KSU is the preseason #24 team in the country. On this episode of the BBM Podcast, I am joined by Associate Head Coach Austin Wates. Wates, 35, has been with the KSU program for six years, but this is his first year as Associate Head Coach. During our lengthy conversation, we talk about what it takes to build a program in a Power 5 conference, we talk about the players they need to recruit and develop, we talk about the challenge facing Black players and coaches at the D1 level, and we talk about Coach Wates' unique journey into coaching. We also have a lot of fun. Coach Wates was a heck of a player. He played college baseball at Virginia Tech and pro baseball with the Astros and Marlins organization. Our discussion is open and honest. We don't shy away from topics some may not want to discuss, but as always, we talk about difficult topics positively and upliftingly. Please subscribe to the BBM podcast. Please rate and review the show. If you want to talk about Black baseball daily with a knowledgeable group, please join our FREE discord. To receive the link, you must follow the Black Baseball Mixtape on IG and send me a DM about the group chat. Shout out to Steelo Media. Shout out to The Players Alliance. And shout out to Herenca 21.