruining It)
11:37 – Why Early Specialization Is Burning Kids Out
16:11 – College Recruiting Truths: D1 vs D2 vs D3 Explained
23:30 – “Do It for a Cause, Not Applause”
28:44 – Connor Griffin’s Slow Rise — and Why Patience Wins
38:25 – Handling Failure, Injuries, Rankings, and Pressure
56:30 – The One Lesson Every Sports Parent Needs to Hear

ABOUT KEVIN GRIFFIN
Kevin Griffin is the Head Softball Coach and Associate Athletic Director at Belhaven University. He has coached for over 20 years, developing nationally ranked programs and helping athletes grow on and off the field. He is also the father of MLB’s top minor league prospect, Connor Griffin, giving him a rare dual perspective into both youth sports development and the professional scouting world.

ABOUT MATT HANNAFORD
Matt Hannaford is a 25-year MLB agent and founder of Aligned Sports. He has negotiated historic contracts, represented MVPs and All-Stars, and now delivers weekly insight on development, scouting, and the business of baseball.

CONNECT WITH KEVIN GRIFFIN
Email: [email protected]
CONNECT WITH MATT HANNAFORD
Instagram:   / mfhannaford  
Website: https://www.aligndsports.com/
YouTube (subscribe for weekly coaching):    / @mostvaluableagent  

#YouthBaseball #TravelSoftball #travelbaseball